Chapter 115: I Am the Boss

Just then, a series of footsteps approached the ward.
Emily immediately withdrew her hand and placed the bowl on the bedside table, quickly picking up her own bowl.
Her quick actions made Henry even more excited.
If she had nothing on her mind, why would she worry about being seen feeding him?
Fear of gossip only meant she had feelings for him!
The doctor and nurse entered to check on Henry's condition.
After a brief examination, the doctor officially approved Henry's discharge for the next day.
After the doctor left, Emily still seemed flustered, her expression unnatural.
Henry's heart was pounding.
At that moment, both felt a bit awkward, sensing each other's discomfort.
They ate in silence. Just as Emily finished cleaning up, Andrew called again.
Emily said goodbye to Henry, then answered the phone while walking out.
Henry sighed in relief, but kept his ears tuned to Emily's departing footsteps.
He longed for a future with Emily, but didn't know when that future might come.
After the nurse replaced Henry's IV, his phone rang. It was Brandon calling.
Jonathan and Daniel hadn't gone far after leaving the café. They watched Henry get into Ella's car, followed by Bryan's car. They hailed a cab to follow Bryan.
When Bryan's car left, they saw Ella's car parked by the lake, puzzled.
If Henry was in trouble, Ella should have taken him to the station.
They waited a while, then saw Ella driving towards Harbor Springs University.
At that moment, Brandon called, asking them to come to the bar.
Brandon was discussing matters with Vanessa when over ten suppliers arrived, notified by Erick that he had left the Violet Bar. They came to inquire about the situation.
They also learned Preston had been dismissed, causing an uproar.
Some suppliers were legitimate businesspeople, others had connections with Preston through state official William, and many were friends of Erick.
Seeing Brandon in charge, a young man, and hearing the boss Henry was even younger, they were dissatisfied.
Some caused a scene, others called gang members.
Brandon, previously a small-time thug, knew these gang members, but they didn't know him.
Brandon was scared. He wanted to call Henry but feared appearing incompetent. So he called Jonathan, thinking if Henry came, it wouldn't be his fault.
Jonathan and Daniel arrived quickly.
Ordinary suppliers gathered in the finance room, while larger suppliers with gang members surrounded Brandon in the office.
Some sat on Brandon's desk, others lounged on the sofa, and some fooled around in the office.
Their goal was to keep Brandon there and demand immediate payment of past debts.
When Jonathan and Daniel entered, they were quickly surrounded.
They had three guns, but without Henry, they lacked confidence and authority, only standing behind Brandon for support.
During a lull, Jonathan suggested showing their guns to scare the gang members.
Brandon, lacking a leader's aura, wasn't sure if three men could intimidate the crowd.
If they drew their guns and the others didn't back down, none of them had the guts to fire.
No matter how Brandon explained, the crowd ignored him, demanding only one thing: money.
Like any business, the bar had some debts and receivables, with only enough cash for operations.
Henry had already let Erick take much of the bar's cash, leaving little in the accounts. With most suppliers demanding payment at once, there was no money to give.
Desperate, Brandon called Henry.
Henry immediately pulled out his IV and rushed to the bar.
Seeing the office filled with gang members, Henry didn't enter but went to the finance room.
With suppliers crowding the finance room, Vanessa pretended not to know Henry, continuing to explain that it wasn't time for payment and asking them to abide by the agreement.
But the suppliers argued that their contracts were with Erick, now void since he left, and demanded immediate payment.
Henry, expressionless, told Vanessa, "Vanessa, bring all the contracts from today's suppliers to my office!"
Vanessa hesitated, thinking Henry was too young. Most bosses would hide from creditors, but he revealed himself.
"Okay!" Vanessa replied, gathering the contracts and following Henry.
The suppliers were puzzled.
"Who is he?"
"He's—"
Without turning, Henry said, "I am Henry, the owner of the Violet Bar!"
What?!
So young!
Who was he? No one had heard of a Smith in Harbor Springs!
Hearing Henry's voice, the gang members at the office door, including the leading suppliers, Brandon, Jonathan, and Daniel, were surprised.
The gang members stared at Henry, unable to believe such a young kid could be the bar's owner.
No high-ranking officials or wealthy people in the state had the surname Smith!
Seeing Henry enter, Jonathan and Daniel exchanged glances, hands on their guns.
Henry's presence gave them confidence and courage!
