Chapter 4: Meeting Martin
A sleek black Torsche 911 came to a screeching stop before a grand hotel bustling with world elites.
A glowing golden sign reading "Golden Square Hotel & Restro" crowned the luxurious building.
The door of the car opened, and a black-haired man wearing a single-breasted two-button brown suit stepped out of it.
That man was none other than Martin Sykes.
With a faint, carefree smile on his face, Martin walked inside the hotel and reached the sitting area, and then he searched for his friend.
Suddenly his smile faltered, and he stared at a man wearing a black jacket with orange straps over a white shirt, black pants, and boots. He was stirring the water in his glass with a straw while grinning like an idiot.
"Why does he have to do this every single time?" Martin mumbled in irritation and strode toward Klaus.
Seeing Martin coming, Klaus stopped swirling the water and looked at him.
Why is he staring at me like that?
Martin settled in the opposite chair and glared at Klaus with a deadpan expression.
"Ahem!" Klaus coughed and said, "Finally here, huh?"
However, Martin didn’t share his enthusiasm; on the other hand, he glared at him like he was looking at his worst enemy and asked seriously, "Why do you always have to dress like a kid?"
"Huh?" Klaus frowned. He felt offended by Martin’s comment because he had tried his best to look dashing.
"Are you jealous that I look better than you?" Klaus smirked; he truly believed that was the case and couldn’t help but pity his friend inwardly.
Martin’s expression didn’t change even slightly, and he stated, "You are a grown-ass man and a finance consultant. Let’s say you don’t care about your own image, can’t you at least dress up formally for me? For once?"
[Is this person stupid? Why is he worrying about clothes when the world itself is ending?]
Klaus raised his hands in defeat. "Calm down. Why are you getting so heated over some clothes, man? Did you not get the client or something?"
Martin let out a deep sigh and chugged down the water in his glass.
"I did meet her."
"Her?" Klaus narrowed his eyes and asked quietly, "Don’t tell me you tried to get under her skirt as well? Did she file a report of sexual assault against you or something? To be honest, you had it coming, man."
[Oh? I believe if someone as enthusiastic as him were chosen for me, it would be a breeze to replenish the human population.]
Klaus furrowed his brows and muttered inwardly, ’Do you think he’s some kind of god of sex? Stop talking nonsense.’
Martin gave Klaus an offended look and asked somberly, "What kind of image do you have of me?"
"Hmm... now that you ask me." Klaus crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and thought of the correct answer.
He recalled how Martin was dating two sisters, how he flirted with female co-workers, and how he used to talk about women all the time before his promotion to Managing Director.
"This damned bastard," he mumbled while looking at Martin with a deeply disgusted expression.
Martin rolled his eyes and said, "Stop it. I don’t want any judgmental stares. Not from you at least."
[I agree with him.]
"Huh? What’s wrong with me?" Klaus asked with a deep frown.
"Aren’t you a finance consultant? How did you even think that wasting all your savings on a game would be beneficial?" Martin shook his head.
[Didn’t you step out of your safe shelter to meet with another human? That too with a man. I hope you are not gay, otherwise I would fail my task before it even started.]
Klaus was left speechless by the answers of both and just decided to change the topic.
"Why are you so heated then?"
"The client is the daughter of an old friend of mine... She wants us to put the house on green."
"Huh?" Klaus’s brows flew up. "Why is she doing something so stupid? Doesn’t she know the risks of the stock market?"
"Her father took a lot of debts and ran away; now she is being forced to pay all of them. I would’ve helped her run away but..." Martin stopped talking and closed his eyes.
"But?" Klaus pressed further.
Martin clenched his left fist and continued in a furious tone, "Some bastard whispered sweet nothings to her during that time and got her pregnant... It’s already been six months."
"Ah..." Klaus leaned on the table with a dark expression.
"I cannot just send a pregnant lady overseas now, can I?" Martin chuckled with a heavy face.
Klaus looked at Martin. He had never seen his friend so down before.
"I have a way..." Klaus mumbled, even though this wasn’t how he had hoped for things to go, he had no choice but to make use of that poor woman’s situation.
Confusion filled Martin’s face, and he mumbled, "What do you mean?"
Klaus looked around to make sure that no one was listening, then he leaned forward and whispered, "I obtained some major insider information."
"I don’t understand," Martin said with a look that seemingly understood everything but still demanded more explanation.
"Tch," Klaus clicked his tongue. He didn’t like Martin’s habit of making him say everything directly.
"I know companies that will skyrocket within the next few months," he stated flatly.
Martin nodded and asked with an unconvinced expression, "And where did you obtain that information? In forums of that Nico Nico Nii Gacha game?"
"You bastard!" Klaus exploded. "It was a damned limited character! A collector’s item. How would a womaniser like you know it’s worth?!"
"Womaniser? I shouldn’t expect anything else from a guy who can’t keep a girlfriend for more than two months."
The two threw curses at one another, and a waitress soon walked over to them.
"Ahem! Sirs, can you please lower your voices? You are making other guests uncomfortable."
The two looked around and noticed that everyone was looking weirdly at them.
Klaus rose from his chair and placed a hand on his chest. "I am sorry for making all of you uncomfortable."
"Idiot," Martin chuckled as he also stood up and followed him.
"I-It’s f-fine, you don’t have to do that!" The young waitress stammered while waving her hands in panic.
The guests accepted their apologies, and the two returned to their conversation.