Chapter 149: Throw that piece of shit out of his house
[Globe International]
"Boss, your assumption was correct," Taylor reported as he stood beside Xander’s desk. "Logan Mortini is in the country, but he deliberately skipped the meeting."
Xander remained silent, signaling for him to continue.
"Logan and his wife arrived in Country P on the same day the meeting was scheduled. However, instead of coming to see you, he went to meet a specialist regarding Mrs. Mortini’s condition."
Taylor placed a file on the desk.
"He seems desperate, Boss. From what we’ve gathered, his wife’s condition has worsened significantly. Even the doctor they consulted doesn’t appear optimistic about her chances."
Xander’s expression remained unchanged.
"Which doctor?" he asked after a brief pause.
"Dr. Merik from Healthcare Hospital."
A flicker of understanding crossed Xander’s eyes.
"I see."
Taylor studied his boss for a moment. Seeing Xander lost in thought, he hesitated before speaking again.
"Boss, could this be an opportunity for us to help Mr. Mortini?" he suggested. "Second Young Master Aaron is affiliated with the same hospital."
Taylor knew how devoted Logan was to his wife. If there was even the slightest chance of saving her, Logan would pursue it without hesitation.
However, Xander shook his head.
"You think Logan doesn’t already know that?" he asked calmly.
Taylor fell silent.
"Someone like Logan Mortini would have investigated every possible option long before coming here," Xander continued. "If Aaron could help, Logan would already be aware of it."
He leaned back in his chair.
"But Aaron is an Emerson."
The meaning behind those words was clear.
Xander’s gaze drifted toward the city skyline outside his office window.
From what he had learned, Logan had intentionally ignored him.
Logan probably believed that by refusing to attend the meeting, Xander would eventually abandon the idea of working with him altogether.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Xander’s lips.
Unfortunately for Logan, he had misjudged him.
Xander Emerson had never been the type to back down simply because someone closed a door in his face.
Still, he understood one important thing.
No matter how determined he was, forcing Logan into cooperation would only push him further away.
For now, patience would serve him better than pressure.
***
[Ford’s House]
"Why hasn’t Aaron called you yet? Did you not try hard enough to charm him?" Florine asked, narrowing her eyes at her daughter, who seemed more interested in her phone than the conversation.
Nora paused and slowly lifted her head. She met her mother’s piercing gaze without flinching. Unlike before, Florine’s constant criticism no longer affected her as much.
"I did my best, Mom," Nora replied calmly. "But if you still have doubts, then stop asking me about it."
She was tired of the endless complaints and expectations.
From the beginning, Nora had made it clear that she wasn’t comfortable with Florine’s plan to push her toward Aaron. She had never liked the idea of deliberately trying to seduce someone for personal gain.
Florine studied her daughter carefully. Earlier, she had strongly opposed Nora getting involved with Aaron. Yet after the date, Nora seemed perfectly fine—far too calm for someone who had supposedly been rejected.
The thought made Florine frown.
Did Aaron simply not find Nora attractive enough?
Or had Nora done something during their date that made him lose interest?
Either way, the fact that he hadn’t contacted her afterward was beginning to bother Florine more than she cared to admit.
Should I just wait for Lilianna to contact me? Florine wondered.
Ever since her family’s rise in status, Florine had started attending exclusive social gatherings and charity luncheons frequented by wealthy and influential women. Over time, she managed to secure a place within their circle and formed friendships with several high-society ladies.
It was during one of those gatherings that she first heard about Lilianna’s search for a suitable partner for her son, Aaron.
One of the women had casually mentioned that she had already recommended her own daughter, hoping Aaron might take a liking to her. After all, becoming part of the Emerson family was a dream many mothers secretly harbored.
The conversation had quickly sparked excitement around the table.
Almost every woman present had an unmarried daughter or relative they believed would be a perfect match for Aaron. The possibility of becoming connected to one of the most influential families in the city was simply too tempting to ignore.
And Florine was no exception.
The moment she heard the news, she immediately thought of Nora.
Her daughter was beautiful, well-educated, and came from a respectable family. In Florine’s eyes, Nora was just as qualified as any of the other young women competing for Aaron’s attention.
That was why she had eagerly reached out to Lilianna and arranged for Nora and Aaron to meet.
Now, however, the silence was beginning to make her uneasy.
If the date had gone well, shouldn’t Lilianna have contacted her by now?
Florine tapped her fingers impatiently against the armrest of the sofa.
The longer she waited, the more restless she became.
In their social circle, news traveled fast. If Aaron had taken a liking to Nora, word would have spread sooner or later. Yet days had passed, and she had heard nothing from Lilianna.
Not a call.
Not a message.
Nothing.
A part of her wanted to reach out first, but her pride held her back.
If she contacted Lilianna too soon, wouldn’t it make her seem desperate?
Florine frowned at the thought.
Across from her, Nora remained focused on her phone, completely unconcerned by the issue that had been occupying Florine’s mind for days.
Her calm attitude only irritated Florine further.
"Did Aaron say anything before the date ended?" she asked suddenly.
Nora looked up. "Like what?"
"Anything. Did he mention seeing you again? Did he ask you to call him? Did he seem interested?"
Nora sighed.
"Mom, it was just dinner."
"It wasn’t just dinner," Florine immediately corrected. "You know very well why you two met."
Nora’s expression cooled.
"Maybe that’s the problem."
Florine blinked.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Nora looked at her mother’s infuriated face and blinked. If she was supposed to tell her, none of what she said happened. Aaron didn’t even look back at her as he walked away, which gave her the impression that he wasn’t interested.
But Nora was not upset about it. She’d never tell her mother that she was the one who revealed Ivy’s true identity to him, and now she was waiting for Xander to throw that piece of shit out of his house.
