Chapter 7: Purple Cake
2097 Words
“Amy! Here!” Amber waved her hand as soon as she saw Amelia step inside the cafe. When she received the phone call, she was currently doing a market survey near the headquarters of Nightshade Enterprise, so she immediately agreed to her request. It’s also another way to know the inside details of what’s happening inside the enemy’s lair.
“I hope you didn’t wait that long!” Amelia said with an apologetic look. She was the one who invited her yet she was the one who arrived late.
If it wasn’t because Ms. Hook ordered her around. She would have left earlier and arrived on time. It was already past her shift but, since it was her boss’s fiancee, she did not have the right to refuse.
“It’s fine. I know you are busy anyway.” Amber called the waiter and ordered a cup of macchiato while Amelia ordered a black espresso.
After the waiter left, Amber saw the exhausted look on her face and asked worriedly after she saw the band-aid on her left cheek, “Your boss scolded you again?”
It was not the first time she had heard Amelia being scolded by Rhys. The first time Amelia and she met was during that time in a hospital. She was admitted because she had a high fever due to overworking and Amelia had her leg heavily injured.
At first, she had no idea that Amelia was Rhys Dalton’s secretary. But later she found out that her injury was because of her boss. Rhys Dalton got so angry because one of his investors backed out and he vented his anger at his secretary, which resulted in that injury.
An idea popped into Amber’s mind after discovering her connection with the enemy. With her, she would be able to spy easily on Rhys Dalton. She had wanted to do it herself. She had been overworking herself for the past years to be promoted and sent to the Nightshade Enterprise Headquarters. In that way, she would be able to spy on them easily.
However, it was taking longer than she expected and Amelia’s presence just gave her the solution.
After a few seconds of silence, Amelia said a meek, “Yes. Sir Dalton vented his anger at me again.”
Amber’s expression grew soft, “Amy, why are you working so hard to stay as his secretary? I mean, look at you. Is it worth it?”
Amelia had a small smile on her face, “Amber, you know very well that I can’t resign. My family depends on me. My younger brother is still a student and if not for this job of mine, we wouldn’t be able to afford his tuition. So, I have to stay. This is just a little sacrifice compared to my family’s well-being.”
Amber felt guilty for using Amelia for selfish reasons. She was just a very loving person, a kind one, just like Kassidy. However, she has to put aside her guilt and focus on her goal. If she needed to use people to make Kathryn’s revenge successful and to avenge Kassidy, she was more than willing to be the bad person.
She might not have been completely honest with Amelia, but Amber had truly treated her as a friend. If something happened to her, she would gladly help her out.
“I know you have deep reasons for staying. But, I’m glad that you managed to leave that place with that scratch on your cheek. Unlike that last time when you were sent to the hospital because of the severity of your injuries,” Amber commented.
“I have called Ms. Hook in advance. Fortunately, she arrived on time before the worst thing happened.” Amelia retorted.
Amber’s eyebrows raised, “Ms. Hook? You mean Alice Hook? I thought she was in the Southern Islands.”
The annual culinary competition was near and, as a member of the Hook family, Alice must be present. Kathryn had also mentioned her plans to join the competition as a sponsor. She had also found a perfect candidate for it.
And from the information given to her by Abby, she was certain that Cole Donovan would win the competition. With his talents, it won’t be that long before Caiside Palace becomes a big hit in the Southern Islands.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Amelia’s answer, “Ms. Hook came back yesterday. She was preparing for their engagement banquet and there were some problems with the designs of the gown she would be wearing during that time.”
“Nightshade Apparel leads the fashion industry in the werewolf kingdom, so I’m sure that their designs are superb. If the designers of the enterprise can’t satisfy Ms. Hook, I’m sure no one will.”
Amelia shook her head after she sipped the coffee, “She was aiming for KK Fashion. She wanted the famous Ms. K to design her gown for the engagement banquet but I heard that she was having a hard time booking an appointment. That’s why she came back to ask Mr. Dalton to set an appointment for her.”
A glint flashed past Amber’s eyes but it immediately vanished before Amelia could see it. She now had something to report to Kathryn once she came back. Amber was certain that Kathryn would be ecstatic to hear it.
Their talk continued for a couple more minutes. Amber listened carefully to Amelia’s complaints and managed to take down all the important details that she might need. One thing she liked about Amelia was that, whenever she got frustrated, she wouldn’t be able to hold back her words.
So, she didn’t need to make an effort because Amelia would easily say things she needed without being told so.
“Thank you, Amber… You are the only person that I can talk to,” Amelia softly whispered. Her voice was quiet and broken, like a lonely child abandoned by the world.
Amber’s face became gentle when she said that. She reached her hand and held it tighter. “No, thank you. Thank you for trusting me…” ‘And I’m sorry… I’m sorry for fooling you.’ Amber mumbled under her breath.
***
It'd been days since Kathryn had cooped herself up in her study. Since the competition was fast approaching, she had to secure all the funding she would need and also the renovation of the restaurant must be properly managed.
