Chapter 2

“Alex, is there… some kind of misunderstanding?”

On the other end, Daniel Miller’s voice was laced with guilt and panic.

“Misunderstanding?”

My voice instantly chilled.

“Do I look like an idiot to you? I’m not calling to discuss, I’m calling to inform you. Deal with your staff, immediately!”

Daniel seemed stunned by my tone.

He quickly tried to smooth things over:

“Alex, don’t get mad. Just put Vanessa Reed on the phone. I’ll personally ask her what’s going on.”

I snorted and handed the phone to Vanessa.

She pouted, reluctantly taking the call.

“Didn’t I tell you already? You need to cut ties with these poor relatives. They just use your name to line their pockets. This time, it’s even worse; he wants to skip out on the bill after a full service.”

Daniel seemed to be explaining something on the phone, but Vanessa didn't give him a chance to finish.

“Alright, stop. I know you’re soft-hearted and worried about family ties, always hesitant. But today, I’ll be the bad guy!”

She hung up, tossing the phone back to me, her chin held high.

“Hear that? Danny’s too busy for your pathetic drama. Stop stalling. It’s $280,500 total, but I’ll round it down for you. Just $280,000!”

“Cash, card, or bank transfer? Hurry up, or I’ll call security to escort you out!”

Vanessa deliberately emphasized "escort," her threat clear.

Vanessa’s audacity and stupidity almost made me laugh again.

In all these years, no one had dared to be so arrogant in front of me.

Just then, the VIP room door swung open, and Daniel rushed in.

He jogged over, a fake smile plastered on his face.

“Oh, Alex, what a mess this is. Vanessa, you know, she just takes things too seriously. Don’t take it personally.”

Before I could speak, Vanessa exploded, as if I’d just stepped on her tail.

“Danny, wasn’t I doing this for your own good? Are you happy letting some broke wannabe use your name to take advantage and ruin your business?”

Vanessa shook Daniel’s arm, not forgetting to shoot me a provocative look.

Seeing this, I’d be an idiot not to understand.

I wondered why a mere manager like Vanessa Reed dared to be so arrogant; turns out she had a backer.

As if to confirm my suspicions, Daniel forced a smile and started playing the victim.

“Alex, Vanessa is my girlfriend. We’re getting engaged next month. We’ll be family soon, we’ll always be seeing each other, so how about I just pay for this?”

“No need!”

I refused coldly. Daniel’s attitude chilled me to the bone.

If I hadn’t taken pity on him because we were family, he’d still be struggling to find a stable job.

The design, renovation, operational plans, network resources, even the initial capital for this auto club—I provided all of it from behind the scenes.

I just didn’t step forward personally back then, out of consideration for his ego, so he had no idea I was the real boss.

But now, for this brainless, malicious woman, he was actually going to argue with me.

If that’s how it was, I had no reason to hold back.