24K Magic for a Perfect Illusion

Ch 17: Oh, Everywhere I Go They Be Like

In the private room of the Japanese restaurant.

Hestia is still devastated after learning the truth that the ‘Pink Magic’ is currently in the hands of a notorious person in America.

Although the Nevaeh is indeed a powerful family and their influence is known to the world, it doesn’t mean that the underworld society also recognize them.

“You’re just playing with your food. You’re not eating.” Hearthof has been observing Hestia’s mood after he told her what Amadeus told him what the informant found out.

“Who on earth is Dada?! America is so big. It’s already hard to search for a specific John or Jane what more a codename Dada.”

“Just eat. Dad already ordered his men in the underworld to hunt that man. Let’s just wait for his news.” Hearthof trying to feed Hestia using his chopsticks.

“Money isn’t the problem. I’ll ask Papa and I can even ask Lolo as he also wants to get the ‘Pink Magic’ back because it was Lola’s necklace before.” Hestia looked at the food on Hearthof chopsticks and hesitantly brought it in her mouth.

“I know. But Dada doesn’t seem short of money either. As I said, he bought the ‘Pink Magic’ on the auction by a hundred million US dollar. He spent it for his woman so I don’t think that he’ll just sell it to you or to anyone who’s interested to buy.” Hearthof used his chopsticks again to feed Hestia.

Hestia doesn’t seem to mind at all that Hearthof is feeding her because her mind is wandering to wherever her necklace is. “Then how does your stepfather plan to get my necklace back?”

“Not sure but he’s not new to that kind of business he can deal with it. Let’s just leave him to handle it in his own way.” Hearthof continued to feed Hestia.

“What does your stepfather want in exchange? I mean no offense but there’s no such thing as free in the world everything has a price. Even my father asks something in exchange when I asked him a favor, so Chairman Goddesseth isn’t an exception. Considering the fact that he’s also a businessman.” Hestia stated.

“I don’t know, he didn’t tell. But he seemed serious when he told me that he’ll deal with the case. Maybe … just maybe, he had a beef with Dada. Whoever that man is, he made a huge mistake to provoke my stepfather.” Hearthof eats while feeding Hestia simultaneously as if it’s just a normal way to do.

Hestia’s curiosity suddenly kicks in, so she asked, “Have you been involved yourself with your Dad’s underground business?”

“I only manage the legal business though I’ve been introduced nevertheless I don’t meddle with the chairman other businesses aside from the hotels.” Hearthof stated as a matter-of-fact.

“Promise me you won’t be lure to the dark side. Always stay on the light and be a good businessman.” Hestia stared at Hearthof with her very innocent, puss-in-boots like eyes.

“How can I refuse if you’re looking at me like that?!” Hearthof’s heart is beating loud and fast as if he’s having heart attack any moment. “Don’t worry even if the business industry is a warzone, I’ll always be an honorable warrior and not a merciless berserker.” he’s really trying hard to remain human as much as possible.

After having dinner, Hestia drove Hearthof to the Goddesseth Hotel, his penthouse is on the top floor of the building thus he only needs to descend from the stairs to get down to his office.

“Drive safely and be careful on the road. I’ll see you tomorrow or next weekend maybe??” Hearthof tried to push his luck for a date.

“Well, I’ve got nothing to do tomorrow. How about you? Don’t you have any business meeting? Like playing golf with your business partners or some sort of other activities like cruising?” Hestia knows how busy a company president is because of her father.

“Nah, I don’t work on weekends that’s my time for leisure. I’m only the president on weekdays but on weekends I’m just a man on his late twenties enjoying life while I still can. I can’t just waste my youth, working hard for money and stressing myself with the stocks or other business matters.”

“You know how to live well, Mr. Goddesseth.” Hestia patted Hearthof’s shoulder. “It’s settled then, we’re hanging out tomorrow. Please don’t wear suit like the last time, it’s not appropriate for walking on the side of the road. Though I like your Versace dress robe right now but still that’s too conspicuous. Wear something low-key alright?”

“What exactly do you want to do tomorrow?” Hearthof is usually the decision maker but he’ll just follow what Hestia wants to do.

“Hmm … how about roller skating?” Hestia said spontaneously.

“Sure, I’ll wear something right for roller skating tomorrow then.”

“Mmm.” Hestia nodded in agreement. “Let’s see each other by lunch tomorrow?”

“Alright, I’ll go to your place by lunch. I’ll visit your parents too.”

“Ah right!” Hestia grabbed Hearthof’s arm. “You need to help me explain what happened earlier to my parents tomorrow. Though I’m pretty sure I’ll be scolded tonight, I still need a backup.”

“Don’t worry I got your back.” Hearthof put his left hand on top of Hestia’s hand on his right arm.

Hestia withdrew her hand instinctively. “It’s getting late. You just got back from New York, so I know you’re tired. You should take a rest early.”

Hearthof smiled faintly with a glint of disappointment in his eyes but he concealed it immediately before he spoke, “I’ll be leaving first then.” he opened the car door on his side and got off from the passenger seat. “Bye. See you tomorrow.”

Hestia waved her hand and drove away as another car trailed behind her Porsche where Irene and Sharon are.

Hearthof just stood still at the hotel’s entrance and watched Hestia’s car as it goes farther away with the distance.

“President.” Benny appeared by his side. “President Ji, signed the contract without a doubt. He’s also inviting you for a meal tomorrow, he would like you to meet his daughter, Ms. Anna.” he handed the signed contract along with another file about Anna.

Hearthof took a single glance at the photo and asked, “What do you think of her Benny?” he browsed the information Benny provided and found something that caught his interest.

“She’s very good looking and she’s also working at the same research institute with Ms. Hestia, so I think she’s smart too.”

