Chapter 698
Chapter 698:
But he saw an opportunity in the misunderstanding. With a slight smile, Ashton replied, “I’m not here to collect any debts. On the contrary, I’m here to put some money in your pocket. How much is this restaurant? Name your price.”
Malcom’s face clouded over instantly. “Buy my restaurant? Who told you I was selling? I won’t sell it! Please leave, you’re not welcome here.”
Ashton quickly surmised that Malcom thought he was just another vulture swooping in, trying to snatch up the restaurant on the cheap.
“Mr. Deleon, you misunderstand me,” Ashton replied calmly. “I have no intention of exploiting your hardship. I know you’re going through a rough patch, so name your price. As long as it’s reasonable, I’ll meet it.”
Unexpectedly, Malcom snorted, crossing his arms. “This restaurant was handed down by my ancestors. Even if I mismanage it, I’m not selling my family’s legacy.”
Ashton nodded, respecting Malcom’s firm stance.
Switching tactics, Ashton explained, “I’m the head of Skyline Group’s branch here, and I plan to enter the city’s culinary competition. I need a restaurant as my entry point. If…”
possible, I’d like to partner with you. Let me sign up under your restaurant’s name, and in exchange, I’ll settle your debts. Once that’s done, I won’t meddle in your business. How does that sound?”
To Ashton, it seemed like a fair deal—he’d only be borrowing the restaurant’s name for the contest, and the reward was generous enough to sweeten the pot.
But Malcom shook his head almost instantly. “No, thanks. What if you tarnish my restaurant’s name? I’d end up worse off!”
Ashton nearly laughed. “Tarnish its name? What good reputation do you think it has? You could count the diners here on one hand, even at peak hours. And this place is downtown. If it were anywhere else, you’d be lucky to get a single customer a day.”
Ashton’s blunt honesty struck a nerve, and Malcom’s face flushed with anger. He shoved Ashton back, growling, “Get out! Our restaurant doesn’t welcome people like you!”
𝓞𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓲𝓷 𝓵𝓸𝓬𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷: ⳑ𝖺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗲𝗅𝘀⍿𝖼𝗈𝗆
Ashton hadn’t expected such a fiery response. After a pause, he said, “Come on, Mr. Deleon, I’m genuinely trying to help! You’re worried I’ll ruin your reputation because you doubt my cooking, right? I’ll tell you what—let’s have a cooking contest. If I win, you agree to partner with me for the competition. If I lose, I’ll leave, no questions asked.”
Still fuming, Malcom agreed without a second thought. “Fine! I want to see what skills you have to talk like that!”
The restaurant sat in eerie silence, nearly empty, its kitchen left to rest in quiet neglect. Yet, inside its walls, a subtle tension simmered as Ashton and Malcom, each determined to prove his worth, began preparing the same dish: spicy bean curd.
As the owner of the establishment, Malcom was no stranger to the art of cooking. He moved with practiced ease, his dish completed nearly in sync with Ashton’s. But Ashton’s earlier remarks seemed to linger, a thorn in Malcom’s side. As soon as the dishes were served, Malcom smirked, his voice dripping with confidence. “Go on, try mine. I wager you’ll be slinking out of here with your tail tucked between your legs by day’s end!”
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