Chapter 14: my brother went on a date?

Kyler Young nodded and instructed him to drive home. When Kyler Young arrived home, Stephen Young was already pacing around the garden, obviously awaiting his older brother's return and eager to start questioning him about where he went and also without taking him or telling him anything!"

Then when he saw Kyler Young coming along with his assistant Nikolas, he immediately walked towards him and said, "Bro, you finally came home. I thought you wouldn't come tonight. It's already so late. Where were you the whole day? And you didn't even pick up my calls?"

Kyler Young silently listened to his younger brother's rambling and gave him a look that said "shut up" as he kept walking ahead.

Stephen Young's voice carried a tone of desperation, tinged with hurt as he implored his brother to open up. "Stop with the cold stares, Kyler. I need to know. Am I not your brother anymore? Are you keeping secrets from me?"

Kyler's demeanor remained stoic, his gaze unwavering as he cut through Stephen's emotional appeal with a steely question. "Are you done with the investigation I gave you?" His words, though devoid of warmth, conveyed a sense of urgency and expectation, hinting at the gravity of the situation.

When Stephen Young heard him, he froze, a wave of panic rushing over him. He hadn't even started working on it and had been lazing around, practically forgetting about the task altogether. Thus, he stuttered out his response, "H-Heh, bro, I'm investigating. Of course, I'm investigating... But, you know, it takes time. I need more time." His voice wavered with a mix of nervousness and guilt as he tried to cover up his lack of progress.

Kyler's words carried a hint of exasperation as he said, "It wouldn't take much time if you actually started doing it instead of nosing around."

Stephen Young nodded eagerly, his expression a mixture of hope and anxiety. "At least, bro, tell me, where were you?"

Kyler Young hesitated for a moment, his gaze distant as he recalled the evening's events. "I went to a thank-you dinner."

Stephen's eagerness turned to confusion, his brows knitting together in puzzlement. "What on earth is a THANK-YOU DINNER!!??"

Kyler Young was speechless at his brother's exaggerated reaction, but he repeated firmly, "Yes, a thank-you dinner."

Stephen Young persisted as he looked at his brother, his tone incredulous. "With whom? Who is inviting you to a thank-you dinner?"

Hearing this, before Kyler Young could reply, Nikolas, who had been listening to their entire conversation, interrupted, "It was a beautiful lady!"

Stephen Young's eyes widened in shock and disbelief and he immediately turned toward Nikolas.

"WHAT!! My brother went on a date?? with A GIRL..?? OH MY GOD! A GIRL!! Nikolas, are you sure it was a GIRL??!! And who is that girl who caught my brother's eye??"

Hearing Stephen Young's frantic questions, Nikolas sighed heavily, "Although it was a girl, but boss didn't tell me her identity or anything."

Stephen Young's curiosity peaked, and he bombarded Nikolas with questions. "But come on, Nikolas, you must have noticed something, right? How did she look? Was she pretty? Did she have long hair? What was she wearing? Tell me everything you saw!"

Stephen's barrage of questions continued. "And how did big brother treat her? Was he smiling? Did he seem happy? Did he hold her hand or open the door for her? Come on, Nikolas, spill all the details!"

Nikolas hesitated for a moment before replying, "Well, boss seemed... polite! He was courteous, as usual. But as for holding hands or anything like that, I didn't see anything like that. It was more of a casual dinner, from what I could tell and as for her appearance, she was... well, I'd say she was elegant, sophisticated beautiful lady."

Kyler Young was speechless at his brother's and assistant's reactions about him going on a date. What's with their reactions? Is it that weird for me to go on a date with a girl? But when he thought about his whole life being single and away from love, relationships, and female human beings, well, indeed, it's a bit unusual. Kyler Young just looked at them plainly. "It was just a thank-you dinner, nothing else."

Stephen Young looked at his brother’s handsome face, his eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of suspicion. The dim light from the antique lamp in the corner of the garden cast a soft glow on Kyler’s features, highlighting the subtle changes in his expression. He couldn’t help but wonder, “How could it be just a thank-you dinner?” With a playful smirk, he voiced his thoughts, “Brother, are you sure it was just a thank-you dinner, not a date dinner? I mean, looking at your face, it seems very unconvincing to me, at least.”

His words hung in the air, a gentle tease wrapped in brotherly concern. Nikolas, standing nearby, nodded in agreement with Stephen Young.

Kyler Young found himself lost in thought, replaying his entire day’s interactions with Arielle Reynolds in his mind. He shook his head gently, a soft sigh escaping his lips as he murmured, “Nothing else.” His voice was barely a whisper, a quiet affirmation to himself more than anyone else.

Stephen Young, however, was relentless. His curiosity piqued, he continued to probe, questions about Arielle’s identity tumbling from his lips. But Kyler Young chose to ignore him, his mind already preoccupied with the preparations for tomorrow’s meeting.

With a firm yet gentle tone, he asked Stephen to leave, his words echoing in the room, “Prepare for tomorrow’s meeting and then leave. I need to rest.”

Meanwhile, at the same time, at the heart of the bustling city, the lights of King Organisation headquarters were still burning bright. Arielle Reynolds didn’t go home after dinner with Kyler Young. Instead, she came to the organisation to handle some leftover business matters.

She sat in her office, the soft glow from her desk lamp illuminating the room. Her eyes, sharp and focused, scanned the details of their business partners. The silence of the night was broken only by the occasional rustle of papers and the distant hum of the city.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Henry and Marcus stepped in. Henry, with a respectful nod, handed her some documents. Marcus, his voice laced with a hint of excitement and mystery, broke the silence, “Boss, there’s some big news recently.”

Arielle Reynolds paused, her gaze shifting from the documents to Marcus. She gestured for him to continue, her curiosity piqued.

Marcus leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper as if he was about to share a secret, “Boss, do you know about Red?”

Arielle Reynolds raised her eyebrows, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. She leaned back in her chair, her interest clearly piqued by his mysterious tone. “Red? What about Red?” she asked, her voice steady yet filled with intrigue.

Henry, his voice filled with a hint of caution, broke the silence, “Boss, it’s the Red Organisation, the one from Harrison City.” His words hung in the air, a subtle reminder of the potential competition.

Arielle Reynolds nodded, her eyes reflecting a deep understanding, “Of course, I know. What about it?”

Marcus, his eyes gleaming with a spark of ambition, proposed, “Boss, I heard they are planning to collaborate with Devil. How about we collaborate with them ahead of time? It would be beneficial for us to increase our territory.” His words were filled with a sense of urgency and a hint of excitement about the potential expansion.

Henry shook his head, his voice carrying a note of warning, “Although Marcus’s suggestion is good, I heard that Red’s leader is actually friends with Devil.” His words served as a reality check.

Arielle Reynolds, her voice laced with suspicion and curiosity, asked, “They’re friends?” The question hung in the air, a silent echo of her disbelief.

Henry, his voice steady yet filled with caution, replied, “Although it’s not widely known, there are rumors that the Devil’s leader’s family background was actually from Harrison City, and…” His voice trailed off, leaving the sentence hanging, the unspoken words adding to the mystery.

Arielle Reynolds, her interest piqued, interjected, “And what?” Her voice was firm, demanding the rest of the story.

Henry continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper as if sharing a secret, “When Devil was a new organization, there were many rumors that they received support from a powerful family in Harrison City. So, it’s quite possible they actually received support from Red’s leaders.”

Marcus chimed in, his tone thoughtful, “Although it’s possible, there was never complete information about it.” His words served as a reminder of the uncertainty and speculation that often surrounded such matters.