Chapter 585 I Want to Eat Is...
The next morning, a light drizzle began to fall outside the window.
Aqua Vista City had entered its rainy season, with the forecast predicting similar weather for the coming days. Rainy days often made people feel sluggish and unwilling to move.
Take Sebastian, for example, who was currently sitting in the penthouse suite of his hotel.
The fine rain drifted outside, and the entire view was shrouded in a misty haze. This kind of weather was certainly not a good omen.
Sebastian took a sip of his coffee and then picked up his laptop to check the day's financial news. His eyes locked onto Aucester, and as expected, the headline was about the Turner Group. The Turner Group had fallen apart, and the senior figures who once worked there were now scrambling to protect themselves, let alone the regular employees who only cared about immediate benefits.
As Sebastian continued to scroll through the news, his phone rang.
It was Peregrine's number.
Sebastian answered, "Hey, what's up?"
Peregrine was deep into investigating the Turner Group's internal network maintenance and vulnerabilities. His expression was grim as he looked at the data on his screen.
"Mr. Kingsley, I found something while checking the Turner Group's network. I'm not sure if I should tell you."
Sebastian took another sip of his coffee. "Spill it."
Peregrine pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, jotting down a few keywords. "Mr. Kingsley, I discovered that someone within the Turner Group has been using a series of sophisticated passwords to repeatedly try and hack into MBK's internal network. Lawrence isn't as straightforward as he seems. He actually started attacking MBK's website years ago but never succeeded. The last attempt was ten days ago, targeting MBK's finance and marketing sectors, but it failed."
It was not unusual for companies to attack each other and secretly gather intelligence. Sebastian wasn't surprised that the Turner Group had made multiple attempts to breach MBK.
"Lawrence wouldn't be content to just sit in jail. Preemptive strikes are to be expected, but he overestimated himself. For now, we don't need to worry about it."
Peregrine nodded on the other end. "Indeed, MBK's internal network firewall is heavily encrypted. Ordinary hackers can't break in. Actually, the Turner Group has also infiltrated other companies and succeeded in most cases. I just cross-checked the information. All the companies the Turner Group invaded were eventually forcibly acquired at low prices, except for Infinite International Group."
He couldn't be too blatant about James's company.
Sebastian inhaled the rich aroma of his coffee. "Peregrine, MBK's security system is pretty solid. Generally, it can't be breached. But someone with your skills might be an exception, right? If I remember correctly, you managed to hack into a similar company back in Averlake without anyone noticing."
Peregrine felt a bit embarrassed over the phone. Bringing up the past always made him uneasy. "Mr. Kingsley, please don't joke. I was young and reckless back then."
Sebastian's lips curved slightly. "No need to be nervous. I just want to confirm if MBK's current security measures are truly foolproof."
Peregrine adjusted his glasses and, after some thought, answered cautiously, "To be honest, no security system is completely foolproof. Every design has inherent flaws. It just depends on whether the hacker can find them."
"Good. That's all I needed to hear. Keep digging into the Turner Group and email me any new findings."
"Understood, Mr. Kingsley."
After hanging up, Sebastian narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. MBK's internal security network was designed by over a hundred seasoned IT experts, yet Peregrine could still spot its weaknesses. This guy was indeed formidable.
Thinking about it, Sebastian felt a bit of fear. If Peregrine had been exploited by the Scott family, what would the consequences be now?
He really had to thank Brooklyn. Without her saving Peregrine's daughter, Peregrine might have become a rogue hacker by now. It was quite a twist of fate.
With Peregrine on his side, many things would be easier in the future.
Just as he hung up, a message came through.
Sebastian glanced at it. [Mr. Kingsley, after our meeting last night, do you still remember our agreement?]
It had to be Catherine.
Sebastian ignored her for a while, then after reviewing some documents for over half an hour, he finally replied: [Of course, I remember. I'll take you to dinner tonight. I'll send a driver to pick you up at eight.]
On the other end, Catherine held her phone with a delighted smile, shyly tugging on Bruce's arm. "Dad, I really have to thank you this time. Otherwise, I wouldn't have the chance to spend time alone with Sebastian. But Dad, when Sebastian left last night, he mentioned something about a project on the phone. Is he having trouble with an investment in Aqua Vista City?"
Bruce patted Catherine's head affectionately. "You care a lot about his business, don't you? What, already thinking about getting involved in his work?"
Catherine leaned back on the couch, wrapping her arms around Bruce's neck. "Dad, you know I like Sebastian. If he's in trouble and you can help, of course, I want you to. It would be helping me too, right?"
Bruce's expression turned serious. "It's not that I don't want to help, but Aqua Vista City has its own regulations. There's nothing I can do. Aqua Vista City isn't under my control."
