Chapter 36 What's the Reason
They turned around and saw Tiara standing behind them. They glared at her.
"Well, what did you say? We came here for free food... We can't afford anything here... Oh.. So much confidence." she fanned her face dramatically as she approached them slowly. "Alas! Everything went down the drain. Look at your faces. You are all looking like clowns." she laughed sarcastically.
"Be as happy as you can right now. The final laugh will be mine....because I have Xander, whom she will never have." Crystal said through gritted teeth.
"You have a point. You have Xander. But, who said Aria wants him?"
Crystal glared at her.
"And as for you having Xander..." Tiara made a face as if she was deep in thought, then she approached Crystal and whispered in her ear. "The question is... for how long? You know?.... secrets never remain hidden forever."
She looked at Crystal's pale face with a smirk. She walked past them without waiting for her reply.
...
"The meeting is going to take place tomorrow at noon." Toby said as he and Jose had just finished their drinks.
They were drinking in the hall while the guests were chatting and moving around. The auction started early, so it ended before midnight. Those who would return to their homes after the auction were saying their goodbyes to each other. Most businessmen from outside Zavion City would spend the night at the resort, along with some willing guests. Xander and his men would spend the night at the resort as well. As so many prominent businessmen were present, some decided to hold a meeting to discuss potential business. However, Aaron and the ladies, including Margaret, would return home as did the majority of the guests.
"Let's get some fresh air in the garden." Toby suggested, looking around the crowded hall.
"I need to use the restroom. You go ahead, I will join soon." Jose said.
"Ok." Toby nodded before heading to the garden.
Jose walked towards the public washroom. The area was completely empty because everyone had washrooms in their assigned rooms, so he didn't expect to see anyone in the men's restroom. However, when he entered, he came to a halt in his tracks, witnessing the scene before him.
A couple was making out next to the sink. At first, he decided to turn around and leave, giving them privacy. But when he saw the woman, he stopped. The couple was completely engrossed in their kiss, unaware of his presence. He clenched his jaw and closed the door with a thud, startling the two people. The man hurriedly moved away from the woman, as he noticed Jose. His face paled, while the woman was shocked. Nonetheless, she quickly concealed her expression.
"Ah, M..Mr. Romero. It's not what you are thinking. We were just... t..talking." the man said hurriedly.
"Yeah, I can see what you are doing... clearly." he raised his brow and cast a glance at the woman, who didn't say anything, instead going to the mirror and starting to fix her makeup and outfit.
"We were just talking when this lady suddenly kissed me."
Jose frowned at the man. The man was Jill Winters. Jose was well aware of his character. He couldn't keep it inside his pants.
"Please don't misunderstand the situation. Excuse me." he hurriedly left.
As Xander's right hand, Jose was also well-known by everyone. He received more respect than many of the country's businessmen, and he was also wealthy. As the man left, he looked at the woman.
"Are you stalking me, Mr. Romero?" Tiara asked, fixing her lipstick.
She had started working for Mr. George, the leading lawyer in Zavion City. He also handled Xander's legal matters, so Jose frequently visited his office. He came across Tiara a few times there.
"Miss Ariadne's looking for you." he said, ignoring her question.
"Did she send you to find me?"
"I am just passing the message as I happened to see you."
Before heading to the restroom, he overheard Ariadne ask for Tiara as they prepared to leave the resort.
"Oh... thank you for your concern." Tiara turned and approached him with a flirtatious smile.
As she got closer, she raised her hands to touch him. However, Jose grabbed her hand in mid-air.
"That man's married." He said, clenching his jaw.
"I know."
"You are still messing with him?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at her.
"It's his problem that he's a jerk who can't stay faithful to his wife."
"And what does it make you.... by hook up with a married man?" his face was stern.
"I mean only business... I want something from him..." she replied hesitantly.
Silence fell.
"You can ask me. I will help you as much as I can." Jose said softly after a while.
