Bernard Collins's personal secretary Ricardo Baker managed to cancel the press conference with a lie of the President being unwell. If the stolen hard disk leaks with missing Anya, she would be a prime suspect as Kyle Reynolds kept insisting that he knows nothing.
Bernard was kind of sure Kyle was a spy but he needed proof. Meanwhile, he won't be able to control the Reynolds family who will stand by their son to get rid of Anya. So he immediately needs to see Anya and Alvin. Then send Anya to a safe location.
Since his unwell reason was published, the meeting with some foreign delegates and other meetings with officials were also canceled. After completing his urgent files, he inconspicuously left the president's mansion and reached the Oasis. However, his nephew gave him no importance.
He was reading a magazine when he heard Ean's voice, "President Collins, long time."
Bernard barely nodded at the man and glanced behind him. Alvin wasn't there and Anya didn't come either. Before Ean could ask about anything, Bernard questioned, "Where are Alvin and Anya?"
Ean who was taking a seat froze between. 'Again Anya!?' He slowly sat down without assuming the lady in the mansion was Puffyball. After all, the Puffyball was round in shape and the lady in the mansion was a slender beauty.
Ean sounded casual and uninterested while masking his curiosity, "President Collins, do you know that lady."
Bernard took a brief pause in his action, then he relaxed as Ean would anyway get to know about Anya from Alvin as Ean would be the one to arrange for Anya's stay if it's away from the city. He hummed as he added, "Anya Owen, an assistant Secretary-General."
Ean: "..."
He didn't want to accept the lady in the house as Puffyball from the past. He didn't know Alvin wasn't aware of the lady's identity as Alvin just questioned if he remembers Anya Owen.
Ean wondered, 'What are the possibilities of girls having the same name and family name?'
"President Collins, if you don't mind me asking, did Anya Owen study at Narnia University of technology?" He was careful while asking the question.
He wasn't sure if he wanted this slender lady named Anya Owen to be Puffyball or a different person. Puffyball had too much influence on Alvin so she could change Alvin for better or worse.
He had heard from Alvin say Puffyball was innocent and she wasn't like other girls, swooning over him or trying to get intimate with him for his name or looks. However, Ean doubted her. 'What if she has a motive?' It was just a friend being protective of his friend.
Bernard lowered his head to continue reading the magazine which was about Alvin's latest collection of artifacts. He responded like a proud father of a daughter, "Yeah… She was a topper." He had heard about it from Zane when seeing a picture of pregnant Anya receiving the certificate.
Ean suddenly rose from his seat. Bernard's words confirmed Puffyball is the lady in the mansion. He didn't know what he was finding hard to accept. Her extreme weight loss or her appearance in Alvin's life.
'She was double of her current size. L to S… Probably XS. How did she do that?' It was his first thought as he had failed to recognize her. The image of Puffyball aka Anya Owen he had in his mind was different.
She was a chubby girl who most of the time tied her hair in a small clean bun and her bangs covered her forehead. She was wearing simple outfits, a backpack, and shoes on her feet. She was as simple as she could be by both appearance or the way she was.
Ean always called Alvin lucky as she was willingly helping him complete his assignments and submit them on time. If Alvin passed his graduation with good grades, half the credits belonged to her.
Bernard couldn't help but look at Ean sensing the drastic reaction. He was least interested to worry about anything, however, he asked since it was about Anya, "What's wrong?"
Ean blurted out, "President Collins, she is the girl because of whom Chairman Matthews pulled his investments out and influenced my father to do the same and our startup closed."
Bernard furrowed at Ean's words. He recalled Alvin's father arguing with Alvin believing others' words. Then Alvin's father threw him out, blocked all his cards, and closed down the startup. Alvin's father expected Alvin to bow down however Alvin was too prideful as neither Alvin nor Anya were wrong there.
As far as Bernard knows, it was a dirty plan to destroy Alvin before he builds a successful company and wields influence in the Matthews company. Now, Alvin's empire and the network were so huge that the Matthews family couldn't shake him off.
Nevertheless, Bernard was afraid Alvin might strike his anger on Anya.
He stood up and made his way towards the stairs, "Where is Alvin?"
