Psycho Billionaire [SAMPLE, PUBLISHED] ✔️

The chill of the long, rainy night seeped into the bones, mirroring the dread that had settled deep within Kiara. Eleven p.m. and the 'Sea Dragon' Chinese restaurant was practically empty, a stark contrast to the usual Friday bustle. Her co-worker, Kathy, had ditched her for a date, leaving Kiara and the perpetually tired Diego to handle closing. Just as a fragile peace settled, Sam, the chef, burst from the kitchen, a frantic energy radiating from him.

"It's Lily!" he stammered, his voice tight with worry. "High fever... rushing her to the hospital. I have to go."

Diego, ever the stickler for rules, balked. "Sam, we still have an hour. What if a customer comes? Manager Jeff will have our heads!"

Kiara, seeing the raw panic in Sam's eyes, stepped forward. "We'll manage, Sam. Go. Your daughter needs you." She patted his back, a silent promise.

Diego fumed, his face a roadmap of impending apoplexy. "You're insane! If Jeff finds out, we're fired!"

"He doesn't need to know," Kiara countered, a resolve she didn't quite feel hardening her voice. "It's just an hour. No one's walking in now."

Famous last words. Fifteen minutes later, the faint ding of the restaurant bell shattered the quiet. Three men in suits, radiating an aura of untouchable wealth, strode in. The youngest, with a gaze that made Kiara's skin crawl, settled by the window. Her heart sank. She wasn't a chef, but necessity, and a growing sense of defiance, pushed her forward. This was going to be a long night.