Cheryl's fingernail tapping filled the silence in the center of Diamonique's office. It's been an hour since she returned to the office, but there is not a single job that Cheryl can finish. She just sat quietly without doing anything, occasionally chuckling, annoyed, and snorting softly.
A few moments ago, Cheryl was desperate to send a short message to Rafael after she got his personal contact number from Veronica. Still, until now, Rafael has not given any answer.
Shit, shouldn't Cheryl not be this nervous? Because it's not her fiance's company that went bankrupt, nor is it a company that still has cooperative relations with her family company.
Rafael is a stranger whom she accidentally knew from Veronica. Still, somehow Cheryl couldn't rule out the bad possibilities that might happen after he went bankrupt and fell into poverty.
What if it was Mateo who deliberately destroyed Rafael's company?
"What happened with you, Cheryl? I noticed you seemed unfocused at work. Is there any problem?" Carlos looked up from the laptop screen and now was watching Cheryl closely.
For a moment, Cheryl forgot that Carlos had come from Seattle this afternoon to have lunch with her. He had been sitting in her office since 30 minutes ago, and Cheryl ignored her fiancé because she was busy thinking about a stranger company she didn't really know.
"I… was thinking about the process of moving the center of Diamonique. Before this company can separate itself from Alejandro Corporation, I have a lot of work to do." Cheryl gave a short smile, deliberately not revealing the reason behind her anxiety.
"Frederich Corp is again the main topic of conversation among the global elite. The collapse of the giant company raises a big question mark for some economic observers. Because so far, Frederich Corp. is one of the companies with a fairly good economic stability record for more than ten years. However, in just one month, Frederich Corp's glory began to be questioned. What happened to this company? Was the bankruptcy so bad that it could cause a global economic shock?"
Cheryl grabbed the television remote and immediately pressed the power button to turn off the large screen in front of her.
Not only articles but television shows also talk about Rafael's company.
How bad was Rafael's bankruptcy? Why does the news show that Frederich Corp is already in a critical stage where the company will soon go bankrupt and go out of business?
"Poor company. Do you own Frederich Corp. stock? If you have one, you should immediately withdraw it. I have withdrawn all my shares since two weeks ago." Carlos gave a brief comment.
"I don't have any shares there. Moreover, I have no interest in that company." Cheryl shrugged curtly.
"There is no future for a company going bankrupt."
Cheryl lowered her head. She bit her lower lip to channel the frustration that kept bugging her mind.
Is it true that Mateo didn't intentionally destroy Rafael? If not Mateo, then who? Her daddy?
Her Daddy can't interfere with Mateo's matter, let alone to the point of dirtying his hands to create losses for others. However, her Daddy may join in playing the game to reply to Rafael's jokes.
If that's trus, then Cheryl is one of the causes of Rafael's bankruptcy.
"I think right now everyone is vying for their stake in Frederich Corp. This makes it even more difficult for the company to survive." Carlos returned to comment.
"I… have no interest in Frederich Corp," Cheryl said with a wry smile.
Carlos raised an eyebrow, "I think you know the owner too because he used to be one of Mateo's close friends."
Cheryl's eyes widened. Mateo's close friend? She muttered in disbelief.
"Yes," Carlos nodded curtly, "we used to go to the same school when we were in Senior High School."
Did they go to the same school? Rafael had the same school as Mateo? Even know Carlos?
What kind of crazy game is Rafael playing? He befriends with Mateo, has a love affair with Veronica, who has had an on-and-off relationship with Mateo since they were a teenager, then creates hell for his company through short jokes that he speaks very casually.
"You do not remember? He used to play at your mansion together with Mateo and me."
Cheryl shook her head like a stupid donkey. She doesn't know what kind of game destiny is preparing for them. But as far as she remembers, there was never Rafael's name in her childhood memories.
"Never mind, forget it.. Rafael may choose to continue his mother's restaurant and casino business after this. He has wasted his grandfather's company. His father would not be willing to pass his company on to his incompetent son."
Cheryl was even more stunned.
Restaurant and casino business?
Cheryl had sent a message to Rafael, but there was no response from that man. He also had time to visit Rafael's restaurant in Queens, but Rafael was not there.
No man goes to a restaurant to cool off after seeing the family company go bankrupt in his hands. However, casinos are a great place to escape.
"Do you know where the Rafael family casino is?" Cheryl asked.
"What?" Carlos raised his head, looking confused when he heard Cheryl's question.
Instantly Cheryl knew that her question was too unreasonable. She immediately smiled and shook her head briefly. "Just forget it,"
***
Cheryl leaned her head while looking at the night view through the Alejandro family's private jet window.
However, Cheryl was completely out of her mind so she couldn't think straight. She knew that this reckless act of hers might cause trouble, maybe even get her into a fight with Carlos. Just like when she had to dismantle her savings to buy as many shares of Frederich Corp as possible to help stabilize its value. She doesn't know how long things will get worse, but if Frederich Copr doesn't get better soon, Cheryl may lose all her savings to buy all the outstanding shares.
"Soon, the plane will make a landing, Miss. Should I fasten a seat belt for you?"
