After a meal with her father the other night, Alycia is now quietly having breakfast with her mother. Still, all that occupies her mind is her father whom she met again after 19 long years despite living in the same city.
Before they finished having dinner, her father told her that he liked the proposal and assured her that he would positively discuss it with the Minister of Defence. Though Alycia Reese is happy about it, the positive response leads her to another task that seems quite hopeless.
How is she supposed to explain to her mother once the news breaks out?
Putting aside the fact that she plans to collaborate with the armed forces, she also met her father behind her mother's back!
When the pressure grows inside her, Alycia Reese glances at her mother who is busy eating and working at the same time but she immediately turns away. Once her mother knew what she did... she could not even think further as it looked so scary!
Hell will break loose. She is sure of it.
"Do you have something to say to me?"
Alycia Reese is snapped out of her thoughts by her mother's voice and when she looks at her mother, she notices that she is staring at her with that familiar calm expression on her face.
"You keep on glancing at me once in a while," Miranda Reese points out when her daughter says nothing. "Does something bother you?"
Alycia Reese briefly recalls the thought that she had the other night. After parting with her father, she thought of her mother and decided that if she were to know about the project and the reunion, it would be best for her to say it herself. It would only be worse if her mother were to hear it from other sources. However...
She cannot bring herself to do it at the moment. She needs time to collect herself and gather her courage.
"About the event that your hotel is holding..." She says after a brief thought and continues, "Is the preparation going well?"
Though Miranda Reese smiles at her daughter's question, she also appears a bit confused at the same time. "You are finally showing interest in the hotel? That's not like you."
As her mother is always great at seeing through her, Alycia Reese ends up forcing an awkward smile, trying her best to hide her nervosity. "It's to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the corporation and it has been keeping you busy for months now. Besides, I am also a part of the family and the corporation too."
Miranda Reese lets out a light chuckle. "Why don't you come and start learning then? The hotel will be passed down to you anyway."
With all other feelings gone, Alycia Reese ends up frowning. "That again? You know I'm not interested in the hotel."
Since she was young, her mother has been managing Reese Hotel and is also the current CEO. When it comes to the management of the Hotel, even her uncle, the current Chairman of the Corporation does not interfere and all the decision lies with her mother, who grows the Hotel into the best in the country.
Perhaps because the Hotel is special to her, Miranda Reese always wishes for her daughter to take over one day and make it even greater but Alycia is never interested.
"You manage your security agency just fine," Miranda Reese calmly states despite hearing the response she is familiar with. "The board of directors is also very pleased with your management skills. They often asked when you would start working and help in managing the hotel."
She waits but when her daughter says nothing as usual, she lets out a heavy sigh. "You know that the event you mentioned is in a week, right? Don't forget to make time for it."
Alycia Reese nods her head. "I already told Kevin to keep my schedule free for the event. Don't worry, Mother." She glances at her wristwatch and rises from her seat. "I have to meet Nathan to discuss work. I will get going first."
* * *
Sitting in the backseat of her car, Alycia Reese quietly scrolls her tablet until she lets out a sigh and shifts her gaze to Kevin who is driving. "It seems like you have many things to say," she points out, hinting at how her private assistant keeps on glancing at her through the front mirror.
Though she sounds a bit annoyed, she understands why Kevin is behaving that way. After all, she did not say anything on the way home the other night.
"It was just so surprising to me," Kevin Shaw honestly states almost immediately. "I had no clue about you and the General until yesterday."
Kevin Shaw has been her private assistant and bodyguard since she founded CR Securities three years ago and Alycia understands what he is talking about. "It's a deep secret of my family," she says and gives a quick thought before she adds, "I don't want my mother to get a wind of this, even by mistake."
She knows that her mother often asks Kevin about her work out of concern and she is afraid that Kevin would spill the project to her mother without having a clue about the family's history.
"I understand," Kevin Shaw responds and continues to drive quietly. Soon enough, they reach the Headquarters of Reese Corporation.
"You should go to the training center," Alycia Reese instructs once Kevin pulls over the car.
"Right now?"
"Yes." Briefly glancing at the building, she adds, "I doubt the meeting will be short. You know what Nathan is like."
"Should I return once the meeting ends?"
"No," Alycia quickly replies. "I will return on my own. Just make sure to see that the training is going well."
"I understand."
Alycia Reese finally gets out of the car and enters the Headquarters.
Everyone working for Reese Corporation knows who Alycia Reese is - the only young lady of the Reese family who is the beloved niece of the Chairman and most famously, the doted younger cousin of the Vice Chairman, Nathan Reese.
Nathan Reese is a perfectionist who does everything by the book when it comes to business. However, it is said that the young Vice Chairman has a soft spot for his younger cousin and he always ends up giving in to her, be it personal or even professional matters.
The ones who work for the Vice Chairman know very well that whenever the Vice Chairman goes beyond his principles in his personal or professional matters, his younger cousin is always the one behind it.
Some even joked that he would even hand over the Corporation to Alycia if the latter were to ask for it! This is just an example of the extent the Vice Chairman would go for his only cousin.
Like always, Alycia is greeted by her cousin's private assistant, a young man in his late 20s, when she reaches the floor where the Vice Chairman's office is located.
"Welcome, President." Though the private assistant of the Vice Chairman is said to be a stern person who strictly follows the rules and protocols just like his boss, he has a little smile on his face when he greets the young lady of the Reese family.
"It's been a while, Brandon." Alycia exchanges the greeting with a pleasant smile.
"It is," the private assistant named Brandon Neal promptly responds. "The Vice Chairman is waiting."
Alycia Reese glances at the door to the office before she shifts her attention back to the private assistant. "Is Nathan doing fine these days?" Though she often meets up with her cousin, the latter has been extremely busy these days with the 75th-anniversary event coming up. As such, it has been a while since she last had a proper chat with him.
"Yes, President," Brandon responds and slightly smiles as he adds, "Though he is busier than usual, the Vice Chairman makes sure not to neglect his meals and health not to worry you. He often said that you would nag at him again if he did not take care of himself."
Alycia Reese chuckles but she is interrupted by a voice almost immediately.
"Are you here to spy on me?"
Hearing the familiar voice, both Alycia and Brandon dart their eyes to the door where Vice Chairman Nathan Reese is standing next to it. At the sight, Alycia scoffs while the private assistant promptly bows and stands aside to make way for the Vice Chairman who is approaching them.
"You can just ask me those things," Nathan Reese says to his cousin once he halts in front of her. "Why inquire behind my back as if you were here to spy on me?"
Though he looks a bit annoyed, his eyes say otherwise and Alycia does not even need much effort to notice this.....