It was a cold and quiet morning in SereneHeights. The two lovebirds were still sleeping.
"Mmm.."
"Wake up Aubrey.. you need to go to the company..", Lucy mumbled in her sleep. They were still on the bed, cuddling with each other for warmth. It was almost seven in the morning.
"Don't want to..", he said almost incoherent. He hugged her in his arms even tightly. Their eyes were still closed. Lucy couldn't move a muscle when he hugged her so closely.
"Go now honey. Or I'll kick you out of the bed.", she said, blinking her eyes several times. And when Lucy came to, she saw his face just an inch before her.
'Goodness?!'
And she was attacked with a good morning kiss before she knew it.
"Geez.. no fair.", now she was completely awake.
"Good morning.", Aubrey gazed at his wife for a long time. He was hit with a fact that he couldn't even live without her anymore.
Lucy saw him being quiet suddenly. She looked back at him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm thinking of the day we first met. What would happen if I didn't meet you..?", he wore a smile.
Lucy placed her hand on his cheek slowly. There must be a thousand needles pricking in his heart just thinking about the possibility. Was everyday like this for him after waking up? Thinking about what ifs?
'Listen Aubrey, if one day I die, I want you to continue living happily. I may be your source of happiness but I won't be there forever. You know that right..?'
But she couldn't say it to him. They were just sentences in her mind.
"There's no what ifs in this world honey! We're meant to be!", she smiled and she kissed him slowly. She will let him figure it out by himself.
"Now get up! Or you'll be late.", with that, Lucy struggled to get up from the bed under his clutches and she succeeded.
•••
After waking up to go to her store, Olivia went downstairs when she heard her brother talking on the phone with someone. With her hand holding her Gucci handbag, she smacked his back from behind.
"Ouch! The hell?!", Liam faced behind him and he frowned.
"Morning.", she greeted him with a smile.
"Is this your new way of saying good morning?", he asked with a rolling eyes.
"Why are you so busy early in the morning? It's not like you.", Olivia walked to the kitchen where breakfast was served. She didn't pay attention to him rubbing his back like it was broken.
"I'm not THAT hopeless okay? I can get serious if I want to.", he faced his phone again. Then he followed his sister to the kitchen.
Olivia was already seated and she started munching the apple pie on her plate. Liam took a seat across her and he continued with his conversation again. It took her interest when he mentioned Aubrey's name.
"Yes.. it's good for now. I can manage. We just need him to comply and I know you're already on that."
"You're talking to Aubrey Lee?! Lucy's boyfriend?!", she raised her voice in surprise, with her eyes big and round.
"Hey- lower your voice! I'm talking!", Liam covered the speaker with his hand and gave her a warning. He was trying to concentrate.
Aubrey was on the other line and he heard Olivia very clearly.
"Is that Olivia, Lucy's friend?", he asked. He was just on the way to the company.
Aubrey waited for a response but he didn't receive any. He got his phone down from his ear and he turned on the loud speaker. He then heard a woman's voice, and also a bickering.
"Let me say hi! You're so stingy!"
"I told you- I'm having a conversation here!"
"Why are you close with Lucy's boyfriend?! When did you guys meet?!"
"And why do you want to know that?!"
"Give me the phone!"
"I said no! Let go!"
"Just for a while will do!"
"Don't pull!"
Aubrey didn't say a word as he immediately hung up on Liam. Let the siblings settled their matters by themselves. He put his phone down as he settled in the car.
"Drive to the company.", Aubrey instructed the driver who sat in front of him.
After some time on the road, he got another call from an unknown number. He knew right away who it was.
"What is it?", he picked it up and straightly asked the caller of his reason for calling.
"Man.. your voice sounds different than the last time. I almost can't recognize you.", Q said jokingly. He liked to tease Aubrey (his new hobby).
"Spill it, don't waste my time.", Aubrey said in a cold and aloof manner. He wasn't afraid at all when talking to the lord of the underworld. Somehow he became immune to all these terrifying things.
Q didn't spit a single word immediately as he really wasn't joking around. The last time they spoke on the phone, he could feel Aubrey's wariness towards him. Aubrey was being careful and he watched his language very well. It seemed that Aubrey was just that weak and trying to appear calm. But now he was kind of different.
'Was it just an act..?'
Q could only think so as he didn't believe in what people say 'a sudden behavioral change'. Aubrey was not that kind of person that could change overnight.. or was he..?
"Hm.. whatever you say. I just want to ask you for my ransom.", Q said to Aubrey.
"I won't give you something that isn't in my hands yet. Wait for the good news.", Aubrey answered him nonchalantly while he faced the outside of the car.
"Hey hey.. am I a pushover? Don't make it sound like I'm waiting for you to hand me my throne. I'm not that patient, Aubrey Lee.", he said while he reclined onto his chair.
Q's underlings were standing not far from him as they guarded the underground office room.
"I know you've already done the deed but I need more than that. You don't think that getting my grandfather out of that place is all it takes, do you?", Aubrey told him as he wore a smile that couldn't be more dark.
Q laughed at the remark. He found it funny but at the same time he was also triggered.
"I know it won't be this easy.. but to think that you're using me for your secret plan is not that pleasing for me.", Q said and he flicked his finger so that his man nearby would come to him and serve him his drinks.
His henchman came near his desk and he poured him his favorite whiskey.
"That's why I want to give you insurance.", Aubrey said while he took a glance over his watch. He could almost see the tall building of Lee Group from afar. He was near the company.
"Oh..? Enlighten me.", the word 'insurance' managed to pique Q's interest. He wasn't an idiot when dealing with this kind of talk. He was actually a master.
"Your enemy's weakness. I got one."
"You mean your brother's weakness?", Q asked with a smile. Aubrey couldn't see it but he knew Q was testing him.
"I don't have a brother.", he said coldly. His voice could freeze somebody's ear if he ever had the magical power.
Q couldn't help but notice Aubrey's hostility towards Adamson. It was a good choice when he decided to get in contact with Aubrey back then. He chuckled in pleasure, thinking about how to get Aubrey under his feet when he has acquired 100% of the underworld organization. Someone like Aubrey couldn't be kept alive without a leash, might as well use him as his tool or shield in the future.
On the other side, Aubrey could practically hear his thoughts over the phone. He tried to appear as vulnerable as he could. After all, being underestimated was also a form of advantage.