Aiden decided to spend the rest of the day at the company. He knew his presence was essential to keep things running smoothly. Arthur and Ada continued to be a constant source of news and problems, and the pace was relentless.
As soon as he entered his office, he found a file on the table.
"And this?" he muttered, looking at Arthur who had entered behind him.
"Reports on investments in Asia and the state of startups in Africa. I put a summary on the first page."
Aiden let out a long sigh, falling into his chair and pulling the file out.
"Why do I feel like you two want to kill me from exhaustion?"
Arthur laughed.
"We're taking care of the company. The little guy just needs to sign."
"Signing is hard work. You should try it sometime."
Arthur shrugged, leaving the room. Aiden spent the next few hours reviewing reports, signing papers, and resolving issues through short meetings. The clock seemed to drag, but he knew that a slow and careful pace was necessary. Star Corp.'s expansion depended on every detail and the right decision.
Around 4 p.m., Ada came in with a new stack of reports, but this time she was wearing a mischievous smile.
"Before you start complaining, I have good news."
"That's news. Keep going."
"The planning team has brought some initial ideas for expanding into Argentina. The market is promising, and we can partner with local banks to gain influence quickly."
"Great. Put everything on paper and present it tomorrow. I want details, numbers, and projections. No guesswork."
Ada nodded.
"Sure. The presentation will be ready tomorrow morning."
He leaned back in his chair, satisfied, watching the city bustling by through the glass windows.
As he finished his last reports, the System that was accompanying him decided to speak up. A blue panel appeared in Aiden's peripheral vision.
『System Notification:
Mission Submission Updated.』
『Star Corp.'s expansion into Argentina.』
『Progress: 10% complete.』
Aiden snorted a light laugh.
"You never tire of pressuring me, do you?"
The System remained silent.
Before leaving, Aiden decided to stop by Orion's office. When he arrived, he found Orion analyzing a map on the wall, with several points marked in red.
"Updates?" Aiden asked, crossing his arms.
Orion turned around.
"We have reason to believe that someone is monitoring your movements closely. It's not just a coincidence that you've been followed recently."
"A trap being set?"
"Possibly. We're stepping up security and sending discreet men to follow him. We've also searched the records of the car that almost hit him, and it looks like the documents were forged. This is professional work."
Aiden ran his hand over his chin thoughtfully.
"I want you to find out who's behind this. No matter how long it takes. Use whatever resources you need."
"Consider it done, boss. And I recommend keeping your guard up."
Aiden smirked.
"When do I not?"
Orion chuckled softly.
When he left the security building, night had already fallen. The city lights shone like urban constellations as Aiden drove slowly through the streets. Unlike the intense races of his Lamborghini, he preferred this more leisurely pace, with the sound of the engine echoing softly.
An instrumental music played on the radio as Aiden drove through the tree-lined streets that led to the Baskerville family's ancestral home. The stately mansion sat atop a small hill, surrounded by manicured gardens and sturdy stone walls, symbols of tradition and history. The automatic gate opened slowly, and he drove up the long, paved driveway, the sound of tires echoing softly through the quiet space.
He stopped the car in front of the large, carved wooden door. A sense of nostalgia hit him. Whenever he returned to his family's home, a mix of feelings filled him—childhood memories, family warmth, but also the weight of expectations that came with the Baskerville family name.
"Time to see how things are going," Aiden muttered, getting out of the car and adjusting his blazer.
Upon entering, he was greeted by the comforting smell of freshly baked cake wafting from the kitchen. The house was quiet, yet alive. The classic furniture, the antique chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and the family portraits on the walls spoke of the Baskervilles' solidity through the generations.
The main living room was busy as always. Sitting on the large central sofa, Victoria, his mother, was engrossed in a soap opera on TV. She wore a simple but elegant dress, with her brown hair neatly tied back in a low bun. Her expression changed with each scene of the soap opera, as if she were living the drama herself.
To his right, Nikolas, his 17-year-old younger brother, was completely immersed in his cell phone, his eyebrows furrowed and his fingers swiping rapidly across the screen. He was wearing headphones and was clearly playing a game. The low sound of explosions and electronic voices gave away that he was in the middle of a heated game. Nikolas was a professional player of Orizon, a famous online game, and his focus was almost unwavering when he competed.
In the farthest armchair, Diego, his father, was reading a folded newspaper, his glasses sliding slightly down his nose. He wore a crisp white shirt and dark pants, maintaining the rigid posture and serious air that defined him. Diego Baskerville was a man of few smiles.
"You finally showed up, Aiden." Diego said without taking his eyes off the newspaper.
His father's deep voice broke the silence of the room, making Victoria and Nikolas look up briefly.
"I missed you too, Dad." Aiden replied with a sarcastic smile, walking to the center of the room.
Victoria immediately turned off the TV and stood up, smiling when she saw her oldest son.
"Aiden! What a wonderful surprise. Come here."
She approached him and gave him a warm hug, something that always made him relax a little.
"You're too thin, have you been eating right?" she asked, looking him over from head to toe with critical eyes.
"Mom, I'm perfectly healthy." Aiden replied, chuckling softly.
"Too healthy to keep disappearing." Diego added dryly, folding the newspaper and finally looking at him. "Star Corp. hasn't been giving you any rest, I imagine."
"Business is business, Dad. Someone has to keep the wheel turning."
"Money is no excuse to forget about family."
Before the mood could get heated, Nikolas interrupted, "Aiden, less drama and more attention here. Look how much I'm climbing the rankings today!"
Nikolas held up his phone to show the game. On the screen, an intense game of Orizon was unfolding, with explosions, strategies being executed quickly. His nickname "NikoBask" shone among the top-ranked players at the moment.
"Today's practice?" Aiden asked, genuinely interested.
" Yes. I'm in the lead, but these guys are coming at you with everything."
Victoria snorted softly, crossing her arms.
" This boy only thinks about this game. He's always locked in his room or in online competitions."
" And making money, mom. Don't forget." Nikolas replied, without taking his eyes off his cell phone.
Aiden laughed at the exchange. Seeing Nikolas so determined about something reminded him of himself at the same age, when he was still finding his way amidst family pressures.
Aiden walked to the couch and threw himself on it with an exaggerated sigh, crossing his legs.
" So, how are things around here? Any news besides Niko's championships and mom's soap operas?"
Victoria sat back down, looking at Aiden with a loving look.
" Your father has been worried about business in the North region. Many investors have been coming with absurd proposals for our lands."
"Ah, the Baskerville lands again? Are they still insisting on that?"
Diego nodded, his expression serious.
"They never give up. They think that just because we're an old family they can pressure us. I received an offer to sell part of the land on the estate. Of course I refused."
"Why do they want that area so badly?" Aiden asked, intrigued.
"Speculation." Diego replied, leaning back in his chair. "They're saying they're going to open a technology center there, but we know that's just idle talk. That's just a front to drive up the prices of the adjacent land."
"Hmm... It seems we'll need to look into this more closely. I can have my team investigate further, if you'd like."
Diego stared at him for a moment, considering his words, before nodding.
"Do it. I trust your judgment."
Victoria clapped her hands softly to get their attention.
"Enough business in the living room! Let's talk about good things. Aiden, you're staying for dinner, aren't you? I've prepared a roast like old times."
Aiden smiled, feeling the familiar warmth finally envelop him.
"Of course, Mom. I won't miss this for anything."
Nikolas, still focused on the game, exclaimed excitedly
"That's it, team! Let's go to the finals!"
Everyone looked at him, laughing at the contagious excitement. Aiden leaned back on the couch, feeling a rare peace take over the room.