As the phone beeped indicating the end of the call Desmond sighed deeply, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel as he slowly maneuvered through the morning traffic with a practiced ease and efficiency.
He had to return to the Allen Group—there were countless matters that needed his attention. Securing his position, transitioning from acting president to official president, was the first challenge awaiting him. It was a battle he had to win before he could even begin to focus on the old man handing over his shares.
But then, he wasn’t worried about the old man. Time was not on the elder’s side; his days were numbered.
He only needed to ensure that the butler continued administering the medication without suspicion.
Recalling how frail and weak the old man had looked that morning when he went to check on him, he was certain it wouldn’t be long now.
And now, with this mysterious man urging him to set his plan in motion to take over, it seemed as though fate itself was paving the way for his success.
His mind drifted back to the conversation he had just ended. Something felt off "how can one not see anything wrong and will not give a clear answer to questions" but rather response to his questions are vague which had never been his way of answering questions.
Also, the man’s tone was steady, almost too steady. The way he chose his words so carefully, as if each syllable had been rehearsed. It was unnatural—too calculated.
He narrowed his eyes, replaying the details in his head. Was it the urgency? The politeness? No, it was not but then it has happened, it had happened.
Desmond scoffed under his breath. Well, whatever it is, it shouldn’t concern me.
At the end of the day, all that mattered was his own gain. If the deal benefited him, he had no reason to question it. He had been waiting for an opportunity —a chance to solidify his power within the Allen Group, to take what he rightfully deserved.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened. No matter who was playing games behind the scenes, he would not let himself be outplayed and wouldn’t let himself be wronged.
Vera sat with one leg crossed over the other, her face cold and calculative. A bottle of red wine rested on the side table, the deep crimson liquid glistening under the dim lights. She twirled the wine glass in her hand absentmindedly, her gaze flickering to the clock at intervals, her impatience veiled beneath her composed exterior.
After what felt like an eternity, the heavy doors parted, and her special guard, Trevor, stepped in.
"You’re back?" Vera’s voice was calm and indifferent as she gently placed the glass on the table beside her after taking a sip of her wine.
Trevor nodded as he settled down beside her on the couch, his gaze never leaving Vera’s face. To the untrained eye, she appeared unbothered—serene and even calm.
But Trevor knew better. He had long understood every subtle shift in her expression, the telltale signs of turmoil lurking beneath her cool and calm façade.
"Did you find out anything?" she asked warily.
Trevor shook his head slightly. "Yes, but there are things that aren’t entirely clear. Still, we can’t afford to overlook them."
Vera nodded, then picked up her glass and downed the wine in one fluid motion, her movements as elegant as they were nonchalant.
"You’re drinking again?" Trevor’s tone was icy, his frustration barely concealed.
Vera smiled lightly, a smirk curling on her lips. "Isn’t that the best thing to do?" she murmured, her voice laced with mock amusement.
"Ve...ra," Trevor rumbled, his voice edged with warning as his sharp tone sliced through the thick, intoxicating air of the VIP lounge.
The dim lighting flickered against the sleek surfaces, casting a soft glow over Vera’s poised figure. She let out a soft chuckle, the corners of her lips lifting in an unreadable smirk as she poured herself another glass of wine.
"Trevor," she drawled, swirling the crimson liquid in her glass before taking a slow, deliberate sip. "What else am I supposed to do when everything is a mess?"
Trevor’s jaw clenched. He knew her too well to be fooled by the indifferent mask she wore. To everyone else, Vera Louis was an untouchable force—calm, calculating, and always steps ahead.
But Trevor seems to be that one person who could see past the façade. He could see the tension in the way her fingers curled around the stem of the wine glass, the way her shoulders squared and the flicker of every unreadable expression in her usually icy gaze.
"Why do you think everything is a mess?" he muttered, stepping closer. "Drowning your thoughts in wine instead of dealing with issues doesn’t prove your resilience."
Vera dramatically, set her glass down with an audible clink. Her gaze lingering on his worried face in a brief pause. She was never oblivious of Trevor’s thought and feeling for her but it just that she didn’t know how to respond.
He had remained her special guard because amongst every other person’s, he is the only one who has come to understand her, his the only one that isn’t selfish in dealing with her.
"Trevor, you worry too much," she teased, but there was no humor in her voice. "Tell me, what did you find out?"
Trevor hesitated for a fraction of a second before pulling out a thin folder from inside his jacket. He placed it on the table, his expression darkening.
"We managed to rile up Desmond like you said and he reacted instinctively to it that made me have a strong conviction that he knew something about this attack" he said gravely.
Vera nodded, glancing at her well manicured fingers "I suspected as much because Desmond isn’t one who overlooks details" she snickered.
"Though, for now he is as worried as we are and I suspect he seems to have someone in mind who might have launched the attack." He reported.
Vera nodded lightly while he continued his analysis "The attack was planned with a purpose of killing them and for now it remains unclear where they are." He concluded.
Vera leaned forward slightly, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass absentmindedly. "Unclear where they are?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Trevor nodded. "Yes, because for the last 72hours, it is as if they have all vanished into thin air" be concluded.
Silence stretched between them. Vera’s gaze darkened, her expression unreadable. She picked up the folder, opened it and quickly skimmed through its contents her brow furrowed lightly in contemplation.
After a few minutes she closed it placing it back on the table with a satisfied nod.Instead, she exhaled slowly, leaning back into the plush leather seat.
"It is time to go for the seat of the vice president of the Allen Group, I wonder what Desmond will think." She smirked.
Trevor looked at her intensely, several emotion swirling in his eyes. Vera picked up the glass cup again downing glass after glass.
Trevor’s fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, his frustration boiling over. In one swift movement, he snatched the glass from Vera’s hand, his arm slipping around her neck in a firm yet controlled motion.
Before she could react, his lips crashed onto hers in a forceful, desperate kiss, his grip tightening as if trying to anchor her to reality.
He knew Vera would be furious, but he didn’t care. As long as it stopped her from drinking more as long as he could hold her in his arms, even for a moment, that was enough.