Chapter 333: I Learned From The Best

Sienna fell silent for a moment.

She looked through the window, thinking carefully about what they should do if Riley truly didn’t show up. The restaurant had already prepared the food, and leaving it untouched would only waste it.

More importantly, the staff had been working hard all evening. They shouldn’t have to throw away perfectly good food simply because Riley doesn’t show up.

After a few seconds, Sienna finally spoke.

"Mia, if he doesn’t show up by eight o’clock, you and the other staff can enjoy the food and drinks. And if there’s anything left over, you can take it home."

Her words immediately caught Mia by surprise.

"What? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I’m sure," Sienna replied calmly. "If Riley protests to you about it later, just tell him to speak to me."

She was already convinced that Riley wouldn’t show up tonight.

However, even if he suddenly appeared after eight, Sienna was willing to take full responsibility for her decision. She didn’t want to leave the restaurant staff confused and waiting around all night when there was no clear indication that Riley or his team were coming.

Mia was quiet for a moment before letting out a small sigh of relief.

"Alright. If you’re sure, then I’ll tell everyone. They’ve been waiting since the preparations were finished, so I think they’ll be happy to hear that."

"Good. Don’t let everyone worry about it anymore. Just finish whatever needs to be done and let the staff enjoy themselves."

"Okay, boss. But if Riley suddenly appears a minute after eight, I’m blaming you."

Sienna laughed softly. "That’s fine. Just tell him to come find me."

Mia laughed on the other end as well, and the tension between them eased slightly.

They continued talking about a few other things, mostly about the restaurant and the preparations for the evening, before Sienna finally ended the call.

"Alright, Mia. Let’s talk again tomorrow."

"Okay. Good night, Sienna."

"Good night."

Sienna ended the call and took a quiet breath before adjusting her expression. She didn’t want Skylar to notice that something was bothering her, so she put her phone away and turned back toward the dining table.

The moment she looked at her son, she stopped.

Skylar’s dessert plate was already completely empty.

Sienna blinked and then glanced at her own untouched dessert before looking back at him. "Oh, sweetheart... You finished your caramel pudding already...?"

Skylar looked up at her with a bright smile and nodded without any hesitation.

"Yes, Mom... It’s too delicious not to eat it all with passion."

Sienna couldn’t help laughing at his words and how adorable his expression was now.

"Sweetheart, I thought you were supposed to save some for me?" she teased.

Skylar looked down at the empty plate as if seriously considering her question.

After a moment, he smiled innocently. "I was about to, but you were busy on your phone, and waiting a minute longer would’ve been rude with such yummy food."

Sienna shook her head, amused. "Oh wow. I see. Do you want more?"

Skylar gave her another innocent smile, clearly wanting more even after already taking two slices. "Really? I can have more?"

"Of course. But this time, you have to promise me you’ll eat slowly. Enjoy every bite to the fullest, savor its yummyness as you chew it." Sienna smiled and reached over to gently touch his hair.

"Mmm...that sounds great. Okay, I promise." He nodded enthusiastically.

Sienna chuckled softly as she gazed at her son, her worries about the restaurant slowly fading.

Right now, all she truly wished was to cherish this precious moment with her little boy.

...

The Virelle Longue

In one of the VIP rooms at The Virelle Longue, Kevin sat across from Hunter as they enjoyed their drinks. The room was quiet and private, giving them a chance to talk without anyone interrupting.

For a while, neither of them said much, until Hunter finally broke the silence.

"So, what will happen to Riley Sterling?" Hunter asked, his tone casual, although there was clear curiosity in his eyes.

Kevin’s hand paused in midair before he took another sip of wine. He looked at Hunter, who was leaning comfortably against his seat as if they were discussing something far less serious.

"Zach has already decided to continue teaching him a lesson," Kevin said. A small smile appeared on his face before he continued calmly. "So, foolish Riley might suffer quite a lot this time."

Hunter chuckled and raised his glass as though they were celebrating Riley’s downfall rather than discussing a serious business matter.

"Congratulations on winning the military tender, man."

Kevin laughed and shook his head. "Man, did you forget you’re our IT Director for Cresswell? You’re the one who won those projects because you’re the man behind that program."

"I don’t need your congratulations." Hunter placed his wineglass on the table and gave Kevin a look of complete seriousness that lasted only a moment. "I only need you to raise my bonus."

Kevin stared at him before laughing again. "You never change, Hunter."

"Well, you can’t blame me," Hunter replied proudly. "I learned from you and Zach."

"That’s exactly what worries me."

Hunter grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "Then you should be proud. Your lessons are finally paying off."

Kevin shook his head, but his smile remained. "Don’t worry about your bonus. I already thought about it when we developed the proposal."

Hunter’s expression immediately brightened. "I knew you were a good boss."

"I haven’t even told you how much you’re getting."

"You said you thought about it. That means you’re already halfway to saying yes, and I know how greatly you despise cheap people."

Kevin gave him a doubtful look. "You really know how to negotiate for yourself."

"Again, I learned from the best."

"Unfortunately."

Hunter laughed quietly, but Kevin’s expression soon became more thoughtful. He picked up his glass again and took a slow drink before setting it down.

"But seriously," Kevin said, narrowing his eyes slightly, "I still can’t believe you and Zach played such a big role in turning Riley and his team into a bunch of clowns."

Hunter’s smile faded into something more restrained. He knew exactly what Kevin meant.

Kevin had only learned a few days earlier that Zachary had carefully arranged the bait that led Riley to steal their idea. It hadn’t been an accident, and it certainly hadn’t been a simple business mistake. Zachary had planned it because he wanted to punish his nephew.