Arianna used the telephone to call Ashley.
She couldn't hide the truth from Ashley for long, She needed her family's support as her emotions were unstable now.
' This is Ashley Havana who am I speaking with?' Ashley says.
' Ashley it's me.' Arianna replies her voice came out as a whisper probably due to crying.
' Arianna what's wrong?' Ashley says. Did Arianna see the news about Khurana Industry? Was that why she was crying?
' I will send you more location, come with Riona don't disturb the others.' Arianna replies.
' Wait there, I'm coming.'
About 45 minutes later,
' Arianna are you okay?'
' What's wrong?'
Ashley's eyes land on the h*ckeys on her neck.
' What happened to you?' Ashley asks. How could she not know what those marks meant?
' Ashley, I had a drink with Ken and then....' Arianna recounts the incident excluding some parts.
' That animal! I will make him pay for this.' Riona says shaking with anger.
' I will make him beg for death. His karma caught up with him quickly, his company is suffering major losses.' Ashley says.
Arianna doesn't look surprised.
' Did you do this?' Ashley asks..
' Yes. I got people to beat him up but he was unfazed so I decided to hit where it hurts the most.' Arianna replies.
' You did the right thing. If he manages to escape this situation, I will deploy our shadow agents to dig up dirt on him. Let's report him to the police.' Ashley says.
' No. We just started a company, it will be like shooting ourselves with a foot.' Arianna says.
' You mean shoot ourselves in the foot.' Riona corrects.
' Potato Potato, Who cares as long as you got the point?' Arianna says and the girls laugh.
' We brought your phone for you. It kept beeping weirdly in the car.' Riona says.
It was one of the treasure hunters calling. Her phone would only receive the call if she had her finger on the fingerprint sensor otherwise it would keep beeping.
' Let's go home. I will need to stop by your house to cover up the marks with makeup.' Arianna says to Riona.
' And if anyone asks you guys came to pick me up as I was drunk and couldn't find a taxi.' Arianna says.
***************
The next morning,
Arian woke up and immediately rushed to his mother's room. She wasn't there.
He ran to the dining where he saw a huge box addressed to him. He opened it. It contained a chocolate cake and a new Rubik cube with a note stuck to eat.
Dear Baby,
I know you didn't get to eat enough cake at the party. So I thought we could have cake and tea for breakfast. And I know you have finished the last Rubik cube I bought for you so try beat this one.
Yours Forever,
Mom.
Such a cheesy woman!
' Mom! Where are you?' Arian calls out.
Arianna comes out with a tray containing a jug of tea and two tea cups.
' Calm down Baby, I went to get the tea. How was your night?' Arianna asks.
' It was not good. You didn't kiss me goodnight.' Arian replies.
' Sorry Baby. Mom got drunk last night and fell asleep in the car. That's why I made this apology breakfast. Now go freshen up you have to go to school.' Arianna says.
' You are lucky I love you alot. You always take advantage of my love. Humph!' Arian says and goes to freshen up.
Arianna smiled and brought out her phone to call Brandon.
' Arianna, I found out something. Let's meet up later at your house.' Brandon says.
' Okay.' Arianna replies.
******************
' What do you mean by you can't trace the hacker? A whole team of experts and none of you could find the source or stop the attack. I give you 24 hours! If you can't find a solution in 24 hours you are all fired!' Ken says as he walked out of the conference room.
' What's the situation at the port?' Ken asks.
' They are looking to take legal action against us. We have been accused of importing contraband goods.' Leo replies.
****************
' Bye baby. Make sure you are patient with your classmates and don't correct your teacher everytime.' Arianna says.
' Yes I understand. Such a nagging woman.' Arian replies.
' I love you Baby.' Arianna says as she kissed his forehead.
' I love you too Mom.' Arian replies. He pecks her cheek and goes in.
****************,
Some minutes later,
Arianna's Villa.
Arianna and the treasure hunters were seated watching a video on a laptop.
' In this video,This waitress met with someone at the blind side of the camera, all that can be noticed is this black-gold ring on his hand. When she went there she didn't have a drink with her, but she came out with a tray containing two glasses of wine. At this same time Ken Khurana was talking with some other guests.' Brandon says and he plays another video.
