"Do I need to thank you for your sympathy?" Irish sneered.
Tuell shook his head helplessly and said, "No. But you have to know there is no right or wrong in this industry. No one can be sure who is a good man and who is a bad guy, including me, Joseph, or our opponents such as Alston or Leo. We cooperated with each other just for the profit, so there were no covert means, only overt means in this field."
Speaking of this, Tuell suddenly said, "But Joseph is a man who would obey the rules in this field, which is rare in South Africa. He didn't intend to take the blue-green diamond at no expense, so he purchased the empty diamond mine for 200 million dollars. It was a gentleman's behavior."
Was it real?
Irish was so helpless, and she never thought the meaning of gentleman had changed to such a superficial extent in the business world.
"Can I leave with this rough diamond?" Irish said after a long while in a low voice because she felt that she was weak, and her head was still buzzing.
Tuell nodded and added, "By the way, please extend my appreciation to him."
"You'd do better to extend your appreciation in person." Then Irish left without looking back.
****
Roy rarely went to the Runestone Group, though he was the only son of the Lake family, and he was also the legal heir to the company. But since he became a captain, he never expected to do such. However, he had to go there because of Cassie.
He couldn't get through to her cell phone for several days, so he was determined to find her since he had two days' leave from work.
It was natural that he attracted many people's attention when he entered the Runestone Group, and half of the attention came from women. The affable secretary led the way for him with a big smile, but finally, his sister, Lilith, blocked his way at the door of the appraisal department.
"Cassie has asked for sick leave, don't you know that?" Lilith wore exaggerated black-rimmed glasses, and her voice was stuffy coming out from the dust mask.
Roy was shocked, and it took him a while to respond. He pinched Lilith's ears and said, "Why didn't you tell me about it earlier at home?"
Lilith replied calmly, "My dear cousin, you didn't ask me at home."
Roy loosened his hand and turned to leave.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Lilith shouted behind him.
"Don't poke your nose into my business, you should take care of yourself and hide your love affair with Jay," Roy replied directly.
Lilith shrank and gazed at him.
When Roy came to Cassie's house, her mother opened the door for him, and she was so pleased when she saw him. Roy was also pleased since her mother still remembered him, so he hastily presented the fruit basket to her mother. Before he could state his purpose, her mother suddenly held his hands as if he was a savior and then said to him, "We don't know what's wrong with Cassie since she's been staying in her room for days and even locked the door. She doesn't eat much these days. We persuaded her to see a doctor, but she just ignored us. We are so worried about her."
Roy suddenly felt proud since he was entrusted by Cassie's parents as if he had accepted a divine task. Therefore, he knocked on the door of her bedroom without hesitation but got no response.
Her father was anxious and knocked on the door heavily, "Cassie, your friend has come to visit you. Come out of your room."
After a long while, she replied in an extremely low voice, "I'm tired, and I don't want to see anyone right now."
Her parents stared speechlessly at each other, and then they looked at Roy with embarrassment. But Roy did not feel awkward at all; instead he reached out again and said with his usual threatening tone, "Dear, if you don't open the door, I will kick it open. You know I will do as I say."
Her parents were shocked by his words, and they also suspected his relationship with Cassie, but their daughter had explained that they were just common friends. Now it seemed it was not that simple between them.
What made them even more surprised was that Cassie opened the door as soon as he finished his words. Cassie stood at the door of her bedroom, looking at Roy with cold eyes, while Roy was stunned by her look. She was dressed in her night dress with her hair hanging down, and her face was pale and gaunt. Roy felt he couldn't even recognize her. Regardless of her puffy eyes, Roy reached out and held her face and then said softly, "Cassie, what's wrong with you? I'll take you to the hospital.
Cassie's mother could see the fondness in Roy's eyes since it was so sincere. But Cassie still looked severe, and after staring at Roy for a while, she said, "Let's take a walk."
Roy was surprised and nodded.
The leaves outside were rustling in the autumn wind.
On both sides of the street, there were eucalyptus trees with leaves that had turned yellow in autumn that were floating in the wind under the sunlight. The road was covered with golden leaves, and there was a slight crackling sound when they stepped on them. From a distance, everything seemed to be as beautiful as a painting.
Cassie put on her coat and gently crushed the dead leaves under her feet. She sped up while Roy followed behind her. From Roy's perspective, she looked so dim, as if she would disappear at any time. Somehow, his heart trembled, and then he stepped forward to her and held her hands.
She turned back at him while he lowered his head slightly so that they could look at each other directly.
"The wind is rising. Don't get cold." Roy's gentle voice rang. Roy perceived her coldness toward him since she always treated him with such an attitude, so he was used to it. He took off his coat and put it on her shoulder gently.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