Chapter 11: Resolution

Elias yawned and reached into his pocket as he walked up to the door of his suburban home. The weight of his bag seemed too much for his left shoulder and he lifted the straps to stretch a little.

Reaching up the steps to the door. He felt something behind him and turned around to see a black sedan pull up. His shoulders tensed as the passenger door opened sharply but then he relaxed at the sight of his interlocutor.

"I thought you'd go see the old lady" he commented and returned to the struggle with his door.

"She's a politician" Gabriel replied, his tone even as ever.

"I don't know if I should take offense to that" Elias shook his head and frowned in frustration as his actions became forceful.

"You have the wrong key in" Gabriel commented.

"I know that now!" Elias shot back and continued to struggle to pull the key back out.

"Elias!" Gabriel's tone cut, his tone a low growl.

"What?!" Elias turned to him, still evidently frustrated.

Gabriel silently kept the gaze for a second, and Elias's features inexplicably relaxed.

"Slow down" Gabriel instructed, his tone low and gentle.

"Pull out the key" he gestured with his chin towards the door.

Elias gently pulled, and the key easily slid out of the door.

"Now open it." Gabriel's eyes turned cold, and Elias felt goosebumps on his nape.

Finally inserting the right key, he opened the door and walked in. Behind him, Gabriel followed, shutting the door after they entered.

"Mr Auralis, this is all just a big misunderstanding. We acted on faulty Intel before confirming it" Elias started to explain as he set down his bag on the living room desk.

"I'm not here for an explanation Elias. Just resolution" Gabriel replied, his gaze roaming curiously around the house.

"One Love will be released before morning" Elias drew a deep breath and assured. He watched Gabriel's reaction but there was nothing.

"We will also issue a public apology," he added, but Gabriel remained impassive.

"I don't have enough authority for anything else!" He exclaimed his expression now begging.

"I have time, make the call and bring someone who does over"

Elias stared in shock with eyes wide open at Gabriel but all he got back was cold eyes fixed on him. His lips twitched and he went for his phone.

By the time walked out of Elias's house, the sky was already threatening dawn.

The night had been restless for so many people. Zina included. Before the sun was up, she found her place in the open patio with a cup of coffee now cold on the table before her.

Andrea approached with a tablet and handed it over, a news broadcast playing on it.

"In Min today, Popular PopStar One Love, who was detained, has just been released. Officials are saying his arrest was due to an internal communication error. Questions have been raised about the procedure of his arrest and the involvement of Zina Lynch in Min's Bureaucracy."

"We offer our sincere apologies to One Love and, of course, Lynch Cosmetics for these unfortunate circumstances. Our officers acted on information available at the time. We also express our appreciation to Lynch CEO Zina Lynch for her cooperation in the investigative process. Min remains open to every respectful visitor and we want to assure the public that we will make sure such unlawful arrests are avoided."

"Unfortunate circumstances?" Zina could not hold back, her face reddened as her eyes widened in fury.

"One Love is on a flight back, but he has been banned from re-entering Min." Andrea cared little for her fury.

"They didn't say anything about that on the news," Zina muttered to herself.

"Where's Gabriel?" she asked.

"Should be on his way back" Andrea replied and sat on the empty chair beside her.

The receptionist, now turned server, arrived with a glass and a bottle of scotch. Zina glanced at her and frowned.

"Still have that old habit, I see" she chuckled lightly.

Andrea glanced at her but maintained her silence. She opened the bottle and poured herself a glass, as she sampled it, Zina watched quietly.

Thinking back, Andrea was never one to explain herself or care about her name.

"Can I ask you something?" Zina started.

"You've never asked permission to speak before" Andrea shot back for the first time, earning a grin from Zina.

"Why Gabriel?" she asked without waiting for Andrea's consent.

Andrea nodded, expecting that.

"You are a very curious person" Andrea slowly shook her head. Zina's observation skills were almost annoying, but her curiosity certainly passed that line.

"I made a promise, and I fell in love with it" she replied.

This time, Zina was unwilling to let go. A rush of irritation forced her to scoff.

"Do you ever explain anything?!" she asked with a frown on her features.

"I don't owe it to you" Andrea replied without a care, taking another sip from her drink.

"We work together now"

"You work with Gabriel"

"You work FOR Gabriel"

Both of them fell silent and simply stared at each other.

Andrea set down her glass and crossed her legs.

"Okay,"

"I take care of Gabriel and his affairs, I don't work for him. I do not like him working with you, and this has nothing to do with Adam. I just don't like you" she smiled sarcastically.

"We weren't always like this" Zina squinted.

"No. Then you decided to blame me for Adam's inadequacies," Andrea replied and returned her attention to her drink.

Zina nodded and shrugged. She glanced at her cold cup of coffee and then at Andrea's bottle of scotch.

Noticing her gaze, Andrea shrugged permissively and Zina poured some into her coffee.

She took a small sip and grimaced.

"And still the cheep shit" she cursed and set the cup back down.

Andrea let out a giggle, unable to maintain her impassive facade.

Zina was still that golden spoon princess.

Gabriel walked in at this time, beside him a young woman with a buzz cut, her boots clicking on the marble floors.

"Fiona?" Zina gaped at the sight of this person.

"Zina" the woman smiled as she slowly took off her leather jacket.

Andrea let out a gentle smile and nodded slightly but remained seated while Zina rose to give Fiona a hug.

"How do you know Gabriel?" Zina asked, looking between the two of them.

Fiona glanced up at Gabriel and her cheeks reddened slightly.