Chapter 12 A Trace of Her
At the Miller residence, Emma entered Crystal's room just as the latter was applying moisturizer before going to bed.
The house was silent as everyone had retired to their rooms. It was almost midnight.
"How did your dinner date go?" Emma asked as she sat on the bed.
"It's good, Mom." Crystal replied.
"Did you talk to him about your marriage?"
"Actually, no. We didn't get the time to talk about this."
"Crystal, baby, you have to make time and talk with Xander. It's been five years now, and he still hasn't married you. You are already twenty-nine. When will you two get married?" Emma expressed her concern.
"We will marry soon, Mom." Crystal said casually.
"You have been saying this for the last five years."
"Why are you so impatient, Mom? He just needs some time. Everyone knows we are together." Crystal became irritated.
"There's huge difference between being in a relationship and being the wife."
Crystal sighed as she approached her mother and sat beside her.
"Mom, you have to be patient for greater things. Many years ago, I had nothing, but now I am the most successful businesswoman in Zavion City. I got this position because I patiently waited for it." Crystal explained to her mother.
Miller Group was now ranked among the top ten companies in the country. They had risen through the ranks over the years with the support of Xander and Blake Corporation. Previously, Miller Group was ranked below the top twenty companies in the country. Now, every businessman showed them respect. After all, everyone knew that Xander Blake favoured the Miller Group.
"As for becoming Mrs. Xander Blake, that will happen soon." Crystal smirked.
"You truly are a businesswoman, Crystal. I am proud of you. You are even smarter than me." Emma smiled.
"Thank you, Mom."
.....
Crystal and Catherine went shopping at a mall the next day. They looked for a long time, but no dress caught their eyes.
"Crystal, look." Catherine pointed to a dress held by a woman.
"Wow... beautiful." Crystal exclaimed when she saw the dress.
They approached the woman and grabbed the dress from her hands.
"Wow, it's really gorgeous. I want this one."
"Hey, I saw it first." The woman said. "Crystal?"
Crystal recognized the woman when she looked at her.
"Jennifer! Wow... What a pleasant surprise. It's been a long time since I saw you. I thought you had also vanished, just like your best friend." Crystal and Catherine laughed.
Jennifer ignored her taunts.
"This dress is mine. Give it back to me." Jennifer pointed at the dress.
"Oh, this one? Who said it's yours?" Crystal smirked.
"Ummm...Miss, this lady has already chosen the dress. You can choose another. There're plenty of gorgeous dresses here." The attendant girl informed Crystal.
"No, I like this one, so I will buy it."
"But you can't have it."
"Who said? Do you know who she is? She is Crystal Miller. She is the woman of this mall's owner, Mr. Xander Blake. She can get him to fire you if you disrespect her." Catherine warned haughtily.
"Oh, I didn't know Madam; please forgive me. You can have this dress." The attendant girl's face paled.
"Madam, would you please select another dress?" The girl pleaded to Jennifer.
"Okay, no problem." Jennifer agreed.
Crystal and Catherine smirked in triumph.
"Give me that one." Jennifer pointed at another dress.
"Ok Madam, wait a minute." The attendant girl went to get the dress for her.
"Remember, never cross paths with me, dear. Your best friend once crossed paths with me, and she has been gone for years." Crystal grinned wickedly at Jennifer.
"She's Xander's woman. Don't forget it." Catherine added.
"Huh... woman or mistress?" Jennifer smirked.
"My best friend has been gone for years, but you are still unable to replace her. You are still the mistress, not the wife." Jennifer moved closer to Crystal and whispered.
"How dare you?" Catherine roared.
However, Crystal raised her hand to stop Catherine and smiled at Jennifer.
"That title will also be given to me. It's just a matter of time. After all, he divorced her for me." Crystal calmly said.
Jennifer gritted her teeth and remained silent. They smirked at Jennifer once more before walking to the counter with the dress. Jennifer stared at their retreating figure.
"Your pride will be crushed one day, Crystal, and you will be punished for everything you have done. You have no idea who is returning to Zavion City." Jennifer muttered.
"Madam, here's your dress, and thank you for saving me." The attendant girl smiled at her.
"It's ok." Jennifer paid the bill and left with the dress.
......
Two days went by quickly as everyone was so busy preparing for the presentation. After all, this was a massive project and billions of dollars would be spent on this.
It was the day before the presentation. Xander was reviewing all of the documents for the presentation when he heard a loud and urgent knock on his office door. He furrowed his brows, annoyed.
'Who has the audacity to knock on his door so loudly?'
He didn't respond and instead checked the surveillance camera footage on his laptop. He made these arrangements to ensure that no unwanted visitors would disturb him. He saw that it was Jose. He pressed a button beneath his table, and the door opened. Jose rushed into the office as soon as the door clicked open.
"Did you run a marathon before coming here?" Xander looked at Jose's flustered face.
"What is the matter that you came here in such a hurry with such a face?" Xander asked seriously, pointing to Jose's agitated face.
"I have some news for you, Boss." Jose said with urgency.
"I am all ears." Xander returned his attention to the documents in front of him.
"I have found something."
"Oh, what is it?"
"A trace ..... a trace of her."
"Who?" Xander asked, furrowing his brows.
"Miss Ariadne."
