CHAPTER 859: CHAPTER 858

Though puzzlement lined the faces of the eight employees, they all bent over in a synchronized gesture of respect as the couple approached.

When Rosemary and Horace reached the bottom of the grand staircase, a massive golden archway blocked their path.

This club had a strict policy: only members were granted the access to enter. Newbies without an old member to vouch for them had no chance of getting through these doors.

Horace pulled out his premium card and swiped it before the door opened slowly, which dissolved the employees’ confusion.

So, they were indeed members.

It was their mistake for not recognizing them earlier. Luckily, the guests hadn’t noticed it.

Stepping inside, they found themselves in a dimly lit lobby, with six elevators ready to whisk patrons upstairs. The ambiance was reminiscent of a lounge bar, yet it was eerily quiet for such a space.

Under the influence of alcohol, some couples were scattered across the lobby, flirting and getting handsy with each other. Some men boldly touched their female companions, others were locked in

passionate kisses, and a few were even starting to disrobe.

Horace quickly shielded Rosemary’s eyes without touching her, out of concern that the scene might soil her view of the world. His hands formed a barrier on either side of her.

The second floor housed the bar, while the third to sixth floors were reserved for private booths.

"Boss, let’s check out the second floor first."

Horace pressed the button for the second floor.

When they reached it, the elevator doors slid open, and a wall of rock music hit them. Horace couldn’t help but frown at the sheer volume.

It was deafening!

A band was giving their all on stage, and below them, the crowd was jumping and dancing, each person lost in their own world.

Horace guided Rosemary to a quieter corner with a table, concerned that she might be overwhelmed by the crowd. After a waiter approached, Horace ordered a couple of mojitos, and then signaled to his

phone and texted Rosemary.

[Boss, it’s too noisy to talk here. I’m using WhatsApp. A buddy of mine hacked the club’s surveillance system. If ’Viper’ shows up, he’ll let us know.]

Rosemary nodded and took a sip from the mojito the waiter had brought over.

Despite her casual attire and bun hairstyle, Rosemary’s beauty was undeniable, drawing the attention of many.

Soon, a man dancing his way toward Rosemary was met with Horace’s fierce glare, one that seemed ready to start a brawl. The man hurriedly backed off.

A while later, a scar-faced man flanked by his cronies approached, undeterred by Horace and seemingly looking to provoke him.

As the waiter served the fruits, Horace slammed his fist down, not just shattering the fruits but cracking the bowl itself.

The scar-faced man and his lackeys swallowed hard, realizing they’d underestimated Horace’s strength.

After finishing his mojito, Horace stood up with the empty glass in hand, and the unwanted guests quickly scattered.

With the loud environment around them, Horace had to yell to Rosemary, "Those losers! They should take a good look in the mirror!"

Did they really think they stand a chance with his boss??

Did they think they’re even in her league??

Rosemary smiled, relieved to see the once timid and shy Horace had truly grown up.

Just then, one of Horace’s men reported, "Viper has arrived."

Horace gave Rosemary a knowing look.

Both of them glanced occasionally towards the entrance, but one minute passed, then two.

Viper was still nowhere to be seen.

Horace messaged his man again, [Are you sure Viper came in?]

[Right, he went in like two minutes ago. Didn’t you catch that?]

Horace handed his phone to Rosemary, who stood up to leave the bustling pub. Horace scrambled to keep pace with her swift strides.

The second floor was a lively bar, but the floors above were a maze of private party rooms.

As they left the raucous atmosphere of the bar, Horace’s ears finally got some relief. He quickly asked Rosemary, "Do you reckon he might have slipped into one of the private rooms?"

With so many rooms to search through, it could take forever.

And they risked tipping him off.

"Let’s head up and see," Rosemary said, opting for the fire escape instead of the elevator.

As she pushed open the door to the stairwell, they heard a clatter from above – something, or someone, had taken a tumble.

They trod lightly and intended to creep upward, when they heard a hoarse cry for help echo down the staircase.

Rosemary hastened her steps, with Horace panting behind; the gap between them widened – she was just too fast.

It didn’t take long before they reached the sixth floor.

In the hallway, they found a man with a buzz cut and a menacing stare clutching a rope tightly around the neck of someone they called "Viper." Two others, one in black and the other in gray, held down

Viper’s limbs, preventing any struggle.

Rosemary delivered a swift kick, and with the rope loosened, Viper gasped for air, his face flushed crimson from the near-strangulation.

"Who the hell are you?" the buzz-cut man demanded, eyeing Rosemary with clear hostility.

The others, sensing a threat, glared at Rosemary with murderous intent.

"Hold up, Boss," Horace called as he finally made it up, but the man in black was already dialing for backup. "We got trouble!"

Meanwhile, Viper tried to make an escape through a window, but Rosemary yanked him back into the fray.

Buzz-cut lunged to grab her, but before Horace could even step in to assist, the stairwell door burst open and reinforcements flooded in.

Outnumbered, Viper made a break for the rooftop; Horace wanted to give chase, but seeing Rosemary taking on so many alone, he had no choice but to step in and help.

"Go after him, don’t worry about me," Rosemary grunted, kicking one man clean off his feet and sweeping another into the crowd. She used the railing to deliver a few well-aimed kicks, then pulled Horace behind her, urging him to go up.

Horace had no option but to pursue Viper.

As others tried to follow onto the rooftop, Rosemary knocked them down one by one, guarding the staircase and blocking their path.

Some realized they were no match for Rosemary and quietly retreated, opting for another staircase to the roof.

There were two staircases to the rooftop – one at the corridor’s beginning, the other at its end.

Viper reached the rooftop and ran to another staircase for escape, only to be tripped up by another group that had arrived. Horace dashed into the fray, trading blows with the newcomers.

With the crowd against him growing, Viper made a desperate move to the edge of the roof, ready to jump.

"Don’t do it! I’m not like them." Horace tried to get to him, but the encircling foes were too many. Before he could break free, Viper had leapt from the edge.

"Hey—" Horace dropped a few more attackers and rushed to the edge, only to see that Viper had landed on a balcony of the sixth-floor private room. Not missing a beat, Viper scaled the railing and jumped to another balcony one floor below.

Horace had no choice but to follow suit, tracing Viper’s path.

The rest, unwilling to be outdone, also followed suit and leaped onto the balconies in pursuit.

As Viper landed on the fourth-floor balcony, he felt the pain from his wounds became unbearable – he had been stabbed twice, and blood had soaked through his pants, now dripping onto the ground.