Chapter 9

"Hey, did you all hear the latest rumor? Some anonymous mogul bought The Kiss of Angel at a 100 million bucks!"

"Yeah, I heard the news earlier too. Goodness, 100 million bucks for a diamond ring? What mogul could have afforded the Kiss of Angel?"

In the meantime, citizens of the Great Central Land were all speculating who the buyer was. This stirred up the prestigious families as well. Buying the Kiss of Angel with that much money without a second thought was no doubt the work of an extraordinary being.

Sean had no idea that his acquisition of the Kiss of Angel would cause such an uproar within the Great Central City.

The marketing department had a very simple and direct goal, making them the driving force of their company’s business. Sean had spent his last five years in that department doing absolutely nothing.

At that moment, Sean realized that he was out of cigarettes and made his way to the office hall. Upon entry, discussions from envious people came from everywhere.

"Wonder what mogul could spend such an enormous fortune to buy the Kiss of Angel without batting an eye. I bet they must have bought it for a wedding proposal!"

"Obviously! Who on Earth buys diamond rings for anything else? Wonder who the lucky lady is!"

Jasmine, meanwhile, was fantasizing. "If that mogul presented the Kiss of Angel to propose to me, I’d immediately agree to marry him no matter what." No one dared defy or even talk back to Jasmine as she started speaking her mind. Of all the Thompsons, aside from Maisie, Jasmine was the most beautiful woman in the family.

“Ha!”

Sean could not hold on to his laughter at Jasmine’s declaration.

Jasmine shifted her gaze toward Sean in a split second, "What’s so funny, scumbag?" Sean teasing her was the biggest disgrace Jasmine had ever experienced.

"Nothing!" replied Sean, who was too lazy to even argue with the woman who daydreamed of marrying into a prestigious family.

Staring at Sean's back, Jasmine sighed, "How dare a lowlife like you mock me? Could you even purchase such a ring for Maisie? You think you’re on that mogul's level? Just you wait. On the Monday of Maisie's birthday, if you can’t surprise her, the shame will be on the other foot!"

Jasmine was as irritating as Houston. Despite Jasmine’s sarcastic comment, Sean completely ignored her.

'Next Monday, the shame will be on the other foot.'

Sean immediately dialed Moses Langston as soon as he left the company. "Come get me!"

"Yes, your Highness!" Moses replied respectfully.

Sean had some spare time on his hands to wait for Moses, so he decided to go to the nearby supermarket to replenish his cigarette supply. "Hey, Mr. Draco. Get me a pack of cigarettes!" he said, producing a 100 bucks and handing it to the cashier.

"I’m reading. Get it yourself!" said the Mr. Draco, the supermarket boss, in his wretched tone.

"Okay!" Sean got himself a pack and threw the 100 bucks right into the money box on the counter.

Sean did not bother with the change. For the five years after his uxorilocal marriage into the Thompson family, Mr. Draco was his only friend. He would frequently come over to buy cigarettes, and as time went by, the two grew closer.

Initially, Sean was so poor that Mr. Draco allowed him to leave all his purchases on a tab. Now that Sean had a salary, he could pay off the debt he had accumulated. Whenever he did not have small change, he would just throw in 100 bucks. The next time he comes to purchase anything, that balance would be paid off. This was a tacit understanding between them.

Sean opened the pack he just bought and lit up one of the cigarettes. He waved at Mr. Draco again as he left, "See ya, Mr. Draco!"

"Off you go!" Draco just glanced coldly at Sean.

As soon as Sean finished the smoke, Moses Langston arrived at the Thompson Pharmaceutical Group in a Rolls-Royce Phantom, valued up to 10 million bucks. Sean went up and took up the passenger’s seat.

"Where would you like to go, your Highness?" Moses asked.

Sean thought about it for a moment and replied, "The Royal Imperial Hotel!"

"Yes, your Highness!" Moses immediately made a U-turn and headed toward the Royal Imperial Hotel.

