Chapter 47

Chapter 47:

“Sir, is there anything else to take care of?” Fernanda asked, tilting her head slightly. “If not, I’ll be on my way p>

“Ah, yes, of course,” the department head replied, nodding enthusiastically. “Let me walk you out p>

Though he often dabbled in games himself, his skills left much to be desired. He knew all too well that excelling at gaming required more than just practice—it demanded raw talent.

Some players climbed the ranks effortlessly, while others struggled for every inch of progress.

For some, mastering a champion in the game came naturally, while others had to grind through countless matches to even get close. Fernanda’s victory over Neal was proof enough that she was a skilled player herself.

As they were leaving, he leaned in slightly and whispered,

“I hope you ace your standard test. Our department needs talent like you, and we’re counting on you p>

Fernanda gave a confident smile.

“Don’t worry, sir. I won’t let you down p>

Her assurance seemed to touch him deeply. He patted her shoulder with exaggerated emotion.

“The future of our department depends on you p>

Fernanda suddenly felt the pressure mount.

The department head walked with Fernanda all the way to the gate, his eyes fixed on her as she swung her leg over a sleek, stylish motorcycle.

“Kids these days are something else,” he said, shaking his head in admiration.

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Even though Fernanda wore a mask, he could tell from her posture, presence, and the eyes that peeked out that she was undeniably beautiful.

In a department filled mostly with guys, girls were a rarity. Now that someone as beautiful as Fernanda had joined, the boys would surely fall over themselves to impress her.

Little did they know, this girl was on a whole other level of cool compared to them.

“Ride safe, Fernanda,” the department head said.

“Got it, sir,” Fernanda replied as the motorcycle roared to life. “I’ll see you soon p>

He watched her disappear in a blur of speed. Then, out of nowhere, he jumped up with excitement as the words she had just said sank in. He could tell that Fernanda was confident about her admission to Esaham University.

While waiting for the traffic light to turn green, Fernanda slipped on her earphones and dialed Leon.

“Hey, Leon, where are you p>

“Boss, finished already?” Leon asked. “I’m at Zero Degree. Want me to send someone to get you p>

“No need. I’ll head over myself p>

“Sounds good. When you arrive, head straight to the top floor. I’ll be waiting p>

“Got it,” Fernanda said before ending the call.

Zero Degree was a high-end club in the heart of Esaham’s business district, frequented by the city’s elite and affluent crowd.

Pulling up to the entrance, Fernanda handed her bike to the valet before heading straight to the top floor, following Leon’s instructions.

Leon had everything laid out: a grand table overflowing with renowned delicacies and a rare vintage wine from his personal collection.

Fernanda was there to interrogate the man Leon had captured, but Leon believed that offering her a good meal was more important. The interrogation could wait.

Leon’s subordinates lingered at the entrance, curious to see who could warrant such a grand reception.

When Fernanda appeared, the group stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief.

They had expected some wealthy young heir but were instead greeted by a girl—young and utterly unexpected.

Despite her mask hiding her face and her plain outfit, there was an undeniable aura of elegance and beauty about her.

“Is Leon here?” she asked, her voice smooth and captivating.

“Y-Yes, of course,” one of them stammered, quickly opening the door. “Go right in p>

The moment Fernanda stepped inside, Leon guided her to a seat, his hands firm yet welcoming on her shoulders.

He uncorked the wine and poured a glass for her.

“Let’s share a drink first p>

At twenty-five, Leon had a rugged appearance—broad shoulders, sun-kissed skin, bold eyebrows, and sharp eyes that gave him a commanding presence.

His enthusiasm was hard to turn down, and Fernanda didn’t want to dampen the mood.

Since Leon had already taken care of capturing the man, Fernanda figured she could afford to wait a bit longer for the interrogation.

Raising her glass to Leon, she scanned the lavish surroundings and smirked.

“Leon, you’ve come a long way. You’re nothing like that penniless brawler I met back then p>

Three years ago, Leon had been in bad shape—beaten to a pulp after losing a boxing match. On the run and barely alive, he had crossed paths with Fernanda, who got him to a hospital and saved his life.

That chance encounter forged a strong bond between them, one that had only grown over the years.

“Meeting you changed my life, boss,” Leon said with a booming laugh. “First, you saved me, and then Mr. Cristian Reed helped me set up this business. Talk about luck p>

Fernanda nearly choked on her drink, her eyes going wide in surprise.

“Cristian Reed?” she echoed, her tone curious. “I’ve heard of him. He’s the son of the Reed family who returned from overseas a few months ago, isn’t he p>

“That’s him,” Leon replied. “Wait, you’ve heard of him too p>

Leon had been busy growing his business in Esaham and never paid much attention to the drama in other circles.

When Fernanda mentioned she was heading to Esaham, Leon assumed she was just looking for work. He had no clue about her family ties or her connections with Cristian and Bobby.

“Mr. Reed doesn’t exactly see eye-to-eye with the Reed family, especially his two cousins,” Leon said with a sigh. “They’re constantly scheming against him; it’s downright disgusting. Just recently, they even attempted to assassinate him and chased him all the way to another city p>

Fernanda sipped her wine thoughtfully, trying to piece together the puzzle as she wondered if the assassination attempt had happened when she first met Cristian.

Leon smacked his forehead.

“Ah, sorry. I’m rambling here. It’s just been so long since we caught up. Let’s toast to that p>

The wine kept flowing, and after a few rounds, Leon was visibly tipsy. One of his men stepped in and murmured something in his ear. Leon gave a nod.

“Take Miss Morgan out for a breather. I’ll handle this meeting p>

Realizing Leon had other guests to attend to, Fernanda stood up.

“I’ll check out the rest of your club and take a little walk,” she said casually.

“Sure,” Leon replied. “Make yourself at home here p>

Once Fernanda was out of sight, he nodded to his subordinate, signaling for the guests to be brought in.

Leon had no intention of introducing Fernanda to those wealthy boys. They’d be falling over themselves for her in no time, and he wasn’t having it.

Fernanda’s beauty was undeniable; she naturally drew attention wherever she went. The thought of her being caught up with the wrong crowd felt like a disgrace to her elegance.

Shortly after she left, two men walked in one after the other. Leading the way was a man whose upright posture exuded authority and strength.

His piercing, icy eyes immediately snapped Leon out of his faint tipsiness.

“Mr. Reed!” Leon quickly got to his feet. “Have a seat, please p>

Cristian’s brows knit together as he surveyed the table settings.

“Did you have company just now p>

“I did,” Leon replied with a nod. “Just a friend p>

Bobby let out a chuckle from behind.

“What kind of friend are we talking about here? Judging by the setup, this has to be someone special. Is it a girl? And why haven’t you introduced us yet p>

Leon offered an apologetic smile.

“She had some urgent matter to attend to and already left. But next time, I’ll definitely introduce you p>

Bobby slouched into his seat, casually lighting a cigarette.

“If she’s not a beauty, then count me out p>

Leon grinned, not missing a beat.

“Mr. Harper, you’re getting engaged soon, right? When it comes to beauty, no one could possibly top your fiancée p>

Bobby glared at him.

“Leon, are you making fun of me p>

Why was everyone always bringing up his engagement? It felt like people only got a kick out of pairing him with that small-town girl.

Cristian caught sight of Bobby’s irritated look and gave a slight shake of his head.

Bobby was acting like he couldn’t care less about the girl. But Cristian knew better—deep down, Bobby would regret this attitude in the long run.