' In this video this man who is not on the invite list goes to the same spot the waitress went to and when he returned he went straight to Ken Khurana. I lipread their conversation and he told Ken Khurana that it was impolite not to give a toast to the host. And when Ken Khurana called for a waiter, that same waitress came and served the same glasses to the both of you.' Brandon says and plays another video..
' In this video, you are flustered and getting sweaty barely keeping your eyes open and the same waitress tells you that Ken Khurana wants to see you. At that moment you fall unconscious.
She takes you to Ken Khurana and asks him to take you to your room while she goes to get medication.
The video however shows she makes a phone call after which she leaves the venue.'
' In the last video, when I zoom in on Ken Khurana you can see his face is slightly red and he is sweating, you can also notice that he's clenching his teeth. I couldn't monitor what happened after he took you in but I made a few observations.
The both of you are victims and this whole thing was planned for two possible reasons; either to create misunderstandings between you and Ken Khurana or to use you to destroy Ken Khurana.
And the mastermind behind this is someone close to you. Close enough to know where all the blind spots are and close enough to predict your next move and close enough to know that you have the power to destroy Ken Khurana.' Brandon says.
Arianna is silent.
' So this means that by attacking Ken Khurana, we are doing what that person wants.' Tyler says.
' But who could it be?' Dylan asks.
' I am confused. Who would want to do this to me and why would they choose to use me?' Arianna says.
' I have my suspects and the reason they might choose you.' Brandon says.
' Who do you suspect?' Blake ask.
' I did a background check on every one close to the Lady Boss. Ashley Havana, Riona Smith, Arian Havana, Mira Havana, Raymond James, Fred Shane, Arthur Havana and Skyler Robert. These 9 people are involved in every activities of the Lady Boss, be it at home or work.
Ashley Havana is close to Lady Boss and has no I'll intentions. Mira is adopted but has filial love and loyalty to the Lady Boss. Riona Smith is indisputable in the Lady Boss' life and wouldn't betray her for anything. Arthur Havana has immeasurable admiration for our Lady Boss. Skyler Robert is connected closely to our Lady Boss due to his relationship with Ashley Havana. He has no ulterior motives against the Lady Boss.
So my two main suspects are: Raymond James and Fred Shane. Most of my suspicion falls on Fred Shane.
Raymond James is an only child and can be labelled as spoilt and I discovered that the James and Khurana Industry have never made any business interaction for a long time and the two companies were actually very close once. I don't know the reason they became estranged but Raymond James shows no flaws when you exclude his playboy life.
Fred on the other hand has a pretty ordinary life with elderly parents who died when he was 18 leaving him to handle the family's business. His details seem ordinary. Way too ordinary that it attracts suspicion. Lady Boss can you tell how you met these two.' Brandon says.
' I met Raymond on campus when he nearly hit Arian and I with his car. We became good friends and he was extremely fond of Arian. He said Arian reminded him of his childhood friend.
I met Fred for the first time at the airport in Parkville. We had the same destination, we were both in first class and our seats were next to each other.
Then I met him later at a bar he helped me when someone was troubling me. I really don't think these guys would plot against me.' Arianna replies.
' I think the Lady Boss' encounter with Fred Shane was too much of a coincidence. And the James guy does seem to have a motive.' Blake says.
' Doesn't that mean Ken Khurana is innocent? Shouldn't we spare him? At this rate his company will go bankrupt in two weeks.' Dylan says.
' No.' Arianna says.
' No???' They all ask.
' I mean we will arrange a meeting with Ken and explain to him that we both are pawns in someone's game. We will compensate him for his losses and help him draft new budgets and also release his goods from the custom. All the computers in his workplace will remain hacked and we'll still spread news about Khurana Industry Challenges. It is likely that there is a mole in the Khurana Industry. We have to make the mastermind think his plan is working. Only then would he relax and we can catch him by surprise.' Arianna explains.
' That's a great idea.'
' I will arrange the meeting with Ken Khurana.'
' I will speak to the Customs.'
' I will spread the news.'
They all left. Arianna sipped her hot chocolate.
Who was this Mastermind.