Chapter 2177
Danny immediately chimed in, "Baron''s always been a stand-up guy, we all know that. And we''re all
in for you, man. Just say the word, and we''d go to the mat for you!"
"Ah, you''reying it on thick!" Baron said with a twinkle in his eye that betrayed his pleasure. "It''s all
in the drink. I''m gonna knock this one back first!"
There were five people around the dinner table, and the other two were also looking on with faces
full of respect and admiration, quickly following suit and downing their drinks.
Baron noticed that Gabriel had only sipped his drink and gave a sly grin. "Man, I''ve met all sorts
over the years, but Gabriel, you''ve been off the radar. Where''ve you been making your fortune?"
Gabriel shrugged off his overcoat, revealing a crisp ck shirt that entuated his broad shoulders
and lean waist. His presence was sharp, even subdued, he exuded an unmistakable air of authority
that set him apart from the others.
He nced up and replied casually, "Just a bit of business abroad."
"No wonder we haven''t seen you around!" Dannyughed. "What kind of business?"
"Just small-time stuff, not worth mentioning," Gabriel said, deflecting.
Baron''s mouth curled in slight disdain. "Times have changed, man. Doing business abroad used to
be lucrative, but now? You could make more here just by punching the clock."
Danny agreed, "He''s right. Gabriel, forget abroad. Come back and work with us."
"Work with me," Baron said with a lift of his ss, his confidence unshaken. "I''m just about to
develop a new property. Be my foreman, and I guarantee you''ll pull in this much a year!"
Baron held up two fingers.
"Two hundred thousand?" Danny guessed with a smile.
N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.
Baron frowned. "You think I''m cheap, or you think Gabriel''s cheap?!"
Danny whistled in admiration, looking at Gabriel enviously. "Gabriel, what are you waiting for?
Come back and work with Baron!"
Baron adjusted his shirt cuffs, revealing a glittering diamond watch. "Gabriel, you had my back
when we were in training. I wouldn''t offer this chance to just anyone."
Gabriel remained unmoved. "No need."
"Dude, you''re turning down a two million dor annual sry?" Danny looked at him incredulously,
as if to say Gabriel was biting the hand that fed him. "How much do you even make after a year of
busting your hump overseas?"
Shirley, eager to keep the peace, interjected, "Let''s focus on catching up today, not business deals."
The others took the opportunity to toast Baron, clearly hoping to curry favor.
Shirley poured Gabriel another drink and whispered, "Danny just got married. He bought his ce
from Baron''s development. Baron gave him a deal, knocked off ten percent. That''s why he''s kissing
up to Baron. Don''t take it to heart."
A few hundred thousand dors off a multi-million dor property was no small favor. Naturally,
Danny was now looking up to Baron.
Gabriel nodded. "It''s fine."
He was well ustomed to the ways of the world, where people gravitated towards those who
could benefit them most and had no illusions about it.
After a while, another guy named Jackson raised his ss to Gabriel. "So, Gabriel, are you married
yet?"
Gabriel, who had returned to the service at 24, was a few years older than most of the group.
"Not yet," Gabriel replied simply.
"Business keeping you busy? Got a girlfriend?"
"Nope."
Danny let out a knowingugh. "Still not hitched, Gabriel? You''re older than most of us here, right?"
Shirley joked, "Who''s in a rush to get married these days? It''s great to be single. Isn''t Baron single
too? It''s called being a ''confirmed bachelor''—it means only the real high rollers can afford to stay
single!"
Danny added, "With Baron, it''s just that too manydies are after him. He can''t make up his mind!"
Baronughed along. "Gabriel''s not doing so badly himself. He''s a good-looking guy. Remember
how the girls used to chase him right back to the barracks?"