Chapter 45: The Doctor Will See You Now
He turned back to Roy and planted his boot firmly on the young master’s broken ribs.
"Aghhh! Stop! Please!"
"You brought a trained killer into my hotel," Rick said, pressing down just enough to make breathing difficult.
"But you are a good for nothing useless spoiled brat."
"Then who else can help you?"
"It must be your dear father... So did you..."
But before Rick could complete his question, Roy already found his scrape goat.
"I will tell you! I will tell you everything!" Roy sobbed, completely broken. "My father is targeting the Peninsula’s reputation at the International Culinary Summit next week! The hotel is hosting the entire event!"
Rick tilted his head, still smiling, but his eyes stayed sharp and suspicious, "Go on."
"He has arranged for several high-profile food critics and government health officials to fall mildly ill after the opening banquet!" Roy choked out, words tumbling over each other.
"The nausea and fever will make headlines."
"Then the story gets leaked that the Peninsula’s kitchen is cutting corners under the new management."
"Public pressure will force the Mayor to temporarily shut down the hotel and this will open the door for my father’s people to buy more shares at a discount."
"It’s all about embarrassing the hotel and weakening its market position!"
Rick’s smile never fully left his face, but a cold, calculating glint appeared behind it. He stared down at Roy for a long moment, clearly not buying the story at face value.
"Interesting story," he said lightly. "Very corporate. Almost sounds rehearsed."
He slowly lifted his boot off Roy’s chest, then without warning drove it down hard against the side of Roy’s head.
Roy’s body went limp instantly, knocked completely unconscious in the oil puddle.
Rick looked down at the two broken men and cracked his neck once.
"Next time you want to tell a lie, Roy... make it a better one."
However, Rick still pulled his phone from his pocket and dialled Marcus’s direct line. The manager answered on the first ring, voice perfectly crisp even at this hour.
"Boss."
"Marcus, listen carefully," Rick said, leaning against the Ducati while blood still dried on his lip. "There is something that’s going to happen right before the International Culinary Summit. I don’t fully trust the details, but I am not taking chances."
"From security to raw materials."
"Every fucking thing I want you to double check."
"Understood."
"From this second, nothing enters my kitchens without a full inspection. Every crate of meat, every bottle of wine, every vegetable."
"If anything looks even slightly off, lock the delivery drivers in the basement and call me. I want the receiving bay locked down tighter than a bank vault."
"I will handle it personally, Boss. No one gets near the kitchens without clearance."
Rick ended the call, satisfied. He swung his leg over the matte-black Ducati, winced at the protest from his bruised ribs, and started the engine. The V4 roared to life, echoing through the empty garage.
As he rode out into the cold night air, his mind shifted to the one person he actually wanted to see right now.
He dialled Elena.
She picked up on the second ring, voice soft and already worried.
"Rick? It’s past one in the morning. Is everything alright?"
"I am fine, Doc," Rick answered, a tired but playful smile in his voice, "Well. Most of me is."
"Just had a small disagreement in the parking garage."
"A couple of guys who thought they were tougher than they actually were."
"Nothing dramatic."
"What?!" Elena’s voice jumped several octaves. "Who did this? Are you hurt? How bad is it? I am coming over right now with my..."
"Relax," Rick interrupted gently, chuckling. "I am already on my way to your place. I will be at your place in ten minutes. No need for you to drive around the city in the middle of the night."
"You are impossible," she muttered, but the worry was still thick in her tone. "Fine. Get here safely. And do not speed. If you get hurt on the way, I will personally kill you."
"Fine... I am too young to die anyway," Rick laughed out loud, the sound mixing with the engine roar as he accelerated into the empty streets.
Exactly ten minutes later he pulled into Elena’s long driveway. The front door was already open. Elena stood on the porch in a soft oversized cashmere sweater and silk pajama shorts, arms wrapped around herself against the cold.
The second he killed the engine and stepped off the bike she was already moving toward him.
She grabbed his face with both hands the moment he was close enough, ice-blue eyes scanning every mark with sharp professional focus.
"You idiot," she whispered, thumbs carefully tracing the swelling along his jaw. "You said it was ’a bit rough.’ You look like someone used your face as a punching bag."
"You should see the other two," Rick said with a crooked grin. "They are going to be drinking through straws for a while."
Elena gave him a stern look that didn’t quite hide the concern underneath.
She lightly slapped his chest, and pushed him toward the living room.
"Everything is a joke for you."
"Sit. Now. And stop talking."
She forced him down onto the expensive leather sofa and grabbed the first-aid kit from the coffee table.
Kneeling in front of him, she tore open an antiseptic wipe and leaned in close. Her soft sweater brushed against his chest as she carefully cleaned the split lip.
"Who exactly did this to you?" she asked while working, voice firm, "Were they trying to mug you? Did you call the police?"
"Ouch!" Rick winced in acting, "Just a couple of insects who forgot their place. Already taken care of. You don’t need to worry that pretty head of yours."
"I will worry if I want to," Elena muttered, applying ointment with gentle fingers. "You’re covered in blood and still cracking jokes. Typical."
She cleaned the cut above his eye next, then carefully bandaged his scraped knuckles. Every movement was precise and caring.
When she finally finished she sat back on her heels and looked at him properly. The strict doctor mask melted away, leaving only soft concern and something warmer.
"There," she said quietly. "All patched up."
Rick reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, fingers lingering against her cheek.
"Thanks, Doc. Best house call I have ever had."
Elena’s cheeks flushed a deep pink. She tried to look stern again and failed completely.
"Then it’s time for me to get my consultation fees," And so, she leaned forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her soft lips carefully against his.
The kiss started tender; careful of his injuries. But Rick wasn’t content to leave it that way.
He slipped one hand into her hair and deepened it, tasting her slowly, turning the soft moment into something warmer.
Elena made a quiet sound against his mouth and melted into him, fingers curling into the front of his torn shirt.
When they finally broke apart both were breathing a little harder.
Rick rested his forehead against hers and gave her a cheeky, tired smile.
"You know, if this is how you treat me, I am going to start getting into fights on purpose."
Elena rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling and still very close, "You are the worst patient I have ever had."
"And yet here you are, taking care of me at two in the morning in your pajamas."
She didn’t have a good answer for that. Instead she just leaned in and kissed him again, softer this time.
Rick eventually slid his arms under her and stood up in one smooth motion, lifting her with him. Elena gasped and locked her legs around his waist, arms tightening around his neck as he carried her toward the stairs.
"Rick..." Elena tried to say something, but Rick shushed her instantly.
"Shh," he murmured against her ear, voice warm and teasing. "Doctor’s orders. You spent the last twenty minutes patching me up. Now it’s my turn to take care of you."
"So now be a good girl, and let the doctor give you a full inspection."
"Believe me... You are in good hands."
"I am..."
He carried her up the grand staircase toward the master bedroom, the soft glow of the hallway lights following them.
Meanwhile at the back of his head, the system chimed happily.
[Ding!]
[Quest Completed: Survive the VIP Ambush!]
[Rewards: +3,000 Mischief Points, +$100,000]
He smirked as he looked at Elena’s smiling face through the system interface.
The system’s rule was clear — no new legendary occupation until the Chef class hit 100%.
There are going to be a lot of quests that he needs to complete before he could get to see what his next occupation is going to be.
"Rick...?"
"Yes, darling!" But all of it can wait.
He has a beautiful patient to tend to.
"The doctor will see you now."