The morning arrived quietly. Raven stood at the reception. Aidan had come down looking for her; he thought she would be at the restaurant, having her breakfast.
"Ma'am, why are you checking out so early?" Jacob asked, worried. He was fearing that Aidan might blame him if Raven left without informing him.
"I need to leave," Raven said.
"What about those meetings?" Jacob asked, stalling her.
"Those meetings…" Raven scoffed, "I have already sent the details to Ayan."
"Ayan, who?" Jacob asked, his eyes falling on Aidan, he signalled him to hurry over.
"He is one of the directors in Dad's company." She answered and reached her hands for the luggage, but Aidan had already grabbed it and pulled away, "Raven, you can't leave."
"Why not?" Her brows shot up, eyes locking on him.
"You worked all night for the meetings, what happened now?" He asked.
"I said, I have to leave. I already—" she tried to explain, but he pressed his index finger on her lips. "Shhh…"
"This is selfishness; you know that, right? If you back out, this project will fail. And I guess you want this to happen." He gritted his teeth.
Raven's breath faltered before she looked away.
"This is none of your business." She grabbed her luggage and walked away, and he stood there staring at the fading image.
The image of her working enthusiastically last night flashed several times. "She was excited and then turned indifferent to her efforts." Jacob shook his head, his lips pressing into a thin line.
"It is as if…." Aidan murmured, "as if she is used to it."
"Well, at least you have your penthouse back." Jacob tried to cheer him up.
"I can give up a hundred of them if I could stop her." Aidan hushed beneath his breath, turning away, back to his room.
—
The two friends discussed business for the past four hours. Aidan attentively listened to them first, but soon he found their conversation confusing and pointless.
He twisted his wrist; it was past noon.
"Dad, I have to be somewhere." He turned to Jacob, called him near, and said, "Mail me these reports." He handed over a sticky note where he listed his requirement.
"Okay, sir." Aidan stood up, turning to leave, but Evan stopped him midway and asked, "Listen! I want you to behave these days. Alliance with Shahs is crucial for our venture. I saw how you looked at him with those hungry eyes. No troubles!"
Pressing his collar down with both hands, Aidan passed a playful smirk, "You are saying it as if I am some beast that eats investors for dinner."
"That is what Master Azure does. You do other things; you scare them away with your cocky acts." Evan warned.
"Trouble loves me; I can't help it. I will try." Aidan loosened a bit, relaxing his body, and walked out.
Jacob followed him. "Sir, there is an update on Madam Raven."
"Shoot."
"Your guess was on point. She is always asked to do something, and at the time of execution, the project is handed to the employees. This Ayan is capable but lazy. He is a good manager. A good person. But his biggest weakness is kindness and trusting too easily. He was always dedicated to the Starshine Company, which was formed two years ago by William Zhao." Jacob explained, and he paused.
Aidan stopped and turned to him. "Speak freely."
"Everyone at the workplace knows this; he is not favoured by William and has long been dissatisfied with William's unreasonable demands. George Zhao has fired him. And—"
"And what?"
"He doesn't even know he has been fired. He is on vacation. Apparently takes too many days off." Jacob mentioned.
Aidan's lips twisted. "Neither side is honest. Uncle William is more wrong in this."
"Sir, one more thing," Jacob said, stopping Aidan as he was about to get in his car.
"What?"
Jacob presented a floral-printed paper bag. "This is what we found in your penthouse. Madam left this."