The aroma of rich food faded against the expensive exotic fragrance of perfumes. Elvira stood by the stalls, her eyes roaming here and there in search of something.

“What the hell are you doing here, Miss?” Andrew hissed, as he couldn’t shout while the guests were still around. Elvira turned around, her furrowed brows softening.

She sighed, “Finally, someone. I was called by some guests here, but I can’t figure it out. Who was it?” She looked at him in utter confusion.

“What? Who told you that?” Andrew asked, staring blankly at her.

“A waitress, but she vanished too. I can’t locate her either.” Elvira sighed again, glancing around once more.

Shane shifted his eyes away from Elvira to greet the honorable guests of the evening. He was busy with some important business partners, forced to make fake laughs.

The time for his speech was running out. He looked for Andrew, who was busy with Elvira. What the hell is wrong with this man? I just asked him to send her back to the kitchen. Is it that hard to do? Shane sighed.

“How adorable is your kid, Mr. Adkins?” The daughter of the business partner stepped toward him, but he was so preoccupied staring at Andrew and Elvira that he didn’t even notice her presence.

She patted Abe’s head and glanced at Shane. His eyes were still set on Andrew and Elvira. What the hell are they talking about?

“Aren’t you Elvira Pearce, though?” Andrew got distracted again. It was clear he would mess up this event.

“That sounds like I’m some kind of celebrity,” Elvira giggled, rolling her eyes.

“You’re beautiful.” He gawked at her unknowingly.

“What?” Elvira was startled by his remark and expression.

Andrew shook his head, “I mean, let’s find the people who called you.” His tongue slipped, “Oh, no. I mean the waitress. Damn it!” He growled, his mind going blank, blushing for getting caught.

It was amusing to Elvira; she chuckled, “It’s alright. I’ll just take that as a compliment.”

“Uh... yeah. It was a compliment as a person to another person.” Andrew said, gesturing between himself and Elvira.

She giggled even more, “Yeah, right. A person to person.” She nodded as if she agreed.

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“I think someone is finally getting Mr. Adkins’ attention,” the daughter of his business partner remarked, staring at Elvira and Andrew standing beside Shane.

“Huh? What?” Shane was startled by her words.

She chuckled, “Relax. Too much jealousy is injurious to health.” She patted his shoulder.

Elvira’s eyes met Shane’s out of the blue. He stood there with a beautiful lady. Her hand was on his shoulder. She couldn’t help but feel something strange in her heart.

She is beautiful, Elvira thought to herself, staring at Shane smiling at the girl beside him. And she seems friendly with Abe—a great match.

Andrew waved his hand in front of Elvira’s eyes. “Back to earth, Missy.”

“Oh, yeah. Yeah.” She gulped, looking around in a mess.

Andrew turned back and saw Shane watching him with anguish in his eyes. His mind suddenly lit, and he remembered he came here to get Elvira back inside the kitchen.

“Oh crap!” Andrew muttered. “You need to go back to the kitchen.” He started to rush her out of there.

“What’s going on?” Elvira asked as he gently pushed her toward the kitchen.

“This event is very important to Mr. Adkins. You are the vice chef, and being out here is messing up the event. Go back inside.” He hissed, returning to his work.

“Hey, you!” A man who seemed somewhat drunk shouted at a waitress sitting in a group of other men.

“Yes, Sir.” The waitress approached him cautiously, scared of how he was looking at her.

“How many times do I need to repeat myself? I asked for the chef who made this. Get him here!” He yelled at her again. Elvira, Shane, Andrew, and the girl beside him watched the man fiercely. What’s wrong with this guy?

“I think we found your call,” Andrew muttered behind Elvira. She nodded, agreeing with him. Elvira stepped toward the man without thinking twice.

“Excuse me, Sir. Is there any problem with the served meal?” She put on a soft smile, as chefs were always told to be patient.

The man eyed her from head to toe, a creepy smirk appearing on his face. “Yes, I want you to taste the shit you made me eat,” he told her.

“Sorry? But I did check the meal before serving it. I don’t think there was any problem with it.” She enhanced her explanation as calmly as she could. In reality, she could never stand anyone disgracing her food.

“You bitch! That’s for me to decide. Taste from this plate. Right now!” He shouted, getting uncomfortably close to her face.

She stepped back, stumbling on her feet. Before she could trip, a pair of strong arms surrounded her waist. Her eyes met Shane’s. She was startled by his sudden intervention.

He looked away from her at the drunkard. “You seem too drunk. I would advise you to step back, Sir,” he said, his face icy-cold.

“You jerk. How could you say that to your guest? I’m saying this dish is puke. She should taste it; if not, she should resign from her job. A girl and a head chef? What an imperial joke!” The man huffed, giving Elvira the creepiest, disgusted face ever.

“Why don’t you go and start something with that face and body? I can show you many options around my clubs.” He stepped toward her, slowly and grumbling.

Shane sighed, twisting his tongue in his mouth. He didn’t even think for a second before pushing the man away, causing him to fall to the ground.

“She is going nowhere. She never will. Security!!” Shane shouted, his arm still wrapped around Elvira’s waist. The guards rushed toward him. “Throw him out of here.”

They carried the man by both of his arms. “What do you think you are doing? I’m going to take all my investments out of your business!” he tried to warn Shane.

Shane chuckled, huffing. “You thought I would still be dying for that worthless piece of shit you invested? I will personally send you the refusal. Don’t worry!”