Chapter 71: Between Brushes and Shadows: The Secret Game, 71.
The place chosen for lunch with Adam was one of the most upscale restaurants in the city, with tables strategically arranged under shimmering chandeliers and walls adorned with contemporary artwork, creating an atmosphere of refinement. They both settled into upholstered chairs, where the fineness of the fabric contrasted elegantly with the purity of their white clothes. The table, meticulously decorated with fresh flower arrangements, reflected the meticulous attention to detail.
Attentive waiters waited discreetly, ready to satisfy any culinary cravings. News of the meeting spread quickly, attracting a horde of photographers and onlookers. The restaurant suddenly turned into a stage, with camera flashes capturing every moment.
As they enjoyed their meal, their expressions reflected a mixture of intimacy and elegance, further fueling the narrative unfolding in front of the cameras. The city seemed to witness the birth of a captivating new history.
Adam directed a conversation in a soft and proud voice:
"Damián, the saga of several officers in our lineage has always made us proud. They faced pirates on the turbulent seas.
Damián looked at him with real interest and slight humor and asked:
Pirates pose a significant challenge in terms of maritime strategies. What was the approach taken?
Adam smiled excitedly and replied:
Evasion strategies and naval combat tactics were key. Interestingly, another generation later, a Kadman established a maritime cargo company, maintaining our presence in the oceans.
Damián nodded, and commented analytically:
Maintaining connectivity is a sound strategic decision.
Adam continued, with a twinkle in his eye:
– And subsequently, an interest in the development of boats arose. Innovations that have shaped the industry.
Damián expressed his appreciation, and asked:
Advances in naval design, I imagine. Are there any specific innovations that stood out?
Adam proudly confirmed:
"Yes, exactly. The introduction of more efficient hulls and advanced propulsion technology. And, of course, another generation later, the creation of Kadman hotels, a response to the desire to have a strong presence in renowned locations, and also a place that would meet their personal requirements and demands.
Damián showed his curiosity, and asked:
– Hotels as an interesting extension of maritime developments, just to meet your personal requirements? Any special considerations in terms of design or concept?
This comment caused him to smile, and he explained in technical detail:
– Custom design to reflect the Kadman identity, with a focus on luxury and exclusivity. Another Kadman has entered the exploration of fossil natural resources in deep waters, opening up a new horizon.
He concluded, on a note of satisfaction:
– Advanced drilling technology, strict environmental safety protocols, and strategic partnerships were essential. Each generation has moved forward, contributing in a unique way to the diversification of the Kadman business.
Another generation of the Kadman family invested in renewable energy, smiling and saying, "Saving the world never goes out of style." Damián smiled, impressed by their heroic approach.
Attentive waiters waited discreetly, ready to satisfy any culinary cravings. News of the meeting spread quickly, attracting a horde of photographers and onlookers. The restaurant suddenly turned into a stage, with camera flashes capturing every moment.
As they enjoyed their meal, their expressions reflected a mixture of intimacy and elegance, further fueling the narrative unfolding in front of the cameras. The city seemed to witness the birth of a captivating new history.
Damián, with a subtle smile, reflected a bit on his own experience:
In his past life, he had acquired an island in Nassau. Nothing too fancy, it's true, but it had its charm. He even had an elegant boat, although it did not reach the feet of the magnificent yacht of the Kadman.
Oh yes. It was elegant to his eyes, but compared to the Kadman yacht, it was like a canoe. Still, he had a good time sailing the waters around the island.
When the bill arrived, Damián, acting like a true gentleman, grabbed it before Adam could react. With a playful smile, he said:
"Leave it to me, my dear. Consider it as a small tribute to our good conversation."
Adam, surprised and a little disconcerted, replied with a smile:
"Well, then, I gratefully accept. But you really know how to surprise, Damián.
Both laughed, ending the lunch on a note of lightness and camaraderie, leaving behind a remarkable encounter between two distinct universes.
*☆*: .. . o(≧▽≦)o .. .:*☆ *☆*: .. . o(≧▽≦)o .. .:*☆ *☆*: .. . o(≧▽≦)o .. .:*☆
However, elsewhere, in the town of Markarian... Reese Davis was sitting at his desk, immersed in the glow of the screen of his electronic gadgets. The environment around him, a mixture of agitation and tension, reflected the frenetic pace of his thinking. He chewed on the news with an expression of displeasure, a spark of resentment flickering in his eyes.
A flash of memory transported him to a pivotal moment he had missed, an instant that would change the course of his professional and personal trajectory. That day, during a brainstorming meeting at the marketing agency, he met Aster who would transform his vision of the game.
Reese felt the ground open up beneath her feet as the news echoed in her mind. He, an audacious content creator, had always known that the key to success lay in the most unique stories, and Damián was living one that he could have explored himself.
The flashback revealed the opportunity that slipped out of his hands. Reese recalled the Stonehenge gallery advertising campaign, where he and Morgan Bennett produced content. Reese realized that his chance was there, waiting to be explored, when Aster and Damián were curious about Adam Kadman's life.
