Chapter 52

As Jerry Oliver took the lead with the group in tow,their footsteps reverberated through the corridor,accompanied by a low murmur of whispers that filled the air with a sense of unease.②

Katrina, gripping the vase, struggled to maintain her composure. A pulsing headache exacerbated her growing irritation, yet she managed to suppress the rising storm within her.

She glanced back to check on her daughter, only to see her engaged in light-hearted conversation with a friend, seemingly oblivious to the tension around them.

With a deep breath, Katrina tightened her eyes shut,mentally coaxing herself to remain calm and not to succumb to the provocation of the youngsters'carefree disregard.

As the elevator moved down through the floors,

Caiden's previously easy smile slowly dissolved into a look of concern. A troubling premonition gnawed at him, prompting him to finally break the silence.

"Jerry, just where on earth are we headed now?"

They had exited the elevator and continued their lengthy trek.

It seemed as if they were about to leave the confines of Luxor Tower altogether.

Jerry, clutching a hefty ring of keys, was visibly annoyed. The murmurs and snickers from the group had not escaped his notice and had left him simmering with resentment.

He was keenly aware of Daniela's true character-her beauty was matched by her compassion and generosity.

She had discreetly funded his wife's surgery when they were desperate and unsupported. Whenever a crisis struck a staff member's family, she was there to offer aid. Her genuine kindness had earned her the deep respect of everyone within Elite Lux.

Yet, here was her own family, disparaging her with a haughty air.

Jerry rolled his eyes, his voice sharp and dismissive as he retorted, "Why bombard me with questions?Just come along and all will be revealed in due time!"

His brusque tone took Caiden aback. It had been a long while since someone had addressed him with such unfiltered disdain.

"Do you not know who the hell I am?" Caiden challenged, his brow furrowed in irritation. "I'm Daniela's father-your boss's father! With a snap of my fingers, I could own this entire building!"

Jerry halted in his tracks, his grip on the keys tightening, his knuckles whitening as he fought to control his rising fury.

Caiden, seemingly unaware of the growing storm,pressed on. "Don't forget, it's my family's money keeping your ass employed."

Katrina, quick to capitalize on the moment, chimed in sharply, "Precisely! Would you even have a job if it weren't for us? People who run their damn mouths like you don't deserve to stay employed!"

Jerry exhaled sharply, his voice laced with a mix of defiance and disbelief. "Go ahead, fire me! But I have to ask, do you actually hold the power to do so?Caiden, is it? Let me make something clear. Having you as a father is the worst curse that could've befallen Ms. Harper! Weren't you the one who declared to the world that you were severing all ties with her? And yet, now that she's found success, you suddenly claim ownership over this entire building?Why not take it further? Perhaps proclaim that the entire nation belongs to you? You're supposed to be an elder-perhaps it's time to start behaving like one and exhibit a bit of dignity!"

Katrina's face flushed a deep crimson, and she shook with fury. "How dare you speak to us in such a manner! Get your manager on the phone this instant!"

Jerry, utterly unfazed by the escalating tension,retrieved his phone and dialed his manager,putting the call on speaker. The manager's voice crackled through, tinged with irritation. "What now? What's the problem with Joyce Holt? She's already stirred up enough trouble. You know what? Forget it-if they're that much of a nuisance, just stop leasing to them. Are we really so desperate that we can't do without the rent from a basement-level unit?"

The phrase "basement-level unit" struck a nerve.

Caiden and Katrina, who had been simmering with rage only seconds before, came to a sudden halt.

Joyce's brow furrowed as her voice dripped with fury. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

Jerry folded his arms, his voice laced with a flat,impatient tone. "Areyou coming to check it out or not? If you're not interested, I can just go."

Reluctantly, the trio stifled their objections and trailed after him.

As they moved deeper, an unsettling feeling crept up on them.

Joyce edged closer to Katrina, her voice a nervous whisper. "Mom, what is this place? Why are we wandering through a parking garage?"

Katrina's face grew troubled, her anxiety palpable.

They were supposed to be shown the 18th to 20th floors, yet here they were, in the basement.

As they progressed, Caiden's prior cockiness had vanished entirely, his face clouding over with each step they took.

Suddenly, Joyce perked up, her voice slicing through the tension. "Mom, look! There are shops over there!"

Their gazes collectively turned to where Joyce directed, and sure enough, a series of storefronts came into view.

Joyce gestured towards a shop in the middle. "If it's a spot like that, I could definitely see us there."

However, Katrina's response was less than enthusiastic. Her experience of the opulent upper levels had set a high bar that this basement level couldn't meet.

Disdainfully, she waved a dismissive hand, her nose wrinkling at the pervasive, musty odor that filled the air.

Undeterred, Jerry maintained his brisk pace, guiding them deeper into the busier part of the basement.They navigated a corner and halted abruptly at the end of the corridor.

Joyce looked around, bewildered. "Seriously? You brought us to a damn restroom? We don't need to use it!"

Jerry pointed to a dimly lit area near the bathroom and announced, "Over there is the space for your shop." He then proceeded to unlock the door.

Once opened, the room was engulfed in darkness, an eerie silence pervading the air. Joyce paused,reluctant, before finally using her phone's flashlight

to pierce the gloom.

The sight that greeted her elicited a shriek of terror."Mom! It's full of rats!"

Chaos exploded, their screams and yells bouncing off the waIls of the tight hallway.

Jerry, unimpressed, merely rolled his eyes. "This area was once used for storing restroom supplies. It's been out of use for quite some time, hence the dust and, unfortunately, the current residents. The space is roughly 100 square meters, priced at $11,000 per square meter. That's the final offer, and you'll have to handle any renovations yourself. Make your decision today, or it's no longer available."

They were left dumbfounded, struggling to comprehend his proposition.

Katrina's forced smile faded as she turned to Caiden,her expression one of sheer outrage. "Don't you see it? Daniela's doing this on purpose to make us look like fools, isn't she?"

She broke down, tears streaming down her face, her hands covering her eyes as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Joyce's friends had discreetly vanished, leaving only a few behind who observed the unfolding drama with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

Joyce's lips trembled as she clutched Caiden's arm,her tear-filled eyes wide with despair. "Dad, I've never been so humiliated in my life! How can l possibly face my friends after this? Daniela set the whole thing up. She's obsessed with tearing me down and making me a joke!"

Around them, some bystanders discreetly extracted their phones to capture the family's distress,quickly taking pictures before vanishing into the crowd.

Jerry, apparently oblivious to the unfolding drama,picked up an incoming call. He spoke in a booming voice, not bothering to lower his tone, ensuring that Caiden and Katrina caught every word.

"Hello? Yes, I'm terribly sorry about the holdup.

understand we agreed to reserve the space next to the restroom for your cleaning supplies store, but there's been a bit of a scene here. You know how Ms.Harper is always kind-hearted. She insisted we let them have a look first. But I wouldn't worry-they're notoriously fussy. Give me half an hour.If they pass on it, I'll ring you straight back and we can finalize the paperwork. Alright, appreciate your patience."

After ending the call, Jerry swiveled back to face the group, his voice edged with impatience. "Are you interested in the space or not? If you're not,there are plenty of others waiting in line for it."

Joyce, her face streaked with tears, looked imploringly at Caiden and Katrina.

The air hung heavy for a brief moment before Joyce's emotions spilled over in a heart-wrenching wail.