Chapter 287: Faint Blushes And Crimson Hands
"I asked him, but he refused to disclose anything," Nigel replied with a slight frown, continuing, "However, boss, I did catch wind that he has been holding private discussions with several other shareholders. My guess is he might be searching for a loophole to diminish your authority as one of the company’s majority shareholders, second only to Mr. Vanderbilt."
Aliana accepted the teacup from Winston, taking a slow sip and letting the warm liquid soothe her throat before looking back at Nigel. "I fully expected that sly fox to be working on a way to undermine my authority."
"Boss, aren’t you worried?" Nigel asked, nervously stuffing a small sandwich into his mouth. "With how crafty he is, shouldn’t we do something about it? What if he actually finds a loophole?"
"Well, I am sure there are technical loopholes," Aliana murmured, her tone remaining composed. "However, to pull off a move like that, he would need the majority of the shareholders in his pocket, which I highly doubt he can achieve." Her eyes narrowed as she met Nigel’s gaze. "Still, I will need to do a bit of reading on the exact terms. I am sure Dad must be aware of his movements as well."
Worry clouded Nigel’s face as he immediately reached for another sandwich, stress-eating in silence.
"Keep your eyes and ears open," Aliana instructed him before quietly adding, "I’m sure Gavriel has a few books on corporate law or shareholder rights in his study."
Winston looked at her, offering a respectful nod. "The Master possesses a vast collection of business and legal texts in his private study, Madam."
"Perfect. I will ask him and take a look through them later today," Aliana replied.
"Certainly, Madam," Winston bowed respectfully.
After chatting for a little while longer, Nigel took his leave, leaving Aliana alone in the living room.
She turned toward the window, her gaze drifting out to the blooming red roses bathed in the warm glow of the evening sun.
There was something almost hypnotic about them that always drew her in, yet she had never once ventured into the garden to admire them up close. She wasn’t even sure why she kept denying herself such a simple pleasure. Perhaps she had simply been too busy all this time to enjoy something as ordinary as a quiet walk.
Making a mental note to take a stroll through the garden soon, she glanced back at her phone.
It was already half past five, and Gavriel usually arrived home by then.
But today he seemed to be running late.
She picked up her phone and dialled the number saved under Gav.
He picked up on the second ring, his deep, magnetic voice drifting through the speaker and making her heart flutter. "Ana?"
A faint blush warmed her cheeks as she asked softly, "Hi. Did I... disturb you?"
"No." His voice remained as calm as ever. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything is fine," she reassured him immediately before asking with slight hesitation, "Will you be late coming home?"
"I am just about done here," Gavriel responded.
Aliana nodded to herself. "Alright."
She remained quiet for a few moments, soaking in his voice, before she heard him ask softly, "Do you need anything?"
Aliana cleared her throat, trying to ignore the overwhelming tenderness in his tone. "Well, I wanted to look through some books on business in your study. I thought I would wait until you arrived home, but it is alright. I can wait until you return," she quickly added, not wanting to make him feel rushed.
Gavriel remained silent for a moment before replying,"Go ahead."
"Huh?" Aliana blinked.
"It’s your house too. You don’t need my permission or supervision to go wherever you want, baby." His easy words made her heart race.
When she remained speechless, he added softly, "All the business books are in my study on the second floor. You can pick whatever you like."
Warmth seeped through her chest at his open invitation into his private study.
Before she even realised it, a shy smile bloomed across her face. "Thank you."
"Anything else?" he asked patiently, sounding as though he had all the time in the world just for her.
Aliana shook her head, even though he could not see her. "No, that was all I wanted to ask."
"Alright." Gavriel paused, waiting as if sensing she wanted to say something more.
And she did.
"I’m waiting for you." The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Realising what she had just said, her eyes widened.
"Uh... I mean... dinner." She hurried to correct herself. "I’m waiting to have... dinner with you."
A brief silence hung on the line before Gavriel replied, "I will be there in an hour." Even without seeing his face, she could hear the subtle curve of a smile in his voice.
