CHAPTER 107: CUPCAKES!!

June entered the cabin with a spark in her eyes. "Boss, I found a perfect property for the restaurant."

Miles looked at her expression and raised a brow. "Seems like someone is more excited than me."

June coughed, embarrassed, but couldn’t hide the smile on her face.

Miles leaned back in his chair. "Alright then, show me what you found that made you this excited."

Her cheeks turned slightly red as she tapped on her tablet. With a soft click, the large screens on the wall lit up, displaying images of the property.

"This place is very close to Star Central Mall," June explained, her voice filled with energy. "It was a banquet hall previously, but now it’s up for sale. The market reach is perfect—busy streets, prime location. We can renovate it into a restaurant, and it’ll stand out immediately."

Miles studied the pictures carefully, then nodded with a faint smile. "Looks good. Let’s go see it in person. Why don’t we invite Mom as well?"

He pulled out his phone and dialed home.

Daniel picked up the call. "Hello."

"It’s me, Father," Miles said. "I’m sending you an address. Can you bring Mom there? We’ve found a property for the restaurant."

"You found one already?" Daniel sounded pleasantly surprised. "That’s good. We’ll be there shortly."

The call ended.

Miles slid his phone back into his pocket and looked at June. "Let’s go."

June smiled, closing her tablet. Together, the two left Cinder Square and drove toward the property, the anticipation of seeing Elena’s reaction already building in Miles’s mind.

The car glided through the bustling city streets, neon signs reflecting against its polished frame.

At the red light, Miles’s gaze shifted to a tall building on the corner.

He leaned slightly forward. "Is that the auction house?"

June followed his line of sight and nodded. "Yes, boss. The security is tight because of the diamond. They’ve been guarding the place for week even before the diamond arrived."

Miles’s eyes scanned the scene—police stationed around, barriers set, but his sharp gaze caught details others would miss. Slowly, a smile crept onto his face.

June frowned. "What is it, sir?"

Miles tilted his head toward the crowd. "This place will be robbed tonight."

June blinked in surprise. "How can you tell?"

"There are too many suspicious people mixed in. Look closely. Either they’re undercover cops... or thieves blending with the crowd." His eyes narrowed as he tracked a subtle movement. "See? They’re moving together."

June leaned forward, her sharp eyes finally catching it too. Several men who had been scattered among pedestrians regrouped and slipped into a single dark vehicle parked nearby.

Her breath caught. "Yes, boss. You’re right. They all got into the same car."

The light turned green. Miles pressed the accelerator, the engine growling as the car surged forward.

"April is with Jemma right now," Miles said calmly, eyes fixed on the road. "Inform her. Tell her to warn Jemma that there will be a robbery at the auction house tonight."

"Okay, boss." June quickly tapped a message on her phone, sending a coded text to April.

By the time she looked up, they were already pulling into the wide street where the property stood. The old banquet hall came into view, its faded exterior contrasting against the vibrant city around it.

Just moments later, another car rolled up beside them. Daniel and Elena stepped out, Elena’s curious eyes fixed on the building ahead.

A tall man in a neat gray suit stepped forward with a polite bow. His tone was respectful, almost rehearsed.

"Hello Mr. Sterling, it’s an honor for me to actually see you. I am Jack. I’m currently in charge of this property sale. Miss June told me you are interested in buying it for a restaurant."

Miles extended his hand with a faint smile. "Hello, Jack. Nice to meet you. These are my mom and dad. We’re here to look at the property for them."

Jack’s eyes flickered toward Elena and Daniel with a welcoming smile. "Hello," he greeted warmly. "It’s a pleasure to meet you both."

Elena gave a polite nod while Daniel shook his hand firmly.

"Please," Jack gestured toward the large double doors, "let me show you the property."

They followed him inside.

The old banquet hall opened before them, wide and airy with tall ceilings and chandeliers that had dulled with time. The walls were still decorated with faint outlines of where paintings once hung, and the marble floor bore faint scuffs from countless gatherings. A long stage at the far end suggested it had hosted weddings, parties, and grand dinners in its past life. Dust lingered faintly in the corners, but the skeleton of the place spoke of elegance waiting to be reborn.

Elena’s eyes softened as she turned slowly, taking in the space. "It’s perfect," she whispered with a smile that carried both nostalgia and hope.

Daniel ran a hand across the marble pillar, nodding thoughtfully. "Yes... just needs proper renovation, but the structure is solid. Once it’s redone, it’ll shine again."

Miles looked at them, pleased. "It’s good that you liked it. That’s all I wanted to see on your faces." He turned toward Jack, his voice decisive. "Let’s finalize this one. We’ll begin renovation and interior design right away."

