Vlora had just come out of the bathroom. She had shampooed and cleaned herself with warm water. The tiredness and aches that had plagued her in various places vanished.
A satin nightgown wrapped around Vlora’s body a moment later. She sat at the dressing table and dried her hair. Her gaze fixed on her reflection in the mirror.
Vlora fell into contemplation. She pondered every word that Andreas had said. And then something crossed her mind. It sounded like Andreas’ voice, but perhaps it was her own inner voice.
Opportunities never come twice.
Vlora let out a long breath. The hairdryer landed on the dressing table, and she switched to combing her hair. She tidied her wavy locks for a moment before preparing to sleep.
In another part of the apartment, a man hummed cheerfully as he entered. He casually took off his jacket and threw it in any direction. His destination, of course, was the bar.
Crystal glasses emerged. Several ice cubes filled them, followed by alcohol.
Andreas sipped his drink with a smirk on his face. Playing with the glass in his hand, he mumbled softly.
“I’m sure you’ll accept my offer, Vlo. I’m very sure.”
Andreas downed the contents of the glass in one big gulp. The empty glass landed on the bar, and he took out his phone, dialing Frans’ number.
“Good evening, Sir.”
Andreas spun his chair around. He faced away from the bar and leaned back casually.
“Good evening, Frans. I want to know if there are any new developments from Jonas. What is he doing right now?”
“As far as I know, he is currently focused on the Marlion Deluxe apartment development offer.”
Andreas nodded repeatedly. “Isn’t that the apartment that I was supposed to handle?”
“That’s correct, Sir. It seems that Mr. Sanders has reassigned it to him because you haven’t been in Paris for the past six months.”
Andreas let out a mocking chuckle. “That’s the advantage of having several children from different wives. There will always be backups. It’s not strange at all.”
“In my opinion, perhaps you should try to take over this project. After all, it will play an important role in his assessment of the next successor.”
Andreas laughed. “As if he will only look at my work. You clearly know who the winner is even before it all begins. So, I don’t want to waste time and effort on something futile.”
Frans remained silent. He could not respond to what Andreas said because it was the truth.
Indeed, being fair is almost impossible for a mortal creature called a human. The tendency to lean towards one side is always a natural instinct. This includes when a man has children from two wives.
“Nevertheless, you don’t need to worry, Frans. Right now, I just want to monitor how far Jonas can go. You know what? There’s something important I learned during my six months here.”
“What is it, Sir?”
“Don’t rush,” Andreas confidently replied. “Sometimes, acting like a clueless fool is a clever tactic. We let them make the first move. The more he thinks I have no power, the better. I’m curious to see Jonas’ surprised face.”
“Very well, sir. In addition, Madam also sent a message. Upon arriving in Ashford City, she wants to meet your prospective wife immediately.”
Andreas’s face immediately relaxed. He smiled broadly. “Ah! Of course. I will gladly introduce my woman to the entire family. We must truly welcome this special woman. Make sure the welcoming party will be lively.”
The call ended a minute later. Andreas placed his phone on the bar and his thoughts drifted back to Vlora.
“Vlora. Vlora.”
Andreas uttered Vlora’s name with rhythm and meaning. From admiration to awe.
Of course, it was not just her beauty that compelled Andreas to propose to Vlora. Because, to be honest, Vlora could not match the beauty of Andreas’ previous lovers.
The key point here was that Vlora’s way of speaking, her demeanor, and her intelligence were more than successful in presenting a beauty that Andreas could not deny. In his eyes, Vlora was truly… sexy.
“You should stand right by my side, Vlo.”
Andreas refilled his glass. He let the temperature of the drink gradually decrease, giving a refreshing sensation on his tongue, and then made a promise to himself.
“I will marry you no matter what.”
Andreas’ determination proved true the next day. Armed with the information he had; he went to Vlora’s apartment building-knowing that she always woke up at half past four in the morning.
Andreas stepped out of the car. He carried himself with a relaxed manner and went straight to a male receptionist standing at the desk.
“Good morning, Sir. How can I assist you?”
Andreas smiled politely, albeit briefly. “I’d like to pick up Miss Anderson. Which unit does she live in?”
The receptionist was about to answer the question when the elevator a few meters behind Andreas stopped moving. Its doors opened, revealing a woman stepping out. The receptionist smiled and raised his hand, pointing politely.
“That seems to be Miss Anderson, Sir.”
Andreas turned his head, and their gazes met. Vlora’s eyes widened at the unexpected presence of Andreas. Her once graceful and relaxed steps came to a sudden halt.
“Thank you,” Andreas said to the receptionist before walking towards Vlora. He approached her immediately. “Good morning, Vlo.”
A faint crease appeared on Vlora’s forehead. She took a breath and quickly regained her composure. Then she replied to the greeting.
“Good morning, Reas.”
It was not unusual for Andreas’ eyes to widen for a moment. However, that surprise quickly turned into a joyful grin.
“I guess you’ve made your decision, and …” Andreas leaned closer. “… if I may guess further, it seems like your decision is yes.”
The distance between them diminished. Andreas inclined his face slightly as he aimed his gaze at Vlora’s eyes.
“So, what’s your answer?”
In contrast, Vlora tilted her face upwards. She met Andreas’ gaze without blinking as she uttered a single word.
“Yes.”
*