Alan Morgan reacted when Aria Cooper looked up as he didn't leave the glass making her confused about why he extended the glass to her.
He bent a little to hold the glass near her lips as they looked at each other. Aria lowered her gaze soon when Alan moved the glass to make her drink.
Her throat was dry but it didn't cross her mind even once to drink water. After drinking, she moved her head away and he kept the glass back on the table before laying her on the bed.
Aria Cooper was silent so was Alan Morgan. The latter pulled the study table chair next to her bed and sat elegantly crossing his legs taking his mobile to go through the mails.
He knew she wouldn't cry in front of him so easily hence he sat down leaving her no option other than sleeping.
He wasn't sure if he was doing it for himself or for her or for his parents who were looking after her. He had returned to the family mansion from his private villa on his parents' request who went aboard to look after his grandfather who fell ill.
When he turned to Aria Cooper who was trying to stop her tears, he saw tears stained her face. Suddenly it dawned him that he saw her room the previous day while passing by around one in the night and lights were still on.
'Was she crying that time too?'
His emotions were on a roller coaster. He didn't know what to feel because her current self was stark opposite to when he first saw her.
...
It was a banquet arranged by Morgan Industries after he successfully became President and CEO of Morgan Industries. He was greeting the guests with his father when he heard a girl's voice talking in a foreign language fluently about the business cooperation between D company of country X and Skyline Industries of country A.
Her tone sounded adolescent but her way of talking and convincing the businessmen made him turn to the source of the voice. As he expected she was a teenage girl in a simple evening gown which made her look exquisite to the eyes.
Her presence was hard to neglect.
Ignoring her age, she was confidently talking between four middle-aged foreign men. He was captivated by her simple smile which made his lips slightly turn up.
His father, Rowan Morgan had to tap his shoulder to get his attention.
He realized he smiled looking at a little girl. He quickly composed before responding to the guests with a poker face.
A light chuckle made him turn his attention back to the girl who shook her hand with men before asking another man to lead them to a table for further process.
He was really surprised how the little girl got clients to Skyline Industries.
'Skyline? Uncle Oliver Cooper's company.' He thought and turned his attention to Oliver Cooper who was Rowan Morgan's best friend.
His brows furrowed by thinking why was he suddenly interested in a girl that he almost wanted to ask about her to Oliver Cooper.
He was dispersing his thoughts but the same girl was beaming standing next to Oliver holding his arm.
Just a few seconds back he had seen her seriously talk about business cooperation and now she just looked like a pure innocent young girl.
"Dad! We got three clients tonight. They will meet you tomorrow in the office. Your assistant will get back to you about it later."
Alan Morgan's heart skipped a beat hearing her mellifluous voice which was very pleasant to hear and he had to clench his fist to divert his eyes to another side forcefully feeling his heart race without his control.
He knew the girl's name without an introduction after hearing how she addressed Oliver Cooper.
She was Aria Cooper, the only daughter of Oliver Cooper who was her single parent. She was seventeen years as his younger brother Rian Morgan who was studying in the same class as her.
But their maturity was a stark contrast. His little brother was unruly and always enjoyed with his group of friends all the time.
Oliver rubbed her head dotingly, "Silly girl! Was that required? By the way, why are you here?"
Rowan patted her shoulder gently, "Oliver! One day I will abduct your darling daughter... Aria! How about I exchange you for my dumb son? He just knows to spend money whereas you are getting millions to billions worth of projects for your father."
Both their voices said how proud they were about Aria Cooper.
Alan never mingled much with his family, relatives, and family friends. He started to live separately from the time he was in senior high school. Even though Coopers were very close to the Morgan family, It was the first time he saw Aria after nearly ten years.
At that time he was in early teens and Aria was a cute adorable chubby girl who was loved by all but his younger brother always fought with her. He was seeing her after ten years who was a young lady.
She was very pretty, slender unlike how she looked like a meatball a long time ago.
Her skin was glowing under light, her long soft hair moved as she was moving her head. Her soft pink lips moved as she answered both men.
"Uncle Rowan! How about you abduct me with Dad? I will stay happily bullying Rian." She stuck her tongue out, making Rowan laugh before she asked Oliver, "Dad! Shall we go home soon? I didn't want to stay alone at home so I came to fetch you."
Alan was ignored the whole time as they cared and laughed with Aria. The latter eyes were only on Rowan and Oliver all the time as he tried his best not to look at her but he would still see her giggling happily.
As an infection, his corners of lip were high for the second time due to Aria.
Both friends didn't care to introduce them and the father-daughter duo left the party soon apologizing to Rowan for leaving early.
Rowan still had a smile seeing them off and saw Alan looking at his wine glass as he swirled the wine in it. "Alan! Let's meet the other guests." He hummed and met all before reaching a table where his mother was sitting.
He was surprised to hear Aria's name first. "Darling! Call Arrie! We will have dinner. She can't hold her hunger for a long time."
Rowan sat down as he responded, "Aria left with Oliver. He hadn't spent much time with her this week due to late-night work hence she came to take her father."
Amelia Gray, Madam Morgan adored Aria. She always worried about Aria whose mother wasn't with her, who took her last breath many years back due to terminal illness.
"Honey! Did you talk to Brother Oliver? Will they move in with us?" Amelia asked as she plated Rowan.