Chapter 48
AMELIA
My phone rang, and it was from an unknown number.
“Hello? Hello.” Nobody answered from the other line. “Who’s this?”
The call ended.
“Is everything okay?” Ren asked while I was still looking at the phone screen.
“Wrong number.”
“I thought you were taking a break. Where exactly are we going?”
“Theia, if she said she’s taking a break, she means to say, she’s doing other extra activities,” Ren said from the passenger’s seat. “You should have stopped asking her a long time ago.
“I’m not comfortable sitting in the backseat,” she complained as she used to be behind the wheel.
“We’re not going far. Just away from his house.”
“Hmm. Interesting,” she mumbled.
I parked the car at the clearing. We were still in Ryden’s territory. At least, he wouldn’t see us sneaking out.
I photocopied Ryden’s new proposal for investors earlier. I knew I went behind his back, but I had good intentions. I wanted to help as much as I could. His business may be his problem, but he wasn’t alone anymore. We were mates and married.
I still found it weird being married at twenty. The good thing was, that I had a supportive and loving husband who treated me the way I always wanted, even if he was a little Neanderthal.
“What are we doing here?”
“Stop asking, T.” I hopped out of Ren’s truck and texted Zarah for the exact location.
She replied again.
ZARAH: You better be not wandering around.
AMELIA: Told you. I’ll be with T and R.
The portal appeared before us.
“Oh, we’re going shopping,” Theia said excitedly.
“Yeah. At my parent’s house,” Ren chuckled.
“What? Why didn’t you say so? Which house?” She looked funny as she shifted her gaze between me and Ren and did not get an answer from us.
“Let’s go.” I went first. We ended up in Ren’s living room in his New York Estate.
“What if the portal shut before I could step my foot in?”
“Good question, T. You’re gonna end up with one foot.” I wasn’t actually sure. I looked at myself in the mirror and fixed my oversized pastel blue suit.
“What the hell? Are you for real?” She bounced her gaze between us when I didn’t pay her attention. “Ren, is she for real?”
“Don’t know. We should try it sometimes. Bring a rabbit the next time we go into a portal.”
“Poor bunny.” Her brow wrinkled with her noncommittal answer.
Ren scoffed at her. “Yet you don’t mind when you’re hunting.”
I breathed deeply as I stood before the door, towards Ren’s parents’ private receiving area.
“You’ll be fine.” He smiled tightly at me and gripped my shoulder. “Good luck.”
“We’re not joining her?”
“Unless you have a business proposal, then go.” He went to his couch and Theia followed, leaving me alone to face Mei Raito without any ready pitch or presentation.
I stepped out. Their butler led me the way and said Mrs. Raito was waiting. As the double door opened, I took off my heels and stepped inside. The receiving room could fit two rooms combined. The interior was traditionally decorated as a Japanese home with a Tamami mat floor, Chabudai, and Zaisu.
“Oba Mei.” I bowed my head.
“Come in, my dear.” She gestured for me to join her at the table.
“Arigato.” I sat across hers.
“So, how’s Ren?” Her hands were placed on her lap gracefully as she smiled. Ren’s family was very traditional but had adapted the evolution and technological development.
“He’s with me, waiting at his living,” I replied respectfully.
“I know he would come with you.” She smiled. “But how’s he? You don’t have to be polite, Amelia. You’re like my daughter.”
“I think Ren is ready to live his life alone. He can go to a grocery store, he can cook, he can wash his clothes, and obviously, can protect himself. And Ren is really a good spirit. You can attest he’s a good son. I don’t think he’d waste his life to do something terrible or abuse his power. He’s reliable, respectful, and kind.”
She poured us tea into teacups and offered one for me. “Thank you. He couldn’t stop talking about his stay at the pack. Congratulations, my dear. I wish I was there at your celebration, but I already committed to something before I received the invitation.”
“I understood. Thank you.” I sipped it and placed it down the table.
“Ren said, your mate is a good man.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “He really is.”
“I want Ren to settle down.”
“Wait. What?” My eyes widened as I lowered my voice. “Does he know?”
“I’m not gonna find a suitable wife for him, Amelia.” She chuckled. Mei was in her fifties but she looked like she wasn’t age thirty. The first time I met her, I thought she and Ren were siblings. “He’ll find a mate or a girlfriend for himself. Marriage arrangements always end up badly. I want him to be happy like you. If he’s ready, then I’d be happy to meet my future daughter-in-law.”
I laughed softly covering my mouth. “I don’t think it would be too soon if he’s gonna marry a girlfriend, but who knows, right? I didn’t expect to meet my mate this soon either, but yeah. We don’t control our future.”
“How did you arrive so fast, my dear?” She sipped her tea elegantly.
“I asked a help from a good witch I know. Her name is Zarah.”
“I’d like to meet her one day.”
“Of course, Oba. I can arrange that.”
“So.” She shifted in her seat. “What do you want to talk about?”
“I’m sorry for dropping by so quickly. I’ll go straight to the point. Ryden runs the Crimson Corporation in Tahoe City. The businesses include Crimson Holiday Lodge, Crimson Holiday Club, and Crimson Yacht. He was dating the daughter of Alec Webster, and he was expected to marry her. When I arrived, things had changed. Alec warned Ryden that he would withdraw his investments if he chose me. Long story short, he sent his lawyers this morning. Ryden has expected this would happen, but not so fast when the contract is going to end by the end of the year.” I gave her a copy of the proposal Ryden made. “Can you and Oji check it out for me? I know you don’t invest in small Corporations, but please try to take a look at it.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you so much. By the way, I copied that from the original. My mate doesn’t know I’m meeting you right now. I just want to help him. That’s all,” I told her the truth.
She chuckled. “You’ll make a good luna, Amelia. How’s the search for the book and the others going?”
“Literally going nowhere.”
“I know it wouldn’t be easy. It may take years or worse your lifetime. Can you send my son to me?”
“Of course.”
After Ren met his mother, we headed back to the pack house. I had hoped Ren’s parents would give it a thought.
I dialed Zarah.
“What is it this time?”
“Thanks for the help.” I laughed. “Ren’s mother, Mei, wants to meet you in person.”
“Is that all?”
“Should there be more?” My eyebrows arched.
“Okay. I’ll arrange a meeting.”
“Thanks.” I hung up the call, Ryden just come out from his office which shocked us both. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” He came and closed the gap between us to kiss me. “I thought you were with your friends.”
“They’re with me.”
He didn’t look convinced. Then he looked over my shoulder. “We haven’t opened Ren’s gift.”
“You’re working, too?” Theia asked.
“What do you mean by working, too?”
“Oh, my mistake.” Theia grinned sheepishly.
“No, Theia. What are you three up to?”
“We’re trying to fly a kite.” She couldn’t just shut up, could she? I unknowingly scratched my head.
“A kite?” The confusion on Ryden’s face was so prominent.
“She’s asked so many questions today. Trust me I ignored her the whole time, Alpha Ryden.” Ren smiled, hands behind his back.
“You should call me Ryden, Ren. After all, we’re all friends if joining the pack doesn’t interest you.”
“Thanks for the offer, but maybe I’ll join temporarily until the issue is solved.”
“Me, too, Alpha,” Theia seconded.
“So, can you tell me now what’s going on with you, Three Stooges?”