Meanwhile, as soon as Alex noticed the first ray of the sun broke into the horizon and managed to pass through the vertical slits of the warehouse, he stretched his back.
"At last, dawn has come. We could finally go home and get proper rest."
He said while yawning.
"Time sure flies in a blink of an eye.
Shantal commented then when the other party did not say a thing, she insinuated,
"By the way, I talked too much about me. I think it is about time that you tell me about yourself in return."
However, Alex pretended like he did not hear a thing and instead he just went on looking around the warehouse. Shantal, on the other hand, also pretended that she did not notice that the other party was trying to avoid talking to her.
"May I ask you something?"
Shantal asked Alex without thinking much about the question that she wo
"Are you trying to live off of your brother?"Alex was shocked when he heard Shantal's comment. But the truth was, Shantal was just as shocked as he was when she heard her own voice.She did not mean to be rude and it was just something that came to her. In fact, she did not intend to say it out loud and it was a thought that was supposed to stay only inside her head. However, as if gaining its own conscience, her mouth suddenly uttered the thing that her mind was thinking.At that moment, Shantal could only wish for the ground to open up and swallow her whole; or at least for a mysterious hole to appear out of the blue so she could jump straight to it and vanish on the sight once and for all. She felt like she brought nothing but embarrassment upon herself"Sorry."She mumbled. But at this point, she no longer had to courage to look at Alex and say it to his face."I am not careful with my words sometimes."She admitted with her head
It turned out that Alex's father used to run a repair shop back when he was still alive and growing up, Alex watched his father do his job. As a child, Alex admired his father more than anything else and in his eyes, the other party was like a hero.Young Alex would see to it to visit his dad in the garage every after school and there he would play with him whenever he has free time. Sometimes he would watch his father fix cars and would try to imitate him with his own toy cars"When broke and damaged cars came in, he could fix them and made them shiny. He can also make them run again."Alex has never talked about his father with anyone else before. Shantal was the only one who was able to make him open up. Even to himself, Alex did not know why he felt like talking about his father with the other party, but the next thing he knew they were already engaging in a conversation."I could see that you really admire him."
"Everything changed when I met this person. I met her when I was at the lowest point of my life and I don't think I would be able to make it in life if not for her. She made me realize that my existence is needed. She reassured me that I was useful enough and made me feel like I should continue living. She is the reason why I am not giving up."Alex made it sound like he was talking about another girl that was special to his life and purposely made Shantal think that it was someone else when the truth was he was referring to no other than her."I don't know who it was, but if she heard you saying that she will be proud."Shantal commented but little did she know that she was that same person that Alex was talking about."Do you think so?"Alex asked back with a smile."The fact that you were important to someone is encouraging."She said as she flashed
Before the sun could fully broke out from the horizon, Jodi and the others was finally able to reach their destination and as soon as they arrived, they no longer wasted another second and hopped out of the car right away.They headed straight the address that Alex send them and when they got there, they realized that the other party was actually staying in a home stay."Things are not looking good so far."Harold thought to himself as they made their way to the entrance. However, the moment they stepped inside, an old woman greeted them but at the same time, declined accepting any more guest."I am really sorry. But we are already fully booked for lunch. That is why I can't take any more guests."Auntie Hersia said without even asking the group for the reason why they appeared to be in a hurry and was in the middle of a mission.The trio was obviously stoppe
ALEX's P.O.V~~~~"I am really sorry. But we are already fully booked for lunch. That is why I can't take any more guests."From the kitchen, I heard Auntie Hersia talking to someone at the entrance."Errr.. the thing is, we are not here to eat."The other party answered,"By any chance, do you happen to have a guest that booked a room under the name of Shantal Nordstorme? I am her cousin and we have been looking for her since yesterday."Another added.Meanwhile, when I heard their familiar voices, I immediately went outside."Finally you guys are here!"I blurted out the moment I confirmed that it was them. I saw them whipped their head to my direction and when Harold saw me, he asked,"Where is she?""Upstairs. I think she was taking a bath right
"Finally helped has arrived!"They heard Alex's voice from behind them and Harold and the others all turned their to direction where the sound came from and there they saw the other party wearing an apron and making his way towards them."Where is she?"Harold asked Alex the moment the other party got close enough to where they were."Upstairs. I think she was taking a bath right now."Alex said but only when he got close enough did he realize that Jodi was with them. He did not expect to see Shantal's cousin to be hanging around with Harold's team so he was shocked beyond his wits. His mouth was left agape due to his surprise. It widen enough, so wide that he ended up looking like a fish that had fallen off the shore.At this point, Alex looked no different from a zombie that had fallen into a daze. He was so shocked that he appeared to be more shocked to see Jodi than if he has seen a ghost instead."Why is she d
*RING! RING!!!!*Out of the blue, Jodi's phone started ringing. Everyone around her, including her jumped on her feet when the ringtone played."It's Shantal."Jodi mouthed the moment she saw the name that was registering on the caller ID."Hello?"Jodi spoke sheepishly when she picked up the call. It was also put on the speaker mode so that everyone could hear what they were talking about."Since I am on the Black City right now, I am planning to buy some souvenirs. Do you happen to have anything particular in mind? I would buy it for you."The other party offered.Jodi, on the other hand, as well as Harold and the others found themselves heaving a sigh of relieve when they realized what the call was all about. For a moment, they thought that they got busted."I'm good."
