When Jayden left the office, he decided to stop by Monarch Café to collect the $100,000 required to complete the task.
Today was officially the seventh day since he got the task, and if he didn't collect the $100,000 earnings, it would mean that he had failed to complete the task.
The consequences were not friendly, so he didn't want to risk it.
It was already 4 PM when he reached the place, and the crowd was hectic as expected.
Jayden had seen videos of the crowds on several social media platforms, so he was not entirely surprised.
He stood there for a moment, observing the place, then decided to signal Melinda inside.
The crowd was pretty insane, but he happened to find a way somehow, and the moment Melinda noticed him, she quickly ordered Reece, one of the workers there, to signal Jayden to enter through the back door of the building.
"Oof... It must have been tough for you these days," Jayden said as he stepped in.
"Good day, sir. You're welcome," Melinda greeted first.
"Yes, it has been. But it's worth it," Melinda nodded with a smile.
She led Jayden to sit on one of the special chairs in the café, serving him a cup of coffee.
"Have one, sir."
Jayden collected it without hesitation and drank a mouthful, then he heaved a long, soft sigh right after.
"Reece, Harper, George. Come over here," Melinda quickly called the workers around.
The three left their duty posts immediately and approached Jayden.
"This is our boss. Go ahead and greet him," Melinda ordered.
"It's nice to meet you, sir," Reece was the first to speak, and then the others followed at once.
"Nice seeing you, sir," said Harper.
"Good day, boss," said George.
"Uhm, the others are on errands and the delivery men are on duty too," Melinda muttered.
Jayden nodded.
"It's great seeing you too," Jayden smiled back at the three as he gave them a handshake.
"Uhh, our boss here revived this café at the very moment of doom. He saved me and my family... He is also the cause of the café's great success," Melinda told them, suddenly looking like she was becoming emotional.
"Oh, come on. That's not really necessary to let out. We just have to be professional for the time being. After all, we are at work," Jayden said.
Melinda quickly nodded. "I'm sorry, sir. That was uncalled for."
"It's alright," Jayden nodded. "Okay, you guys should get back to work real quick. The customers are waiting."
Reece and the others quickly rushed back to duty as Melinda remained there.
"It has been like this for four days. Every day it seems like it's increasing. I'm afraid soon the crowd might be reaching the road," Melinda said.
"That would be good news," Jayden chuckled.
"Yes, but... The authorities might start questioning us. They might find it suspicious. I mean, nowhere in the world has this..."
"I know," Jayden cut in.
"If they come, we'd openly tell them the secret. That's not a problem. The real problem is to find a way to expand this place even more and make it the center of chilling in Cloudbridge City," Jayden added.
Melinda could only nod in approval, and her face was bright. It was as if she felt calm and confident as Jayden made that statement, believing that he could take care of his company the best way.
"I came for some money," Jayden then went straight to revealing his main purpose there.
"We have about a hundred and sixty-two thousand dollars after a mass delivery to X Ten and Molten Corporation workers. I have also ordered five more delivery bikes and indicated a vacancy. I was about to call to inform you but..."
"It's alright. You did the right thing, Melinda. I just need a hundred thousand dollars. You can use the rest for the expenses," Jayden stated.
"Sure, sir. I should forward the money to your account right away."
Melinda quickly grabbed her phone and requested Jayden's number. He called it right away, and she transferred the money at once.
{Credit Alert: You just received $100,000 from Melinda Tyler O'Neil}
Jayden nodded the moment he saw it and then proceeded to leave.
"I don't know when I'd be back here, but I will surely be calling to keep in touch..."
"Good job, you all," Jayden said and walked out from where he had come in.
"Goodbye, boss," Melinda greeted as she waved.
"Have a great day, sir!" From the counter, Harper shouted, even after noticing that Jayden had gone out of sight, her face red as she rolled her eyes around.
"What's wrong with you, Harper?" George gave her a distasteful look and asked.
"He's so young... And cute. How could he be so rich at this stage?" Harper asked, biting her lips.
"Rich kids," George commented.
"Shut up, George. He is not one of them, trust me. Boss made his money himself, rising within a week. It's so unbelievable," Reece cut in.
"Ahh... Maybe he won a lottery. Who knows?" George nodded.
"Maybe not. Perhaps it's something else," Reece replied.
"Well, whatever it is, I'm totally crushing on my boss. Oh... My... God," Harper spoke as she rolled her tongue, making sure that her workmates got angrier at her.
******
(Silverhorn Lounge).
Sofia dashed into the building with a dark look pasted on her face. Her steps were fast and fierce, like she was dying to get to where she was going.
Alone, she entered the lounge and observed the entire VVIP room, where her boyfriend Royce always spent most of the night every day.
Today was different.
Royce was not in sight.
Sofia's jaw dropped the moment she realized.
"Where the hell is he? I have searched everywhere... He is not even picking his calls," she muttered to herself as she grabbed her phone and dialed his number again.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
BEEP!
(The number you dialed is not available!)
"Ugh... Crap!" She cursed hard, kicking the chair close to her.
"Argh!" She felt the pain hard in her leg, almost bursting into tears. "My leg..."
It was then that a guy suddenly walked up to her, carrying a tablet in his hand. He was one of the guys that came here almost every day, though he wasn't one of Royce's friends.
"Looking for your bastard boyfriend?" he asked as he chuckled.
"Hey, watch your mouth!" Sofia stood up and approached him fiercely.
"Heyyy, easy. I'm just trying to help you, girl... You wanna find your boyfriend? Go that way. Over there," he said as he pointed at a door by the side before quickly turning away and leaving.
Sofia gave him a doubtful glance for a moment and later decided to check it out.
The door led straight to an alley, and the alley led to the restrooms, she guessed.
And she wasn't wrong.
Walking towards it...
She saw him.
Her heart just suddenly seemed to stop...
Her jaw dropped.
Her mouth agape.
She couldn't move anymore, seeing the greatest nightmare of nightmares in front of her.
There, by the wall in the alley...
She saw him... Her boyfriend, Royce.
Kissing and making out with another girl, so lost in the act, not noticing that his loving girlfriend was standing there, observing him.
For a moment, her breath froze.