Chapter 314 The Brawl
The group gathered at Duke Wellington’s Steakhouse which was the finest in Dellmoor.
Yandel had booked a private room prior. Upon arrival, he clicked his fingers and a waiter appeared smartly by his side an instant later.
As Wendy and Lucas were afraid of acne breaking out on set, they opted for their steaks to be served with the milder-tasting mushroom gravy.
Joining them were Yana who had just recovered from a severe illness, and Hans who kept her company.
On the other hand, Natalie, Yandel, and Ross were feeling adventurous and chose paprika gravy on their steaks, which was the specialty of the house.
With promptness that defied logic, seven perfectly done steaks arrived at the table before the party had even settled down in their seats. The room was soon bursting with aroma as the diners helped themselves.
“To think that it was just the two of us having steaks three years ago, Boss,” Yandel remarked. “Look at how many people are here with you now!”
Natalie is a true leader. She deserves all the recognition she has.
“You will always be my most trusted lieutenant, Yandel.”
Natalie raised her glass and knocked against Yandel’s with a clink.
Though Yandel was the CEO of Dream Corporation, Natalie’s praise seemed to bring out the child in him. Grinning like an appreciative schoolboy, he raised his glass in return before tipping its entire contents down his throat in one smooth, practiced flourish.
Natalie giggled and reciprocated the gesture.
Before she had managed to set down her glass, Hans and his wife raised their glasses eagerly as soon as their turn to toast Natalie arrived.
The corners of her eyes crinkling with delighted surprise at the attention she was receiving, Natalie leaned forward and clinked her glasses against theirs.
As the last of the cutlery was put away with a sigh of content, a babble of chatter began to fill the room once more.
Suddenly, Natalie’s phone rang.
“I’ll step outside to take this,” she said as she made her way out to the corridor. Though it was an unfamiliar number, she picked up nonetheless.
“Hello?”
“Good day, madam. Am I speaking to the mother of Xavian and Clayton, Ms. Natalie Nichols?” A gentle female voice came from the other end.
Natalie stiffened up at the mention of her children.
“Yes, speaking. And you are?”
“My name is Ms. Summers, a teacher at the kindergarten. It appears that there was an accusation that Xavian had stolen an heirloom pendant belonging to one of his classmates which resulted in his brother, Clayton, viciously assaulting the boy. We would like you to come over at once to discuss the matter.”
“All right, I’m on my way.”
After hanging up, she returned to the private room.
“Something’s come up with the boys at the kindergarten. I’m going over to straighten it out now.” Natalie’s eyes returned to their familiar coldness as she spoke.
“I’ll give you a ride, Boss.” Yandel stood up at once.
Natalie pressed his shoulder firmly back into his seat. “And get arrested for drunk driving? Stay where you are. I will catch a cab there.”
The rest saw quite plainly that Natalie was feeling anxious about her children, thus opting to leave her alone.
Natalie hailed a cab at the doorstep of Duke Wellington’s Steakhouse and soon arrived at the kindergarten.
The teacher who had called Natalie, Veranne Summers, was waiting for her at the gates.
“Where are the boys, Ms. Summer?”
“They’re in the principal’s office.” Veranne’s gentle face was taut with worry. “It appears that Xavian had stolen a tourmaline pendant and is refusing to admit it. After that, Clayton assaulted the boy who is fortunately not gravely injured.”
Natalie frowned. Though she said nothing, her gaze became increasingly chilly.
Led by Veranne, Natalie soon arrived at the principal’s office. The first people she saw were her own sons who were sitting in sullen silence.
Though the boys said nothing when they saw their mother, their eyes were filled with indignant anger.
Standing beside them was a very chubby boy who had bruises all over his face exactly as Veranne had described. Clayton must have landed quite a few punches.
The principal stood in the middle of his office dolefully wiping his spectacles.
“Thank you for coming, Ms. Nichols.”
Before Natalie could respond, the chubby boy’s mother, Minerva Young, stepped forth. “Finally made it, huh?” she said scornfully. “You’re their mother, I suppose?”
