Chapter 35: Family Troubles
Ririna spent most of her day checking requests and answering phone calls that were slightly delayed because of the preparation for Evan and Ginny's wedding. It would be held the next day. Eli had asked her if he could take her and Skyler to shop for their formal attire. While on break, she also had a quick check on her son in the preschool. Eli also requested that they should visit their child in between their working times.
Looking at Rion who was busy typing on his laptop, she took a deep breath and tidied up her own desk. Rion turned his attention to her and shook his head. She had so many issues to deal with. In only about a week, the charity exhibit would be opened. He could see that with so many things going on her hand, she would have a hard time for the next two weeks.
Sara, Ririna's new assistant, came into the room and handed some more folders to her boss. Ririna groaned as she saw another stack of files she needed to check later. She just finished one earlier.
"Oh, lord. Why is this happening to me?"
Sara let out a silent laugh and helped her boss sort out the documents for filing later.
"Oh, Miss Ririna. Someone called earlier requesting an appointment," Sara said as she took the finished document from the desk. Her long, wavy hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, and she's wearing a white dress shirt and a knee-length pencil skirt. Unlike the other assistants, she chose to use a pair of flat shoes. She looked so simple and ordinary, but Rion knew better.
When she came in, Rion suddenly froze in his seat and tried to ignore her presence. He couldn't understand why he had to meet her again. He must be one of the most unfortunate men in the world. Did Ririna know what her new assistant's past time? Not that they have a say in it, but f*cking hell—he could only wish she wouldn't read her porn comics while at work.
Of course, he knew Ririna had noticed. Nothing could escape from the witch's eyes when it caught something interesting. Too bad she noticed his uneasiness as soon as she introduced Sara to him as her new assistant.
She had started throwing random questions at him, which he successively avoided answering so far. As if he would tell her the details of what happened during their flight.
"The CEO of Han Zhou Entertainment wishes to speak with you ASAP."
Ririna leaned back against her seat and rubbed her chin. Her father was seeking her out? Well, it wasn't surprising that he already found out that she recently purchased some shares of Han Zhou. After all, the company was founded by both of her parents.
Her father was a frustrated businessman who dreamed of creating an entertainment agency, and because of this, her mother—who deeply loved him—invested half of her inheritance in his company. She had no idea that after seven years of marriage, she would find out about her husband's betrayal.
Should she meet him? They were really not in good terms. When her mother forced him to file a divorce, he shamelessly took Ririna's younger brother and sent him abroad. Ririna hadn't seen her brother for eleven years. She was able to reconnect with him when she went abroad five years ago.
She wondered if her brother came back recently. It would be one of the possible reasons why her father was trying to seek her. Was he worried that she would take advantage of her brother?
Tsk. Impossible. Even if both siblings didn't meet for years, their bond as brother and sister was deeper than others' expectations. She believed in her brother, Jared Han—currently twenty-one years old and finishing his business administration degree outside the country. She hadn't talked to him recently. Maybe, she should give him a call.
Both siblings knew that the murderer of their mother was still lurking out there, waiting for them. They both received a blue envelope with the same contents, but after some deliberation, both siblings decided to let Ririna go back and check on it. It was the best they could do at this moment, considering that she just received another blue envelope from the proprietor.
"Decline their request," Ririna decided. She had no time to waste with his father. She only sought the shares of Han Zhou to prevent his mistress from overtaking the company. Such a thick-skinned whore. If she thought she could bully her brother and bypass the company her parents built from scratch, she could kiss her dreams goodbye.
"Ririna, are you sure that's a good idea?" Rion asked.
Ririna shrugged her shoulders and took one folder from the new stack of files Sara had added to her pile. She would not waste her time on that wretched man. There's nothing else he could do to mend their broken relationship.
What would someone do if they were sent to an orphanage by a stranger when their own father refused to take them? Only to find out after that, he took his mistress home with their love child. She was deeply enraged when her brother was sent away without informing her. What kind of father would abandon his child when he was needed? A useless and stupid father, that is. Their family troubles started with him.
"Okay, noted. I'll inform them your schedule is already full for the next two weeks," Sara said.
"Thanks, Sara. You're a lifesaver. You can leave early today if you're done with your tasks. I'm sure Ginny needs some help for the flower arrangement." Ririna smiled.
"Yeah, Sister Ginny is already going crazy with all the preparation since she only had two days to see everything is alright," Sara said before she slipped out of the room.
"So? Still pretending that you haven't met before?" Ririna asked Rion when Sara left her office.
"How did you know?" Rion was surprised that he was already busted.
"You just did." Ririna laughed. Damn, he was tricked by the witch. Rion grimaced.
"But she doesn't seem affected by you. You're the only one who looks suspicious. So did you have a one-night stand with her or what?" Her grin was almost feral that it sent a shiver down his spine.
"Goddammit, Ririna! I did not! Where did you get those ideas?" Rion exclaimed, but there was a hint of blush on his cheeks that made Ririna arch a brow.
"Oh, so you're still a thirty-year-old virgin? Damn wizard, I didn't know you were serious with your road to sage mode. Too bad your family bloodline ends with you. Tsk." Ririna shook her head. Her friend was hopeless with women. She could only hope that he would be able to meet a woman who could pique his interests.
If only she knew that her wish for her friend had already been granted.
-
After his business meeting, Eli was the one who took Skyler home from his school. His presence surprised the teachers and some of Skyler's classmates. Skyler was surprised to see his daddy. His mommy visited him earlier and said there's a surprise waiting for him after school. She didn't say that Daddy was the one who would surprise him.
"Who's that man?"
"Why is he with Skyler?"
"Is that Skyler's daddy?"
"He's so cool. Skyler's daddy is so tall."
Eli walked towards Skyler and kissed his forehead. He quickly took his son's backpack and held his tiny hand with his.
"Hi, Daddy!" Skyler grinned.
"Hello, my little pumpkin. How was your day?" Eli asked as they started to walk away, hand in hand. Ririna had informed Aya that Eli would come and pick Skyler after school.
"Good! I drew a picture of you and Mommy!"
"May I see it?"
Skyler nodded at took his backpack from his father's hand and rummage through it to find his drawing. After some time, he pulled out two sheets of paper and handed them to his father. His gray eyes glowed in anticipation, his cheeks slightly flushed with embarrassment.
Eli looked down at the drawing Skyler made for him and Ririna. On one of the papers, Skyler tried to draw his mommy's face with a flower in her head. His strokes were uneven and looked childish, but for a four-year-old child, Eli thought that his drawing skills were much better than the older kids. He turned into another drawing. Skyler also tried to draw him but failed.
"I'm sorry, Daddy. I couldn't finish it on time," Skyler told him.
His father chuckled and patted his head. Assuring his son that it was alright and that his mommy would like his drawing, he led Skyler outside where he parked his car. Eli tucked the drawings into his coat, reminding himself to show it to his wife later.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone