Lina left the Yang mansion with a heavy heart. She quietly sat in the car and stared out the window. A melancholic silence fell over her shoulders. Both Lawrence and Linden claimed it was for her own good.
The intention was there, but the brain was not. They did what they thought was the best method at that time. They never expected the trauma she'd experience.
"To DeHaven Conglomerate," Lina said to the taxi driver.
"A change of course? It will cost you extra."
"I do not mind." Lina leaned her head against the cold glass and closed her eyes. She felt her purse weight like a gun on her lap. She wondered what it'd be like if she never remembered the traumatic events inflicted by Lawerence, her grandfather and Linden, her father.
Would Lina still be close to them? Would Lina still be locked at home, with no sense of freedom? Lina felt like she exchanged her relationships with them for the life she had now.
Lina wondered if she'd still be an art consultant, or the artist being commissioned. She always loved painting, whether or not the Second King of Ritan had influenced it. She loved the theptuitcs of moving her pen on paper and bringing her thoughts to life. How serene it would be.
"A cozy cottage in the woods…" Lina murmured to herself as she began to feel sleepy. Kaden had once promised her that. She'd be at home painting the whole day away whilst tending to their children, candles light, fireplace blazing, and everyone would be happy.
What a sweet dream that'd be.
- - - - -
"Meeting adjourned." Kaden sharply rose from his chair with the same aloof expression that he walked in with.
"Thank you for your time, Chairman DeHaven!" All of the presenters quickly dipped in a bow at his departure. Out of respect, they remained that way, until his echoing footsteps could no longer be heard in the corridor.
"Up next, Boss, you have an hour minute break for lunch. Then, have a meeting with the chairwoman of Claymore Conglomerate about the pill she had manufactured years ago when the first Queen of Wraith was a human girl pregnant with a pure-blood's child," Sebastian read off the schedule.
Sebastian scrolled. "Then, you have another with…" he paused. "Priscilla from our subsidiary will be bringing in a report for you to discuss with. I can handle that from there, if you wish, Boss."
Sebastian's grip tightened on the tablet as he turned to the Chairman.
"You've always handled her." Kaden pinched the spot between his brows. Only an hour for lunch after meetings from dawn to now. They were late in the afternoon and were itching near dinner.
"I'll inform her assistant to meet in the usual place then. She has stopped demanding to see you now, Boss," Sebastian dryly commented whilst typing out the message. He sent it in record time, for things like this could've been an email.
"After that, there is a gala dinner you've been invited too—"
"It'll be past six at night."
Sebastian blinked at the cold and pressing voice. He was used to the chairman's apathetic nature. It could be summer outside, but around the boss, it was the coldest winter of the year.
"Would the madam be waiting for you, boss?" Sebastian finally realized. "We have received reports that she went to the Yang Mansion."
Kaden sharply stopped. He turned around with a furious glower. "You're telling me this, now?"
Kaden resisted the urge to smack Sebastian with that damn tablet of his. He turned on his leather shoes and stormed off in the opposite direction of the meeting rooms. He had a wife to worry about.
"Ah, wait—"
"Kaden?"
Kaden paused. He swiveled and wondered if his ears betrayed him. The softness of her voice, the slight hesitation, he could recognize it even in a crowd. There she was, his daring wife.
"Dove, what are you doing here?" Kaden quickly rushed forward.
Kaden was stunned by her abrupt presence. He hadn't expected her to leave the Yang mansion unscathed. Usually, he'd have to show up and rescue her from them. He rested his hands on her waist and bent to kiss the top of her head.
"If you told me we were coming, I would've picked you up. This place is far from your parent's house, dove," Kaden murmured. He squeezed her hips in emphasis, for the car ride was at least twenty minutes.
"Do I even want to know how you found out my location?" Lina dryly remarked whilst reaching up to fix his tie. It was barely crooked, but she subconsciously wanted to touch the intimate area.
"Are you going to tug it like a leash, dove?" Kaden teased, watching her tighten the tie.
Lina's lips twitched, her face red. "You're too shameless."
"You're too worried about what others think," Kaden retorted. He grabbed her hands and began to pull her in the opposite direction of the presentation rooms.
"Boss—"
"Come, let me take you out on a nice lunch. I have an hour, but I can always cancel the meeting after this," Kaden stated.
Lina was startled by his words. "I don't want to intrude, I only wanted to see you for a brief moment."
"Nonsense, you're going to keep me all to yourself and not complain about it, dove," Kaden decided for her. He glanced over his shoulders at Sebastian.
"Get a private room in the penthouse restaurant at DeHaven Mall," Kaden instructed.
"But reservations are booked two years in advance, Boss—" Sebastian cut himself off.
Kaden shot him a warning glower.
"Right away, Boss. I'll make the impossible happen," Sebastian regretfully said. Had it not been for his fat checks, he'd already be bone-thin from the stress of working for their Chairman.
Sebastian turned to make a few quick phone calls. Even if the restaurant was busy and booked, Kaden DeHaven will always have a seat—in the best table too.
When the man's surname was on the mall billboard, who'd dare to tell him there were no available reservations?
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