Chapter 69: Ch:69 Fish Tank

Nyle stepped inside with the stacked boxes against his chest and headed straight for the kitchen. The living room opened wide as he passed.

Several guests sat around the sofa in premium blazers — all of them women.

This didn’t look like a casual visit. The atmosphere was far too serious for that. It felt less like a social gathering and more like a business negotiation that had already entered a critical stage.

’Why did she send Nyle instead of Simon?! Argh... this is not good,’ Lana thought, walking alongside him toward the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Nyle set the boxes on the dining table with a dull thump and crossed to the sink. He ran the tap, cupped water, and wiped it over his face, the ride still warm on his skin.

Lana pulled plates from the cupboard one after another, lined them up, and began arranging the donuts on them.

After washing his face and wiping it dry, Nyle stepped up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Hello, beautiful," he said with a playful smile.

A shiver ran through her, sharp enough that the plate in her hand almost tipped.

Heat bloomed in her core, spreading through her nerves until her entire body felt warm.

The urge to turn around, grab Nyle by the collar, kiss him hard, and forget about the guests began to consume her thoughts.

’Shit! Not now... I need to deal with them first,’ she thought, forcing herself to focus.

The negotiation mattered more than what her body was craving.

"Nyle, can you please stop... There are guests. Very very very important guests," Lana said, her tone soft, almost a plea.

Meanwhile, her hands kept moving, setting four different-flavored donuts on each plate.

Nyle slipped his arms off her and stepped around to stand in front of her, their eyes locking. "By the looks of it, is it business-related?"

She gave a small nod.

...

Nyle carried the plates while Lana walked beside him with confidence on her face, just as Nyle had instructed her.

As a business owner, she needed to be bold, confident, and approachable.

Business 101.

"Ladies, try our specials," Lana said, keeping her posture straight and giving Nyle a small nod.

Nyle carried the tray of plates over and set them in front of the guests. There were five of them, but for some reason their eyes stayed fixed on him.

’Why are they looking at me like that?’ he thought, keeping his expression neutral.

"Lana, is this your son?" one of the women asked with a smile.

"Oh, him? No, no. He’s one of our employees," she replied with a faint smile.

Nyle activated his skill.

"Status."

————

<{ INSPECT }>

Name: Elora Parker

Age: 38

Attraction: 30%

Loyalty: 0%

Lust: 2%

Description: An entrepreneur who invests in newly rising businesses and wants to support female-owned companies in the market.

<[ SEX_LIFE: UNSATISFIED ]>

————

"Mmm..." Elora’s eyes softened as she savored the bite, her lips curling into a pleased smile. "It’s so good."

Her voice carried genuine delight as she slowly chewed, clearly impressed by the flavor.

"Yum! I’ve had this before, by the way," another woman chimed in, flashing a bright smile as she picked up another piece.

"It’s really, really good." The third woman nodded enthusiastically. "I’ve eaten countless donuts in my life, but this..."

She paused, glancing down at the half-eaten donut in her hand as though searching for the right words.

"It has the kind of balance you rarely find in the market. The sweetness isn’t overwhelming, the texture is just right, and the flavor lingers without becoming tiring."

Her expression suddenly turned more businesslike.

"But I want to know the numbers. How much are the sales?"

Nyle straightened and stepped beside her, his gaze briefly sweeping across the table as a mini Shark Tank was about to unfold.

"Ahm..."

He cleared his throat softly.

The sudden question created a tiny pocket of silence around the table.

Lana, however, remained composed. She lifted her chin slightly, her expression calm and confident.

"Yes. Till now, we’ve made over two point five million Xollars," she said, keeping her face straight.

Elora’s eyes widened. "Woah..."

She leaned back slightly, a spark of surprise flashing across her face.

"Now that’s what I call numbers."

...

Half an hour later, the atmosphere inside the living room had completely changed.

The once-serious expressions on the guests’ faces had softened into satisfied smiles. Empty plates and crumbs were scattered across the table, while each woman carried a neatly packed box of donuts tucked safely into her handbag to enjoy at home.

The tasting had gone better than Lana could have hoped. And most importantly — the deal was successfully sealed.

"Thanks for having us, Lana," Elora said, rising from her seat with a warm smile.

*Thud*

The front door closed behind the last guest, and the sound of the latch clicking into place echoed through the quiet house.

Lana turned the lock from the inside and slowly lowered her hand.

The moment she did, Nyle stepped closer behind her.

A dark, mischievous smile tugged at the corners of his lips, eyes gleaming with playful intent.

Lana sensed his presence without needing to look back. She could practically feel the teasing aura radiating from him.

"They’re gone, Mrs. Lana," Nyle murmured, his voice low. "Now... About that promise?"

"Promise? I never—"

Before she could finish the words, he suddenly turned her around. His hands caught the front of her buttoned shirt, fists tightening around the fabric.

With a single sharp pull, he tore it open.

*Tik! Tik! Tik! Tik!*

The buttons popped free one after another, bouncing off the counter before scattering across the floor.

Lana’s eyes widened at the sheer force of the pull, heat rushing up her neck and flooding her cheeks.

Nyle gently backed her against the door, closing the distance between them until they stood face to face, eyes locked, neither willing to look away or even blink.

"Any last wish, Donut?" said Nyle.

She shook her head slightly.

*SmooOOCH!*