Eric glared at him, pretending not to care as his gaze dulled. “I’m happy being free. They can do whatever they like. You and Mark are both the only sons of your family, so no one is fighting over family assets. What a delight! It’s different for me. Danger lurks everywhere!”
Jackson diverted the topic as he went over the latest industry news. “There’s some issue over at Mark’s. There’s an accident with his partnering jewelry manufacturer. Someone embezzled the raw materials, costing nearly fifteen million. It’s a regular factory. I don’t think the manufacturer will be able to survive this. He’s probably done for.”
Eric sniffed and talked through his blocked nose, “It’s only fifteen million. Mark can take it. It’s the little factory that got unlucky.”
Simultaneously, Arianne saw the news. Her heart sank when she saw the name of the manufacturer, ‘Hoyle-Roy’. That was Tiffany’s family run workshop!
She called said girl in a haste, but an automated machine-voice message told her that her mobile phone was turned off. Arianne knew Tiffany well. The latter was well aware that she would be worried. Not only would she not ask for her help, but she also would not let her be in contact either.
Just as Arianne contemplated if she should go find Tiffany Lane, an unknown number dialed in.
“Hello? Is this Arianne? I’m Ethan Connor. Do you have time to meet?”
This was the first time Ethan Connor had come looking for her and he was probably Arianne’s sole channel to understand how Tiffany and her family were doing right now. She quickly replied, “Yes! Where are you?”
“I’m downstairs at your office, in a white Cadillac,” answered Ethan Connor.
Disregarding the need to apply for leave, Arianne rushed downstairs.
Hopping into Ethan Connor’s car, she asked, “Where’s Tiff? What’s the current situation? I can’t get through to her on the phone!”
Ethan Connor lit a cigarette. “She doesn’t want to trouble you, so she refuses to answer your call directly. However, you’re the only one who can help her now. You probably already know what happened to her family. They've already lost fifteen million, but that’s not including the penalty for breaching the contract and other matters too. They’re nearing bankruptcy. I know that it’s selfish to ask for your help… yet I couldn’t help myself. After all, Mark Tremont is a pivotal person.”
She disliked being so obsequious with such blatant intentions, it was shameful, but she had no other way…
When Mark Tremont was not yet home past seven at night, she called him, worried that he would not be home for dinner.
The call was answered shortly. Steeling herself, she asked, “Are you coming back for dinner?”
On the other end of the line, Mark Tremont took a glance at Aery Kinsey beside him and answered, “Mm.”
Hanging up, he got up and announced, “I have something on. Have dinner on your own.”
Aery Kinsey put down her cutlery, the prime steak in her plate suddenly lost its attraction. “Mark, this was to make up for last time. Why are you leaving again? Was it… my sister who called?”
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