"Alright... See you soon then," Aliana replied shyly.
"Yes."
As soon as the call ended, she lowered the phone and placed a hand over her racing heart as if that could physically stop her heart from hammering against her ribs.
"What is wrong with me?" she muttered to herself, rubbing her chest. "Calm down, will you?" Yet despite her command, her cheeks burned hot, an inescapable aftereffect of how effortlessly Gavriel flustered her.
Slapping her cheeks with both hands, she curled up on the sofa and buried her face in a cushion. "That man really has no filter."
She rolled across the sofa in a fit of embarrassment, blushing like a schoolgirl.
Just then, Winston happened to walk past the living room, only to see Aliana roll straight off the edge of the sofa and tumble straight onto the carpet.
"Madam!" His eyes went as wide as saucers as he rushed towards her as if she had just fallen off a cliff.
"Ow!" Aliana scrambled to her feet and quickly straightened her clothes. "Ahem... I’m okay!"
Her cheeks burned even hotter at having Winston witness such an embarrassing moment.
But the butler was already fussing over her as though he would have his head chopped off if she suffered so much as a single scratch.
While Winston continued to fret over Aliana’s well-being back at the residence, far across the city in an abandoned building, Gavriel slowly lowered his phone.
The faint, gentle smile that had touched his lips lingered for a brief second before a sudden gagging sound caused it to vanish completely.
He handed the device to Cillian, who stood next to him.
Cillian took the phone and slipped it into his coat pocket before rolling his eyes with a quiet smirk. "Lovebirds."
Gavriel ignored the remark, his icy gaze locking onto the trembling creature kneeling before him.
Reve held the demon’s arms pinned behind his back in a bone-crushing grip.
Blood poured from the demon’s shattered jaw, his body quivering in primal terror under Gavriel’s suffocating aura.
Gavriel, whose blood-slicked hand had been clamping the demon’s mouth shut, slowly released his hold.
"Now where were we?" he said calmly. "Right. You’ve already given me the location of that demoness who serves Mord."
Gavriel tilted his head slightly, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "Is there anything else you wish to confess?"
The demon shook violently. "N-No, Your Highness. T-That’s all I know. I’m telling you the truth. I was only hired to send an assassin after that redhead lady. I-I don’t know anything. Layla only approached me once."
"Hm." Gavriel hummed softly before placing a hand on either side of the demon’s head.
With one effortless motion, he ripped the head clean from the man’s shoulders.
Blood gushed from the headless body as he casually discarded the severed head onto the heap of corpses he had left behind before his wife had called.
Cillian let out a low whistle, eyeing Gavriel’s blood-drenched suit. "I probably don’t need to tell you this, but you might want to clean up before heading home to your wife. Otherwise, she certainly will not be able to keep her dinner down."
Ignoring him, Gavriel turned his attention to Reve, who had just tossed the headless corpse aside.
"Tail Layla once you’ve located her," Gavriel ordered. "Mord must not be alerted that we’ve found someone close to him. Otherwise, he’ll go even deeper into hiding."
"Yes, Master." Reve gave a deep bow before vanishing into the shadows.
A moment later, Cillian and Gavriel materialised inside a dressing room at Cillian’s residence, where Gavriel immediately began stripping off his bloodstained clothes.
Cillian shot him a sidelong glance as Gavriel unbuttoned his shirt. "So, you’re actually letting her wander through your study? As far as I recall... you’ve got more than just business books in there. Are you really alright with her discovering all of that?"
Gavriel remained silent until he had stripped down to nothing but his trousers. Just before stepping into the bathroom, he paused and looked back over his shoulder.
"She needs to know. Sooner or later, she will."
With that, he stepped into the bathroom, leaving Cillian staring after him with wide eyes.
After a moment, he shook his head and let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"Well, well... this should be interesting to watch." He let out a long sigh, turning his gaze toward the evening sky outside the window. "I just hope my dear sister-in-law does not try to run away after finding everything out."