Faced with Grace's calm, unflappable smile, Jenny softly glared at her with grievances in her eyes:
"Why did you not tell me about your health, aunt? I only knew just earlier that you had been to the hospital a few days ago. And aunt Lee told me today that you went again. That is very awful of you, aunt, so I'm very, very angry with you."
"Is that so?"
Grace let out a soft chuckle, and continued as they walked into the vestibule:
"Then that actually makes me happy."
Jenny widened her eyes, the stomped her foot in indignation:
"Aunt!"
Grace glanced at the younger woman and asked:
"How can I not be happy that you are worried about me?"
Jenny froze, then her indignation melted like snow, under the warmth coming from the side.
"However, you don't have to worry about me. It is just a sequela that came with my age, nothing more. Let's talk about something else instead."
Jenny looked at Leyna for confirmation, and only got reassured at the nod telling her that she was not being lied to.
"Your brother has been to the hospital with us. You can ask him later."
Jenny gave the two older women a deep look, before she nodded, inwardly promising herself to check the matter out later.
"Then, what do you want to talk about, aunt Grace?"
Grace rested her lake green eyes on her niece, and asked:
"When are you going to visit your brother?"
_ _ _
_ _ _
*Ding*
The elevator's door opened, and Marten Lenner walked out. His impassive face, a reflection of dignity, kept the way clear for him until he reached the exterior of the Group's headquarters, and sat into the car whose door was held open for him.
As the driver soundlessly closed it and made to regain his seat behind the wheel of the luxury business car, Marten's phone rang.
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
He took it out, took a look at the screen, then picked up the call on handsfree. As he put the phone on the armrest in the middle of the backseat, the caller spoke, his tone filled with respect:
"Director."
"Speak."
Marten's deep voice was authoritative and flat, but the man on the other side, seemingly of the same age group as him, didn't mind.
"I call because of the unexpected change today–"
"It was not unexpected, only with little likelihood."
The displeasure in the flat voice made the man on the other side pause, before he replied, as Marten's car started moving:
"Yes, director. But the chairperson's seat of the Group has been taken for now, even if temporarily. Will your nephew pose a problem to us?"
Marten indifferently glanced outside, as his deep voice rang low:
"First of all, he is not my nephew."
A simple statement so loud in the silence of the car. Even the weighty quiet that settled down on the other side could be felt, as Marten went on:
"Secondly, Arland Group has not grown to where it is now without being aggressive. My father has done enough, and it is up to us, his descendants, to bring what he has left behind higher. Keep going."
After a short silence, an answer came, firm, but followed by some hesitancy:
"Understood. However, we have met with some troubles."
"..."
The wordless response made the man continue:
"The negotiations at the center of our strategies have stalled, and they might fall through at any moment."
This time, Marten couldn't keep the impassive expression on his face. A frown marred it, like a stain to his dignity:
"What happened?"
In a foreboding tone, the man on the other side explained:
"K World Group seems to have smelled something. The twelve companies we have indirectly controlled have been pushed aside, and the talks with our direct subsidiaries have stalled."
Marten's frown went away, along with the shadow that had shrouded his face, and he lightly remarked:
"So they found out."
"Yes, and they are displaying their stance."
Marten went silent for a moment. His gaze, though on the scenery passing by, was contemplative.
"Consolidate the resources that can be used, and discard the shells that don't have any value remaining. Strive to minimize our losses."
"Understood, sir. I know what to do."
"Don't let anyone find fault."
With that last instruction, and without waiting for an answer, Marten tapped on the red button on the screen of his phone to end the call.
*Beep*
His gaze remained deep as he let it rest on the sights offered by the city outside. Silence became the dominant theme as his driver focused on the road until they reached their destination, and he stopped.
His professional mask never slipped for even a moment, as he stepped down and went around the car to open the door of the backseat.
Marten came out, and crossed the rest of the distance to his home on foot. His wife was already waiting, having obviously noticed the arrival of his car. She welcomed him as he stepped inside, dressed with elegance as the main theme, even at home. With an affectionate smile, she helped him with his suit, though his impassive face seemed like an open book for her.
With just one glance, she asked considerately:
"What happened at the Group today? You don't seem happy."
Marten paused. Julene put his suit on her arm, then took the drink the servant had brought, which she held toward him.
"Here."
He took it, then spoke after a moment of contemplation, though not to reply to her question, but to ask about a different subject:
"How are the discussions for the engagements going?"
_ _ _
_ _ _
"Simone, you are home? Are the children home?"
Sigurd paused when he stepped into his house, the mild surprise in his tone directed at the woman on the sofa in the living room, beautiful, and mature, not old.
She raised her eyes from the magazine on her lap and rolled her eyes softly:
"Why can't I be home at this time? You are the one who has irregular hours? And no, the children are not back yet."
"Hehe…"
Sigurd let out an abashed smile, and hung his suit at the entrance, before he stepped inside. As served himself a cup of water from the carafe on the low table, his wife raised her eyebrows in a slight display of curiosity:
"You seem happy. Did something good happen today?"
"Hehe… You can say that something interesting happened. Your nephew, Alex, took the seat of your sister-in-law at the board of directors of the Group, and that might become permanent."