The arrival of the luxurious Rolls-Royce Phantom at the Thompson Pharmaceutical Group caused an uproar within the company as well. "Did a Rolls-Royce Phantom really just stop in front of the building?" Jasmine was in shock.

A gentleman replied, firmly, "It did; this year’s model no less. I reckon that the price of the latest release would cost 100 million bucks at the minimum."

"Heavens! Could the Kiss of Angel mogul have arrived? Could he have set his eyes on me? Could he be sending people to ask about us?" Jasmine said, full of hope.

Jasmine always wished to marry into a prestigious family, even dreaming of it. When she heard that a Rolls-Royce Phantom appeared at the company doorstep, she was so excited that her heart skipped a beat. Unfortunately, never in her life would she have thought that the one who walked into the luxurious car was the scumbag, Sean Young.

The Royal Imperial Hotel! A luxurious building in Great Central City where many infamous characters held weddings and organized birthdays for their offspring. The Hotel was visited only by insanely rich beings. The lowest price for a place in the common hall was at least a few 100 thousand bucks, at least 300 thousand bucks to book the entire hall, and could even cost up to five million bucks to book part of the luxurious grand hall. This was why it was so famous.

The Royal Imperial Hotel did not only represent wealth, but also a Great Central City icon. Commoners who planned to entertain guests would have their meals at the common hall; a proud action in itself. However, only a rank as high as that of the four great families and the ten prestigious families could afford to even book the entire floor that comprised the luxurious grand hall. The huge sum was no small value to commoners. To them, it was too much.

Sean and Moses arrived at the Royal Imperial Hotel at lightning speed. "Your Highness, do you need my help?" Moses asked cordially.

Sean replied, "I'm good by myself. Just wait here for me, I’ll be back soon."

"Yes, your Highness!" Moses replied again.

Sean headed toward the entrance of the Royal Imperial Hotel and was greeted by a waiter wearing a delightful smile. "Hello, sir. Are you here to dine in, or would you like to make a reservation?"

“Here for a reservation," Sean politely answered.

The waiter politely asked once again, "May I know when you would like the booking to be made? Just a table or the entire hall?"

"I would like to book the entire hall this Monday," Sean softly replied.

‘Beg your pardon! Book the entire hall?'

The waiter was stunned at Sean’s request. "Sir, please wait here a moment. I will go get the manager!" Whenever a customer requested to book the hall, the waiter had to fetch the manager; he had no authority to do it himself.

"Booking the entire hall, are we?" came the manager--a concierge. He wore a neat suit with leathered shoes, and also a dumbfounded face.

The concierge carefully sized up Sean. What he could see with his own eyes was a guy wearing plain clothing and his face changed from being dumbfounded to contempt. The concierge made his judgement based on his way of dress, and believed that Sean had to be poor. How could he afford to book the entire hall?

For reference, booking the entire hall of the Royal Imperial Hotel would cost 10 million bucks; it was totally impossible for the man standing right in front of him to afford it.

Sean nodded and answered, "Yes please, I would like to book the entire hall for the coming Monday!"

"Unfortunately sir, next Monday is unavailable; it's already been booked. Please come again!" the concierge said impatiently.

Sean frowned. "All advance bookings are unavailable? Can you nullify them? I’m willing to pay double the price to book the entire hall!"

DOUBLE THE PRICE?

The concierge’s face twitched. He could not believe the guy would go to such an extent to talk so big! If only Sean had worn something more impressive and elegant, things might have turned out different. However, in his plain clothes, promising so much money would not get him anywhere.

"I’m very sorry, sir. It really is fully booked!" the concierge said, looking very unpleasant.

Sean replied calmly, "It’s alright. If double the price isn’t enough, then I’ll double it up again. Four times the booking fee should be enough, I wager?"

Seeing Sean too stubborn to retreat, the concierge was enraged. He started shouting at Sean, looking absolutely disgusted. "That is enough, young man. You think you can afford to book the entire hall? This could very well be the greatest joke I’ve ever heard! Get lost, or I’ll call in the security to drag you out."