Ean didn't know why Bernard was panicking. He went behind Bernard saying, "President Collins, Alvin will be here soon. Why don't we wait for a few more minutes?"
Bernard ignored Ean's words. He was about to take a step when they felt a strong and cold presence. Both lifted their heads and saw Alvin unhurriedly descending the stairs.
Bernard didn't know how to handle Alvin. Convincing Alvin wasn't easy unless he decides it himself. He returned to the living room as he thought about how to deal with the situation without hurting both parties.
Ean uneasily returned to the living room too while imagining how infuriated Alvin's father will be after knowing Anya has occupied Alvin's bedroom.
Alvin sensed the tension in the air. He didn't know the reason and he didn't care either. If they needed something, they would ask him so he sat down on an armchair as he greeted, "Uncle Bernard."
Bernard nodded, he was about to ask, 'Where is Anya?' Alvin continued, "What is the name of assistant secretary-general?"
Bernard and Ean: "..."
Both glanced at each other, doing their best to control their reaction. Bernard discerned Alvin failed to recognize Anya after she reduced weight. Unfortunately, both decided to avoid taking Anya's name in front of Alvin. Bernard chose not to disclose because he was guilty and worried about Alvin's anger at Anya. Ean chose to stay quiet because Anya's presence could complicate Alvin's relationship with his family.
Bernard smoothly ignored Alvin's question despite knowing Alvin might notice it, "Alvin, where is she? I have arranged for her stay. I will take her with me."
Alvin's fingers slowly curled into a fist. He didn't notice Bernard brushed off the topic as he focused on the Young Mommy might be taken away. "No."He turned down impassively, without gazing at either of the men, "She will stay here."
Bernard held his cool, "Alvin, I am thankful for your help. I don't want to trouble you more. I will take care from here."
The moment Bernard started pressing Alvin, the latter started to turn cold, "I don't think I need to repeat, Uncle Bernard." He glanced at Bernard, "There is no place safer than mine."
Alvin wasn't like this before. Bernard was aware his changes were all because of his family trying to step over him and suppress him. Yet, he didn't want to accept defeat so soon, "She isn't your responsibility, Alvin."
"She wasn't till yesterday." The sharp voice came after a few seconds.
Bernard furrowed hearing Alvin accept as Anya was his responsibility. He couldn't understand why and he wasn't in a position to ask either.
Ean questioned this time, "What do you mean, Alvin?"
Alvin suddenly freed his fist while crossing his legs. His arm rested on the armrest and shifted his intimidating gaze on Ean. The latter was a friend so it didn't have much of an effect. "She isn't your responsibility." He added a few more words for Bernard while looking at Ean's uneasy behavior. Alvin sensed the oddness and how both men were worked up at the Young Mommy's topic.
Bernard breathed deep in silence and tried to soften Alvin, "She has a son to take care of, Alvin. Don't harden her life." As soon as he said the last words, he felt like slapping himself in the face.
Ean was happy to hear it. He had almost thought Alvin got interested in Anya, so he assumed she was married and Alvin wouldn't be a homewrecker. He interjected immediately, "Oh… Then her husband will take care of her."
Alvin saw Bernard flinching at the word husband. Their plan started because she was alone and easy to handle. "She is a single mother." Alvin crushed the happiness of Ean and added, "I will bring her son too." He said it so casually as if it was a normal thing to do.
Bernard and Ean: "..."
Both looked at each other. They couldn't understand what was going on in Alvin's head. Alvin doesn't know Anya, yet he wants to take responsibility for her safety.
'Responsibility?' Ean felt something amiss, "Alvin…" He calmly called, "She isn't an artifact to store on your shelf until you get bored of it."
Ean didn't believe Alvin to fall for any woman. His cold personality would scare everyone away. Alvin doubts every unknown person. Anya being a stranger and single mother, Alvin should be thinking Anya loves money, shouldn't he?
Bernard felt his head throb. His guilty conscience was blaming him for putting Anya in another mess. Suddenly he felt Harper should have kidnapped her as bargaining with Harper was easier.
"Hadn't you left her back? Why did you kidnap her?" Bernard questioned with a hint of irritation.
"Kidnap!?" The revelation blew Ean's mind.
New novel chapters are published on fr(e)ewebnov(e)l.com