Chapter 127: Chapter 127 Meeting With The Guest 11

More importantly, if Gideon were to do anything that displeased them, they could easily shut him out of the city’s opportunities and divert their support toward his rivals instead. For any businessman, such a move could prove costly.

In short, it was a warning.

Unfortunately for the man, he had chosen the wrong person to deliver it to.

Gideon remained seated, calmly swirling the tea in his cup, his expression unreadable. Yet those who knew him well understood one thing: of all the things Gideon despised, being threatened ranked among the very top.

The moment someone tried to use pressure, leverage, or intimidation against him, they had already stepped onto dangerous ground.

The corners of Gideon’s lips slowly curled upward, forming a smile that carried not the slightest trace of warmth. Instead, it looked almost sinister. His gaze swept across the three businessmen, one after another, lingering just long enough on each of them to make them uncomfortable.

He already knew what they were trying to do. The major businessmen in the city had clearly formed an unspoken alliance, intending to exploit the influx of outside investors and corporations. They wanted to maximize their gains, squeezing every possible benefit from those seeking opportunities within the city.

Unfortunately for them, Gideon was not someone who could be manipulated so easily.

In fact, those who dealt with him were often the ones who ended up being squeezed dry. Gideon had never been known for his kindness in business. He would extract every ounce of value a person possessed before casting them aside without a second thought once they ceased being useful. The notion that these people could do the same to him was almost laughable.

As that thought crossed his mind, the smile on his face deepened while the coldness in his eyes intensified.

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.

The restaurant manager entered personally, leading several servers who pushed in elegant carts laden with dishes. The rich aroma of gourmet cuisine quickly filled the private room. Working efficiently, the servers carefully arranged each dish on the table before respectfully excusing themselves. Soon, only the manager remained behind.

Without delay, he approached the table carrying a bottle that immediately caught everyone’s attention.

The 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

With practiced movements, the manager presented the bottle before uncorking it and beginning the decanting process in full view of the guests.

The three businessmen had been maintaining an air of confidence and superiority throughout the meeting, but the moment they recognized the label, their expressions subtly changed. Their eyes widened almost imperceptibly before they quickly regained their composure.

After all, they knew exactly what kind of wine they were looking at.

Even among the wealthy, a bottle of that caliber was something most people would only hear about rather than actually drink. While the three of them were undoubtedly rich, spending such an astronomical sum on a single bottle of wine would still make their hearts ache. The amount was enough to make even successful businessmen think twice before opening their wallets.

Yet here was Gideon, treating it as though it were nothing more than an ordinary accompaniment to lunch.

For the first time since the meeting began, the three men were reminded that the person sitting across from them was not merely another businessman seeking opportunities in their city. He was someone whose wealth, influence, and confidence far exceeded what they had initially estimated.

Because of that, the atmosphere inside the private room turned strangely silent. The three businessmen, who had been speaking confidently moments ago, now found themselves unable to insert a word into the conversation.

A heavy tension lingered in the air, making the room feel noticeably colder. For a while, only the occasional voices of Gideon and Gage could be heard as they calmly enjoyed the lavish meal, while Ashley would respond every now and then.

The contrast was almost absurd. While the businessmen sat stiffly in their seats, carefully choosing their next moves, the three younger guests appeared completely unconcerned, as though they were merely enjoying a pleasant lunch rather than participating in a high-stakes negotiation.

"Miss Ashley," Gideon said, his voice noticeably gentler than before, carrying a warmth that had been absent throughout the entire meeting. Picking up a small golden serving spoon, he carefully placed a portion onto her plate. "Try the Almas caviar with a biscuit. I think you’ll like it. I specifically added it to the menu for you."

Ashley blinked slightly at the unexpected gesture.

Before she could respond, Gage immediately cut in, unwilling to let Gideon monopolize her attention.

"Ash, try the Matsuzaka A5 Wagyu instead," he said as he placed a perfectly cooked slice onto her plate. "It practically melts in your mouth. You barely have to chew before it dissolves."

A faint competitive glint flashed in his eyes as he spoke.

The two men continued recommending dishes one after another, subtly competing for Ashley’s attention without openly acknowledging it. One would place a delicacy on her plate, only for the other to follow moments later with something even more expensive or rare.

Meanwhile, Ashley found herself caught between them, her plate gradually becoming filled with premium ingredients that most people could only dream of tasting.

The three businessmen watched the scene unfold with twitching expressions.

Just moments ago, they had been discussing a deal worth billions. Yet somehow, the negotiation had completely lost momentum, and they had become little more than spectators watching two powerful men compete over who could spoil a young woman more.

"Um, they’re all delicious," Ashley said with a helpless smile as she looked at the growing pile of food on her plate. "Don’t just focus on me, Brother. You should eat more, too. Here, try the pan-seared bluefin tuna."

As she spoke, she carefully picked up a portion and placed it onto Gage’s plate. Then she turned to the man seated on her other side.

"And Mr. Walker, thank you. You should eat more as well. The baby eel is really good. You should try it."

She served Gideon a portion as well, doing her best not to neglect either of them.

Before long, Ashley found herself busier than anyone else at the table. Like a diligent little bee, she moved back and forth between the two men, responding whenever they recommended a dish and occasionally serving food onto their plates in return.

Her actions only encouraged them further. Every time she accepted something from them, she would inevitably give something back, making both Gideon and Gage increasingly eager to look after her. The atmosphere on their side of the table became unexpectedly harmonious, even warm.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the other side.

The expressions of the three businessmen darkened with each passing minute.

Ever since their earlier exchange, Gideon had not mentioned the business deal even once. It was as though the negotiations had ended the moment they attempted to leverage their position and subtly threaten him.

Instead of discussing contracts and cooperation, he focused entirely on the meal and Ashley’s company, completely ignoring the reason they had gathered there in the first place.

The businessmen naturally wanted to steer the conversation back to business, but none of them dared to be the first to do so.