Catherine pouted in displeasure. "You just don't want to help. If you wanted to, everyone in Aqua Vista City would follow your lead, except for Mr. Gutierrez. Everyone else respects you. Besides, rules are made by people... Dad, if I can help Sebastian in his business, he'll rely on me more. Then, it'll be natural for him to divorce and marry me."
Bruce patted Catherine's hand, deep in thought. If Sebastian could really become his son-in-law, opening a path for him in the political arena wouldn't be out of the question.
"You're having dinner with him tonight. Gauge his attitude yourself. I don't want you to end up worse off."
"Don't worry, Dad! Trust in my charm."
Brooklyn handed Ronnie over to the Gutierrez family member who had come to care for him. They thanked Brooklyn profusely, and she graciously accepted.
Her demeanor—poised, intelligent, professional, and perceptive—left a strong impression on Eugene, who had only seen Brooklyn in the news before.
Eugene now understood that the Kingsley family was not to be trifled with.
Ronnie clung to Brooklyn's leg, unwilling to let go, insisting on playing with her, which even impressed Eugene.
"Ms. Mitchell, can I still come to your house to sleep?" Ronnie looked up at Brooklyn, his eyes full of hope.
"Of course you can, Ronnie. Anytime you want."
"Great! Grandpa, I really like Ms. Mitchell! She tells the best stories!"
As Ronnie laughed and played, Eugene said, "Dr. Mitchell, can we talk for a moment?"
"Sure."
Eugene invited Brooklyn outside the ward. After hesitating for a moment, he smiled. "Dr. Mitchell, I feel like I've fallen into your and Sebastian's hands. Regardless of your intentions, seeing how Ronnie praises you, I believe you're a good person. Rest assured, I'll help Sebastian with his issues in Aqua Vista City as much as I can."
Brooklyn smiled modestly, her attitude showing no hint of flattery. "Mr. Gutierrez, I'm a doctor. I just did what a doctor should do—look out for the patient's welfare. You're an official in Aqua Vista City, naturally looking out for its people. My husband is a businessman with a mission to serve society. This collaboration will surely be a win-win. Your understanding is a blessing for the people of Aqua Vista City."
After speaking about social responsibility, Brooklyn smiled gracefully.
Though they were seeking help, Brooklyn would never admit it in this situation.
"Hahaha! Dr. Mitchell, you truly are a good match for Sebastian. I admire your eloquence."
"Just speaking from the heart. I'm sure you feel the same."
"Absolutely!"
They exchanged smiles, and Brooklyn fell silent.
She needed to ensure that Sebastian could complete his task and then retire successfully. But she didn't know what other challenges awaited him after dealing with Eugene.
She worried about him, wanting to fight alongside him, but there seemed to be little she could do.
She hoped everything would go smoothly and that he would return safely.
Aqua Vista City's nightscape was more alluring than Aucester's, with neon lights flashing around the Velvet Oasis International skyscraper by the river.
Sebastian, dressed in a black suit, sat in the revolving restaurant at the top of the building, overlooking most of Aqua Vista City's night view.
With his legs crossed and leaning back in his chair, Sebastian twirled his wedding ring around his finger. In this setting, he could only think of one person.
The restaurant's glass door opened, and Catherine, in a deep purple gown, walked in on high heels. The deep V neckline, cinched waist, and wavy hair draped over her left shoulder—all details exuded seductive allure.
Catherine's charm was fully displayed in this outfit.
Sebastian smiled slightly and stood up to pull out a chair. "Ms. Cooper, you look stunning tonight."
Catherine smiled coyly. "Wasn't I stunning last night?"
Sebastian gestured for her to sit. "Last night, Ms. Cooper, you were the center of attention. But tonight, your beauty is for one person."
Catherine blushed at Sebastian's words, twirling her hair shyly. "Sebastian, you're too good with words. I won't talk to you anymore."
Sebastian returned to his seat and handed her the menu. "Ms. Cooper, are you mad at me? You can be mad, but let's order first. You need to eat well to have energy."
Catherine had heard countless sweet words from men, but none spoke as naturally and charmingly as he did.
"Sebastian, if you keep talking like this, I'll misunderstand."
Sebastian shrugged. "Misunderstand? Sometimes, going along with a misunderstanding isn't a bad thing—Ms. Cooper, let's order."
Catherine flipped through the thick, elegant menu, speaking softly as the violin music played. "There's nothing I like on this menu. What I want isn't listed."
As she spoke, Catherine's high heel extended across the table, rubbing against Sebastian's pant leg under the table...
Sebastian stood up, skillfully avoiding her move. "Ms. Cooper, let's take our time with dinner and everything else. The night is still young..."
Catherine smiled, biting her lip. "Sebastian, you're so annoying."
Sebastian frowned slightly and called over the waiter.
Meanwhile, behind them, someone silently pressed the shutter on their camera.
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