Chapter 651

The building rose high in the heart of Berlin’s business district, its wide glass panels reflecting the bright midday sky while the traffic below moved in steady order. The car carrying Cale came to a smooth stop at the main entrance, and without delay, a staff member stepped forward to greet him with practiced professionalism.

“Welcome, Mr. Miller. Mr. Brandon is already expecting you.”

Cale gave a brief nod before stepping inside. His movements were calm, measured-his gaze sweeping the surroundings in a way that caught every detail without drawing attention. The place was suitable for a meeting. Quiet, controlled, and set right in the center of the city.

The elevator carried him upward, and soon an assistant guided him toward an exclusive café tucked within the building. It wasn’t crowded, clearly not meant for the general public. The atmosphere was refined, understated, with the faint aroma of coffee lingering in the air.

“Cale.”

The voice greeted him first.

A man stood from his seat, a faint smile curving his lips. Brandon-well-dressed, composed, with the easy confidence of

someone accustomed to being at the top.

“Long time no see,” Brandon added, extending his hand.

Cale took it without hesitation. “Is it?” he said with a soft laugh. “I think it’s been… what, two years?”

“You’re still the same-not a fan of small talk.”

“I just prefer honesty.”

Brandon chuckled. “Have a seat.”

They settled into a corner of the café-private enough for serious conversation without being completely hidden. A server approached, took their orders swiftly, and disappeared just as quietly.

“I hear you’re expanding your projects in Hong Kong,” Brandon said, getting straight to the point.

Cale leaned back slightly. “I’m not ‘starting.’ I’m continuing what’s already been established there.”

“On a different scale,” Brandon countered, his gaze sharpening with interest.

“You could say that.”

Brandon nodded slowly. “And you chose Brandon Corp as your first partner there. I’m flattered.”

“I choose based on data,” Cale replied evenly. “Your reputation is clean. Your projects are consistent. And you’re not tied to anything… unnecessary.”

The corner of Brandon’s mouth lifted. “That your way of saying I’m ‘safo’?”

“I’m saying it directly to you-which means I’m not hiding anything before starting something new.”

Brandon let out a soft laugh. “I like that.”

Their drinks arrived, and the conversation deepened.

They moved through numbers, projections, distribution plans, even potential risks. No raised voices, no drawn-out bargaining -everything flowed smoothly, almost effortlessly.

“You haven’t changed much,” Brandon remarked after a while.

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Cale lifted a brow. “In what way?”

“The way you think. You’re always a few steps ahead of everyone else.”

“And you’ve always known how to make use of that,” Cale replied with a faint smirk.

“In business, that’s necessary,” Brandon said lightly.

A brief pause followed as they both took a moment to enjoy their coffee and the light refreshments. Then Brandon leaned back slightly, his tone more casual.

“And what about your personal life?”

Cale didn’t answer right away. He took a slow sip of his coffee, as if the question didn’t warrant an immediate response. Nothing worth discussing.”

“Marriage isn’t something that falls under ‘nothing,”” Brandon said, still easygoing.

Cale glanced at him briefly. “For me, it doesn’t change the way I operate.”

“For some people, it changes everything.”

“Then I’m not one of those people.”

Brandon smiled, as if he had expected that answer. “Did your wife come to Berlin with you?”

“Yes.”

“Lucky you,” Brandon murmured. “This city’s beautiful when you have someone to share it with.”

Cale didn’t respond, and the topic ended there. They returned to business-discussing the plans that would take shape once Cale returned to Hong Kong. This meeting itself only happened because Brandon had business in Germany-something about visiting family. But Cale had no interest in digging deeper.

Nearly an hour later, their conversation came to a natural close. No formal agreement was signed today, but it was enough to confirm that their partnership would move forward. For Cale, securing a client like Brandon-and turning it into cooperation— was exactly the right move.

“I’ll send the final draft this week,” Brandon said as he stood.

“I’ll be waiting. And the sooner, the better. I’ll have Liu review it.”

“You’re always in a hurry,” Brandon muttered.

“I don’t like waiting.”

Brandon chuckled. “I’ll remember that.”

They walked out of the café together, their pace unhurried. But just before they parted ways-

someone approached.

His steps were quick, yet hesitant. A man dressed entirely in black, wearing dark sunglasses, neat but visibly tense. He stopped a few steps away from Brandon and gave a slight bow.

“Mr. Brandon,” he greeted politely.

Brandon glanced at him, his expression unchanged. “Yes?”

“My apologies for the interruption, sir. But there’s a message.”

The man’s tone was careful-too careful-as if he were choosing each word with precision before delivering it.

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Cale didn’t speak. As far as he was concerned, it was Brandon’s matter to handle with his subordinate. Nothing about the exchange seemed out of place-just a subordinate reporting to his superior.

But his eyes shifted, observing.

For some reason… he paid closer attention.

And in that single second-he recognized the man. The same face. One of them. One of the men who had surrounded Naomi at

the hotel.

Cale didn’t forget faces like that.

“A message?” Brandon repeated it casually.

The man swallowed before continuing, “The master… wishes to see the young master.”

Silence followed.

Brief-but enough to stir something sharp in Cale’s mind.

Was Brandon… connected to them?

Then why hadn’t he known? Had Liu missed something?

Brandon didn’t respond immediately. He simply looked at the man for a few seconds, then let out a quiet breath-as if none of this surprised him.

“Tell him I’m not interested in meeting,” Brandon said calmly. “I’m here for my mother. Nothing else.”

“B-but, Young Master-”

“Leave,” Brandon cut in.

This time, there was no smile. His tone remained low-but it carried enough weight to make the man step back without another

word.