SHANTAL's P.O.V ~~~ Alex and I headed back to the inn as soon as we were able to finally got out of that darn warehouse that apparently trapped the two of us for the entire freaking cold night; not that it did not play to my advantage. To be honest, it felt like a blessing in disguise for me. Also, the moment I was back in my room, I decided to step inside the shower right away because I could already feel all sort of grime being stuck all over me, like forever! At the same time, I was kind of scared that if I let it sit on my skin any longer and delayed washing it away as soon as I could, I might end up getting a rash all over my body. When I emerged out of my washroom again, I felt like a was a new person, not to mention a clean one. It was at this point, that I was able to observe the picturesque scenery outside that my room has to offer. My window gave me direct access to the
"Gosh it's good."Harold said when he got to taste how refreshing the drink was. When he looked at the other two guys, he saw them gesturing to their head but he did not give them much attention."Yes.Sam repeated the same thing with a voice and face devoid of emotion."Something needs fixing."Harold told Sam afterward and so Sam fought back to urge to do and eye roll before replying flatly to him."Okay."This time, Harold noticed that Rico and Michael still keep on doing the same thing so he asked them instead,"What? Is your scalp itchy.""No."The two answered in unison. Jodi on the other hand who was watching all of this farce unfold right before her eyes, could not help but let out a sigh."You sure are made for each other."She said to no one in particular and it was also as seemed she was only talking to herself."Anyway. Michael, I need you to go to Casterly."
"I am right here. Respect my existence."Michael insinuated afterward before he sarcastically added,"Do you guys want be to get you a room instead?""I should not have fallen asleep that night."He muttered to himself as he recalled the night Jodi asked Rico out for a date. He believed that if only he was not asleep that time, then maybe Jodi would also consider dating him.On the other hand, Rico seemed to be out of it and oblivious of him."Lover."The other party mumbled to himself as he observed the tarot card in his hand.'"I did not know this will happen. I feel so lonely."Michael muttered to himself out of despondency and while he was in the middle of self pity. Someone walked into the room.They though the one arrived was some random girl who was in full glam and obviously had just gone to salon for her touch up when it decided to have some coffee."Wow! I told her she would be pretty."
