Mrs. Rocco gazed at Kayden, who remained silent, before continuing, “Mr. Scott, I wonder if you understand what I mean. Do you notice the looks around us?”
Kayden instinctively glanced around. The men dining in the restaurant were all stealing glances, some subtle, some blatant, at Mrs. Rocco, who was seated across from him.
The scene felt oddly familiar, reminiscent of when Wood Faulkner was in Inassea. A beautiful woman like her never lacked attention, and the men who accompanied such women always became the target of envy and jealousy.
“These men,” Mrs. Rocco said, “every one of them desires me. But I’ll never lower my gaze to look at them. Do you know why?”
Kayden didn’t answer. He simply stared at her.
She smiled faintly and continued, “Because they’re not worth it. But you’re different. If you looked at me that way, I wouldn’t be able to resist meeting your eyes.”
She leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a softer tone. “And since you said you’re currently unemployed, how about this? If you don’t mind, I’ll take care of you.”
Her words carried a boldness that matched the sudden sparkle in her eyes. Mrs. Rocco wasn’t shy or hesitant. At her age, she had no room for coyness. She said what she wanted to say, plainly and directly.
Kayden, though slightly confused, had heard of arrangements like this before. He asked, “Are you saying you want to… keep me?”
She nodded without hesitation. “You could put it that way. After all, I can’t give you a formal title. But don’t worry-if you’re with me, you won’t regret it. I’ll give you ten million dollars a month as an allowance. In return, all I ask is that you spend time with me four times a month.”
She didn’t mince words. Her offer was direct and straightforward.
Kayden stared at her for a moment before replying, “Let’s talk about that later. For now, I just have one question for you. Among the people your family invited this time, is there someone named Cyrus Nightbane? He works under Asher Voss.”
Mrs. Rocco’s expression shifted slightly, though she didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she looked somewhat disappointed. “So… you’re rejecting my offer? Is it because the money isn’t enough? Or do you think four times a month is too few? Or… do you simply not like me?”
Kayden hesitated, his tone uncertain. “Savannah, let’s talk about this later. Right now, I have something I need to take care of. It’s urgent.”
“What do you need to do? Just tell me. If it’s something I can help with, I’ll do it. Will you agree to my terms if I help you?” she pressed, her tone steady.
Her face, flawless and unwrinkled, radiated a calm confidence. Her delicate hands, smooth and soft, exuded a subtle sensuality. If Georgia was considered a perfect woman, this forty-year-old Savannah was every bit her equal.
“Savannah,” Kayden replied bluntly, “it’s more complicated than you think. You can’t solve this problem.”
Mrs. Rocco fell silent, but her sharp eyes remained fixed on him. After several seconds of quiet contemplation, she suddenly broke into a laugh. “Alright. I might’ve been too hasty. Fine. I’ll tell you-there’s indeed someone named Cyrus Nightbane who will be attending the auction. But remember, no killing is allowed at the auction. If you want to deal with him, you’ll have to wait until after the event. Once it’s over, I’ll make it easy for you to take care of him.”
Her confidence was chilling, as if eliminating Cyrus Nightbane was a trivial matter for her.
Kayden studied her carefully. This woman didn’t show any unnecessary emotion. Just then, her phone rang. She answered, spoke briefly, and hung up.
“Mr. Scott, think about my offer carefully. I look forward to meeting you again soon, just the two of us. Next time, I’ll choose the location-somewhere much more private than this restaurant.” With that, she stood up.
“Mr. Scott, I have some matters to attend to. Goodbye for now.” She walked away without hesitation, leaving only her elegant silhouette behind.
This woman was extraordinary. To wield such power and confidence in the Rocco family, and to boldly propose such an arrangement with Kayden, she was no ordinary woman. Her actions broke conventions and defied the rigid traditions of powerful families.
After she left, Kayden sat alone. His expression shifted subtly. Their meeting had yielded something important-confirmation that Cyrus Nightbane would be attending.
If Cyrus Nightbane came to the Western Frontier, it would mark the beginning of his end. Kayden planned to eliminate Cyrus Nightbane first, then Asher Voss. He would strip them of their power, one layer at a time, until they were utterly destroyed.
As he outlined his plan in his mind, voices from nearby drew his attention.
“Don’t worry, young master. This drug works wonders. Just slip it into her drink, and she’ll be completely under your control. After that, you can do whatever you want with her. You could even make her your pet if you wanted-she’d have no choice but to obey.” The voice belonged to a middle-aged man with greasy hair parted down the middle, his sly grin revealing a missing tooth.
The well-dressed young man beside him nodded. “It’s really that effective?”
“Of course!” the middle-aged man replied with a smirk. “I’ve used it on some of the interns at our company. Once they took it, they became completely submissive. I could do whatever I wanted with them, and they didn’t resist at all. Trust me, it’s foolproof.”
The young man examined the drug in his hand and nodded. “Alright, I’ll take it. But remember-if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll kill you.”
The middle-aged man paled, his face turning green. He nodded frantically. “Yes, yes, I understand! I’ll keep my mouth shut. You can trust me-I’m as good as dead already. Dead men don’t talk.”
“Good. Now get out of here.”
The middle-aged man hesitated before asking, “Young master, I don’t understand one thing. Why do you need to use a drug on that woman? She’d probably come to you willingly if you just waved her over. Isn’t this unnecessary?”
The young man sneered. “What do you know? If she came willingly, where’s the fun in that? I need the thrill-the feeling of conquest.”
“Alright, get out.”
The middle-aged man muttered a quick “yes” and scurried away.
The young man waited a moment, then glanced toward the door and called out enthusiastically, “Emma, come in!”
Kayden had no intention of getting involved-until he heard that name.
Emma!
He froze and turned to look.
It was her-Mr. Baker’s daughter, Emma.