"Rumor has it that your harem now includes the crown prince of the neighbor country too. 'He was so fascinated by Miss Dubois charm that the first thing he did after entering the country was courting her'. Ceci you're a simply my idol!"
Aubrey commented with thumbs up and stars in her eyes as we enjoy our afternoon tea as we usually did after becoming friends. Usually we talk about some new gossip or what not. Today's gossip seems to be unexpectedly about me though.
"Harem?" I asked a little baffled.
Since when did I started one? Why don't I know?
"Unofficial one of course. You have so many bees and butterflies that they are now known as your harem by the noble daughters. I thought you knew it"
I shook my head. It seems I need to scold Carl a bit. Not even news about me I'm hearing anymore.
(Carl, who was in the middle of an interrogation felt a subtle chill and trembled a little. Did Boss started to think about training him again? No, no, no. How could he let this happened. With this thought the whip that was trailing to the wall change its direction and fell on the prisoner's back)
"Oh, Let me introduce you then! First we have Leon, your faithful sidekick. Then we have Lukas, the sexy older brother. Then we have Cale, the playboy who is now wholeheartedly in love with you. There is also Prince William, the younger brother type and now the new addition is Eric, the next door Prince!"
Aubrey said counting with her fingers.
"In other words, you're amazing please teach me the secret!"
"Be rich, be beautiful and have a high status"
I smiled at her and answered generously.
Hearing my answer she pouted.
"...really impossible"
I chuckled a bit.
"You're wrong you know"
She looked at me with curious eyes.
"Most of the men attracted to me right now it's not love but admiration and lust. Wouldn't you admire and crave for a successful and not so crooked man?"
Aubrey seemed to think about someone and nodded. Oh? It seems my little journalist is in love. I wonder if it's that demon teacher.
"Cale, only came in interest after I entered the limelight because of my stores and the banquets. We not once held a conversation before. Although now, we saw a few times, love is not something I see in those eyes... maybe lust and a desire to conquer is more accurate"
I sipped my tea a bit.
"Lukas..."
I shook my head.
"I don't know what is happening to him. He always treated me like a young girl. It's like suddenly he found that I'm now a woman. His feelings... I think when the novelty of his finding pass, they will fade as well"
I sipped again. Seriously the tea Aubrey brews is too delicious.
"Leo... actually I thought that if I didn't find anyone I liked, I would accept his pursuit. It was unfair to him but he's really somewhat close to my type. But who would have thought he and Mary would fall in love! Apparently after multiple nights of handling the company affairs together, they grew close and he realized that rather then love he admired me and yearn to be someone like me and for Mary was his true love. So a few weeks ago he confessed and they're now together"
Aubrey seemed a bit shocked. Don't tell me about it. I was also pretty shocked myself when I learned all the ins and outs from Mary. Their love story is actually a bit clumsy but is very sweet to hear about how they slowly realized their feelings to each other. I'm guessing that the wedding it's not that far.
"Will"
I sighed with this one. His feeling were very obvious since were young.
"He's a nice and cute guy. But unfortunately because of everything that happened, we are impossible"
There's no way tht I'm marrying my ex-fiancée brother and become part of his family. Will, doesn't have any fault but I just can't stomach the thought of having that scum couple as in-laws. Plus I always saw Will as a younger brother rather than a possible live target.
"What about the Prince Eric?" Abby looked at me as if I denied this one too I would break all her dreams.
I pinched her cheeks in amusement.
"He has so many options in his kingdom, why would he fancy me?"
"Money, beauty, status!"
Abby lifted her three fingers and said righteously making me laugh at her.
"Well, I'm sure he has someone like this somewhere in his vast territory too. Rather than fancying me, I would rather he fancied my business. Think about it, the IP stores all over the continent!"
"Continent?"
"Of course! The Empire is just the door for me expand my business. If I can I will put the IP brand in every country!" And then put my cute subordinates to manage it, while I live spending my endless wealth. I added in my heart.
"Not only IP will expand but your journal will too. Don't you think it's better than be looking for love?"
Aubrey sighed.
"Seriously, you only have money in your eyes that's why Ryan its always complaining, but I like it! Let's put our brand in the world Boss"
"Ryan?"
"*cough cough* Mr. Dawson"
I just simply looked at her and gave my thumbs up for which smiled embarrassedly.
"You go girl! To tame the demon, what are you, an angel?"
"So about the promotion of the new line..."
Aubrey started to babbling about some new product to divert my attention. Hehe, I will spare you of this embarrassment, but lil' Ryan Dawson in 30 minutes will be seriously teased.
I smiled wickedly and listened to Abby's babbling while enjoying my afternoon tea.