As Henry approached the desk, Brandon stood up from the boss's chair.
Everyone turned to Henry, except one man who kept his back to Henry, legs crossed on the desk, rocking in his chair.
Under everyone's gaze, Henry walked up, lifted his leg, and kicked the man's knee with his heel.
"Crack—Ah—"
With a scream, the man's knee dislocated.
Vanessa shuddered, her face pale as she watched Henry's back, thinking: I've seen tough people, but never someone this tough!
He didn't even ask who the man was, just broke his leg without a word?
Everyone was stunned: Where did this guy come from?
Two gang members on either side of the desk saw what happened but hadn't reacted. Henry stepped on the injured man's knee, leaped right, and kicked the right-side gang member in the back.
Using the rebound, he leaped left, kicking the left-side gang member in the chest.
"Thud, thud," the two gang members spat blood and fell.
Henry landed beside Brandon, who quickly moved aside, and Henry sat in the boss's chair.
Wow!
Vanessa didn't see what happened, only that Henry looked cold but handsome in the chair!
Everyone was stunned.
This kind of scene was only in action movies, but Henry did it live.
The most aggressive suppliers now looked the most worried, unsure what would happen next.
"Ow, ow—"
The man Henry kicked screamed, struggling to lower his leg from the desk, face red and veins bulging, cursing, "Damn, do you know who I am?"
Henry calmly asked Vanessa, "Who is he?"
Vanessa hesitated, "He's Quentin, a shareholder and contractor for our renovations."
Henry understood. He was the brother-in-law of Deputy Chief Ryan.
With this status, he led the trouble, and others followed.
After Vanessa revealed Quentin's identity, everyone expected Henry to back down, apologizing and begging for mercy.
The two gang members who had been kicked now glared at Henry.
If Henry apologized, they would attack despite their pain.
Henry asked, "Is his brother-in-law Deputy Chief Ryan?"
Vanessa nodded, "Yes!"
As soon as she spoke, Henry leaped over the desk, kicking Quentin in the chest.
With another scream, Quentin and his chair fell, sliding two or three meters as Henry flipped back into the boss's chair.
The room fell silent!
No one expected Henry to be so ruthless and arrogant!
Quentin was a shareholder, with a brother-in-law in the police. Many thought he held shares for his brother-in-law, but no one said it aloud.
Everyone knew the bar was protected by Charles in the underworld and by Quentin's brother-in-law Ryan in law enforcement.
More importantly, Ryan's father was a former leader in Harbor Springs, still connected with current officials.
Not knowing before was one thing, but now knowing Quentin's identity, Henry's kick seemed aimed to kill, shocking everyone.
More terrifying was Henry's silence. He acted without a word, expressionless, making everyone shiver.
With state official William backing Preston, who was ousted, and Charles absent, everyone watched Henry in silence, looking at Quentin.
Quentin, kicked unconscious, hit his head on the ground, bleeding and spitting blood.
Henry asked Vanessa for the contracts. Though silent, Vanessa looked at Henry with admiration, placing the contracts before him.
Henry asked, "Vanessa, when is the payment date per the contracts?"
Vanessa replied, "The 20th of each month."
Henry glanced at the crowd, "Today is the 29th. You were paid 9 days ago, now demanding money, violating the contracts. Vanessa, what's the penalty for breach?"
Vanessa replied, "A fine of 10% of the monthly amount in addition to the penalty."
Henry glanced at the crowd again, "Go to finance and pay the fines, or no one leaves!"
Sweat!
Everyone looked at each other.
They came to demand payment, now had to pay fines to leave?
Vanessa glanced back, trying not to laugh.
A boss sneered, "Hmph, you're Henry, right? You don't sound local. Do you know how deep Harbor Springs' waters are?"
Henry leaned back in the chair, raised his right hand towards Jonathan.
Jonathan froze, unsure what Henry wanted, then realized he wanted the Desert Eagle, quickly handing it over.
Everyone watched Henry and Jonathan, wondering what Henry wanted.
Seeing Jonathan hand Henry a Desert Eagle, they were terrified.
The timid ones started trembling.
The boss who spoke was startled, then calmed: In broad daylight, with dozens present, Henry wouldn't dare fire, just bluffing.
Vanessa and Brandon were also scared, about to stop Henry when he stood, cocked the gun, and shot the boss's leg!