Fifteen minutes ago, in the car,
The distance between the hotel Alvin and Anya were at and the company was just ten minutes away. However, due to traffic, it was taking more time.
Alvin saw Anya spinning her mobile nonstop and her gaze out of the window. He was right there and his wife's attention was on something else. He caught her mobile and peeked out, "Which sexy guy caught your attention?"
Anya smiled helplessly and whispered, going closer to him, "The one who put this ring on my finger." She waved her fingers, showing him the ring.
These two weren't like this before, were they? Rob focused on driving, pretending to be deaf.
Before Alvin could smile smugly at her response, her mobile rang. He saw it was from a string of numbers and her eyes lit up. She took her mobile saying, "I need to answer this."
[Officer Owen, did I allow you to use our resources for your personal use?] It was a tone of warning from Jason.
Anya looked at her mobile and grimaced. A message popped up in a group of Team Ace, [Caught in action.] Anya couldn't believe Melvin sent that message in a group in which Jason was also present.
However, when she held the mobile back at her ear, she was back to her detached mode, [Chief,] That's officer Owen's unemotional tone, [Am I not allowed to use my personal problem for the benefit of my work?] She responded with a question.
She didn't deny his accusation, she didn't lie either. She twisted her words, proudly accepting she was using their resources for her benefit.
A message popped almost immediately causing Anya to take a glance, [That was a kicking response.]
On the other end, Jason was speechless hearing one of his team members and another one encouraging her in the group. And whatever Anya said was also a fact, she was killing two birds with a stone. [Outsmarting me?]
Anya softly shrugged her shoulder as she countered back, "I will take that as a compliment. Thank you, Chief. I'm following your footsteps."
Jason's formal tone changed to more casual and teased her, "Anya Owen, you have learned talking. Haven't you" He meant Alvin was influencing her.
Anya smiled, glancing at Alvin. She had changed the day she had to leave the city, she made herself into a stone when she had to face everything alone. After Alvin came, she was being herself more and more.
However, the response that came from her mouth left Jason back to speechless, "I am listening to your suggestion, Chief." He always asked her to socialize and speak instead of being so cold and unapproachable.
Jason gave up on having a conversation with her. She was still not a conversation maker, she was always the one who ended the conversation. May it be by being silent or talking. Probably that's her way to guard up.
Never mind, [It's Gianna Sallow.] He told the person whose name she was waiting to listen to. He wasn't giving her a deduction but found the evidence she needed.
Anya's eyes darkened despite guessing it could be Gianna. Gianna hadn't taken her words seriously. She told Gianna to stay away from her son and her husband. Now she will stand on her words and snatch everything away from Gianna.
"Thank you, Chief. There will be an announcement of my resignation. I will take my position at the university soon."
[You are on a vacation.] She doesn't have to start so quickly.
Anya knew she should have this vacation considering they were just married and her baby has a vacation. However, "I will take my vacation when I need, chief. It's the perfect time to lay the groundwork." Without arising any suspicion about her job.
Jason again gave up on teaching her how she will also have to focus on her life. He hung up the call to let her deal with her work on her own.
"Little Donut, your next mission is at the university!?" Alvin skipped everything she spoke and asked for confirmation, accurately knowing her resignation announcement was a fake.
Anya glanced at Rob. These two men are too smart and hard to fool. "Sweetheart, you shouldn't ask about my mission and I shouldn't tell you about it either. Let's keep it that way."
Alvin tapped on her nose and humored, "How about joining my company as a hot and coquettish spy?"
Coquettish? Her husband has big dreams.
Anya traced her finger down his jawline, "My dear husband…" Her honey-coated, sexy voice sounded, "You will have to do a massive scam to afford me." She went closer and whispered, "Maybe, looking sexier counted."
If he goes shirtless to his company, she will have to follow him to his company. Won't she?
Alvin watched his wife who was smiling mischievously. He never flirted with anyone, and never entertained anyone who flirted with him. He never had to work so hard to get a girl to relieve his body tension.
Flirting with his wife, damn, he should have made his Little Donut into his girlfriend instead of just helping her learn in the library. They missed out on so much.
Thinking of the library, they could go back to college and fulfill each other's lost chance. "You should join the university soon." He fondly pecked on her scarlet lips and heard her whine.
"Alvinnnn, my lipstick." After saying it, Anya froze, recalling Rob could hear them. She pouted, elbowing Alvin and pointing at Rob.
She was indicating Alvin to be silent and stop flirting with her but Alvin shrugged, "He is deaf."
Anya & Rob: "…"
'Right, I'm deaf, I'm deaf.' Rob chanted in his mind until he heard Anya speak again.
"Your rise is the fall of the Matthews. I won't spare Gianna Sallow." Anya was dead serious. Initially, she thought to make Gianna watch her while she took control. She was wrong to expect Gianna's silence, she will amend it.
Alvin knew she couldn't tolerate anything against her son- their son. He looked at the rearview mirror and met Rob's gaze. Rob faintly nodded, silently accepting Alvin's order to hold back the plans they had to dethrone Gianna.
"Need my help?" Alvin asked.
Yes, this time, Anya needed Alvin's help, "Spare Casper Matthews now." If Casper guards up, then she couldn't see Gianna get humiliated. And Casper wouldn't show his true colors trying to stop his wife.
If Anya wanted to achieve by her capability, Alvin had no issues. He was ready to give her the stage.
However, he started flirting again, "By the way, if you come with that look, people will think of me as an abusive husband."
Anya took a second to fathom his words before she laughed. She couldn't believe he said it to make her smile. She smiled softly, looking at him, "Now?"
Alvin nodded to himself, seeing her dimples peeking on her pink cheeks, "Fine, I will gouge out some eyes."
Anya burst into laughter and they continued to torture Rob.
….
At the hall, Alvin and Anya walked in, without bothering to glance at anybody or faking any smile.
Mr. Patterson completed his introduction of Alvin, "The owner of thirteen museums across the globe and still counting. A prominent antique dealer and an excavationist with five teams. The founder and President of the Skylark - Alvin Matthews."
There was pin-drop silence when the two walked on the carpet towards the stage. The ones who didn't identify him, were in shock to know it was Alvin Matthews, the second son of the Matthews family.
Ean and Linus clapped and there was dazed applause in the hall. People still couldn't digest, Alvin bought the shares of the Matthews Industries and Casper hadn't helped his second son who struggled alone in a foreign country. It was sensational news about the Matthews family. They weren't sure how to react.
Anya let go of Alvin's arm and stayed downstage. It was about him, she wanted to keep it that way.
Alvin didn't believe in speaking, especially in front of people who will believe what they want and do what they would like. Worse, they will hear from an ear and let it out through another.
He didn't even bother sparing gratitude for their presence. His cold, uninterested voice sounded, "There is a common business myth. Your Work Will Speak for Itself. But I believe my work will make noise." And he walked away from the microphone right after.
Anya smiled brightly while the crowd was rendered speechless. She softly clapped when he came close to her, "The best speech I have heard so far." And she meant it. Because in business, the work doesn't speak but the noise you make. That noise brought so many people to the event.
"Goofball." Alvin stood by his wife and received his champagne from Rob and the glass of water for Anya.
Ean chuckled looking away from the crowd. His friend is cool as ever. He says less and the impact was better than best. He nodded at the technician to play the video.
Everyone watched the large screen that displayed Alvin's achievements so far. The most attentive one to watch the video was Anya. Alvin watched his wife's reaction and heard her exclamation, ignoring everyone.
He didn't care what people thought of his work so far. Even he wasn't sure what to think of himself. But seeing her curiosity, appreciation, and admiration was fulfilling.
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