Cheryl nodded slowly when a flight attendant came and offered to help her.
Cheryl does have two hands to be able to fasten her seat belt. However, why should she fasten her seatbelt if she had someone who would do it for her?
"Your helicopter is ready on the runway. You can immediately rest at the Mansion."
Cheryl only gave a brief nod at the information provided by the beautiful woman who was a permanent flight attendant on one of the jets belonging to the Alejandro family.
She didn't want to go back to the mansion. She planned to come to Las Vegas to meet Rafael…
At least she wanted to apologize to that man for Mateo's outrageous behavior. After all, Cheryl feels that she is also responsible for the troubles that befell Rafael's company.
Veronica: Where are you? Don't make trouble, Cheryl.
Cheryl reads the text message Veronica sent a few minutes ago.
Compared to her family, it seems that Veronica is the one who understands the most extreme way of her thinking.
No one was suspicious when Cheryl said she wanted to spend a three-day vacation at the Las Vegas mansion to spend time with her grandmother. But Veronica knows every plan she has planned.
Cheryl rarely travels alone, but everyone immediately believes in using her grandmother as an excuse. Even her Daddy allowed Cheryl to leave tonight.
Cheryl Alejandro: I wouldn't say I like getting into trouble.
After typing the answer to Veronica's question, Cheryl immediately turned off her cellphone to prevent Mateo or her Daddy from having fun and suddenly tracked her whereabouts through the object.
"Good evening, Miss Cheryl. Soon the helicopter will depart for the mansion in the center of Las Vegas. Before that, is there a place you would like to visit?"
"No," Cheryl shook her head slowly, "directly to the mansion."
It wasn't long before the helicopter took off.
Cheryl doesn't really like the horrible sensation of getting on a helicopter. It felt like something was constantly churning in her stomach.
Unlike flying on a plane, which feels calmer, helicopters often provide shocks that often make Cheryl feel scared. However, she had no other choice. The distance between the airport and her family's mansion is quite far if she uses a land vehicle. Helicopters are the only fastest vehicle that can take her to the mansion in a short time.
Cheryl's stomach churned again. Now, it wasn't because of the helicopter's movement but because she remembered how miserable Rafael was after he accepted Mateo's crazy challenge.
"Please wake me up after reaching the mansion."
Instead of feeling tense due to the shock, Cheryl prefers to lean her head back and start closing her eyes.
Maybe she wouldn't be able to sleep like this, but at least her eyes were closed, so she didn't have to know what had happened to the helicopter.
The decision to come to Las Vegas in the middle of the night like this would probably be the craziest thing in the history of Cheryl's life. Moreover, she had a stupid reason to make the long journey from Manhattan to Las Vegas.
Who knows. Maybe Cheryl will regret her crazy decision. Perhaps she won't. Maybe tomorrow she'd wake up feeling sorry she'd rather go to Las Vegas than be with Carlos when he had the time to spend the whole day with her. Or maybe Cheryl could wake up feeling relieved that she had managed to meet Rafael to confirm that man's condition. Perhaps she will also be more curious about the mysterious figure who always bothers her mind without ever realizing it.
***
"Are you planning to go again?? Where?"
Cheryl turned her head, watching her Grandma sitting on the edge of her bedroom bed while a maid was busy combing Cheryl's hair tangled in the strong wind when she was on the airstrip.
"I have some business to do. Grandma doesn't have to wait for me. You better sleep first." Cheryl grimaced, giving a spoiled look to an old woman with white hair and wrinkled skin who was squinting at her.
"What kind of business are you going to do at 1 am? Can't it be tomorrow?"
Cheryl immediately shook her head, "please don't tell Daddy, Grandma. Honestly, I didn't come here to take a vacation, but I ran away on purpose because I wanted to enjoy my freedom." Cheryl cupped her hands in front of her chest as if she was making a wish to God.
" Jackson over-manages your life. Has he been restraining you all this time with bodyguards and also a curfew that makes you suffer?" Grandma started nagging.
Cheryl nodded slowly.
To be honest, ever since her accident one year ago, all the guards against her had become even tighter. Her Daddy, Mateo and Carlos sent bodyguards to follow her everywhere she went.
"He made you a bird in a cage that can only admire your wings without ever feeling free to fly." Grandma reached out to gently stroke Cheryl's dark brown hair, which was falling on her back.
"Therefore, let me go tonight. I want to feel freedom by going without being followed by bodyguards. I also want to spend some time relaxing without being known as the youngest daughter of the Alejandro family."
"That's impossible, Cheryl," Grandma shook her head curtly, "the popularity of our family is too great for you to be able to enjoy a normal life the way you want."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with my wish." Cheryl blinked her eyes repeatedly, trying to seduce Grandma.
When Carissa can't control Mateo and Jackson, only her Grandma can make the two overprotective men stop going crazy.
"Okay, you can leave without being followed by the guards. You go through the back door in my private car." Grandma gave a short smile as she continued to stroke her hair.
Cheryl squealed happily. She wrapped her arms around Grandma's back with both hands. "You are the best, Grandma!"