"Good morning, Master!" Aunt Lu happily greeted him when he entered the Dining Room, and the two ladies at the breakfast table, curiously looked his way.
Raeya immediately narrowed her eyes when she saw him wearing jeans, boots, a white shirt, and a relatively inexpensive watch, but soon took her eyes off him as he sat at the table.
"What's your plan for the day?" He curiously asked Klara, who informed him that they had a lot of files and work to go through.
Tomorrow was their first official day as the CEO and President of their Beauty and Cosmetics Company, RaeKla, as well as the opening ceremony of their Office in the Emres Tower.
Their first product launch was scheduled for the last week of September, and they had a lot of work to do.
"Oh, is your company also responsible for the security of our Floors?" Klara suddenly asked, recalling that Redline Securities was one of the three Security Companies that were responsible for the safety of Emres Tower.
"We only deal with the Cyber Security and Surveillance of the building. The Emres Corporation has its own security company which guards the Office Tower and the two Residential Towers on either side of it, and we cooperate. There are a few companies in the building, occupying the top 16 floors, who have contracts with the Public Security Company which is operated by the government of our Province. The security on those Floors is tighter, and we only deal with Surveillance there."
"The Multinationals Companies." She nodded her head in understanding. "You have an office there, right?"
"The 66th Floor belongs to my Company, and that's where our systems are. No one is allowed on that floor except for my Team. And yes, I have an Office in the Building. It's the one adjacent to yours on the 47th Floor."
They both froze at his words, and Raeya narrowed her eyes at him.
"Why do you have an Office there?"
"Because I wanted to be close to you, and the rent is waived off for us." He smiled and then grinned when he met her eyes. "Not happy?"
"No."
"Doesn't matter." He shrugged and then looked at Klara again. "I will not disturb you at work, and the reason why I chose that office is that I am allowed to have my own Security Guards in and outside my office, which means that I will also be able to provide your company with extra security."
"You don't trust the Emres Security?" She frowned.
"They are one of the finest, but extra security is always good. After all, I have a lot of enemies." He said to her and then focused on his meal.
"When we took that office, yours was already taken."
"Yes, it was already my office before you signed the contract."
"So, you did not take it because of us?"
"I did."
They both furrowed their brows at his words and then Raeya suddenly lowered her head.
"I knew that you would take that office. 47th Floor provides you with the best view of Lake Madison and the Park. Not too high, not too low, and not too far."
Her heart trembled at his words.
He remembered every single thing she had ever told him, and it made her feel very restless.
Raeya suddenly stood up and left the table, fearing that she would not be able to control her tears if she stayed there.
Seeing her reaction, Klara sighed and decided to change the topic.
"What are your plans for the day?" She curiously asked him.
"I am going to see a few people today."
"Friends?"
"Not yet." He chuckled and he recalled the three Tasks the System had issued today.
One of them concerned a Daughter of Luck, and the other concerned a very important Supporting Character of the Son of Luck he did not even know the name of yet.
After finishing his meal, he wiped his hands and mouth clean with a wet towel and then stood up.
"Have a nice day!" She wished him, and he smiled at her before he leaned in and planted a kiss on her head.
"You too."
Klara froze at his action, and it was only after she looked up and saw a knowing smile on Aunt Lu's face that she blushed.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps, and soon Raeya returned to the room and took her seat again.
"He left?" She asked without looking at her sister and started plating some more food.
"Yes." Klara nodded and as her twin, she was well aware of what Raeya really wanted to know. "He said he is going to see a few people today. Potential friends. Must be related to his business."
"I see." She then remained quiet and silently ate her meal.
Mikael left the Villa in a silver AMG S-Class, one of the cars which was not too rare in the Slyvor City, so, it was not going to attract too much attention.
Behind him, an inconspicuous black Princeton SUV followed, a local midrange brand and a vehicle which was littered on the streets.
Inside it were two guards, who had been instructed by him to keep their distance and were wearing casual clothes.
After entering Central City, he put on his sunglasses, even though the sky was still covered with dark clouds and there was no sunshine.
He did it to not be recognised by people as he made his way to the Downtown.
It took him over an hour to reach his destination, and as he stopped in the parking space on the side of the road, opposite the Sylvor City Hospital, he spotted a middle-aged man, who was sitting in an open restaurant with his two children by his side.
There was an air of melancholy around him, and even the children, a boy and a girl, who looked no older than 9 and 7, looked listless as they ate their meal.