"That robot was sometimes human and sometimes a robot for me and that was why others who can't understand my situation mistakes me as someone who hallucinates and believe a robot as a human just because I am treating it just like one. But for my opinion, my situation was no different from those who loves their pets so much, they even considered them as their child and called themselves as furparents.""My emotions were input into that robot and that person. That is how this miracle happened. That fact completely changed the way I view things. This will be yet another scoop for the reporters present. Nordstorme Corp will go from financing mergers and acquisitions to investing in futuristic industries that involved human sensibilities. Just like what Alpha Tec Inc pioneered years ago.""This is your first change in business strategy in 15 years. Do you have anything mapped out?"One of the reporters raised a question just like what a normal press conference should
On the flip side, just like what Shantal assumed, Mr. Takashi with Mathilde's instruction called for an emergency meeting on that afternood. Which happened to coincide to the time when Shantal will hold her press conference.Moreover, since Mathilde would not be able to make it there since she was still held in prison, her secretary presided the meeting."We shall begin the emergency board meeting."Secretary Ye declared loudly and her voice reverberated in the room. Jiro was also there along with other board members."The agenda is the dismissal of Director Shantal Nordstorme and the cause is as you were all informed. An illness."She continued while everyone was silent and anxiously prayed so they could ever this meeting once and for all. On the contrary, Mr. Takashi was nodding his head on the side and though he was anticipating for this day come.Mr. Takashi nodded his head toward Secretary Ye to signal her to start it once and for
In there, Jodi found a list of shares under her name as well as a soft copy of memorandum of renunciation address to Shantal with her name on it and it was then that Jodi realized that her mom had already long planned about it ahead of the time.As it turned out, Mathilde was thinking of using her influence to oust her cousin out of the position.In addition, inside the flash drive she also found an old email account with records of bunch of emails and it took Jodi more than four hours to go through all of them.But by the time she finished reading the exchange of chats Mathilde had with her hitman, Jodi's eyes was bloodshot.It was unsure if this was cause by her prolong exposure to the screen or if it was exhaustion that was doing this thing on her body, but when she get up from her chair, Jodi balled her hands into a fist.She slammed the door shut behind her back as she left the office and on the screen, the last conversation
It was late in the evening when Jodi received a call out from nowhere. When she checked that registered on the caller ID, she was surprised to see Jiro's name.Truth be told, he was the least person he would expect to contact her. After all, the two of them never talked to each other for ages.Jiro used to be a good friend of hers as well. Just like how she and Shantal were cousins, Jiro and and Zorens were first cousins too so naturally all four of them get to know each other and as a child, they eventually became acquaintances in no time.Besides, since Zoren's parents were a family friend of the Nordstorme they often had an opportunity to hang around during their childhood.However, ever since the day Zoren committed suicide due to the incident regarding the Nordstorme controversy, Jiro also stopped communicating with them.So this made Jodi wonder what had come to Jiro to decide and phone her at this time of the night.But
"In other words, she wants me to become director and cover up all his shortcomings?"Mr. Takashi insinuated after his contemplation. He did not exactly declined the offer this time, unlike before. Although he also did not directly implied that he would do it.Nonetheless, Secretary Ye considered his response as a good sign. At least, the other party was no longer adamant at turning them down.So with the same insinuating manner, she answered him back."That would make it easier for you to do your duties once you become a director. All that was left for you now is to leave Ms. Shantal Nordstrome no other choice but to step down and abdicate the position of board directory to your hands.""Ousting her is not enough. He will just come back. We must make sure he loses the will to come back."Out of nowhere, Mr. Takashi declared with conviction and for a second, the secretary was taken aback by this.One moment, he almost drove her a
"You told Jodi about everything?"Mathilde asked her secretary as soon as the two of them were finally allowed to have some private conversation within the prison hall where she was currently detained. Panic was noticeably present on the other party's face when she raised her question. Meanwhile, the secretary remained silence yet that was all enough for Mathilde to guess her response and not long after that, her shoulders dropped on the side when the realization hit her."I guess she was bound to find out about it sooner or later."She muttered under her breath with despondent undertone.An exasperated sigh escaped Mathilde's lips afterward. But then, she suddenly tenses up when she recalled about something else.Leaning towards the other party all the while grabbing a hold to the iron bars, Mathilde looked around her warily first to make sure that no ears were on them.Only when she confirmed for the umpteenth time that no one was listenin
Adelaine Smith's P o V~~~~While Jodi and I were driving down the road looking for any sign of the robot, I received a call and when I checked who it was, I found out that it was Amanda so I accepted the call right away."Ms. Smith, the robot just got on the bus number 707."I heard her voice telling me the moment it picked her call"Great! Thank you for the information."I replied and not long after that, she hung up on her because I reckoned that it would be best if I could relay this news to the other search parties. In this way they would also know where to start looking. Of course, the first one that I tried to call was my lady boss. However, to my dismay, I was only redirected to the voice call feature of the phone.'The number you have dialed is busy at the moment. Please try your call later or leave a message aft