CHAPTER FIFTY

CHAPTER FIFTY
Kael's POV 

I was hoping Ria would use the opportunity I gave her to request a meal from me directly, so I'd order that she's to be fed before they leave and it wouldn't seem abnormal that she was being fed.

“Do you have any requests for me?” I asked, looking away from her like I didn't care about whatever it was that she wanted to make requests about anyway.

She stood still, without saying a word. I could mirror her from a side view as she stared at me. 

“You've done enough for me. I wouldn't want to be more indebted.”

She turned and walked away after she responded, and they accompanied her out. 

I didn't expect her to still hold on to her ego like she always does. I wonder why she couldn't just leave her stubborn behaviour and act the way she's feeling on the inside. 

I walked out of the room and said to the sergeant who stood on the walkway while I was passing, “Get me a place of food and bring it to me before the car that's taking them away leaves.”

He runs immediately, and I head in the direction they walked to.

The Serge came back in no time with a nice meal packed in a lunch bag.

I could see as Ria entered the car, but I still stood far and opened the lunch bag. 

I looked into it, raised my head and smiled at the Sarge because I loved how excellent the pack was.

A transparent lunch box was inside the bag, and I could see beans, rice, meatballs, some vegetables, and cream, layered nicely in the lunch box, with a small bottle of water.

I held the lunch bag proudly and walked over to the cart that was ignited and ready to move Ria out. 

I pat the door, just after it moved slightly and knocked on the window of her side. 

The window wind down slowly, and I maintained a straight face while I said, “I know you're hungry. You can have this.”

She looked at the bag and at me like she wasn't interested in any of us. Especially me.

I hoped she wouldn't do anything out of her annoying ego. I knew she was so hungry, and she needed it because she wouldn't even be getting any chance to feed along the ride.

I held still and watched her as she thought critically about whether she should or shouldn't take the food from me.

She stretched her hands finally and took the meal from me, “Thank you.” She said only with a lip sync.

I almost smiled after that, but I stood straight and looked up to the sky to control myself. 

They drove off afterwards. 

In good faith, I headed to the helicopter that was waiting for me as well. I had several business meetings to attend to ensure that our investors were aware that they can still trust the company, and they did not have to do anything with the news that was published about the company, and I was already to get to know the person who got such a report out. 

I got on the plane, and the one I had been expecting finally came in.

“I know you've seen the news. This is really bad. What's the update on it?”

“Luca, I'm flying to speak to Mr Gregor. You know he's one man who doesn't like to be a part of a company with a scandalous image. He's my first target.”

“How about Aria? Do you know how she's doing? Have you heard from her? I don't think she can do something like this, but if it is true, I heard a rumour that something like that was occurring, I just never thought it was happening in Vale Firm.” 

“How come you support her without hearing from her, this easily?” 

Luca is not one to put trust in people just anyhow, and I wondered why the case is different for Ria.

He must just be looking for ways to make sure his longing for me to settle with someone like Ria comes to pass. 

“No, it's not that. Just look at how credibly she has worked since her family's accident. That's a woman with strong resilience. That business wasn't making global impact like it is now, when it was in the hands of her brother. Even someone who doesn't have foresight to see her capacity would give her credit for how credibly she has shown herself so far. I can't just agree with what the news is saying. I'm sure there's a mix somewhere.” Luca says firmly. His confidence in Ria was surely more than mine because I was really mad when I saw the news. 

Perhaps I should have trusted her more. 

“I don't know. I don't see things the way you see them.” I said, taking pauses to gather my thoughts well at every word. “She explained herself to me anyway. She claims not to have involved herself in any of that, but Allen was. So she paid off the people with the company's funds she was able to generate.”

“Okay?” 

“I just don't think it will be that easy for me to believe her, so I've sent her to be followed to the company, to gather as much evidence of those transactions and the files needed as much as possible.”

“That's not a bad one anyway. It will be better for her to use it to build a good support for herself if this becomes a court issue.” His voice lowers. 

“Is anything the matter?” I asked.

“Nothing. I'm just thinking of what the reason could be behind this release coming out immediately after the successful collaboration between your company and Mr Martinez. I wonder how much she feels at the moment. In all these, you're doing good, right?”

“Of course I am.” I lied, and I knew Luca knew I wasn't fine because I had told him about how I'm beginning to not understand what I feel towards Aria.