FROM BANKRUPT TO BOSS

Chapter 10: Imperial kitchen

It is no sugarcoat— the interior of the imperial kitchen was breathtaking; Sleek edges, glasses that catch your appearance and leave your reflection cleanly. The imported kind from up-scale industries. The reception was bright and polished, uninformed staff dressed in clean white uniforms with badges holding names and titles pinned to their Breast, sat behind the sleek counter.

The lobby hummed, the sound of people who knew that luxury is silence. Expensive coat and resplendent down graced the restaurant. Celebrities, stars, politicians and people who held the throttle of power in the city— those were the kind of people that patronize Imperial kitchens.

Fred's jaw dropped seeing all of it. Even Kane was caught in the luxury of the place. It wasn't the cheap place he'd managed for lunch, not the sour ramen from the Diner. This was the smell of money in plates.

They walked over to the receptionist desk. Fred stood beside Kane in his tattered cloth that made the expensive clients whispered and stared at them like their presence was something stinking that just polluted the air in the lobby.

Kane leaned over the desk and greeted the first female receptionist calmly,

"Good evening."

"Evening, Sir." The beautiful receptionist flashed a measured professional smile. "You're welcome to the Imperial kitchen."

"Thank you." Kane smiled back softly,

"How may I be of help, Sir?"

"First time customer." He said, "so, I'm new to things here, but there is one thing I need. The best service this place can offer.""

The beautiful receptionist's professional smile didn't waver as though it belonged there naturally.

"Oh, I see." she said politely, "then you're in the right place for a remarkable experience. You're asking for our costliest service if you want the best. Should I go ahead?"

"Absolutely." Kane responded confidently. Fred looked at him, surprised, his voice dropped to a whisper. "Dude, are you fucking kidding me? You heard her? Costliest. The most expensive dish I ever had for a long time cost $100. This place is no joke."

Kane smiled at him softly. "Relax dude, you already mentioned you're gonna wash plates to cover the insolvency bills." Kane teased him.

"Are you fucking crazy?" Fred's voice rose slightly above a whisper. "How many plates are we gonna wash? By the time we'll be done washing how many will cover the expensive dish, our hands will be bleeding. You're gonna have to pay for hospital bills again. How do you improvise then? Fuck the nurse to cover the hospital bills too?"

Kane nearly burst into laughter but he held himself back.

"Is there a problem, Sir?" The receptionist who had been watching them all along chipped in, looking from Fred to Kane.

Kane turned his look back to her, smiling effortlessly.

"Oh, it's not a problem." He said, "my friend here likes expensive things so he's demanding the best dishes."

"Holy crap." Fred gasped. "This dude is crazy."

Kane held back his laugh, concentrating on the receptionist.

"Alright then," she said with the usual professional smile on her face. "The third floor is reserved for our ineffable services. There, you'll enjoy premium. But there is a strict policy that must be complied with by customers for the third floor."

"What policy?" Kane asked.

"You must possess the minimum of $1 million in your account balance. Not transaction history. Current balance."

"Holy shit!" Fred gasped, grimacing. He yanked Kane's wrist with urgency. "Let's get the fuck out of here. This is a nightmare."

"Well, well, well," A sharp feminine voice came from the back, dripping Poison. "Look who it is. What is a low life doing in a place meant for the Kings?"