Chapter 305
Orlando sat on the sofa, scanning the proposal as he said, “I told her, but Aris didn’t seem to care much.”
Russell said coolly, “She has no feelings- why would she tare?”
It was within his expectations, so Russell wasn’t the least bit surprised.
“What now?” Orlando spread his hands helplessly. “Without Ruby Olsen, this project is stuck–we’ll have to work at least another year to catch up
For the Cole Group right now, a year was no small matter–it would only further widen the gap between them and the industry’s leading companies.
With Ruby on board, recruiting other tech talent would be much easier.
Just as Russell was about to speak, his phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Olivia.
His and Orlando’s eyes met.
Orlando picked up the phone and answered, “Ms. Remar.”
“Oh, Orlando!” came Olivia’s soft voice through the phone. “Where’s Russell?”
Orlando thought for a moment and replied, “He’s at a business dinner and forgot his phone. I was just about to take it to him.”
“Ah, got it,” Olivia said with a knowing smile. “I’ve got a question for you.”
“Go ahead,” Orlando replied.
Olivia asked, “I heard Russell is looking into a girl named Aria Saxon?”
Orlando instinctively glanced at Russell. After a moment of silence, he spoke deliberately, “I’m the one investigating. Given my current identity as the Cole family’s illegitimate son, Aria Saxon is connected to our mission.”
Olivia had investigated Russell, so naturally, she’d looked into Orlando too. Hearing his explanation, she half–believed him and teased, “For a moment there, I thought Russell had found himself a new crush.”
‘Nothing between them in the first place–a new crush? That’s just absurd,‘ Orlando to with a wry smile.
“Ms. Remar, you must be joking,” Orlando replied flatly. “Russell has always been a man of principle–he’d never mess around.”
“Got it.” Olivia chuckled and said, “My flight lands in an hour. Make sure to tell Russell to come pick me up, okay?”
Orlando’s expression shifted abruptly. “You…”
Olivia said, “I’m already in Mandino City, Huthailia–with Rachel in tow. Don’t keep us waiting too long, okay?”
The call ended abruptly.
Russell’s face darkened like storm clouds. In an icy yoice, he commanded, “Find them and deal with them on the spot.”
Orlando asked, “So, who’s going to pick them up?”
“You,” Russell said curtly.
Orlando asked, “What about you?”
Russell stood up. “I’m at a business dinner, remember?”
1/2
Chapter 305
Orlando was speechless.
Owen gradually regained consciousness, his head throbbing and limbs weak. He dragged himself to the living room and took his temperature on
‘Well, that fever dropped faster than I’d like,‘ Owen thought wryly.
His gaze fell on the coffee table, where Aria had neatly arranged the medicine and thermos before leaving.
Owen popped the pill into his mouth and lifted the thermos, about to take a sip, when a sudden thought struck himn.
At this rate, who knows when Aria will ever see me as more than just a friend? Maybe she really will treat the like a buddy for the rest of our lives, Owen thought with a bitter smile.
He had always been in robust health, rarely getting sick. Yet this time, his illness arrived at just the perfect timing.
A bold yet calculated idea took root in Owen’s mind. ‘I can’t get better too fast.‘
Owen spat out the pill, took a few sips of water, then headed to the bathroom. With deliberate movements, he tossed the medication into the toilet and flushed it away.
‘Perhaps skipping the meds won’t work–what if I get better on my own?‘ Owen thought slyly.
After a moment’s thought, he stepped into a cold shower to make his sickly appearance more convincing.
An hour later, Aria arrived at Owen’s apartment and, with practiced ease, keyed in the passcode to let herself in.
The apartment was silent as Aria walked to the bedroom door. She raised her hand and knocked lightly, then called softly, “Owen?”
For a good while, there was no response.
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