Ryan, having drunk a bit too much, completely missed Anthony Carter’s reaction. Seeing William’s similarly cold attitude towards his grandfather, Ryan’s anger flared. Pointing at William, he shouted, “William! Am I giving you too much respect? How dare you speak to my grandfather like that?”
Slap!
Anthony Carter, quaking with fear, delivered a hefty slap across Ryan’s face. His voice, edged with panic, came out sharper than intended, “You good-for-nothing! How dare you speak to Mr. Johnson like that?”
Ryan was left stunned by the slap, while Bella and the group from the Bronx Budo Dojo were equally shocked.
Mr. Johnson?
The way Anthony Carter addressed William was quite intriguing.
Who could be so significant that even Anthony Carter would call him ‘Mr.’?
William ignored them, carrying a bottle of wine to the storeroom. Anthony Carter, on the other hand, meekly followed William, whispering, “Mr. Johnson, the child doesn’t know better. Please don’t take it to heart. Once we get home, I’ll make sure to discipline him severely.”
“Come here,” William, still holding the wine bottle, continued walking to the storeroom with Anthony Carter trailing behind.
Caleb initially wanted to follow, but recalling the slap Anthony Carter gave Ryan, he suddenly couldn’t muster the courage.
How assertive this old man was!
Who would dare to follow?
After placing the wine bottle in the storeroom and stepping out a minute later, William gave Anthony Carter a profound look. With no one else around, he calmly said, “Anthony, when you get back, tell them not to disturb me unless necessary. As for your descendants, there’s no need for them to seek me out intentionally. The earlier ones can be overlooked, but if others continue to approach, don’t blame me for not cherishing old ties.”
Sigh
“I understand,” Anthony Carter replied with his head bowed. He had sent Lila to William, hoping that in William’s unfamiliarity with contemporary society, Lila could forge a closer bond with him.
Of course, there was a gamble involved. If any of their descendants pestered or offended William, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Like the current situation with Ryan.
“As for Ryan, I won’t hold it against him. But as for your family, keep them in check,” William’s temper wasn’t necessarily bad, but it wasn’t too accommodating either. Not everyone who offended him met a dire fate, but their lives hung in the balance of William’s whims.
“Rest assured, sir, I’ll ensure Ryan is disciplined when we get home!”
“At your age, you should head home and rest,” William added and then exited without another word.
Throughout this exchange, Anthony Carter followed William closely, demonstrating a clear hierarchy in their relationship.
Inside the bar, many patrons, having had a bit too much to drink, were oblivious to the commotion. However, every detail was observed by Bella.
The mannerisms and actions of Anthony Carter were indeed food for thought!
After returning to the main hall, Anthony Carter bowed his head slightly towards William, then led Ryan out. The members of the Bronx Budo Dojo also left in their entirety.
Bella typed out a string of text on her phone’s chat interface, intending to share with Lila what she witnessed tonight. However, after hesitating for a moment, she deleted everything.
Even now, Bella remained uncertain about William’s identity. But Anthony Carter’s behavior assured her one thing: William’s background was no ordinary one. For him to elicit such a gesture from Anthony Carter spoke volumes. It went beyond just having a vast network or power.
“William, how about joining me for a casual lunch at my place tomorrow?” Bella approached William and tentatively suggested.
William looked at Bella nonchalantly. In the moment their eyes met, Bella felt as though this man could see straight through her, causing her to instinctively avoid his gaze.
“Sure,” William agreed without hesitation. He held no animosity toward old acquaintances, but the demeanor of Anthony Carter and his group had shifted from fifty years ago. While they still respected William, they seemed more fearful of William taking away all they had accumulated over the years.
They seemed even more terrified that their descendants would serve William for generations.
It was rather laughable.
With William’s influence and capability, wealth and power were within easy reach if he so desired. In his eyes, all that Anthony Carter and his associates had amassed was worth less than dirt.
Bella’s interest in William had intensified, and after tonight, she was determined not to share the evening’s events with Lila and her group. She wanted to know who William truly was. 𝘰𝑣𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
After receiving an affirmative answer from William, Bella left, trying to appear nonchalant.
Barely two minutes after Bella departed, Maria approached William. She seemed somewhat uneasy as she said, “William, after tomorrow, perhaps it’s best if you don’t come to work. Maria will ensure you get your commission for these two days.”
William simply nodded, “Thank you, Maria. If you ever face any difficulties in the future, you can come to me.”
He had noticed that even though his presence could bring substantial revenue to the bar, the people seeking him out these past two nights posed a potential problem for Maria and the others, especially given the offense he had caused Ryan. This situation was akin to a ticking time bomb, potentially bringing disaster to Maria’s establishment.
Hearing William’s words, Maria chuckled and playfully rolled her eyes at him, “I was about to say the same thing to you! What troubles could I possibly face? As for you, navigating a big city alone isn’t easy. If you ever need help, come to Maria.”
William laughed, replying, “Sure.”
“If you’re looking for a part-time job, I can hook you up,” Maria began, pulling out her phone. “The pay might not be as much as here, but it should cover your living expenses. Let me give you a contact…”
William shook his head, “Maria, I appreciate the thought, but I’ve already found a part-time job.”
Dining with Bella could be considered a job, he mused, and the compensation wasn’t bad. By the look in Bella’s eyes, she might have figured out something, but it wasn’t of significance. William wasn’t too concerned about how others perceived him.
Would it matter if everyone knew he had the ability to live forever?
“I’ll transfer your commission and base pay for the past two days then,” Maria said, initiating a mobile transfer. “Hold on, don’t leave just yet. Let’s all have a goodbye meal together, on me.”
Checking his phone, William saw Maria had transferred $30,000 to him. That would last him quite a while.
Regarding the goodbye meal, he had only worked two nights after all. Maria had been more than fair and generous with him.
“Alright,” William replied with a smile, “Maria, it’s not really a ‘goodbye’. I’ll probably come around often for drinks.”
Drinks?
Maria chuckled. Given William’s lightweight drinking capacity, it was as if he was coming for water rather than alcohol.
His primary reason for visiting the bar was probably to see Evelyn, wasn’t it?