After the room had quieted down, only five remained—Miss Aiza, Aurielle, and Al sitting quietly at the back, along with Miss Aiza’s two assistants.
The soft lighting of the restaurant gently lit their relaxed faces, while the evening breeze drifted in through the open balcony.
A waiter came to clear the empty glasses and replaced them with herbal tea.
The aroma of lavender and chamomile wafted gently in the air, soothing their nerves after the intense meeting. One of the assistants, the male one, discretely tapped his earpiece and gave a small nod—likely updating security that the room was secure. Al noticed, but said nothing.
Miss Aiza glanced warmly at Aurielle, the formal atmosphere slowly dissolving.
"I thought tonight would be dull," Aurielle said casually, "but it turned out to be fun. You managed to fend off two old sea sharks trying to swallow the land whole."
Miss Aiza chuckled lightly.
"Good thing they weren’t whale sharks," she replied. "Or else, I might’ve been eaten too."
"Hmm... But you stayed quiet, Miss Aurielle. I thought you’d defend them—this deal would’ve benefited Virellano Group too, wouldn’t it?"
Aurielle took a slow sip of her tea.
"If we were only chasing business potential, Virellano Group wouldn’t stoop so low. We move based on principles, and we prefer well-structured ventures. Besides, I was personally curious to see how capable you really are, Miss Aiza." She smiled. "You’ve far exceeded my expectations."
Aiza returned the smile, her eyes briefly drifting to Al before focusing back on Aurielle.
"I suppose that’s what makes Virellano Group so dominant in Eastern Indorosia. Oh right, may I ask something?"
"Why did you choose him as your personal assistant? Or how did you come to know him?" she asked in a flat tone, glancing at Al, who was pretending to admire the balcony view.
Aurielle froze for a second, like a student being caught by a professor for not doing their homework.
Oh no. What do I say? I can’t reveal his identity... she panicked inwardly.
"Ah... him, uh... Al...?" she stammered, still fumbling for a coherent explanation.
"Is he one of the talents identified by the Virellano Foundation?" Miss Aiza raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, yes! That’s right. W-We also scout gifted children from poor families or orphanages. And... we just happened to find him. During the interview, he showed remarkable abilities. So... rather than giving him a scholarship, I decided to bring him into Virellano Group to develop his potential directly. Hehe."
Aurielle exhaled in relief. She had found an answer—though even to her, it sounded a bit off.
"Haha... That’s quite a story," Miss Aiza laughed softly. "I see. Alright."
Though her gaze clearly said: Yeah, right.
They continued talking, discussing potential collaborations between Alasia Group and Virellano Group.
The conversation gradually shifted from business to lighter topics—like favorite vacation spots, absurd tabloid rumors, and even which brand of green tea tasted best.
Meanwhile, Al was busy teasing Miss Aiza’s assistants, giving them mischievous glances. The two assistants could only lower their heads, unsure how to respond to Al’s playful antics.
Not long after, their conversation wound down. Aurielle stood and straightened her blouse before extending her hand to Miss Aiza.
"Thank you, Miss Aiza. You found flaws in our newly restructured project in such a short time... even without a complete report."
Miss Aiza gave a modest smile.
"Hehe, your project was already well-developed—it made the analysis easier."
"In that case, I’ll send a new team tomorrow to draft a revised framework."
Miss Aiza shook her head.
"No need. My assistant will visit Virellano Group tomorrow afternoon. He’ll lead the review."
"Really? Then we’ll be waiting."
They shook hands once more. As Aurielle turned to leave...
Aiza gently held her arm.
"Oh, one more thing."
Aurielle turned back.
"May I borrow your assistant tonight?"
"Eh? Sorry, did I hear that right?"
"You did. I want to discuss something with him—about the scholarship program we’re working on," Miss Aiza replied calmly.
"Oh, of course! Take him for the whole night if you like!"
Then she quickly covered her mouth.
"I mean... if necessary, of course."
With that, Miss Aiza stood and signaled her assistants, personally walking Aurielle to the exit.
Aurielle left, still a little confused—but that didn’t matter.
Lucky you, Al, she muttered inwardly.
Once she was gone, Al stood and stretched.
"Wow! Looks like my sister just sold me to a rich lady!"
Miss Aiza and her assistants immediately stepped forward and bowed to Al.
"Master, forgive us... it was all part of their plan," Miss Aiza said softly. Glancing toward her two assistants who stood behind her with guilty faces.
Then she gave a faint gesture, and one of the assistants quietly activated a soundproofing barrier around the VVIP room. The hum of privacy tech filled the space for a brief second before fading.
"Forgive us, Master. We couldn’t bear to see our Queen feeling so restless these past few days, unable to spend any time with you while we’re in Indorosia. And soon, we’ll have to leave again."
"You..." he said, gently patting Miss Aiza’s head.
Aiza lowered her head, but a faint, sheepish smile slipped onto her face.
"You never change, do you. Ai," Al muttered, ruffling her slightly messy hair.
She leaned into his hand, as if savoring the warmth she’d missed for far too long.
They all chuckled together, leaving Miss Aiza blushing brightly—like lava just about to erupt.
Outside, the city lights shimmered like stars spilled across the earth, indifferent to the small scene unfolding within the glass walls of the rooftop restaurant. But for them, this night wasn’t just another quiet dinner—it was a rare pause, a fleeting moment of peace in the middle of their tangled destinies, a gentle lull in the storm that had been following them for far too long.
And that was how they spent the rest of that harmonious evening, savoring the stillness, as if afraid it might vanish the moment they looked away.