When Kevin pulls over the car next to Alycia's residence, the latter glances at the small shopping bag next to her once again. This makes her think of her mother who would still be waiting for her and she quickly makes up her mind.
"Take this with you," she says, shifting her gaze to her private assistant. "Just make sure to bring it to me the day after tomorrow."
"I understand."
Alycia Reese gets out of the car and walks inside her residence. Just as she expects, her mother is still awake and waiting for her in the living room.
"I'm home."
Hearing her daughter's voice, Miranda Reese promptly rises from her seat and approaches her daughter who takes the chance to speak up first.
"I'm sorry for missing your calls, Mother. I think a busy day has me all tired."
Miranda Reese quietly stares at her daughter for a moment as if she were observing her to see for herself that she is really fine. Then finally, she nods her head. "Alright." Their unfinished conversation from the morning crosses her mind but her daughter's tired look makes her refrain. "You should go up and rest," she calmly advises Alycia.
Like always, her mother's deep consideration and concern for her makes Alycia feel guilty. Ever since one incident from her childhood, her mother can never stop worrying about her or be at ease until she is home at night. The trauma often makes her mother overthink and torments her even for the smallest things and Alycia is helpless about it.
Not to mention that she is completely sure that her mother won't like what she is up to! At one point, she even considers coming clean but... she does not dare to. She knows very well what her mother's reaction would be.
"Alright," she finally says after a few seconds of silence. "Have some rest too, Mother. It's late."
Once her mother nods her head, Alycia heads upstairs and enters her room. She slowly approaches her bed and once she sits down, many thoughts enter her mind one after another - the important yet unnerving appointment she scheduled with all her courage, the dinner she had with that Colonel who keeps on surprising her over and over again, and also that calm confession.
The more she thinks of it, the more it does not make sense. Mason Kent has feelings for her? It is just so surreal.
Soldiers... why are they the ones who always cause turmoil in her life? It has been like this ever since she was young!
With the weight of her thoughts weighing down on her, Alycia Reese feels more pressure and ends up taking a deep breath.
She should refrain from overthinking. It won't bring her any good.
* * *
Another day quietly passed but the quieter it was, the more Alycia Reese attempted to make herself busier.
Be it her unnerving appointment, her dinner with Mason Kent, and above all, her breakup with Elliot McCall... she wishes to free herself from all these events that always make her feel like she is inside a maze with no out. And to make it happen, making herself busier is the best way.
Though it has only been two days, Kevin Shaw is very quick to catch the change in her life... be it personal or professional. After all, she never talks to Elliot through a phone call like she often did, and unlike her usual carefree nature, she has become so dull and quiet. Not to mention that he often notices her zoning out despite making herself busier than ever.
It is almost 5 in the evening when Kevin is driving his boss to the Army Headquarters for her appointment with the General. Like it is often in the past few days, Alycia Reese is quietly sitting in the backseat of the car, glancing at the outdoors. Still, it is obvious that her mind is somewhere else.
Once they reach the Headquarters, they are greeted by a Major who guides them all the way to the General's office. Once they reach there, the Major enters first to inform General Patrick about the arrival of his guest before he comes out again.
"Please enter, Miss Reese."
Hearing the approval, Kevin Shaw quickly opens the door for the President who shows a subtle hint of hesitation. However, Alycia immediately puts on a calm facade before anyone notices it. Then finally, she enters the General's office.
General Patrick Cortez rises from his seat the moment he notices Alycia and quickly approaches her with a little smile on his face. "Welcome," he says and opens his mouth to address Alycia but... he seems to be hesitating like Alycia was earlier and eventually fails to do so in the end. After a brief yet awkward silence, all he manages to say is, "Please have a seat."
Alycia Reese nods her head without saying a word. As this is not like her, it surprises her private assistant once again.
What's with this atmosphere?
"Thank you for accepting my request, General," Alycia finally speaks once she takes a seat on the General's left. "I really appreciate the chance."
They are there for a business meeting but... it is not like one at all. Perhaps because all General Patrick does is gaze at Alycia with a subtle smile on his lips. He does not even seem to hear what Alycia has just said!
This sight of the General stuns Kevin Shaw who is standing beside the couch where Alycia sits. However, what makes him even more perplexed is the fact that his boss does not do or say anything about it. Instead, she simply sits there and narrows her eyes once in a while.
"Oh. I apologize." Patrick Cortez is finally out of stupor and as if forcing himself to concentrate, he quickly asks, "Shall we hear out your proposal first?"
Alycia Reese turns to Kevin who hands her a file. Then she opens the file and places it on the center table in front of the General. "I am proposing a training which will last two weeks," she starts and continues, "If the best of the soldiers can help train the security guards of my agency and share their skills with them while my agency covers all the cost and also make needed donations to the forces, I believe it will be highly profitable for both parties."
She makes a deliberate pause and continues, "Armed forces and police forces have a great responsibility of protecting the country and the people but their service is not accessible for every single person. I think it's safe to say that my agency and other agencies are working to fill the void by providing security to the best extent possible."
General Patrick picks up the file where Alycia lists her proposal in detail. A few seconds pass with him quietly reading the proposal before he slowly shifts his attention back to Alycia. "This is one ambitious project," he remarks. "I heard that CR Securities is already the best in the country in your respective field in just three years and it seems like you won't lose the title that soon."
"It's true that we are considered the best right now but about the title... I don't think anything can be too safe in my field, General," Alycia honestly replies.
"Then I am curious," Patrick Cortez says and puts down the file. "Why are you this ambitious and restless when you are already the best? I admit this is a good proposal for both your agency and the army but it will cost you a lot. You are a businesswoman after all."
Alycia Reese briefly narrows her eyes and then looks at the General again with a subtle smile on her face. "Do you know the reason why I established CR Securities when I can just save myself all the trouble and simply work for my mother and my uncle?" She rhetorically asks the General and pauses a moment before she says, "I did it to fulfill my father's dream. Establishing a security agency company and doing the work which is considered to be outside the responsibility of the armed forces... it was always my father's dream."