“Go ahead and meet her then.” Hearthof patted Benny’s shoulder.

Benny, “…”

“I have a date with Hestia tomorrow so I can’t be bother with this trivial matter.” Hearthof walked off while humming a happy song.

‘What the hell? I already proxied him for today’s meeting. I’m also going as a substitute for his date?!’ Benny thought as he followed Hearthof behind.

Benny has been selected by Amadeus himself to be Hearthof’s personal assistant and he’s been working for the latter for over two years, although he’s originally working under Ronson’s gang before alongside with Michael and Tucker of the Silk Sonic or the tech men of the organization, and he can usually do whatever he wanted to do.

He’s well aware that he’s working for the future big boss of the dark organization therefore he can’t refuse Hearthof’s orders.

Meanwhile at the South Mansion of the Nevaeh Residences.

“Did you use Hearthof to get rid of Nam Joo Hyuk?” Rhea walking back and forth with her hands on her waist while scolding Hestia.

“Believe it or not. I didn’t do anything. Hearthof suddenly appeared at the moment when I’m about to reject Mr. Nam.” Hestia getting dizzy from following Rhea’s movements as she has to maintain her eye contact while talking to her mother. “Hearthof intimidated Mr. Nam himself, I didn’t ask him to do it.”

“This isn’t the first time that childhood friend of yours get rid of your dates, Tia. He does it every time.” Cronus, who usually don’t talk when Rhea is already nagging, had to share his piece of mind.

“Urgh! Why don’t you guys believe me?!” Hestia raised her voice in annoyance. “I already said that I’ve got nothing to do with Hearthof’s behavior. Why are you making it sound like I’m scheming even though I’m completely innocent?!” her tears began to pool in her eyes because of too much frustration.

Rhea noticed the aggrieved expression on Hestia’s face, she knows when Hestia is lying and this time, she’s really telling the truth.

“I should talk with that young man again.” Cronus knows that they wronged their daughter because Hestia is about to cry. “Go to your room now and take a rest.”

Hestia wiped the tear that escaped from his eye as she stood up and took her leave from the study room.

“You told me that you’ve talked to Hearthof before?!” Rhea vent her anger to her husband.

“I did, but the young man told me that Tia is only like a younger sister to him and he doesn’t have any romantic feelings for her.”

“Maybe you intimidated him hence he denied.” Rhea sat on the couch with a frown. “I know you hated the guy because he made Tia cried before but it wasn’t his fault that he had to migrate to America with his family. That boy just lost his father that time and his mother remarried a rich man to pay off their liabilities.”

“You know exactly that I never look down to people because of their tragic history.” Cronus turned serious. “It’s just that his stepfather is Amadeus Goddesseth. That man is a notorious businessman in America and he has a gang on his own. He’s an American mafia, for goodness sake!”

“And you’re just telling it to me now?!!” Rhea raised her voice in exasperation. “All this while you know something that crucial and yet you didn’t bother to tell me at all?!”

“I’m telling you now, aren’t I?” Cronus took Rhea’s hand while kneeling on the floor. “Look honey, I didn’t tell you because I don’t want you to worry. We both know that Sunggyu was a good kid but now he’s Hearthof the stepson of Amadeus and his successor. How do you expect me to give my consent to him in case he tells me directly that he wants to pursue our daughter?”

“What are we going to do now? Obviously, he likes our daughter. He’s claiming his territory on Tia when he gets rid of those good men that I arranged.” Rhea massaging her forehead.

“We can’t reprimand him to see Tia, as we don’t know what he’s capable of. Worst case scenario he’ll take our daughter away as that’s a common thing to do in the mafia world. Those people in the dark society gets what they want by hook or by crook, and I won’t risk our daughter’s life because of our wrong decision.”

“So, there’s nothing we can do to separate those two?” Rhea scowled. “Now that I know the man behind him, I don’t want Tia to be near him again.”

“This is the reason I didn’t want to tell you.” Cronus squeezed Rhea’s hand but not too tight. “Listen, if we turned hostile to Hearthof we’ll just trigger him to do what we didn’t want to happen. You can’t underestimate a man’s possessiveness specially to his woman, unfortunately, that’s our daughter. For now, what we can do is to observe, currently he’s not dangerous. So, we just let him do whatever he wants to do unless he caused harm to Tia well that’s a different story. Even if he’s the future boss of the American mafia I’ll fight him to death.”

“I know what you and this family capable of so I’m somehow relief that we can protect our own when anything happens.” Rhea smiled faintly. “Do you think Tia knows?”

“I hope not. It’s better for her to know nothing than she’s aware of everything.” Cronus stood up and pulled Rhea in his embrace.

The next day, Hearthof came to the South Mansion at quarter to twelve, just in time for lunch.

Rhea looking at Cronus with aggrieved expression, now that she knows that Hearthof isn’t just the typical successor of a businessman but also a mafia king, it’s hard for her now to treat Hearthof like she usually treats her children’s friends.

“Uncle, did you and Auntie quarrel?” Hearthof whispered to Cronus while glancing at Rhea on the sofa across theirs.

“It’s normal for married couple.” Cronus replied nonchalantly. “How’s the hotel doing anyway? You made quite an impression on the first quarter. I hope that you maintain or rather improve your management since you just joined in at the hotel industry in this country. People has a lot of expectation since Goddesseth hotels are well-known grand hotels in America.”

“I’m well aware of that Uncle, I have to live up with the customers expectations and deliver good quality service as that’s what Goddesseth Hotels are known for aside from it’s majestic structure and exquisite interior.” Hearthof replied in a serious manner before he came up with a half-joke. “To be honest my assistant looks more like the president to the staffs than I am, oh, everywhere I go they be like skeptical as to why I’m the one giving order rather than the other way around.”