The Woman From Hell

Shannon shrugged. Her originally tense expression gradually relaxed after hearing what I said. She was probably relieved since she felt that I had no thoughts about him. She patted me on the shoulder. "Forget it, just leave him alone. Let's go to the hotel."

After floundering about for a day, we finally managed to check in.

Lying on the not-so-soft hotel bed, my mind was filled with the children.

I had requested Marius to help me take the two children out before I left and did not know how the situation was now.

Thinking of this, I took out my cell phone and called Marius, but there was no answer.

Could something have happened?

I was a little worried and dialed a number I had not dialed in a long time.

""Wanda?"

The familiar voice sounded from the phone, carrying a hint of exhaustion. Come to think of it, he probably just got done with work.

I replied lightly, "Hello, I wanted to ask where Marius is. I just gave him a call, but he didn't answer."

Across the phone, Drover was faintly taken aback before he answered, "He left my place about 20 minutes ago. He said he was going to help you with something." Hearing this, I heaved a sigh of relief.

"So, that's the case. Good. That's all, then. Thank you. You're busy, yeah? I won't bother you, then."

It felt like it had been a long time since I last interacted with Drover. We were so obviously awkward now even across the phone.

I was in a hurry to hang up, but Drover spoke again, "Wanda."

Hearing him call me, I put the phone to my ear again. "What is it?"

"Uhm... we'll talk again some other time," he said after quite a moment of silence.

He finally wanted to break free from the past this time. I smiled. "Okay."

"Have an early rest. Good night."

"Good night."

I felt good after hanging up the call. I had thought that I could no longer be friends with Drover, but after this call tonight, the distance between us seemed to be shortened. He was someone I admired. If we could really go back to how we used to be, I would be very happy.

My happy emotions allowed me to fall asleep very soon.

Early the next morning, Shannon and I grabbed a taxi to our destination.

"I've checked things over, and it's said that Ms. Zurich has a new partner. It's a small company. I'm

not sure what they do." Shannonet

handed me the information

researched. "Here, it's this

company."

"New Leaf?"

It was a company that I had never heard of before.

I narrowed my eyes and searched the internet for a long time before I found a piece of relevant information. "The founder of New Leaf is Kevin Cline."

"You can ask them if they know the name when we get to the company in a bit."

Small companies brought no money nor profit. All I could think of was that there was some favoritism going on.

After we arrived, I asked Shannon to get to know the founder of New Leaf while I went upstairs into Ms. Zurich's office.

"President Zurich, long time no see."

Seeing me, Zelda Zurich smiled brightly. "I haven't seen you in a long time, President Lane. I didn't expect you to be the first client I'd meet after coming back.

She greeted me warmly, urging me to take a seat before asking her secretary to pour me a cup of tea.

"I presume you're aware of the purpose of my visit today, President Zurich," I said lightly without beating about the bush.

Perhaps I was too straightforward,

but Zelda was caught off guard. She

was taken aback before she

gradually smiled. "I am. You want to ask why I didn't sign the partnership with your company, yes?"

"That's right. I heard you found another company?"

"I didn't think you to be so well-informed. Since you already know, then then I'll go ahead and say it. Indeed, we have a new partner. I might

i have to disappoint yo@this

time, President Lane." This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

She was candid enough.

I looked at Zelda...