[A/N: System dynamics have been slightly reworked, it's more of an upgradeable system now. Check Chapters 1, 4, and 7. This message is only for those who have been reading it constantly from chapter 1 and will disappear soon. Thank you.]
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"This seared duck breast with cranberry glaze is fantastic, Chef Ruben has outdone himself once again."
Chris, with a dark-colored piece of meat on his fork, complimented a bald chef who was smiling ear to ear, it's not every day someone asks him to come out and get praised like this.
"Thank you so much. It was worth it. It was my way of congratulating them."
Ruben gleefully said, then Faith held up her red wine glass and toasted him without any words, and Grace just nodded her head in satisfaction.
"Pour some wine for the boy."
Robert took a tender piece of meat in his mouth, then asked the maid nearby who was supervising the table to pour some wine for Chris.
"I'd rather not, sir, I have to drive back home."
Chris refused with a wide eye, as he was not used to refusing Robert yet. Robert just nodded his head, as it does make sense, and Chris was still not eighteen yet. Chris was sipping some sparkling water instead.
"Me and Monica will retire early. My dad passed away when I was just thirteen, handing me responsibility I was not ready for yet. I had to take care of our fifteen hundred company workers. I and your mother will retire early."
Robert suddenly said, then looked at Grace, who was seated with Chris on his right, and then Faith, who was on his left, he was cutting a piece of meat with his knife and, without looking at it, stuffed a greasy piece inside his mouth.
"That's rather sudden. Mom is rather weak, but you're perfectly fine, Dad."
Faith frowned first, seeing her father was serious about retiring early, she felt she was not ready yet.
"I have missed your mother's company for far too long. It's about time we go out there and see the broad world. I am telling you this because I want you to know, after both of you graduate, I want Grace to take the active part of the business with Chris by her side, she will do just fine. Faith will take on the passive sides and legal terms."
Robert chimed in before his second daughter could say anything about this decision, then he looked at Chris, who was seated by Grace's side. Chris just looked wide-eyed and shocked because he was involved in such a matter.
"You look shocked, that's a very good attitude, ahaha."
Robert laughed out loud seeing Chris's face, he was expecting him to take the lead in Grace's place, but he was simply shocked and not that motivated to inherit hundreds of millions.
Well, laugh all you want. If you had a system like me, I don't think you would care about a family-owned business either.
Chris just took a sip of sparkling water, his lack of interest even made Faith look at him with an impressed look. Grace had a proud and cheeky smile on her face, as her man was not greedy at all, and this confirms he was here just for her.
"Well, I still have some years left. I will retire your mom early though."
Robert smiled, he looked satisfied and felt his family was being complete, and Chris was not just a nice addition, he was an excellent addition to the family, more than what he could ask for.
...
All four of them were seated in the hall now. Robert was laughing more than he usually does because he was intoxicated, he drank too much wine. He looked like he was having fun, his blazer was in Faith's hand.
"So you are saying you have never visited Europe? I think two of you should go and have fun there. Chris, you're too modest. Even though I am Christian, a proper Christian, but when I met Monica Howard 25 years ago, I couldn't keep my hands off her."
"Jesus!! Dad."
Faith held her father's hand, her face was a little flushed from embarrassment. Even Grace looked a bit uncomfortable.
"I closed the deal, man."
Robert, with his flushed, intoxicated face, stood up and slapped Chris's shoulder, Faith was holding him to balance him on his feet.
"Okay, Dad, let's go. It's bedtime for you."
Faith pushed one of his hands on her shoulder and almost forced him to walk towards the stairs, his face was flushed, and he was walking a bit tipsy.
Chris was sipping his hot chocolate made specially by Chef Ruben for him, he tried to ignore what just happened, but his couch companion had other thoughts, as she closed in on him inch by inch.
"I think what Dad has said has its merit."
Grace now almost snuggled up to Chris, her whole right arm was on his thigh as he drank the chocolate slowly.
"He really does have a point. How about we really go and visit Europe this winter? It will be my treat, and I will turn eighteen in four days too, so we can have as much fun as we want."
Chris suddenly said, Grace's sultry teasing motion stopped. She was just having fun with him, but when he turned serious, her whole demeanor changed, her face got a slight blush, but she maintained her eye contact with him to believe what she was hearing.
"You mean it? Europe?"
Grace wanted to ask more, but she was afraid it would hurt his pride, visiting Europe was no joke—it would cost tens of thousands of dollars for both of them.
"About that, I have secretly started a business, not that profitable, but the income is good, see this."
Chris saying that pulled out the pay stub he got from the system to show Grace. Grace took the paper in her hand, she was even more shocked seeing the paper than him actually flirting back.
"T…ten thousand dollars? Wow, does Mel know it?"
Grace excitedly asked, her red face was gone and replaced by an ecstatic smile, and she turned her whole body towards him.
"N...No, I don't plan on telling her yet, only you know about this, and I don't think I have to ask you not to tell anyone. It's just that it's still small, I will let you know more about it later. It's too cold outside, you don't have to walk me out."
Chris stood up with a smile on his face, Grace looked reluctant, but she seemed to be content with knowing his secret alone.
"Let me walk you to your car."
Grace offered, she was smiling and even stood up beside him with confidence. Her confidence came from Chris sharing a secret with her that even Melissa didn't know of.
"Grab your coat then."
Chris nodded his head and took his ivory fur coat from the nearby wall-mounted coat stand.