Page 37 of Heart of The Night

‘That’s odd, especially if you’ve been on good terms.’ I jotted down rising rent.

Jian sighed heavily. ‘Then there’s the matter of our staff.’

‘Your staff?’ I asked, wondering whether he was about to mention some unusual turnover.

‘Yes. A few of our top chefs have recently been approached by competitors – all restaurants owned by Gastronomy Group. They haven’t taken up the offers, but the poaching attempts are beginning to affect morale.’

‘I see.’ My pen scratched across the page: possible staff poaching.

I leaned back in my chair, rolling the pen between my fingers. The bits of information remained sketchy, but they were beginning to coalesce into a troubling narrative. It was by no means definitive, and I was wary of falling into confirmation bias, but these could indeed be the early signs of an indirect takeover attempt.

‘All right, Jian,’ I said, nodding. ‘This is a start. I’m going to dig into these leads. We might be dealing with some underhanded tactics, but let’s not jump to conclusions. We’ll need more proof, which I plan to get. I’ll email you a list of things I’ll need from you. You should have it by tonight. Additionally, to ensure a clear understanding of our professional relationship, I’ll attach an engagement letter for signing. Please note that I am offering my services pro bono. However, including the engagement letter will serve to emphasise my commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality and safeguarding Fusion’s interests. The letter will outline my obligations regarding the protection of sensitive information shared during our collaboration. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.’

‘Absolutely, Will. Thank you.’

‘And keep me updated on any further developments, yeah?’

‘Of course,’ he said, a thread of relief woven into his voice. ‘Once again, I can’t thank you enough, Will.’

‘It’s no trouble at all, Jian. I’m sorry you’re facing these pressures.’ My gaze strayed over the scrawled notes – the skeletal structure of what promised to be a complex puzzle.

‘Me too.’ Jian sighed. ‘Anyway, I’ll get started on the supplier list right away. You should have it within the hour.’

‘That would be great. And remember, I’m here if you recall anything else that might be relevant. I would also like to know the exact percentage your landlord plans on hiking the rent by, if he’s already disclosed that.’

‘He hasn’t, but I’ll try to find out.’

‘Good.’

Jian paused, then spoke again, his voice heavy with suspicion. ‘There’s one more thing that’s been gnawing at me. When you last came to Fusion, did you notice the new establishment next door? The Orient Express, another Chinese restaurant.’

A mental picture flickered to life in the back of my mind – a fresh, gleaming storefront adjacent to Fusion. ‘Yes, I remember seeing it.’

‘Well, I’ll save you the digging for this one – it falls under Gastronomy Group’s umbrella.’

I shook my head, penning it down. On the face of it, this did indeed bear the distinct marks of a clandestine takeover attempt. ‘I see. Thanks for letting me know.’

‘Other than that, I can’t think of anything else right now.’

‘Then I’ll delve into what we’ve got so far.’ As my thumb hovered over the end call button, a forgotten detail drifted to the surface. ‘Hang on, Jian?’

‘Yes?’

‘Completely unrelated, but regarding my last visit to Fusion—’

‘That was a beautiful woman you were with, Will.’

An unbidden smile bloomed on my face at the unexpected remark. ‘Yes, she certainly is quite something. Here’s the thing, though…’ I shifted in my seat. ‘As you may recall, she works at Day & Night at the moment. However, our colleagues – and most importantly my father – aren’t aware we’re seeing each other, so I would appreciate it if you refrained from disclosing it to anyone.’

Jian’s silence spanned only a beat before he responded with a hearty chuckle. ‘I see – you have my silence. It’s good you gave me a heads-up, though. I was considering mentioning her to John next time we spoke.’

I expelled a breath of relief, a gust of anxiety leaving my body. The what-if scenarios started playing out: what if Dad had phoned Jian right after our conversation last night? Or what if Jian had contacted Dad? I berated myself for not immediately reaching out, a proactive move I should have made. Fortunately, it seemed no harm had been done, but it felt far too close for comfort. I wasn’t sure Cara would have ever forgiven me if Jian had unwittingly disclosed our secret.

‘I appreciate your understanding,’ I said, rubbing my forehead. ‘I should have mentioned it to you sooner.’

Jian laughed. ‘No harm done, Will. Your secret’s safe with me.’

‘Great. Thanks.’

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