The bell above the door of Blue Horizon Cafe rang softly as Daniel Leonard stepped back inside. The chill from the remnants of Manhattan's storm seemed to enter with him, creeping across the gleaming marble floor. Yet that coldness was nothing compared to the oppressive aura suddenly emanating from Daniel's tall figure.In a corner of the cafe's main area, Thomas—the portly cafe manager—was standing with a respectful bow and a sycophantic smile before the establishment's major shareholder, Louis Vuitton. The middle-aged man in an elegant suit sat leisurely while enjoying an expensive cigar, occasionally nodding as he listened to Thomas's report."You did the right thing, Thomas," Louis said as he exhaled cigar smoke into the air. "Daniel is nothing but a jinx of a waiter. The nerve of him to let his domestic problems with CEO Monroe and Young Master Vanguard happen in this cafe. If the Vanguard Group pulls their investment from our network because of this matter, we could suffer huge

The Manhattan morning sun had just begun to emerge from behind the towering skyscrapers when Seraphina Monroe stepped into the headquarters of Monroe Consulting Enterprises. The sound of her Christian Louboutin high heels echoed firmly across the granite floor of the main lobby.The irritation caused by Daniel's shameless visit the previous night still lingered slightly in her mind. However, today was far too important to be ruined by a poor ex-husband. This morning, she was scheduled to sign a massive logistics partnership contract with Ashford Global—one of the largest multinational conglomerates on the East Coast. This contract was the golden ticket that would propel Monroe Consulting into the ranks of Wall Street's elite companies."Good morning, Ms. Seraphina," greeted her personal secretary, Mia, who immediately hurried to her side while carrying a tablet. "The representatives from Ashford Global have just confirmed that Miss Cheryl Cole Ashford herself will be leading the contr

The Grand Luminary, a five-star restaurant perched atop a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper, was filled with New York’s elite that evening. Massive crystal chandeliers reflected luxurious light across the dance floor and round tables laden with premium dishes and wines worth thousands of dollars.Tonight was a crucial night for Cheryl Cole Ashford. The supreme female CEO of Ashford Global was hosting a strategic dinner banquet to announce the company’s internal restructuring as well as the signing of a new major logistics partnership.In a corner of the grand hall, Seraphina Monroe and her younger brother sat with tense and slightly haggard expressions. After their primary contract had been unilaterally canceled by Ashford Global’s mysterious shareholder that morning, tonight’s banquet was the Monroe clan’s only remaining lifeline. They had managed to slip in after desperately seeking emergency assistance through Evan Vanguard’s family connections.“Seraphina, make sure you act pleasantly

Inside the soundproof main VIP room of The Grand Luminary, the tense atmosphere that had just peaked in the outer hall suddenly melted away. The room was incredibly luxurious, featuring a massive glass wall that directly showcased the glittering lights of Manhattan from the height of the fiftieth floor.Cheryl Cole Ashford poured warm Earl Grey tea into the porcelain cup in front of Daniel. Her movements were graceful, yet her sapphire eyes could not hide her deep curiosity toward the man before her.“Mr. Daniel, your actions out there earlier were completely beyond my expectations,” Cheryl opened, folding her hands on the table. “Physical strength like that... you don't look at all like a man who spent his time in a café.”Daniel sipped his tea calmly. His faint smile reappeared. “Miss Cheryl, in this world, what is visible on the surface is often just a small ripple. It is the calm water that hides the most deadly current.”Cheryl chuckled softly, acknowledging the truth of those wo

The constant clicking of journalists' cameras immediately greeted the arrival of Evan Vanguard and Seraphina Monroe as they stepped into the main auditorium of the Vanguard Group building. Dozens of microphones from various financial and high-society gossip media outlets across Manhattan had already been neatly arranged on the long podium beneath the company's massive logo. In the back row among the photographers, Keith Monroe stood clutching a folder containing Daniel's old documents, a victorious smile beginning to spread across his face.Evan waved gracefully at the media with the poise of a conglomerate's sole heir before pulling out a chair for Seraphina in a highly protective gesture for the cameras."Good morning, members of the media," Evan began, lightly tapping the microphone in front of him to ensure his voice carried clearly throughout the room. "Thank you for attending this emergency press conference. Today, Vanguard Group and the Monroe family will expose one of the larg