" Mm, tell them to keep an eye on them.". Carl nodded and rested back on the chair. He was afraid that the mysterious man was behind it. He sighed and wished he could remember his face.
" Big bro! Is something wrong, are you sick?." Zach stared at him worriedly when he noticed him rubbing his forehead.
" Mm, I'm fine, " he replied nonchalantly and stood up.
" Big bro, you're not, and even David___ Oh, I mean you're not looking fine big bro," Zach said frantically and almost gave out the poor assistant. No, he had to make his brother speak. He also stood up and was about to open his mouth then.
" Big bro, you're back.". Vivian beamed and strode toward Carl excitedly.
He sighed inside, remembering that he still had another problem to take care of and Zach rolled his eyes, seeing that she had interrupted their conversation.
Vivian stopped in front of him and added with a smile, " Lucy and I baked you a cake, right Lucy?" She turned to the girl who was coming down from the stairs with an oversized suitcase and wondered where she was going.
Lucy descended the stairs and slowly nodded while scoffing inside. Feeling happy that she would finally escape her clutches.
" Big bro, you should try it. Sis Viv__ I mean I added your favorite flavor.". She urged.
" Mm." Carl nodded and strode toward the dining room and they all followed behind.
Vivian carefully served him the cake, while taking in his fresh scents that she had missed for the past few weeks. " Here, " she smiled softly and placed the slice in front of him with a blushing face.
" Big bro, how does it taste? " Lucy enquired eagerly with bright eyes as her brother ate the cake.
" Mm, good.". Carl nodded with a smile.
Vivian's cheeks turned scarlet and she covered her mouth, suppressing her excited giggles while staring at Carl dreamily. He had complimented her baking.
Zach rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time and finally said." Viv, where is my cake.".
Vivian raised an eyebrow and mouthed ' No cake for you ' remembering the big portion he had taken from the kitchen without her permission. She then served Lucy and returned her attention to Carl who was eating nonchalantly.
' This fox, ' Zach scoffed inside and stood up then cut himself a slice knowing that she won't stop him as big bro was there.
Some minutes later, the parents returned and Carl followed his father into the study room.
______
" I want to focus on the software company." Carl sat down across from his father.
" What about the other companies, ?" his father said with a frown.
" I will take care of them from there.".
" I don't think it's a good idea, it's a small company compared to the others and the shareholders will have a say in it.".the man discouraged, thinking it was absurd.
" Mm, I'll take care of it," Carl replied nonchalantly.
Seeing that he was adamant, his father sighed and waved one hand. " Whatever, do as you wish," he said then stopped him as he was about to leave the room." About Vivian, when do you plan to hold your engagement.".
Carl frowned and turned back." Father, I don't love her," he said coldly.
" You..., Vivian's a good girl, I'm sure you'll love her after you marry!, and her father too will be__".
" Henry,! stop it." his wife walked inside with a teacup and glared at him.
The man sighed exasperatedly and glared at his stubborn son. " You practically grew up together, why won't you marry her. . . just what do you plan to do with your life. Don't you want to have a family?"
" Henry!, calm down I'm sure he also has his reasons." she sighed and dropped the cups on the table then turned toward Carl and said, " Son, why don't you spend more time with Vivian and understand each other more.".
" Mum." Carl sighed helplessly.
" She's a nice girl son, I'm sure as time goes on, you'll like her, " she said and held his hands with a soft smile.
_____
Vivian sighed and the small plate in her hand trembled slightly as she stood in front of the door while listening to the conversation going on inside.
Then she saw the door opened and quickly put on a smile." Oh, Big bro, I am about to take the cake to father. . . do you want some more? I'll go to the kitchen and__" she paused mid-sentence as Carl strode past her without even glancing at her.
She bit her lip then sighed while staring at his back until he was out of view before she entered the study room.
_____
Carl walked toward the living room and spotted Lucy sulking in a corner. " What happened?." he frowned and sat on the sofa.
" hehe, Mum scolded her again. . . she wanted to follow you back home, right little cat?."
Lucy glared at him then looked down with a pout." Big bro, Mummy said I should go visit grandpa with her tomorrow.".
" Okay." Carl nodded and ruffled her hair.
" But, when I come back, I'll move to__"
" Lucy!" Her mother exclaimed from upstairs and walked down. " Didn't I tell you not to disturb your brother.? He's very busy, how can he possibly take care of you when you can't even cook.". She sighed exasperatedly, wondering what had gotten into her daughter's head as she was so persistent to follow her brother. Vivian was doing a good job by teaching her how to act properly but now she wanted to escape?.
Lucy sighed inside knowing that she can't outwit her mother then finally gave up. " Your presents are upstairs." she heard her brother said and her eyes lit up instantly.
" Thank you so much big bro.". she hugged his arm and ran upstairs excitedly and her mother shook her head, wondering when her daughter would stop behaving like a spoilt princess.
" Lucy told me that she saw Mira at the company, did you know about it?." She sat down beside Zach and said happily.
" Huh.?" Zach looked up with a gasp then sighed inside. so she was working in his brother's company.
" But why did she suddenly leave.? I heard that nobody knows from the organization, " she said and looked at the boys confusedly.