Xander stiffened in his seat. His eyes shot back to Jose immediately as he said those words.
"What? Who did you say?"
"Miss Ariadne Miller, Boss. I am not sure, but I think it's her."
"Wait, what do you mean? What trace? Have you found out her whereabouts?"
"No."
"Then what? Don't make me confused. Tell me exactly what you have found." Xander became frustrated.
"Umm.. I found this. Have a look." Josh placed a file in front of Xander.
Xander frowned as he was completely confused.
"Check the names of the representatives, Boss." Jose said and Xander looked at the file.
It was a file containing information about the five companies' representatives who would be presenting their plans the next day. He checked the names of the companies with their representatives.
"Oberoy Group - Viv Oberoy; Paradise Corporation - Natasha Wood; T&R Corporation - Frederick Roods; James Group - Timothy James."
The last was Watson Group and the representative's name was Ariadne Miller. Xander's eyes were fixed on the name. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but he couldn't say anything. Jose looked at his boss silently. Xander checked the names again. It was indeed Ariadne Miller. He then checked the information about the representative, which stated the person was the CEO of Watson Group.
"CEO of Watson Group? How is this possible?" He became utterly confused.
"It could be a coincidence that the names are similar." Xander said, suppressing his agitation.
"But their ages are also similar. Both are twenty-seven years old." Jose informed.
"Have you checked it?"
"Yes boss. As soon as I saw the name, I searched for more information. I didn't get any useful information or a picture aside from her age and.." Jose paused.
"And what?"
"According to the records, she is not from here. She has been the head of the Construction Department of Watson Group in Purple City, for the last two years. One week ago, she was transferred to Zavion City as CEO." Jose reported all of the information he had gathered in that short period of time.
"I see." Xander appeared to be lost in thought.
"Do you think it's really her?"
"I am not sure, but it's simple to figure out. We will wait for tomorrow, she will appear before us for the presentation."
"Yes, Boss."
"Stay put for the time being. We are not sure, so don't discuss it with anyone."
"Ok, Boss."
....
After finishing their work Xander and his men returned to the penthouse. Xander couldn't stop thinking about Ariadne the entire time. He knew there was a high possibility that person was actually Ariadne. He was finding it hard to wait until the presentation to find out.
He searched for Ariadne for three years after she left but found nothing. She seemed to vanish into thin air. He then stopped the search and left it to fate. He was confident that one day he would come across that woman. He refused to accept that, after wreaking havoc in his life, Ariadne could hide from him forever. After all, Zavion City was Ariadne's hometown and her family lived here. She would have to return to the city at some point. But he never expected to meet her in this way.
That was the longest night for Xander as he could not sleep and kept tossing and turning in his bed.
......
Everyone had arrived at Blake Corporation for the presentation the next day.
There were four people present in the presentation room as selectors; Xander, Crystal, Dr. Wright and Mr. Hugh. Dr. Wright was the head and a major shareholder of Grace Children's Hospital.
Mr. Hugh was a scientist and shareholder of Blake Corporation. Blake family had a good relationship with both men and included them in every important project and decision-making for the company. Though Xander would make the final decision, he would take their opinions into account.
The representatives would arrive one by one, presenting their plans on the screen. This rule was put in place to protect the companies' privacy and safety by preventing others from copying their plans.
"So, let's start the presentation. Who is the first representative?" Mr. Wright asked as everyone settled into their seats in the presentation room.
"The first representative is from Paradise Corporation." A man standing at the door said after checking the list in his hands.
"Ok. Let her in."
After a while, a very elegant woman entered the room.
"Hello everyone. Good morning. I am Natasha Wood, the representative of Paradise Corporation. We are a top-ranked construction company in the world, and we have previously worked with Blake Corporation as well. I am confident that our proposal for this project will pique your interest. Before we get into the details, let's go over the plan."
...
Four representatives had finished delivering their presentations. Dr. Wright liked only two plans, but he was not entirely satisfied. There was only one left: Watson Group.
While everyone was busy in the discussion, Xander glanced at Jose, who nodded slowly. Xander stiffened in his seat, realising what it meant.
His breathing quickened as he became restless to face the final representative.
"Are you alright?" Crystal asked noticing the change in his behavior.
"Yes." Xander replied, composing himself.
"Shall we take a break Mr. Blake?" Mr. Wright asked.
"No need. This is the final presentation. Let's get this done first." Xander said.
"Ok. Next representative." Mr. Wright addressed the man at the door.
The room fell silent. After a while, a slender figure in a casual business suit entered the room. Her back was towards them. Every other representative was dressed to the nines, but this woman appeared far more casual than them. Xander and Crystal's eyes widened as she turned towards them.
"Ariadne!" Crystal gasped.
She looked at Xander and noticed him looking at Ariadne with similar shocked expression. But there was more than just surprise in his eyes.
"Is there any problem, Miss Crystal?" Mr. Wright asked.
"It's just. This woman is my..." Crystal tried to say, but Xander stopped her by raising his hand.
"Let's finish the presentation first."
"Ok." Crystal nodded.
"You can start." Mr. Wright instructed Ariadne.
Ariadne nodded with a smile. "Good morning, everyone. I am Ariadne Miller, the representative of Watson Group. Let's start with the presentation."
The lights in the room went out, and the screen lit up with the logo of Watson Group.