Today is one of the rarest days when she is free. And so, Kathryn asked Abby to drive her toward Realton Lane. This is one of the busiest streets in the city because this is where the largest restaurants and pastry shops are located.
“I already told you to find a driver for us. In that way, you won’t need to drive me whenever I go out. Instead of you driving me, you could have used this day to rest.” Kathryn thought out loud, her gaze glued on the busy streets of Frerton City.
“Miss Jones, the agency that I chose is one of the trusted agencies in Frerton City. Even the officials and important people in the Southern Islands used them. I thought they were reliable. However, they canceled at the last minute, saying that they had a shortage of manpower. I will surely leave a bad review on their website later on!”
Kathryn did not say anything. She was already accustomed to Abby’s personality. She knew that Abby would definitely find a way to get back at the security agency for being so unreliable. “Abby, could you drop by the pastry store at the corner of the street?”
“Is it the pastry to our left, Miss Jones?”
“Yes, that one on the left,” she nodded.
This was the pastry shop that Kassidy liked the most. Whenever she received messages from her, she would always mention this pastry shop. How she wished that Kathryn would be able to taste their sweets. Now that she was in the place, Kathryn would not miss the opportunity of eating the one thing that Kassidy wished for.
Kathryn immediately instructed Abby to buy her a few of Kassidy’s favorites, which included a coffee and a dozen cupcakes for Abby. She then watched as Abby made her way into the store.
However, not even a minute passed when Kathryn furrowed her brows. A white customized van had recklessly parked in front of them, almost hitting her car in the process.
Kathryn narrowed her eyes at the driver who got out of the car and opened the door for the passenger. It was a middle-aged man with a military haircut, wearing a black suit.
‘High-end security. Influential family!’ Those were Kathryn’s thoughts after seeing the security personnel.
However, to her surprise, the passenger who came out of the van was someone she wasn’t expecting to see this early.
Arion Hook… Alice Hook’s brother and soon-to-be-alpha of Frostclaw Pack.
Kathryn looked on as Arion went inside the same store to buy some sweets. She wasn’t expecting to see her very first target in her game of revenge. How coincidental! However, she knew that it was not yet the time for them to meet.
To make her plans a success, proper timing is a must!
Minutes passed by slowly, and Kathryn was engrossed in her own little world. When she finally noticed Abby, she was already sitting next to her with a very dark look on her face.
“What’s wrong?” Kathryn asked.
“Miss Jones, you won’t believe what happened inside. Some guy acting like a celebrity walked in and forced me to give the last piece of purple cake to him! How disrespectful! He said that his sister had been craving it and wanted to eat that purple cake. I would have given it to him had he not been so arrogant as to demand it from me instead of asking me nicely…”
Abby continued to grumble, completely unaware of the change in Kathryn’s expression. Little sister? That must be Alice Hook! Cravings? Would that mean that Alice Hook is already pregnant with Rhys Dalton’s baby?!
Kathryn clenched her fist as a tinge of pain flashed in her eyes. However, she easily recovered and continued to listen to her secretary’s grumbling.
Pregnant or not, it won’t stop her from getting back at them. That couple had caused her sister’s life to disappear, so they must pay it back, tenfold!
“Look, Miss Jones! It seems like that guy is really someone of influence. That is the bodyguard of that guy! He is coming to our car! I bet he wants the purple cake!” Abby’s words woke Kathryn from her stupor.
She watched as the bodyguard knocked on Abby’s window with a grave expression.
“Look, mister, whoever you are! I already told you a couple of times that I am not going to sell this cake to you!”
“Miss, we are willing to pay! My master’s sister is currently pregnant and she wants this purple cake. We need to have this,” the bodyguard insisted while eyeing Kathryn, who was just blankly staring at him.
Seeing that the woman at the back might be the boss, he shifted his attention towards Kathryn, “Miss, I know you are this person’s boss. Why don’t you sell this cake to me? I will compensate you with triple the original price.”
Kathryn, who had been staring at the bodyguard, suddenly smiled at him, “Give me a hundred thousand dollars and I will give this to you.” she said.
This surprised both Abby and the bodyguard. Imagine, a hundred thousand dollars for a cake?! Its value was less than 10 dollars at most!
“Hey, don’t be too much! This purple cake only costs 10 dollars! You are clearly creating trouble for us!” The bodyguard was fuming mad. He had clearly encountered a hooligan! Did this woman think that she could get away with this?!
Even Abby was frozen because of Kathryn’s words. A hundred thousand dollars for a mere cake? Wasn’t this a little too extravagant?!
“Alright, since you can’t afford a hundred thousand dollars, then please move aside. I don’t have the time to deal with you.” Kathryn said before she signaled Abby to start the car.
‘Trying to take away again what was hers? Even if it is a mere cake, she won’t let that despicable woman have what was hers!’
- Writer
