Ariel walked with firm and measured steps, his gaze straight ahead and his back wide. He radiated an aura of confidence as he looked at each person in the meeting room. As he took his seat, those who had been standing sat down.
It was the event of the power transition in Lostic. The day when Ariel was officially introduced as the new leader, ousting Mahardika, who had been in charge for three years, in a very short span of time.
This, of course, caused a stir here and there, raising doubts about the reasons for the seemingly forced change. Even when there was a specific reason, citing the company's inability to capitalize on the turmoil at a rival company, it seemed insufficient. In the end, sales were down, but the change felt very sudden. Without warning, Kurt called a shareholders' meeting, and there was Ariel.
Enjoying the sensation of the CEO chair for a few seconds, Ariel scanned the room, taking in every face. At each board member and other important figu
Elice did not answer right away. Instead, she quenched her thirst."My mom informed me that they're moving today," Elice replied and closed the bottle. She turned around with a surprised look on her face. "It happened so fast. I really didn't think it would be that fast.""Garrett chuckled once. "It wasn't me. It was Nana. And it's reasonable that it's all done in a few days. Nana doesn't like her wishes to go unfulfilled. Mr. Carolus knows that for sure."Listening to this, Elice could only nod once. Unwillingly, her mind wandered to the fact that Daphne had been visiting her often lately. It was clear evidence of Daphne's displeasure when her wishes were not granted."Oh yes. Since your family is moving today, it might be a good idea for you to tell them that you no longer live in your old apartment."Elice blinked when Garrett looked at her again."I guess you haven't told them yet, have you?"The guess was correct. Of course.
If she could refuse, Elice would certainly refuse the task Hollis had assigned her. Even though in the eyes of the public she and Ariel would be bound by a family relationship due to her impending marriage to Garrett, deep in her heart Elice did not feel that way. To her, Ariel was now nothing more than a stranger.But Elice could not refuse. For there was no reason she could give. And without a reason, the refusal would certainly not be accepted."Are you sure?" Garrett's voice on the evening phone call sounded worried, mirroring what Elice was feeling right now."I'm sure," Elice replied.She took a deep breath and tried to strengthen herself. And with Garrett's voice in her ear, it became easier."What time are you going to interview Ariel? At Lostic's office?"Garrett's question made Elice suspect the reason behind his furrowed brow. A little hesitant, but the possibility sounded reasonable."You're not planning on coming, are you
Freddy helped Elice tidy up her things. At that moment the clock showed half past nine in the evening."Are you coming home with me?"Elice's car was still at the garage, and she had come with Freddy earlier, but of course not for the return trip. Someone was waiting for her somewhere else.Elice shook her head. "Thanks, but no. I can take a cab from here.""Okay. If that's the case," Freddy said as he slung his backpack over his shoulder. "Going up front? Or are you still waiting for your cab?""I'm still waiting.""Good, then I'll go ahead. I don't want to get stuck in traffic."That was exactly what Elice was hoping for. Fortunately, Freddy was not the chatty type. Eventually he left, leaving Elice alone.Without wasting any more time, Elice grabbed her work bag and walked casually, intending to meet Garrett. But the face she met at the door made her eyes widen, along with a question."You haven't gone home yet?"
"I hear that you met Elice and Garrett a few nights ago? Is it true?"On a bright Sunday morning, Ariel had just finished his weekly practice when his parents arrived at his apartment. At first, he thought that Farrah and Kurt would be returning to Crestdale soon after their conversation, but it turned out that wasn't the case. Kurt wanted to observe Ariel's performance at Lostic for a while, so they decided to stay longer.Ariel took a deep breath. With the help of a small towel hanging around his neck, he wiped off the sweat. The moisture on his face disappeared instantly."Yes."Joining his parents, Ariel sat down and opened a bottle cap. He enjoyed its contents in a few gulps.Farrah glanced at Kurt briefly before returning her gaze to her son."What were you talking about?"Farrah was obviously curious. When she first heard the news, she had waited. She thought Ariel would tell her the details of the meeting. But as it turned out
"Don't be fooled like me."That one sentence echoed in Garrett's mind. Even after days had passed since that night, Daphne's voice saying it still rang clear in his ears. As if Daphne had repeated it many times.Of course, it made Garrett curious. But when he wanted to inquire further that night, Daphne gently refused. She decided to sleep instead. As a result, Garrett was plagued by curiosity for days.And today, as his wedding approached, Garrett decided not to dwell on it. He wanted to clear his head. To prepare himself for the important day that was soon to come.A ringing phone interrupted Garrett's brief reverie. He answered the call immediately. It was from Sherly."Hello, sir. Mr. Nelson would like to see you."Garrett's eyes widened. It was unexpected news. So, before Sherly could ask for his availability, he said, "Ask him to come in. And make us some coffee. Especially for him, latte.""Alright, sir."Garrett put the
Garrett could hardly believe what he heard. He even thought for a moment that there were two possibilities at that moment. The first was that he had misheard. The second was that Nelson had misspoken.However, judging from Nelson's facial expression, it could be concluded that he didn't mispeak. His face looked serious, with traces of sadness accompanying it. And did that mean Garrett hadn't misheard?Garrett needed reassurance."W-what did you say?" Garrett asked. "About Aunt Farrah?"Nelson took a deep breath. His face, showing signs of aging, looked tired. It was as if he had been forced to return to a past that brought back painful memories."That's what Madam Daphne thinks. Because it's clear that Farrah has her own interests."Garrett's body froze. A cold sensation seemed to embrace him, almost making him tremble."Because of the inheritance."It wasn't hard for Garrett to guess the origin. Even though years had passed si
The wedding day was approaching. Since Daphne had no objection, the sacred event would take place on a cruise ship. And of course, it attracted the attention of the guests and the media crew.Garrett paid no attention. Even now, wedding matters seemed unimportant to him. No, it wasn't any sudden doubts that made Garrett feel this way; rather, his mind was now occupied with other things. He thought about his late father and all the conversations with Nelson the other day. And if that wasn't enough, the news about his father's accident and Daphne's strange behavior last night added to his mental fatigue.Garrett's anticipation of Farrah certainly added to it. After all, Daphne had warned him. With all this weighing on his mind, it was only logical that the wedding would become something that didn't really occupy his thoughts."Garrett?"Norah's voice snapped Garrett out of his reverie that morning. He realized that he hadn't even touched his breakfast. A li
Star Cruise was the name. It was a luxurious and stylish cruise ship from mainland China. According to circulating news, the ship, which had a capacity of about 3,400 passengers in 1,675 cabins, was said to have been built at the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The luxurious ship was approximately 336 meters long and 40 meters wide, and was expected to reach speeds of over 23 knots.Equipped with the claim of being environmentally friendly, Star Cruise also boasted several other interesting features. These included diesel-electric pod propulsion, hydrodynamic improvements, and various other energy-saving measures.Not only was the environment a focus, but also passenger comfort. Many special features were presented to create an unforgettable comfortable atmosphere for those who stepped on board. With an interactive communication system and extensive stage equipment, there was plenty of entertainment to accompany the voyage.There were at least thirty-five