"But we would like to ask..." The female officer was about to dig in for more information. Handing her over the letter was more like hanging a carrot and letting Evelyn's guard down. The officers were already working under tremendous pressure, however getting things out of the CEO Faunoa's fiancée is no joke.
Before they could even ask anything else, Anastasio entered the room.
"Good afternoon officers, to what do I owe this pleasure?" his words didn't match his drab facial expression.
Evelyn sensed that they were intimidated by Anastasio's presence, as if they hadn't expected for him to be present.
So this what power looks like? Eve couldn't help but wonder in awe, he is so warm and gentle when they are together, but right now he was the most overbearing person she had ever seen.
Wrapping an arm gently around his fiancée's shoulder, he spoke, "I hope you understand officers, my fiancée, is already stressed about her father, with such strange rumours going around. We would appreciate your understanding. And we would also like you to help us find my father in law." It was an indirect way of pointing out to them that Evan Betrice isn't a perpetrator untill proved guilty.
They left right afterwards only requesting their cooperation.
Evelyn looked at him with awe, she was already touched by his gesture. She always pushed him away, but he always stands by her. Inspite of the rumours he acknowledged Evan as his father in law. Evelyn was ashamed of her wilful behavior always taking his kindness as granted.
"You okay?" He asked out of concern, she was crying even without realising.
"It's...I" before she could apologize he said, "Granda and grandfather are coming to pick you up. It's better you stay with them until things calm down a bit. Your grandparents are there too, they must be going through a lot, and they need you."
His real intention was to keep her away from Mignos, so that she wouldn't run back to the fire factory. At the same time he wanted her to keep a safe distance from Susan Palwalker unless he gets proper report from Edmon, he couldn't be at ease about her.
"But..." She tried to say that she needs to be here at Mignos with him.
He looked at her with a grave expression, "No one will dare to barge into Aiden Faunoa's residence arbitrarily I can assure that to you. I can't be here all the time, I have to go to leave for an urgent business trip.And you need to write your exams too."
With the project on the firework factory falling down all the investors now were seeking an opportunity to be on board with the Faunoas. So it was an urgent matter for the company, at the same time, it was dangerous to keep Evelyn here alone te officers might come back and interrogate her with more questions to which she had no answers. He clenched his fist helplessly, for Anastasio only wished to keep her safe in his arms inside this mansion. But that was an utopia, so he proposed to his grandparents that they keep her and Ophelia with them for the time being. Little did Anastasio realises that Eve who was oblivious of his intentions felt that she was being sent away.
"Sio...I..." She held his shirt sleeves.
"Don't worry Evelyn,you will be more comfortable there, for the time being you need to be safe.I will let you know about anything I get to know about Mr.Betrice."
Perhaps it was really for her well being but to Eve it looked as if she was being sent away. However she couldn't protest either, when was the one who had asked him to let her alone, so she can't quite complain either.
She embraced him taking him by complete surprise, "I... I... will wait for you Sio." Anastasio wished this moment to never end, he couldn't utter a word, they had just spent their first night and again they were parting. However, at moments of extreme happiness and sadness he would often freeze, and couldn't react. It was because of his past trauma. Eve wasn't aware of this condition.
Not hearing anything from him hurt her chest and she left while fighting her tears.
****
Nathenel was living the worst day of his life. To him it almost felt like a worst nightmare, which he never had experienced ever. For someone who has been born with a golden spoon, the sole heir of and now the Head of both the corporation as well as the house. The corporation was the largest and the most powerful one only after the Faunoas. But the the House remained to be at the pinnacle of hierarchy among the aristocracy, so Magnolia corporation always received steady investment. Even after his father's sudden demise in car crash, he had never seen what is called downfall in business.
The flames not only engulfed the Factory of fireworks, his dreams were engulfed in those flames too. The hotel Magnolia was his biggest project and the biggest dream of his life.
Just in a few hours, all the major investors had withdrawn already from the project, especially the foreign investment was completely annulled.
No matter how much Nathenel convince them, not a single one of them were willing to invest in a project which was now under investigation because of a rumoured arson. Each of the six meetings were a failure. Nathenel felt as if he was being repeatedly slammed on the ground, at this rate his other businesses will also suffer.
Foea had never seen her boss like this, he looked like a man who has lost all hopes.
This was one of the most ambitious projects under Magnolia Corporation, and it's failure, she was too brain fogged now to be even thinking about it, she needed to focus on her driving, she will be driving him for a few days now, because with the current situation now even the chauffeur can't be trusted.
"Your apartment?" Foea asked in her usual monotone. Even Nathenel had thought about returning to his apartment at Fenik, but something made him say, "Estate"
"Mr.CEO" Foea asked reluctantly, "should I arrange for a board meeting?I mean if the members agree on some arrangements from their mother corporations we can make them partners..." Her words drifted away when she met his furious eyes across the mirror.
"Even you think that I am pitiful, don't you Miss Clemen? Just a few hours had passed and my secretary wants me to show my weakness to the board, and make me a laughing stock? Do you want me to look so shabby especially when Anastasio de Faunoa is one of the board members?"
Foea immediately realised her mistake, Nathenel was hooked on this project asking other corporations to invest by giving them a partnership will only show his incapability. Looked back into the road, the investors were withdrawing like rats leaving a drowning ship, she refrained from telling him that they were already approaching the Faunoa corporation, in their next big project at the Harfield. However her intuitions told her Anastasio de Faunoa would never accept those offers. He never did sly business.
Susan had decided to coop up in the room once again, with the news of the fire, Nathenel went berserk, he had to leave for the headquarters soon.She hadn't managed to see him even once after the incidence.
"Make sure that useless girl stays in her room. I don't know what sort of dirty spell has she cast on my son. Oh! only if he had he pursued the Langdon girl." Lady Rosalie, who had returned after hearing the news, ordered the butler loud enough to make Susan hear her intentions.
It was an emergency, so even Sebastian was called in an urgent basis. She was left to her own means for the first time ever since she shifted here.
Lady Magnolia's orders were vengeful and humiliating, but right now Susan had to bear everything silently. One of the few things Susan Palwalker was good at was gulping down curses or ignoring them.