Present
"After the Yan Family was destroyed , Zhang Family right away took over all the business establishments it owned."
Veronica raised an eyebrow. She was comfortably sitting on her swivel chair listening to Zero's report.
"Zhang Family, huh," an evil glint passed in her eyes.
"Yes lady. Zhang Family was the family of origin of the Yan matriarch, Cristina Zhang. Although the Yans were destroyed and she and the patriarch Norverto Yan along with first family branch members suddenly vanished and at the same time, their businesses plummeted, the Co's suddenly emerged from its low profile status and saved the business establishment from total destruction."
"Who was the current patriarch of the family?"
"The eldest son of the previous patriarch, lady. Arthur Zhang, Cristina Zhang's older brother." "Did you find the rest of the family branch of the Yan Family?"
"Yes lady. Although the second and third branch families changed their family name to Lopez, I was able to still locate them. The fourth and the rest were against that idea and decided to move to the rural areas and live ordinary lives."
Veronica languidly tapped her long, sophisticated nails on her Edwardian walnut antique desk. The woman is a big fan of wood antiques. From her British Chesterfield swivel chair to her filing cabinets.
Although a lover of antiques, Veronica also is fond of a minimalism and warm ambiance so she had her office painted with an all white from the roof to the wall which she complimented with white oak hardwood flooring. "Were you able to get information?"
"It's still the same information that we already have, lady. That the Yan's first branch family just vanished like a smoke and the force who was behind is so powerful and strong that no media outlets even reported about it. Although it created noise from the people of City I but considering Norverto Yan's reputation with public governance, the people moved on with the thought that they're better off that family. It's also the same with high society. The disappearance of the Yan family's first branch created buzzes for a few days but eventually, elites shrugged off their shoulders about it."
"Click", Veronica clicked her tongue, "As expected from the unbothered elites." She said with a smile, "Or should I say, voracious high society."
Her sparkling eyes dimmed when she remembered how she and her family were victimized by it.
The high society may seem to be the high end place for the fab, glamourous and successful people but Veronica knew better than just its sparkle and dazzle facade.
"Leave the rest of the report to me. I'll go through them later."
Zero then proceeded to put all the files in his hands to Veronica's desk. He bowed and was about to go out of his lady's office when she stopped him.
"By the way, you haven't made a report yet regarding what I asked you a few weeks ago."
"I will send it later, lady." Seeing as Zero's face remained stoic despite the fact that the report being asked was about his own origin, Veronica crossed her arms on her chest. Her face softened as she started with a motherly tone, "When do you plan on meeting your parents... or of course, first to introduce yourself?"
"I don't have any plan, my lady", Zero answered right away without a hint of emotion. But the fast flashes of emotion as she mentioned about his parents didn't skip Veronica's sight.
"Is that what you wanted?" Veronica asked casually while observing her most loyal subordinate. "Yes", Zero answered in a relaxed manner.
Realizing Zero's avoiding the topic with his origin, Veronica dismissed him out. 'Poor child', she thought. Having to live and survive the sickening underworld for most of his childhood until she discovered him in his late teenage years.
To investigate his family and now knowing them might after all, put him in the state of emotional crisis.
It's true that his ruthless life and experienced in the underworld might have changed and even made him very different from that of a normal young man, but Veronica knew very well that as long as one lives, there still exist a tiny speck of human emotions that she hope could save her adopted son, slash loyal subordinate someday.
Veronica could only hope.