Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 795

"Felix, what are you even talking about? Parker has vanished into thin air," his eyes pinned Felix with an intense stare.

Felix, equally puzzled and on the verge of explaining, was interrupted by the sharp sound of the hotel lobby's elevator doors sliding open.

Jarvis and Bryce stepped out, both dressed to the nines in sleek suits, clutching their leather briefcases like two businessmen on a mission. Yet, the look on Jarvis's face was anything but pleasant.

Catching sight of Ludwik approaching, Bryce's eyes narrowed, while Jarvis, in a display of sheer disdain, let out a mocking laugh.

He turned, smirking, "Mr. Lutz, you don't suppose Ludwik's here to meet with the Chairman of Inko Group, do you?"

"With him?" Bryce chimed in, his face contorted in scorn.

He mentioned Whitney's unfortunate encounter, and two days on, it was unlikely Ludwik was unaware.

He hadn't made a peep, a far cry from the Ludwik of old.

Bryce couldn't hide his schadenfreude, seeing Ludwik as a thorn in his side, he scoffed, "Mr. Lippert, better take a good look in the mirror and reassess your current standing before dreaming of meeting the Chairman of Inko Group." "Exactly, what a joke," Jarvis added, joining in the ridicule in front of a lobby full of onlookers.

Felix, unable to contain his fury at the insults hurled at his boss, was about to leap into action.

Ludwik, however, stopped him with a gesture, his expression icy, "The collaboration with Inko Group is open to all capable contenders.

Speaking of looking in the mirror, Bryce, you might want to take a glance yourself before your true colors show again.

And Jarvis, I'd advise you to keep a low profile; not everyone gets lucky enough to escape the blame for an explosion."

Jarvis's face paled, recalling the incident at the gala where he had attempted to kill Ludwik with a deliberate explosion, only to be reprimanded severely by Wade for his failure.

Fuming, he glared at Ludwik, "You got lucky last time, but you won't escape me forever."

Ludwik, unfazed, retorted with a chilling calm, "The scores between us will be settled in due time."

Bryce, clenching his fists, sneered, "Nolan, what fairytales are you living in?

Thinking a meeting today with the Chairman of Inko Group will turn the Lippert family's fortunes? Dream on, Ludwik. Phineas won't even grant you an audience; you're just setting yourself up for embarrassment." With that, Bryce signaled the hotel lobby manager.

"Mr. Lutz, how can I assist?" the manager approached, eager to please.

Pointing at Ludwik, Bryce scoffed, "This man's family is practically bankrupt, yet he dares to disturb Mr. Wilson in the presidential suite. Keep an eye on him; don't let him cause trouble for your establishment." Felix, unable to take any more, burst out, "Bryce, we had an appointment confirmed by Mr. Wilson's secretary!"

"An appointment? With Ludwik?" Jarvis mocked, "Stop lying. Many major companies in Emperor City have been turned away by Phineas. And you claim you've got an appointment?"

The manager, recognizing Nolan from the Patrick Group, a hotshot in Harmonia Country, frowned, "Mr. Lippert, please don't disturb our esteemed guests. Leave now."

"Just go," Jarvis taunted, delighting in Ludwik's misfortune.

Felix was seething, and Ludwik's cold gaze swept over the manager, his towering presence sending a shiver down the manager's spine.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a suit hurried over from the elevator.

Spotting Ludwik, he smiled warmly, "Mr. Lippert, you're here. Why haven't you gone up? Mr. Wilson has been waiting."

Ludwik, recognizing the man as the driver he had accidentally bumped into weeks ago, greeted him politely.

"Do you remember me?" the driver smiled, glancing at Jarvis and Bryce.

Jarvis recognized the driver as the man who had prevented them from seeing Mr. Wilson earlier.

"Why were we denied when Ludwik gets a personal invitation?" Jarvis demanded, his voice tinged with resentment.

The driver replied coolly, "Jarvis, your repeated visits have been declined by Mr. Wilson, as were Mr. Lutz's. Shouldn't that tell you something? Claiming Mr. Wilson was unavailable was merely a polite refusal." "You..." Jarvis was taken aback. In a world where the Patrick family reigned supreme, he hadn't expected Phineas to brush him off so casually.

"Some folks get a little bit of luck and suddenly think they're the king of the castle," Ludwik remarked, his tone dripping with disdain.

Jarvis's eyes darkened with fury. He shot the driver a venomous look. "You think you're too good for Emperor City's top dog, the Patrick Group? Fine, go tell your Mr. Wilson he'll regret this one day." With that, he stormed off.

Bryce shot Ludwik a meaningful look. Why on earth would Phineas agree to meet him?

He glanced up at the building, puzzled, then followed Jarvis out.

But Bryce wasn't about to throw a tantrum like Jarvis. No, he wasn't one to take rejection lying down.

The Patrick family might be a giant oak, but Bryce wasn't ready to give up on securing even a small partnership for his Lutz Group. It could mean a world of difference for their future.

Bryce had his ear to the ground; he knew the Inko Group was actually backing the president, making it the top enterprise in Harmonia Country, its true power hidden from the public eye. Moreover, he'd discovered that Phineas wasn't the only big fish at Inko Group; there was another, even more enigmatic, major player behind the scenes. That figure had never shown their face.

While Bryce publicly aligned with the Patrick family, he was more interested in courting the mysterious big shot behind Inko Group.

-

Meanwhile, Ludwik followed the driver to the presidential suite at the top floor.

The driver stopped Felix in his tracks, shrouded in mystery. "Sorry. The person inside only wants to see Mr. Lippert."

"Isn't it Mr. Wilson in there?" Ludwik frowned.

Just then, a familiar voice filled with excitement called out from the opening door, "Ludwik, it's me."

"...Parker?!" Ludwik was shocked, stepping quickly inside. When he saw Parker's living, breathing face, his voice was rough with astonishment. "How are you here?"

Parker's eyes crinkled as he smiled behind his glasses, arms wide open. "Ludwik, I'm back!"