The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 344

After taking a few deep drags, he casually flicked the cigarette butt onto the ground.

He took a few steps, stopped, turned back around, and picked the butt off the pavement to toss it into the trash can.

Watching him, a faint smile touched Jocelyn's lips.

She drove him to a small diner.

The man was starving. He inhaled a massive bowl of noodles and a plate of stir-fried pork.

When he finished, he eyed Jocelyn's half-eaten bowl.

"Are you done with that?"

She smiled politely.

"The portion was too big. I can't finish it."

He immediately pulled her bowl across the table and started eating with his own fork.

"I already ate from that," Jocelyn pointed out gently.

He didn't even look up, his voice low and gruff.

"When you're starving enough, you eat food off the ground."

Jocelyn fell silent, simply watching as he polished off the rest of the meal.

Wiping his mouth clean, he finally looked at her.

"I owe you for today. If I get the chance, I'll pay you back. If I don't... well, then forget it."

"Why wait for next time? You can pay me back right now," Jocelyn replied.

He paused.

"What do you want?"

Jocelyn flashed a radiant smile.

"Tell me your story."

He remained silent for several seconds.

"Gideon Shaw. Twenty-four. No parents, no friends. Just an orphan who grew up in the system. I have a criminal record, spent time in prison, and currently work as a bartender."

"But considering what happened tonight, I'm probably fired, so now I'm unemployed."

A bartender?

Looking at the way he carried himself, he didn't seem like one.

"You know how to mix drinks?"

"Yeah. Learned it from a mentor after I got out."

Jocelyn didn't flinch at the mention of his prison time.

Anyone who could admit to it so calmly usually wasn't an unforgivable monster.

She asked bluntly, "What did you go in for?"

"I don't care," Jocelyn replied.

A flare of pride crossed his face.

"I don't just work for anyone."

Meeting his intense gaze, Jocelyn smiled slowly.

"Have you ever heard of 'Storm'?"

Gideon stiffened.

"You mean Storm from the King Alliance?"

"The very same."

A sudden spark of life ignited in Gideon's eyes.

"You know him?"

Jocelyn's smile widened. "I know him very well."

Though Gideon tried to keep his composure, the hard lines of his face relaxed.

"He's an absolute genius. If it's at all possible, I'd love the honor of meeting him."

Jocelyn rested her chin on her hand and blinked playfully.

"You're looking right at her."