Chapter Three
"Unbelievable, sir. Mr. Schneider hasn't arrived yet," Seline complained over the phone. Partly annoyed and partly frustrated, she tapped her pen repeatedly against her desk, waiting for Mr. Blake's response.
"I heard you, Seline. I just don't know what to say," Mr. Blake responded flatly.
"The Schneiders call the shots. We'll just have to be patient, I guess," he added
"Sure sir" she responded in annoyance and dropped the telephone
Mimicking sarcastically, she muttered under her breath, "The Schneiders call the shots," before spinning her chair absentmindedly.
A knock interrupted her thoughts, soft but deliberate.
"Yes, come in, please!" she called out, straightening her posture and adjusting her seat to a more formal position.
The door opened slowly, then burst wide as a man strode in, dressed entirely in black with a face obscured by a mask. Accompanying him was a woman in a pink suit, exuding an air of authority. Seline guessed she was in her sixties, her fine Italian accent confirming her distinguished presence.
"Hello, Dr. Sylvester," the woman greeted with a charming smile, extending a perfectly manicured hand for a handshake.
Taking her hand, Seline returned the smile. "Schneider, I presume?" she said softly, her voice steady.
"Exactly. I'm Marie," the woman confirmed. "Jason here is my nephew." She gestured to the man in black, who remained quiet.
Seline's professional smile didn't falter as her eyes briefly assessed Jason. There was something enigmatic about him—his posture guarded, his presence unsettling yet intriguing.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Schneider," Seline said, extending her hand towards Jason.
"If I may, please call me Jason," he replied, taking her hand gently. He lifted it slightly towards his masked face, pressing a light kiss to the air above her fingers. The mask served as a barrier, adding an unusual touch of formality to the gesture.
Marie's voice cut through the moment. "Before you continue, I'd like to excuse myself," she said politely, heading towards the door with a knowing glance.
"Go on, Jason. Do have your seat," Seline offered, gesturing to the chair across from her. He complied silently, his movements deliberate, measured.
"How do you do, Jason?" she asked, her voice warm but probing.
"How about a little insight into you?" he countered, his tone smooth but restrained. "Dr. Sylvester sounds too formal."
Seline allowed herself a small smile. "Seline would be fine, then. But before we proceed, may I ask why you're masked?"
Jason tilted his head slightly, his eyes meeting hers. "You mean the nose mask?" he said with an air of nonchalance, giving her an almost teasing look.
"Yes," she replied plainly, unwilling to back down from her curiosity.
"You'll find out as time goes on," he said cryptically. "But trust me, my face isn't something you'd like to see, Seline."
Her smile faltered for the briefest moment before she recovered, slipping back into her professional demeanor. "Very well, Jason. Let's begin."
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