Chapter 726
“Don’t be too harsh on him. If Liu wasn’t around, you’d be the one struggling,” Lydia said as she adjusted her glasses.
“I know.”
“The one who should actually pay me extra is you, darling. You’re the reason I’ve been busy all day.”
Cale laughed softly at that. “Then tell me what you want.” This time, his full attention shifted toward her. ” Actually… have you thought about where you want to eat lunch? Or do you want to try one of my favorite restaurants?”
“Mm, of course.” Lydia nodded immediately, clearly interested. “Speaking of food, what about Naomi? When we left earlier, she was still asleep.”
“Just leave her be,” Cale replied while returning to the stack of files in front of him. “Park Jin will take care of her
anyway.’
Lydia looked uncertain. “Are you sure he can be trusted?”
“If you want to make sure so badly, why not call the kid yourself?”
A wide grin spread across Lydia’s face. “You’re right.”
Just as Lydia reached for the phone inside her bag, the office door suddenly opened again. Liu entered first, but this time his expression was far more serious than usual.
“Sir,” he said quietly, “there are several guests who… wish to meet with you personally.”
Cale’s gaze instantly turned cold. “Faster than I expected.” He immediately began tidying the documents on his desk before grabbing his blazer and slipping it on in one swift motion.
Lydia looked up at him. “What’s going on?”
Before Cale could answer, several men began filing into the room.
Lydia immediately sensed the difference between them and ordinary business associates. None of them looked rough or flashy. Their clothes were formal, neat, perfectly tailored even. But their eyes were too sharp, too calculating. And the way they carried themselves made one thing painfully obvious.
These were men accustomed to being in control.
Lydia’s instincts immediately whispered the truth to her.
They were not ordinary guests.
Liu stepped a little closer to her side. “Mrs. Lydia doesn’t need to worry,” he said quietly. “They’re only Mr. Cale’s local business associates.”
“Only?” Lydia glanced at the men again, unconvinced.
Liu gave a faint smile, but he didn’t elaborate any further.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the office had already shifted into something much heavier, far more tense than before.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Kai,” the men greeted in unison.
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Cale’s eyes swept across each of the guests who had arrived that afternoon. “You all went through the trouble of coming here yourselves.” He walked toward them, stopping right in the middle of the group before speaking again. “How come I wasn’t informed there was a scheduled visit?”
One of the men lifted his chin and met Cale’s gaze without hesitation. “Perhaps… we should speak somewhere more private?” His eyes briefly shifted toward Lydia, who was now standing behind Cale. “We wouldn’t want to cause any misunderstandings.”
Cale exhaled slowly. Then he glanced toward Liu. “Prepare the meeting room. I don’t want today’s work delayed any longer because of unexpected guests.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Liu quickly opened another room connected to Cale’s office and gestured for the men to enter first.
Meanwhile, Cale walked back toward Lydia. “I need to discuss something urgent with them. You don’t mind waiting for a bit, do you?”
“But… who are they?”
Cale pressed a kiss to the top of Lydia’s head. “I’ll tell you later.”
Without waiting for Lydia’s response, Cale entered the room and shut the door tightly behind him, as though no one was allowed to disturb or interrupt whatever discussion was about to take place inside.
“So,” Cale said without wasting time, “what exactly do you want?”
He took a seat in the center of the room, his gaze cold and razor-sharp as he looked at each of them.
The man sitting closest to him spoke first. “We heard the heir of the Chen family is under your protection.”
Cale didn’t respond immediately.