Jack almost stumbled over his words in his eagerness. "Of course, Mr. Sterling. I’ll have the papers prepared immediately."

Elena placed her hand gently on Miles’s arm, her eyes glistening. "Thank you, son. This means more to me than I can say."

Miles smiled at her warmly. "It’s your dream, Mom. And now, we’ll make it real."

The deal was finalized, and the banquet hall was officially theirs. Elena and Daniel returned home, eager to welcome Hope and Asher back from school and share the good news with them.

Miles, however, drove back to Cinder Square with June. The evening traffic glittered with city lights as they reached the Sterling Enterprises tower.

Inside his office, he was surprised to find Jemma waiting, her expression unusually serious.

"Is it true, what you said earlier?" she asked as soon as he stepped in.

Miles set his briefcase down and studied her calmly. "I was just passing through the place. There were some fishy people around, so I thought it best to warn you to be extra careful."

Jemma let out a breath, her shoulders easing a little. "Is that so... Thanks for the heads-up. We’ll take care of it." A faint smile curved on her lips. "Anyways, thanks for today. I really enjoyed my day in Star Harbor."

Miles leaned back against his desk, his voice steady but kind. "Glad you like it here. Just call me if you need anything. I’ll be happy to help."

Her eyes softened for a moment. "Thank you."

With that, Jemma stood, gave him a polite nod, and left the office.

Miles waited until the door closed before pulling out his phone. He dialed Monica.

"Yes, boss," Monica’s voice came crisp and sharp as always.

"Monica, I’m sending you an address. I want eyes on the place quietly. It’s an auction house—I think there’s going to be a robbery tonight," Miles explained, his tone calm but commanding.

Monica chuckled on the other side. "You forgot to call me big sister."

Miles sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alright, big sister Mona, please help me with this."

Her laugh spilled through the line. "I was kidding, boss. I’ll arrange it." Then, her voice grew playful again. "By the way, do you fancy that Brightvale PD girl? She has quite a good track record, you know."

Miles frowned slightly, though a smile tugged at his lips. "What are you talking about? I’m just doing it because she gave me the auction house invitation."

Monica’s laugh came again, teasing and warm. "Really? You can totally apply to participate in the auction, and with the name of Sterling Enterprises in the market, they would have accepted it in a second."

"..." Miles stayed quiet.

"Anyways," Monica continued, "have a good day, boss."

The line went dead.

Miles shook his head, staring at the phone in his hand, a sigh slipping past his lips. "This girl..."

He set the phone down, the city lights reflecting off his office window, knowing the night ahead would not be quiet.

The sun had already dipped behind the skyline when Miles finally drove back home. As he entered the quiet village, the Pearl Villa greeted him with its warm lights and the soft fragrance drifting from the kitchen.

"I’m home," Miles called out, slipping off his jacket. A smile tugged at his lips as he inhaled. "What’s cooking? It smells so good."

Before anyone could answer, Hope and Asher came running into the living room, their little feet pattering across the floor.

"Big brooo!" Hope waved a paper proudly. "Look at this drawing I made!"

Miles crouched down to take a look. "Woah, that’s a really good elephant."

Asher puffed his cheeks. "No, big bro! It’s a tiger!"

Miles raised his brows, pretending to be confused. "A tiger? Then why does your tiger have a trunk?"

Asher crossed his arms, serious as ever. "It’s not a trunk, it’s a tail, big broo."

Miles chuckled, patting his head. "Alright then, why is your tiger black?"

Asher grinned confidently. "Because black tigers are cool."

Miles laughed warmly and ruffled his hair. "Alright, black tiger it is. Looks ferocious."

He turned to Hope, who had been watching quietly. "What about you, Hope? Did you draw something today?"

Hope pouted. "No, big broo. I’m bored with crayons. Can you buy me some watercolors instead?"

Miles smiled. "Of course. I’ll get you some tomorrow."

The twins beamed, satisfied with his answer.

"So," Miles leaned back against the sofa, "how was school today?"

Asher clapped his hands excitedly. "Big broo, today was Miss Johnson’s birthday! She gave us all cupcakes at lunch."

Hope nodded quickly. "They were yummy."

Miles gasped dramatically. "Ohh, I’m jealous. I want to eat cupcakes too!"

Hope giggled. "We’ll bring you one next time."

Daniel, who had been quietly watching the exchange from his chair, finally spoke up with a playful grin. "Make that two. One for me too..."

The room filled with soft laughter, the fragrance of Elena’s cooking wrapping them all in warmth.