"Oh, really? And what do you want in exchange?... A makeout session or more?" Tiara smirked.
"Nothing... Just stop messing with men."
They locked their gazes for a moment.
"I will think about it. By the way, don't worry...I don't sleep with married men." Tiara winked before leaving the restroom.
.
In the hall, Ariadne and the kids were waiting for Tiara. "Sorry, I was talking to someone. Did I keep you waiting for long?" Tiara said as she approached them.
"Not at all. Stay here for a while. I have forgotten my purse in the room. I will go get it." Ariadne said before hurriedly heading towards the stairs.
They were assigned to rooms on the second floor which appeared to be empty. Some guests were downstairs, while others remained in their rooms. As she turned the hallway, she saw Crystal and Xander next to the railing, standing very close to each other. Xander had his back to her. She came to a stop when Crystal suddenly touched his face, tiptoed, and kissed him on the cheek. Xander turned around, sensing someone's presence, and saw Ariadne.
With a sigh, she continued walking.
"Don't mind me." She said as both Crystal and Xander looked at her.
Crystal appeared irritated by the intrusion, while Xander frowned. Ariadne walked past them and went into her room. Earlier, to keep her good act, Crystal congratulated Ariadne on her achievement in front of the noble families.
"What was that?" Xander asked as soon as Ariadne entered the room.
"Oh, it's a thank you kiss for getting me such a beautiful necklace." She smiled and tangled her hands around his neck, erasing the space between them.
Xander grabbed her hands, and Ariadne emerged from the room at the same time. Their gazes met. After taking in their position, Ariadne closed the door to the room and went back the way she had come, ignoring them. Crystal's voice came from behind her, as she approached the stairs.
"Let's go to the room."
Ariadne's heart raced at Crystal's words, but she did not stop and continued walking.
..........
It was past midnight. Xander, Jose and Toby were drinking in a room. The guests who stayed retired to their respective rooms.
"What is upsetting you, man?" Toby asked as Xander appeared to be in a bad mood and was quiet.
"Nothing." Xander replied, though his expression suggested otherwise.
Toby did not press the issue, knowing that if he wanted to share, he would have done so by now.
"By the way, your guess was correct about Autumn Collection." he changed the topic.
"There were too many clues." Xander remarked casually.
"We looked into them and all pointed to the same thing. The name of the president is some M. Cook. and Miss Ariadne's nanny's name is Mary Cook. They also have two CEOs. But there's no information about the other one because it's Miss Ariadne." Jose notified Toby.
They went to Xander's room after taking a break from the first half of the auction, where Jose looked into Autumn Collection.
"In five years she has accomplished a lot.... seems like divorcing you was beneficial to her." Toby chuckled, earning a glare from Xander.
"What? Isn't this true?" he raised his brows at him.
Xander ignored him, unwilling to fight.
"She actually abandoned her career to marry you. And now she has made a name for herself, without any help. She's such an inspiration. And her kids... the twins are adorable."
Toby had always liked Ariadne since the beginning. It was a shame that his best friend divorced her for another woman. He never liked Crystal.
"I saw Tiara speaking with Mr. Jill Winters." Jose cleared his throat as he said.
Jill Winters was an international diamond and gemstone dealer. Tiara's conversation with him indicated that Autumn Collection wanted to do business with him.
"So they all worked together like a family." Xander remarked, appearing to be deep in thought. The room fell silent.
"One thing I can't understand." he spoke after a while, breaking the silence.
Toby and Jose shifted in their seats as they looked at Xander.
"She wanted to stay hidden from me, so she concealed her identity. After five years, she suddenly returned to Zavion City, despite having a successful career in Purple City. The entire family has moved out here. Why was she hiding in the first place? And why did she return? It can't be just launching the Autumn Collection here." He frowned, leaning back in his chair.
"Is it possible that she's having problems in Purple City?" Toby asked.
"Maybe, maybe not. Something tells me there's a reason for her return. Find out." He instructed Jose, who nodded.