Minutes later, Merlin emerged wearing his signature black suit and black shirt, complete with black leather shoes.

Lucas glanced up at his boss and felt his eye twitch involuntarily. Merlin, who typically scorned flashy accessories, had adorned his outfit with a blazing red pocket square. He was clearly desperate to catch Hailee’s attention!

Catching Lucas’s gaze, Merlin asked with studied nonchalance, “How do I look?”

Lucas summoned his most natural praise. “Mr. Blakely, you wear clothes like they were tailored by angels. This black suit and shirt combination suits you flawlessly, and that red pocket square provides the perfect accent.” He arranged his features into sincere admiration. “You look devastatingly handsome today. Hollywood would crown you their king within hours.”

Merlin shot Lucas a sideways glance, his lips curving into a mocking smile. “I never realized you possessed such talent for smooth talking!” With that barb delivered, Merlin strode toward the stairs.

Lucas felt heat rise in his cheeks at the mockery, but as Merlin brushed past him, he caught the subtle upward curve of Merlin’s mouth. Merlin had savored every word of praise! He exhaled as he realized he had played his part perfectly!

After Merlin disappeared down the hall, Lucas raised an amused eyebrow. His typically aloof boss was now experiencing love’s first stirrings, becoming increasingly vain and hungry for compliments about his appearance.

Lucas filed this revelation away—he would need to keep praising Merlin’s looks!

Merlin remained unaware that his image in his subordinate’s mind had transformed completely. Accompanied by Lucas and bodyguards, he traveled by car to Willow Lane.

At nine o’clock, Willow Lane blazed with light, teeming with people and saturated with the rich aromas of street food.

The luxurious black Bentley glided to a stop before Loftus’s Comfort Eats, instantly magnetizing a crowd.

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“Another luxury car has graced Willow Lane—come witness this spectacle!”

“Last time, some big shot with a Rolls-Royce reserved the entire restaurant, and now we have a Bentley owner!”

“Has Hailee’s father’s cooking become legendary among the wealthy elite?”

The sleek Bentley drew a crowd on Willow Lane, and Merlin’s stomach twisted with regret. He cursed his poor judgment—arriving in luxury with an entourage when he should have slipped in unnoticed, dressed like any other customer. Now, it was too late, and there was no turning back from this spectacle.

While Merlin wrestled with how to extract himself from the car before finding Hailee in Loftus’s Comfort Eats, eager locals had already burst through the restaurant doors with breathless news. “Hailee, drop everything and get out here! Another big shot’s rolled up to your place! Your dad’s cooking has put him on the map—rich folks are making pilgrimages just for his spaghetti. Move!”

The announcement electrified the restaurant. Ever since Cole booked the entire restaurant and pressed ten thousand dollars into each customer’s hand as compensation for their inconvenience, Loftus’s Comfort Eats had become a goldmine of hope. Every patron nursed the fantasy that another wealthy benefactor would appear and rain money on them. Today felt like their lucky day.

“Sweet mercy, we hit the jackpot again! Time to cash in on another VIP visit!”

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