Putting the cup down on the working desk, Mr. Hayes typed sothing on the keyboard, eyes staring at the monitor. Ruediger waited for a few minutes until the forr found what he was looking for.
"Last Friday, around eight in the morning," Mr. Hayes glanced back at Ruediger, "A man ca looking for you. The receptionist inford him that you were unavailable. Then, he left a ssage."
Arching his brows, Ruediger humd quietly, his gaze unreadable. Mr. Hayes resud talking, dropping the man’s na and the ssage.
"Vincent Alvord. He told us to contact him once you’re back from your trip. But I instructed the receptionists not to do that until you gave a green light."
A trace of amusent flickered in Ruediger’s eyes. Even though he had expected this, he actually thought Vincent would send his assistant here instead of coming by himself.
’He’s that desperate. How funny.’
The dire situation that befell Matthew made even Vincent frantic as they looked for ways to lessen the consequences. Ruediger assud his younger brother thought they could et if he personally ca to his door.
How delusional.
Exhaling a sigh, Ruediger’s face tensed. He said after a brief silence, "He’s from my paternal family. No need to inform him. And if he returns, or anyone else cos looking for , tell them I won’t accept any visitors."
Ruediger deliberately didn’t tell Mr. Hayes that Vincent was actually his younger brother. He retained the smile on his lips, trying not to show the unpleasantness upon hearing more about Vincent.
Mr. Hayes nodded, then thinking of another possibility, "What if soone else cos and asks for your wife? Shall I reject them outright?"
Ruediger paused, knowing it was possible. He replied, "Tell them you’ll relay the ssage to her first, just in case they’re her friends or acquaintances. I’ll inform my wife about this."
"Alright."
So far, Lariette hadn’t gotten any other visitors aside from Madeline. She hadn’t even invited her colleagues to the apartnt.
There was a chance Vincent might try to approach Lariette, but Ruediger wouldn’t allow it.
’I need to tell Lettie about this soon.’
Ruediger reminded himself of that to prepare Lariette for the possibility, afraid of surprising her. Still, he hoped Vincent wouldn’t drag her into this ss.
After chatting for a few minutes longer, Ruediger thanked Mr. Hayes and left the office. His footsteps were slow on the polished floor, mirroring the heaviness of his heart.
’I need to plan ahead. They won’t stop even if I don’t cooperate.’
He would be a fool if he couldn’t envision their next moves. Whether his predictions were correct or not, he would still prepare for them.
Quickening his steps, Ruediger rushed back to the apartnt unit, the sun had risen higher than the first ti he left earlier. He disappeared inside his ho office, ready to contact Nathaniel and Edmund.
**********
The morning sunlight stread through the floor-to-ceiling windows, showering onto a weary Vincent.
He leaned back in the armchair with a laptop resting on his knees. His erald eyes scanned the screen as he tried to ta the growing frustration within him.
With one click, he hit Send.
Vincent had sent another e-mail, another plea. He couldn’t help but think the ssage would just be hurled into the void of an inbox untouched for years.
[Subject: Please Read This One]
[I’m not asking for much. Just one eting. Just talk to once. We’re brothers, no matter what he did to you. Just once. Please.]
Vincent stared at the blinking cursor for a long ti, then he closed the lid with a heavy sigh. He knew his action might be pointless.
After all, Ruediger might have abandoned this e-mail address for years. Vincent only rembered it when he was desperately looking for ways to reach out to him.
After having his number blocked by Ruediger, Vincent tried calling and ssaging him using different ones. Unfortunately, none went through as if his elder brother had discarded that number.
Thus, Vincent decided to try his luck by sending ssages to Ruediger’s old e-mail address. He also went to Lumina Spring, but his elder brother was out for a trip.
’He should have returned by now. Doesn’t his wife need to go back to work?’
Frowning, Vincent recalled the ssage he left to the receptionists, as well as the letters he delivered to Ruediger’s apartnt unit. Even though only a few days had passed, his tolerance almost ran out.
And so did their father’s patience.
"Do whatever you have to do. Get him to do our bidding. We need to win over CEO Faulkner."
His father’s order from a few days ago echoed in his mind. The mory of it twisted his gut for he knew his father was looking for a lifeline after the exposure of the bribery scandal.
A few mbers of the Board threatened to remove Matthew Alvord from his position. He countered by promising to get Faulkner Investnt as a new investor.
Matthew might still leave his position even though Faulkner Investnt agreed, but not a complete removal. He could return so ti later once the scandal died down.
But... if he failed, he most likely couldn’t return.
’How did he befriend CEO Faulkner, in the first place?’
The thought that used to dominate Vincent’s mind months ago returned. He couldn’t help but think how his elder brother, who seed to be a nobody after his exile two decades ago, had a great friendship with the heir of Faulkner Investnt.
CEO Nathaniel Faulkner, the very man their father was now desperate to et.
"Haa..."
Exhaling another sigh, Vincent pushed himself up to stand. He took slow steps toward the glass walls, staring out the window into the morning.
Vincent doubted Ruediger would be willing to help considering how harsh their father was to him. Still, Vincent couldn’t easily give up.
’Should I approach Maddie? But she hates to the guts. How about Aunt Felicia? He only listens to them.’
Madeline made her hatred for him and the Alvord family known. As for Felicia, she was still polite on the off chance they encountered each other.
Maybe...
Should he approach his elder brother’s newly wedded wife?
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