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"The soup tastes good, I hope...Aid--I mean, Mr. Aiden Mathews, I hope you are enjoying the evening here", came the wide-eyed comment and flirting of Mrs. Halsey, whose extra arrangements of seats and foods were just for imploring her man.

He just nodded, taking it as a proper business talk, not because there were many other officials there but because she deserved no attention for these obstinate tries.

There was always space for everyone, but a nod was enough for all whom he rejected. However, the dumb lady thought the nod gave her even more opportunities; a misunderstanding on her behalf.

"About the business partnership, Mrs. Halsey, we are putting in 10 percent deal'

He raised his eyebrows. Harry noticed the tension, and twisting his head down and upright, he hissed a bit and spoke politely to show he was interrupting.

"Mr. Mark, 10 percent was our deal. If could proceed with anything lower, I assume the losses would only be worth the deal"

The rich luxury fellow, known for his wide travels abroad Southeast Asia and farther South, bound with greed, cleared his throat and stressed,

"I have made myself clear, Mrs. Halsey"

Following the statement, arrived a thousand other gambles.

"Mrs. Halsey, Fashion modeling, and Sofware Companies are offering 8.69 percent. Now, I don't want another auction for that choice!', barked the very stylish yet useless inheritor of her mother-in-law's achievements, Mr Gosey.

More barks arrived. Nobody knew the dinner hall, extravagant and shiny, as it all shone could turn out to be noisier than the kitchen space. Gore and violence however prohibited. 

"Mr. Hans, son of Great Kevin Mart, you shouldn't stress on 15 percent when I'm dealing it with 14.69 percent! How rude of you, especially when your just twenty!"

"I'm 3 percent. I can't really take the losses, for now, Mister Whoever."

“Whoever?!”

A lady in a red frock, whose thighs were just too overexposed, stood up and whispered softly after jabbing at her mouth.

"I am not ready for this deal, Mrs. Halsey, please understand. Our company is flourishing. and doesn't need much of your share anyway"

Attitude, agony, and pride overthrew comments and opinions.

While bits and matters of everything joined and compensated at different tones didn't disturb the ever-gorgeous and amazing Aiden who was now consuming his third lobster of the day. Even though he would eat with a face inverted down, his eyes rolled over the kitchen door.

"Now, now. This isn't anything special", roared Mrs. Halsey.

She coughed a bit into her saffron cotton handkerchief, the small ones seen with babies. 

And showing the handkerchief to all gambling faces, she sighed, like all of it had taken her energy.

Harry was the only one who gasped. The remaining just settled down at the sight.

The thick red drop of viscous plasma on the fabric hidden between its creases.

"I don't assure anyone of any losses. For as you can all see, this share would be initiated and completed by my daughter in France who would be arriving in two days utmost. To specially make everyone aware, she has already plotted down plans with percent shares noted. Here, Mrs. Yuhan will all show you her plans, and anyone against it can objectify"

Again, she coughed, following some blood.

"N-now, please...if you would continue this dinner peacefully...Excuse Me"

Saying so, she barged into the kitchen leaving the crowd, silent and thoughtful.

The others resumed eating, after seeing an argument was no benefit of theirs, while a completed Aiden stood up to wash. Followed closely by Harry, who was now shocked to find the forty-year-old woman who jogged twice a day, sick. Chronically sick.

No offense, but it was gladdening yet sorrowful.

"You, wait outside. I will come in a minute"

He nodded, collecting their slip sealed in a branded envelope. Surely, Mrs. Halsey was a bit too 'fancy 'with the envelopes and share notes, and of course love letters.

Walking swiftly into the kitchen, Aiden was pushed aside by rushed servants, chefs, and grocery arrangers who were now sweating and tired from all the hard work.

Paying no attention to nobody, he fought his way through without any violent forces more specifically, pulling his stiff body through, while making sure all men turned to his back or sides. To avoid his distinguished face being ignored was important at this moment.

Nobody had the time to actually notice the luxurious man, which indeed was offensive but his aim on having visited this trash place made him think twice.

In he walked, through a dark tunnel, straight into another large section.

Vessels as large as reactors, stood above firewood, letting the spices rise and the smoke get to one's face. He coughed a bit, catching the attention of everyone behind the smoke. The noise surrounded into a funny abrupt stop.

"Oh! my dear, have you lost your way?"

Mrs. Halsey appeared from out of the blue, with extended arms.

The uncomfortable man almost pushed her away.

Almost, until when his thoughts ran to those words before said in a strange encounter.

 "Seriously?"

He laughed to himself and returned the hug a bit too nicely.

She enjoyed it, undoubtedly, because it lasted for more than a second; her best record so far.

Smiling widely, she began to hold his hand, when he just pulled himself forward to the smoke into the light.

Meeting eyes again of chefs and a busy household, he ran his eyes keenly over them all.

And at once of the corners, engrossed with her back turned to all those still silence, was this lean gorgeous figure, dripping in sweat and spices, bending and leaning onto a big vessel, one bigger than her entire body. Her breath or rather sigh made Aiden sigh too.

"Just a minute.'

Pushing away from the clingy Mrs. Halsey by a finger, he trudged forward to her, keeping those eyes fixed on the wet apron. Inevitably, she was hot and exhausted. 

Instead of having checked the floor was dirty, or the entire hall had been luxurious enough for his entry, he just kept walking until he stood a few inches to her side. However, the latter didn't even notice.

Her nose still smelling the spices and the fingers tasting the aroma of curry dripping from those slender fingers. 

He said nothing. Instead, stood grim and fierce, the senescence engulfing in, and the beauty of the moment enriching his soul. The strange fluttering of his heart now rang like softballs inside his pinna.

The silence caught the girl's attention now.

She turned around, noticing the shadow, and stared above to the big height of the man before her.

Her voice consumed itself.

'Umm...Sir, you?!"

The shock and discomfort were evident.

The entire kitchen staff was now confused, glancing at each other to see if any of them were able to realize this man enriched in the glimpse of 'rich'. In the smoky appearance, he was too engulfed in white haziness to even give away his identity.

Except for the devil.

Mrs. Halsey, absolutely vexed and irritated, walked to their side and grabbed Mr. Aiden's hand.

However, the former pulled away from the hold and stared deeply into those blue eyes.

"Come. To me Tomorrow."

Just those three words echoed in the vast dark kitchen.

She winced.

The woman in her forties cringed her forehead and asked, in controlled rage.

"Mr. Aiden, you seem to have mistaken Anna for someone else, I assume"

He smiled softly.

"Anna...I like it."