*Knock* *Knock* "Come in." Nio's voice was an unexpected answer.
Stella opened the door to Chris, Nio, Cerim, and Mou all sitting in the office with cigarettes and drinks to accompany them.
Stella's face didn't change at the smell, she just raised her eyebrow and took a seat.
Mou glanced over to the man sitting in front of him, there was no way he was thinking about why all of them were smoking, considering it was such a rarity...
"All I must say is that I'm impressed with how you handled that, if I'm honest, I could never have expected that the old master of the Fude family would openly accept you like that." Eun sang his praises, as he stayed away from the cigarettes. He seemed to not be a fan of the smoke...
Stella just gave a sly smile and relaxed in her chair. Her feet going on to the table...
"There is no need to be impressed with what I said I would do, the Fude family isn't long from this world... While Yuon is indeed a genius when it comes to business, he has been warped to be that woman's lapdog." Stella commented, it was truly a devastating time. The fact the Fude family could be destroyed so quickly... Wasn't fun at all.
Mou's face remained blank, as he stubbed away his cigarette and took out a piece of paper from his desk.
"I've got an offer for you." Mou revealed as he put the paper closer to Stella.
Stella took the paper with no change to her expression. She started to read... And her head rose to meet with Mou's gaze.
"You think I can't protect myself?" She asked with no exposed emotion, it was like she was trying to dig out information from Mou...
Stella was inwardly extremely surprised at the offer presented to her. When was the last time someone had offered to protect her? She now had to consider this into her plans from now on...
What she couldn't notice was the inner turmoil of Mou's mind. She was normally quite good at reading Mou. But the effects of the cigarette was making him difficult to read...
'I do, but I've already fallen for you... I know that you might not think of me that way but I need to keep you protected from them.' Mou had already made up his mind to fully integrate Stella into his underworld plans, as little as he wanted him hurt, the safest place would be beside him from now on...
Of course, Stella wasn't thinking this contract was for that purpose, she was thinking that Mou had wanted to morph her into a close advisor... Strangely enough, it would be in line with her own plans...
Cerim kept a gaze on Stella's face, sometimes he thought he could read the man. He seemed to be a playboy at some points, then an intellectual scholar. But was it possible he was in some way, related to the Bei family? Was he a friend or foe to them?
Stella smiled, and pushed the contract back to Mou. Mou had already had a backup plan if he wouldn't accept, but it still annoyed him that Stella wouldn't be thinking of his protection...
"There is no need to sign a contract like this." Stella made Eun a little surprised beside her.
Stella's calmness made it obvious to Mou what he was thinking...
"Once I started helping you it was assured that I would be on your side, so I don't know what has happened when you were in Country R, but it is clear something rattled your feathers." Stella took a glance at Nio, she noticed no change in his emotion...
She often found Nio the easiest to read. With no change in emotion, it made it difficult to get anything out of anyone. 'I don't have information of what happened, it is either internal in the Guillard family, or something they have kept extremely top-secret...'
For the first time since meeting, Mou had outsmarted Stella. She didn't reach the conclusion anywhere near what happened. But Mou wasn't pleased with this, he was relieved that Stella didn't need to be persuaded into signing an artificial contract like that, and that he had no lead on what happened at all...
"Mmm." Mou mumbled in response, seemingly cold, but Cerim could notice the relief in his tone, something he resonated with...
"Anyway... You said we would be going drinking, currently sitting inside the office certainly wasn't what I was expecting to be your type of fun." Stella moved the conversation forward, she had thought she figured out her next moves.
Nio smiled slyly. "Of course, how could we forget such a plan." Nio commented as they prepared to go out...
...............
The various black cars stopped in front of one of the most prestigious... Gentleman's club, in the country...
They all took VVIP parking and entered the building through tight nit security. The manager was practically licking the boots of all of the wealthy men that appeared...
"There is good news masters, we have our best girls available for you all tonight." The manager made emergency calls earlier in the day when his boss frantically told him to prepare the best they have to offer for 6 big shots in the country...
"Oh? It would be nice to know the hospitality of the women here." Stella gave a pleased nod and smile.
The manager personally led them to their room. Spacious, exquisite. What else could be said about it? It was a room which the richest bachelor in the country was going to use with his friends...
They all took their seats and ordered their drinks. As per usual, Stella ordered monstrous amounts. While the others wondered if his kidneys were made out of titanium...
"Ah, something interesting happened when you all were away." Stella came out and said as she took a large gulp of her half vodka, half sprite.
They all looked at her in anticipation. 'What happened!? Whos company did you close down!?' Their eyes were practically like stars at the idea of this gossip...
Stella chuckled slightly, "It's nothing much. I just had a visitor from one of the most powerful and stable families in this country." Stella kept them on the edge of their seats.
Eun then had a look of realization. 'Wasn't this extremely close to the point where Nio told his sisters about him...' Yeah, it was.
Eun sniggered, he couldn't wait for Nio's reaction...
Stella looked at Eun and nodded. "Indeed it was quite funny, she was extremely pretty, very intelligent, and knew the right people in the right places. Furthermore... This master must admit that she was exactly my type." Stella decided to have some fun...
Cerim then immediately felt his face going cold. 'Shit, will it not be possible then?' He glanced in Mou's direction.
Cerim almost jumped in fear. The despair was clear in his eyes, he took another swig of his drink. As he closed his eyes and opened them with a strange look in them.
Cerim couldn't believe he just saw his brother with such an expressive look! He kind of hoped this woman had some good luck so his brother wouldn't go overboard...