Mikael got out of the car and approached the man, taking the empty seat at the square table.
"Good morning, Mr Anderson." He greeted the man with a smile and then raised his hand to the waiter, who immediately came over to take his order.
"A coffee please, black, no sugar."
"Yes, Sir."
After the waiter left, he looked at the middle-aged man again, who was frowning at them.
Though he was only in his late thirties, he looked like he was close to fifty, and his hairline had receded way back on his head.
"Who are you?" The man asked when he found Mikael's eyes scrutinising him.
"We will get to that but first I want you to answer my question." He said and then smiled at the kids. "Are you an honest man, Mr Anderson?"
James immediately had a very bad feeling after those words, and his brows furrowed.
"I am, so please, leave me alone."
Even though he had been framed and forced out of the company, he was not going to sell their secrets to anyone.
The man thought that Mikael had come to either ask him to become a whistle-blower or to ask him about some secrets of the Investment Company he used to work at a few weeks ago.
He had nothing against the company. It was just the Director who feared that he would take his position, and so he used despicable means to frame him and force him to resign.
"Oh, you misunderstand me, Mr Anderson. I am only interested in talking to you if you are an honest person. And rest assured, our conversation will have nothing to do with your previous job."
James surprisedly looked at him, and despite himself, a ray of hope flashed in his eyes.
"What do you want?"
"I am here to offer you a job." He smiled as he saw the relief that washed over the man's face, but soon James' expression stiffened.
"I have an ongoing investigation against me."
It was the reason why no company was willing to hire him even though he had a very decorated CV.
"I am aware. Just out of curiosity, is there any truth to it?" He asked, and the man felt very uncomfortable speaking about it in front of his kids.
"Dan, take Gin and sit over there. Father needs to speak to the brother about some important matters."
The boy was very sensible and obediently told his sister to sit at the empty table a little away from them.
And then he returned and took the tray of their food with him.
"There is some truth to it." He honestly admitted. "It was a honey trap, and I had an affair with that woman. I was accused of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and breaking the rules of the company. The Broad did not even listen to my side and opened an investigation against me, police were involved, and I was arrested. I am out on bail right now."
"And you did all of this whilst your wife was hospitalised and was battling with cancer."
As soon as he heard those words, tears welled up in his eyes and he lowered his head in shame.
"Do you love your wife, Mr Anderson?"
"I do." There was no hesitation in his answer. "I will give my life for her and my kids."
"Good. I do need your life." He laughed when he saw the man freeze at his words.
However, James soon realised that it was a joke, and smiled as he shook his head.
"Do you want the job?"
"I do!" He answered without even asking what the job was, and Mikael nodded his head.
"I need a Director of Finance for my Company. You are a brilliant Chartered Accountant with years of experience under your belt. Perfect for the job. Your annual salary will be 2.7 Million Draks plus bonuses. You, your spouse and your children will get health insurance, a company vehicle, a driver, and a 5000 square feet home on Elm Street. If you agree to take the job, we will take care of all the finances of your wife's ongoing treatment. The house will belong to the company, and after you finish the first contract with us, it will be gifted to you. Your first contract will last for five years, and you will get half your annual salary upfront."
James' mouth dropped open as he heard about the salary and all the benefits.
2.7 Million Draks?! Plus bonuses?!
The house alone was worth around 2 million, and then he was also receiving Health Insurance for his family.
He felt dizzy as the offer seemed too good to be true, but when he heard the next words, he heard a boom in his mind.
"We will also take care of the charges against you. The case will not see the trial."
"I..."
"Relax, Mr James. I am not finished talking." He smiled, and the man obediently nodded his head. "Before you say yes, I would like to be blunt with you about something."
"Yes?" He nervously asked when he saw the smile on Mikael's face thin.
"You will only have one chance, and if you ever betray me and my company, you will not live for long. Stay assured though, I will not harm your family if you do decide to commit suicide."
"Sir, your Coffee." The waiter came over to give him his coffee.
Mikael took a sip and put the cup down, placed his business card and a hundred draks on the table, and then stood up.
"I have a legal business, Mr Anderson, and I don't intend to make you do anything you wouldn't be willing to do. If you agree to my offer, give me a call before midnight." He patted the man's shoulder before leaving, and when he entered his car, he caught James picking up the business card he had placed on the table.
A smile formed on his lips as he drove away.