"Alright, alright, go ahead and get ready," William said, comforting Ambrosio as he held her. "I'm not so petty that I'd get upset over this. Tonight, when Brian and the others come over, it's not just because you've met them a few times. Brian is considering entering politics, and I want to formally introduce him to you. In the future, if I'm not around, they'll look after you. And if something comes up and I can't be there, you can turn to him for help."
"Hmm," Ambrosio responded, her mood visibly lifting after hearing William's words. For her, this was a very good start. Being introduced to his subordinates meant she had gained a certain level of importance in William's heart, no longer just some dispensable plaything.
Her eyes smiled like crescent moons as she hugged William joyfully and gave him a few soft kisses. "Don't worry, I'll make sure dinner is well prepared, and I guarantee Brian and the others won't be afraid to eat like they were in Switzerland."
Watching Ambrosio move with a newfound lightness in her step, William shook his head. He hoped she wouldn't develop any other ideas; otherwise, he might have to put her on ice for a while or, in a worst-case scenario, break up with her entirely.
But, as humans, we're emotional beings. Even if you spend enough time with a cat, you'll develop feelings for it—let alone a smart, obedient girl.
An hour later, while William sat on the sofa reading a newspaper, the doorbell rang. Immediately, Ambrosio's voice called out from the kitchen: "Honey, I'm busy with the food, can you get the door?"
"Got it," William responded. Glancing at his watch, he realized it was already 6:40 PM. It seemed Brian and the others had arrived early to ensure they wouldn't be late.
He got up, walked to the door, and checked the video feed from the doorbell. There, he saw Brian, Sam, and the other three team members standing in front of the elevator, all in formal attire and holding gifts.
"Ha," William chuckled, noticing how seriously they were taking this dinner. He pressed the button to open the elevator and then opened the door, standing in front of it as a host rather than a boss.
After about half a minute, Brian, Sam, and the other three exited the elevator to find William dressed in casual, comfortable clothes.
"Sorry, guys. I forgot to mention that this is just a casual family dinner, and we're having Brazilian food and barbecue."
"It's no problem, boss. It's our first time visiting, so it's only right to dress formally. Worst case, we'll just take off our jackets and loosen our ties during dinner," Brian said with a laugh as he hugged William. "Good evening, boss."
"Mm," William awkwardly patted Brian's back and replied, "Good evening, Brian."
After releasing Brian, William greeted the other four team members with a nod. "Good evening, guys. Welcome to my home."
"Good evening, boss," Sam and the others smiled and fist-bumped William. They were self-aware enough to know that their relationship with him wasn't as close as Brian's. Acting too familiar would only be inappropriate, and William wasn't the type to embrace other men. For him, a handshake or a fist bump was already a sign of closeness.
William opened the door wider and gestured for them to enter. "Come on in, guys. Once you're inside, feel free to loosen your ties and change out of your jackets. After dinner, we'll head up to the rooftop to barbecue and have some drinks."
Hearing this, the group, who had been slightly nervous, began to relax. "Haha, sounds good, boss."
Once inside, they didn't immediately take off their ties. Instead, upon seeing Ambrosio bringing out dishes from the kitchen, they greeted her and handed over the gifts they'd brought. This left William at a bit of a loss.
Perhaps because they had first earned big money protecting Ambrosio, Brian's team seemed particularly fond of her. "Good evening, Miss Ambrosio."
"Good evening, Brian, Sam, Bernie, Casey, and Clarence," Ambrosio greeted each of them with a hug and addressed them by name, which delighted the team members, who were already inclined to be friendly.
"Just call me Alexandra," she added with a smile.
"Alright, ma'am," the group nodded politely.
"Please have a seat, gentlemen. Dinner will be ready soon. I hope it suits your taste. But don't worry, none of the dishes tonight include any organ meats that you might find unpleasant," Ambrosio said with a hint of playful complaint. Given her young age—just under 19—it came across as charming rather than off-putting.
William, who had been quietly observing everyone's expressions, silently praised Ambrosio in his mind. She truly was a smart woman. Not only did she refrain from acting arrogant or overbearing as William's girlfriend, but she also humbly positioned herself as the junior in her interactions with Brian's team. This immediately won more favor from the group, all of whom were around 50 years old. "Thank you, Miss Ambrosio."
After the greetings, everyone pitched in to bring the prepared food from the kitchen. Only then did Brian and the others finally loosen their ties and take off their jackets, hanging them on the backs of their chairs in the dining room.
"Dear, what's going on?" Ambrosio asked William, somewhat puzzled.
"Haha," William whispered into her ear, "I told them they could relax and change out of their formal clothes as soon as they arrived. But it looks like they respect you a lot. They waited until dinner was officially served before following my instructions. Seems like they really like you."
"Of course. We've been through a lot together. If it weren't for Brian and the others, I might have been kidnapped half a year ago. So, I've never seen them as just bodyguards," Ambrosio said playfully to William.
Once everyone was seated, Ambrosio began her duties as the hostess, serving each guest a portion of the main dish: tomato and onion roasted beef. "Alright, gentlemen, you can start now."
"Thank you," the team expressed their gratitude again.
William grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a glass for Ambrosio, who was seated to his right, and himself. He then passed the bottle to Brian, who thanked him and casually poured himself a glass before handing it to Sam. Watching this, Ambrosio rolled her eyes at William. Without servants, it was naturally William's job to pour the first drink, but he certainly didn't have a habit of serving his subordinates. Acting as if he hadn't noticed her eye roll, William waited until everyone had wine in their glasses before raising his own.
"First, let's toast to our chef for tonight, Alexandra, and thank her for preparing this wonderful dinner for us."
"Indeed, let's toast to Miss Ambrosio," Brian and the others echoed, raising their glasses toward her. "To you, Miss Ambrosio."
"Thank you," Ambrosio said, her face glowing with pride as she raised her glass and took a sip.
What followed was an hour of eating, drinking, and casual conversation. Perhaps thanks to the excellent sauces, the dinner tasted quite good. The only minor flaw was that Ambrosio, still on her diet, had miscalculated the portions, so the meal was almost finished a little over an hour into it.
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