But while he got lost in trivia and competed for shallow holes, Damián and Aster plunged into the deep waters of conquest. Reese gulped as she realized that the omega had stolen her untold narrative. He could have done the same thing Damián did, be everywhere Adam was, until he was noticed, after all he's an omega too!
Back at her desk, looking around her with a mixture of disgust and frustration, Reese reflected on her choices. He had the pieces of the puzzle, but he didn't have Damián and Aster's vision. News of Adam Kadman's relationship was a constant reminder of his own inability to see beyond the surface.
Revolt simmered within Reese, fueling his determination to turn the tide. It was time to turn the game around, even if it meant playing dirty. After all, Damián wouldn't be the only one to call the shots.
Reese Davis, always hungry for exclusive information, saw a golden opportunity when Morgan Bennett, his friend and co-worker, proudly revealed that his father was a longtime driver in the Kadman family. For Reese, this wasn't just a fortuitous connection; it was an open door to the privileged world of the Kadman's.
During a friendly visit to Morgan's home, Reese was keeping a close eye on Morgan's father, a sympathetic and confident man who had unfettered access to the Kadman family's life. Reese realized that if he could gain access to the driver's phone, he could unlock valuable information.
One afternoon, while at Morgan's house, Reese pretended to forget his charger and borrowed the charger from Morgan's father. During the charger swap, Reese deftly connected a small spying device to Morgan's father's charger. That device would send copies of messages, calls, and information directly to Reese.
Morgan's father, confident in Reese's friendly presence, did not notice the subtlety of the act. From that moment on, Reese began to receive information about some of the Kadmans' fates, using his new privileged data source.
This audacious move opened up a new world of opportunities for Reese, allowing him to explore previously unknown areas of Kadman life.
The blackmail was just the beginning, and Fredrik Lund was a good scoundrel, greedy for money, he would use it in the best possible way, after all because of him that omega is in the world of celebrities. So, for now, money, he wants money!
Back in the gallery, Damián blushed, still feeling the intensity of lunch with Adam echo in his mind. Emotionally disturbed, he experienced strange and indecipherable feelings towards Adam. Now he longed for it, now he seemed to cherish an inexplicable aversion. Even worse, Adam was able to stir up long-forgotten emotions...
Absorbed in his art, which reminded him of his sister Janine, Damián concentrated on the canvas, where wonders of the world were drawn. Among the works in his palette were the majestic Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, the fascinating ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, the imposing Taj Mahal in India, and the iconic Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, USA.
Aster entered the painting shop, interrupting his thoughts. "Like the old days, don't you think? It's just that we've changed worlds."
Damián smiled, a mixture of nostalgia and strangeness. "Just like the old days, brother."
The hellish week unfolded after the confusion with a horde of reporters, some positioning themselves in front of the gallery in search of a story. In the meantime, Damián had already completed several paintings, each a tribute to the diversity and grandeur that humanity had created and preserved.
In the center of the gallery, Damián's works would be presented, as an invitation to Astra, a visual journey through monuments that transcended borders and connected worlds.
Damián, immersed in his work, reflected on the duality of his current life. On the one hand, the emotional complexities unleashed by Adam, and on the other, the artistic celebration that flowed from his brushes, uniting distant places under one roof. A duality that somehow seemed to represent the two worlds that now coexisted in his existence.
Damián watched Aster from afar, and the decision to set values on fire for the greater good was about to come to fruition. He thought, "That's it." His actions were far from his usual principles, but he understood that as long as they trusted each other, everything could work out.
The idea of Callum making Aster happy was in his mind. The possibility of eliminating the entire Phillips family, quickly and discreetly, crossed his mind. He knew it wouldn't absolve him, but the emotional weight he carried didn't stop him from loving Aster as a brother.
Swap one story for another? Eliminate the Phillips, the blackmailer, and all obstacles in his way. Damián would not allow anyone to put a target on his back. The only concern was whether Aster would be happy.
Quietly exiting the gallery at the back, the two brothers walked through the city until they came to a dark alley.
Spotting Fredrik approaching, Aster immediately questioned, "Is this really necessary, a dark alley? Want to scare us? It's not working."
Fredrik's response, laden with venom, was, "It must not be the first dark alley you have ever entered."
Damián, his voice cold and his eyes shining, agreed: "You're right, we've been in a lot of dark places."
Fredrik, smiling in the shadows, declared, "The story has evolved, I want 1 million tomorrow!"
Damián replied calmly: "It's a short time, we need more days. We don't have to be mortal enemies."
"Make it big or kill someone trying. That's going to stay between us, I want the money!" Fredrik spoke, with a mixture of menace and determination in his voice, making it clear that he was not up for games.
Fredrik, keeping his grim smile, snapped, "You have three days."
Alone in the dark alley, Damián spoke with a heavy sigh: "Why do the cards always start against us?"
Memories of the old days? Aster replied.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Lee_8053
Lee_8053 Hello dear readers,
I couldn't post the two chapters over the weekend as I'm working until Sundays. Showers of kisses.
Lee_8053.
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
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