Ian chuckled while Marzia didn't say anything to Chan anymore. Nonetheless, during the whole ride, Chan was evidently livid with this new arrangement. By the time they arrived at school, heaps of gazes landed on them when they saw Marzia getting out of Chan's uncle's car. Ian Harrison was one of the known benefactors and sponsors of the school since he had enrolled Chan here. For this reason, it was quite shocking for the teachers and parents to see him with a new teacher who worked there.
Despite this, Ian didn't care about their intrusive stares and grabbed Marzia's hand to intertwine it with his. Chan could only give them a disapproving look while he sprinted to the entrance door out of embarrassment, probably.
"What are you doing? They're looking at us, Ian." Marzia finally managed to say something.
The man lifted her hand that was woven with his. "You mean this? What's wrong with holding your hand? We're supposed to be together. It's not that outrageous," he said. Ian noticed Marzia gaping at the other teachers and students who seemed to be gossiping about them while they passed through the hallway. And so, he tightened his grip and turned his gaze back to her. Marzia must have sensed it because she moved along faster. She looked anxious and perturbed. "But do we have to do this? We're just faking this, right? Do we really have to act here too? In my job? Your nephew's school?"
"Sorry, but yeah… Don't worry, Marzia. I won't do anything that is against your will. Just hold my hand whenever I drop you and Chan off," Ian spoke to her ear.
Marzia jolted back. She looked at him, eyes rounded and mouth ajar. At that moment, Ian realized that she was getting uncomfortable, and maybe things were too fast for her. Hence, he then decided to step away from her when they arrived at Chan's classroom. "I'll see you later," he uttered and damped his lips gently on her forehead.
After that, he patted Chan's back. "I'll come back when you're done." Ian lifted his eyes to Marzia and wiggled his eyebrows. "Behave and be good to your teacher."
Chan didn't answer him and ran inside his classroom without bidding goodbye to his uncle.
Ian then turned around to go back to the parking lot when he heard Marzia's voice. "Bye, Ian! Take care…" He pivoted back to where she was and responded with a lucent smile.
…
Ian's travel from school to his workplace didn't take that long. Ian got there twenty minutes early and was welcomed by his staff when he opened the glass door of the building's entrance. As soon as he reached his office, Romeo rushed to him with a dreadful and nervous expression.
"What happened? You saw a ghost or something?" Ian asked, giving his coat to the secretary.
"Sir Ian..." Romeo followed him inside his office when he reached his table.
The papers and documents he had to read and sign were already there on his desk to fill up his entire day. At that moment, Ian surmised that something terrible might have happened, as he knew it was rare for Romeo to be jittery. "Just tell me. What is it? Is it something about the deal with Magnus Enterprise?"
Romeo gripped the folder tightly in his hand and muffled, "No, it's not about that. He's here, sir."
The warm snug of the morning welcomed him with a great start. However, to his dismay, he didn't expect that he would be hit with a piece of terrible, disconcerting news. Damien Calloway was here, and it seemed like he wasn't just here for a vacation. Harrison Company wasn't always as regnant as it was today. In the past, when the company was still one of the fledging businesses making its way to the market, Robert Harrison, Ian's father, had a hard time pervading the top market spot.
Despite his efforts and acute vision for his company, he knew how hard it was to penetrate the top position in the market. However, that changed when Robert met Damien Calloway. A well-known business magnate with more power than the government. He's a man who had the touch of Midas' hands where even the most shunned corporation could become a glorious business enterprise.
Adamant about the notion of getting his business into the playing field, Robert asked for Damien Calloway's support. Despite this bankable aid from the god of business himself, Damien's help came with a blowback cost. It was a consequence that Ian's father didn't ascertain, not until he came down to his last breath. And now, Ian had to face this conniving man again. The man who had become a lingering shadow behind his back, haunting him in anticipation of his glorious comeback. Damien Calloway isn't like any other business magnate whose goal is to become opulent. He desired power and would do anything, even break the law, to achieve what he wanted. He's a paragon in disguise and a devil within. Ian knew that if he fought a man like him, he would need more than just his willpower. With that, he stood up from his seat and set out to find Damien. His noggin' had always been empty, as the man had been philandering all over the world using his connections. Yet, now, it seemed that Damien would stay until he got what he needed.
"Where is he?" Ian asked his secretary firmly.
Although the reluctance was apparent in Romeo's expression, he responded. "He's at his office."
Adjusting his blue coat by removing one button, he informed, "Move my meeting with Magnus to one pm. I'll check with the R&D team by ten before lunch."
Romeo nodded. "Right away, sir. Should I also tell the team to get ready with their presentation?"
"Not yet. I just want an update on how our progress is going," Ian answered promptly. Upon Romeo's brief and obliging response, he walked out of his office and headed to Damien's office.
Ian knew how the man didn't want to be waiting. In the end, Damien was a man with more means and power. A man like him didn't believe in the word patience. By the time Ian got there, the old man was peering over the skyscraper view across the wide office space. The sun on the tinted reflection of the stained-glass windows was charring and blazing. It was apparent that his return would be the commencement of gritting, contentious business politics.
"It's a delight to see you again," Ian greeted the man politely, but with a stiff smile on his face. Ian didn't want to spoil his day because of this snarky dude. "What are you doing here? I wasn't given any notice that you'd be coming here," he added casually.
From the years he had experienced working in the corporate world, he learned to not let his emotions mix up with business, or else people around him would use this to topple him.
The man, with hair that was white as silk, turned around to meet Ian's gaze. His dark grey eyes glinted at him in firmness, and his lips formed into a straight, constricting line. Throwing the folder onto his desk, he replied nonchalantly, "Sell off our branch in France, Ian. Our subsidiary there is already on the verge of collapse. We can set its price with a reasonable value in the stocks before the branch falls to the brink of insolvency. Greetings, by the way."
The old man wasted no time and immediately showed his true intent. He suddenly flashed a condescending smirk enough to make Ian's mouth twitch. He knew this day would come when Damien would force him to sell out one of their branches, specifically the one he's been trying to hold on to for years. "Our team is already trying to come up with a new product line, Mr. Calloway. We're launching it in three months' time and I can't stop its operations after all the expenses incurred for this project."
Ian despised Damien—abhorred him for his manipulative tactics that became one reason for his father's demise. Though he detested him more because he was the father of the woman who had broken his heart once.
"That won't do. Stop the project and put it on the market. We can't risk it again. What you did there for the past few years may have stabilized the operations, but that won't make the branch last long enough. Its sales are offset, and we acquired more loss than profit," Damien reasoned out. He went to the counter to get a whiskey and poured half of it into his scotch glass. "You and your brother have done enough, son. I can handle it. Don't be worried…"
Ian's fist tightened. Although he hated him, the man had a valid point. However, he would do anything to save that branch, as it was the only thing that he had from his brother. He dared to risk everything, as he wouldn't want their deaths—his brother and his sister-in-law—to be in vain. Even with how hard he would have to cope, he wouldn't let things go to waste, especially now that he has a clue who did it.