Chapter 15

A look of horror passed between Howard and Marilyn.

Howard was especially rattled. He had been beaten down mercilessly and his pride was in shreds. Whatever social advantage he thought he had over Sean was utterly decimated.

“Bo— Boss? You called him Boss?” Howard asked the waiter, fearing the worst to be true.

“Right, perhaps you’ve mistaken him for someone else,” Marilyn butted in.

The waiter had a deadpan expression in response to their questions. “Is there a problem? You are dining with the boss and you don’t know who he is?”

“How is that possible?” Sean Young was the owner of Royal Imperial Hotel? Impossible. Howard and Marilyn refused to believe the waiter’s words.

If Sean was really the owner of Royal Imperial Hotel, he would have to be the mysterious billionaire who paid five billion for the business.

It was not possible. Sean was a useless man, right?

No.

In a split second, Howard and Marilyn were experiencing cognitive dissonance.

How could a good-for-nothing guy like Sean be the owner of Royal Imperial Hotel?

A few minutes ago, Marilyn was just saying how Sean would never amount to anything and now, he was being addressed as the owner of Royal Imperial Hotel. Marilyn wanted to curl up somewhere and hide in her shame.

Watching the couple so frazzled brought a smirk to Sean’s face. He had wanted to lay low but they were being too obnoxious.

He could only tolerate so much.

Maisie turned to the waiter and asked, “You’re sure Sean Young is your boss?”

“Yes! You’re dining with him and none of you know who he is?” The waiter was bewildered.

Maisie turned her attention to Sean. She stared at him as if he was a creature from a fantasy novel.

The past five years she spent with Sean had told her he was an incompetent man. How did he become the owner of Royal Imperial Hotel?

There was no logical explanation.

When they left the hotel, Howard and Marilyn were as white as a sheet. It had been a rough night for them.

Outside the hotel, Maisie tugged Sean aside and asked, “What is going on?”

“Maisie, do you believe I’m the owner of this hotel?” Sean asked, a bemused twinkle in his eye.

Maisie’s expression darkened. “You’re still keeping up the lie? You can fool them, but you can’t fool me.”

Sean knew his performance for the past five years was abysmal. He did not blame Maisie for doubting his capabilities. Even if he told her about his connection to The Peerless Dragon, she would not believe him.

Sean had to keep his identity a secret. He was not ready to break the news just yet.

Keeping a low profile was important to avoid unnecessary obstacles.

He held off telling Maisie about his true identity. Three months, he had to wait at least three months before telling her, for her sake.

Three months until he unlocked the Superior Dragon Method. By then, he would cut through their problems like a hot knife through butter.

“Okay, okay. Moses Langston was the one who bought the hotel. I was with him during the purchase. We’re old friends, so he told the staff to treat me like their boss.” Sean cooked up a white lie on the spot.

At this explanation, Maisie nodded in agreement. She could never believe Sean was the owner of Royal Imperial Hotel.

There was another conversion going on a few feet away. A pale-faced Howard was questioning Marilyn, “What happened? Who is Sean?”

“I… I don’t know,” Marilyn uttered in confusion.

In the past five years, Sean had been a good-for-nothing character who relied on Maisie’s financial support, but now, he was the owner of Royal Imperial Hotel? The revelation was just as shocking to Marilyn as it was to Howard.

After some thinking, Howard fielded his theory. “Do you think your cousin bribed the waiter to say that? Maybe he really is inept and we were played?”

“It’s possible. Maisie does have a competitive streak,” Marilyn said in a low voice.

Howard was willing to believe anything but the truth. A cruel expression crossed his face. “It must be that! That useless piece of trash humiliated me in front of your cousin. I’m gonna get him later!”

“I’ll follow your cue,” Marilyn said. The thought of Sean upstaging her boyfriend made her jaw clench.

Soon, the two couples got into the car. Howard drove them to the most luxurious mall in Great Central City. Throughout the journey, he was in a bad mood.

They got down from the car and Howard began his play. “Marilyn, there are some new models from Hermes. Shall we go have a look?”

“Yes! Yes!” Marilyn called out enthusiastically.

Maisie did not argue. Luxury bags were a weakness of women.

“Maisie, I’m gonna go to the restroom,” Sean said. He was having a stomachache.

Sean turned and headed for the mall restroom.

After Sean left, Howard sneered, “They must have cooked up the story. The owner? Maisie must have bribed the waiter to say such things.”

Marilyn agreed. She watched Sean’s retreating figure and imagined him as a court jester.

They did not believe Sean could be the owner of Royal Imperial Hotel. The scene in the restaurant was nothing but a ruse.

Why else would he rush off to the restroom at the mention of Hermes? He must be regretting his earlier brags.

Sean entered a restroom stall, took off his pants and began emptying his bowels

After his business was done, he zipped up his pants and washed his hands.

Sean headed to Hermes.

Inside the luxury bag shop, Maisie was fixated on a white handbag that was on display.

She walked up to the display and studied the item. It was ivory-white with a diamond embedded in the clasp, embodying elegance and regality.

Maisie approached the handbag. Before she laid hands on it, there was a. “Stop!”

A middle-aged woman dressed in a black uniform rushed up to Maisie’s side. Her face was scrunched up in anger as she said, “How dare you! This is the latest Hermes model. It costs 500,000. Can you afford it?”