“I really don’t understand why a woman like you would marry Andreas. You’re too smart and noble for a man like him.”
Vlora looked sideways. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Jonas watching her as they walked down the corridor with measured steps.
“Believe me. You’re not the only one who doesn’t understand. In fact, I don’t understand why I married Andreas either.”
Vlora’s words made Jonas smile. They turned and walked to a small room.
There were three security guards on duty. One of them was a woman.
“Still, as you said before,” Vlora continued, bringing Jonas’ momentarily shifted focus back to her. “I am a smart woman, and predicting the future is one of my abilities.”
Vlora’s steps stopped. She turned around and gave Jonas a faint smile.
“So, you don’t have to worry.”
Worry? Jonas froze. There was an unusual tone in Vlora’s words and expression, something he had never encountered before.
Vlora allowed Jonas to sink into his thoughts. She approached the security officer and said,
“Please make sure I’m not carrying anything that could harm Mr. Jonas. Whatever it may be.”
Vlora entered the room and was inspected. Not only her clothes, but also her work bag was meticulously examined.
“Perhaps you’d like to check my tablet as well.”
Lightly, Vlora stood up and decided to sit down for a moment while her pills were inspected. She seemed relaxed and not in the least bit panicked. Instead, she seemed to be trying to suppress a grin that crept up the corner of her lips.
“Where do you think I work?”
The security officer, who had originally intended to move, suddenly abandoned the idea. Vlora’s chuckle made him turn.
“I’m sorry. What did you say before, ma’am?”
Vlora stood up. “I didn’t say anything,” she replied, picking up her work bag. “Is everything done now?”
“Oh, yes. Everything is done.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am.”
When Vlora left, Jonas was no longer alone. Alex was with him, and that made Vlora feel a little uncomfortable.
“Where is Andreas?”
Jonas replied, “Don’t worry. Your husband is fine. How was your inspection?”
“I think you can ask your people directly.”
The security officer who had inspected Vlora approached Jonas. Short and to the point, he explained in one effective sentence.
“All clear, sir.”
“All right,” Jonas said, exhaling. He rubbed his hands and looked alternately at Alex and Vlora. “It seems you are destined to attend this meeting. Of course, together with Andreas.”
The three returned to the preparation room. Their arrival caused Andreas to stand up immediately with a sour expression on his face.
“Satisfied?”
Jonas chuckled briefly. “Of course. Enjoy the meeting later, Reas.”
Andreas did not want Jonas to ignite his emotions. However, everything felt difficult when it came to Vlora. The unwillingness to accept his wife being treated with disrespect made him want to punch Jonas in the nose.
“Reas.”
Vlora approached Andreas and took his hand. Gently, she clasped Andreas’ fist, and everything slowly softened.
“We should go to the conference room now.”
Andreas sighed deeply. “You’re right.”
Without waiting any longer, Andreas and Vlora left without saying a word. Left behind, Jonas and Alex exchanged glances with expressions that suggested satisfaction.
I hope you really enjoy the meeting later, Reas.
Jonas smiled meaningfully; his eyes focused on his laptop.
*
The presence of Andreas and Vlora in the meeting room immediately caught everyone’s attention. All small talk and formal laughter ceased; every eye was now fixed on them.
Andreas took the time to say hello to Noelle. A warm hug and a tender kiss on the cheek were two things he never failed to give his grandmother.
Similarly, when Andreas turned to Amanda, he did the same.
But when it was Bryan’s turn to be greeted, he didn’t even ask. Andreas just scowled without saying a word, just smiling. Fortunately, Vlora was willing to help Bryan play along with the family drama.
The participants of the meeting didn’t miss this sight. It could be said that it was a rare phenomenon to see the Sanders family together, especially considering the tension between Bryan and Noelle.
Eyes met. Some signals were exchanged between the meeting participants. They seemed to communicate without words to maintain the facade of the Sanders family. Only when the meeting was about to begin did everyone refocus on what was about to happen.
Jonas entered the meeting room, followed by Alex and Alan. While Alan immediately met with the technical team to prepare the presentation, Alex accompanied Jonas to his designated seat.
The meeting officially began. The Chairman’s opening remarks kicked off the event and continued with the approval of the agenda.
The most eagerly awaited item on the agenda was the presentation of the financial report. The attendees, who had been indifferent to the introductory remarks and other speeches, suddenly became serious.
The CFO took the podium. Visibly swallowing and wiping a bead of sweat from the side of his face, he braced himself as the target of criticism. Discussing financial performance, future projections, and answering various questions were three things that at least made him pray in silence.
Unsatisfied faces and disappointed sighs marked the end of the financial report presentation. The CFO left the podium, and it was Jonas’ turn to calm the anxiety of the meeting participants.
Jonas, as CEO of Progun, stepped forward and prepared to present the strategic plan he and his team had developed. He stood at the podium and waited until his presentation materials were ready to be displayed.
All eyes turned to Jonas. Everyone waited, but a moment later, a commotion erupted from the presentation technician’s area.
Jonas saw Alan, who had rushed over to check out the disturbance. He waited a few meaningless seconds with a worried expression on his face.
“What’s going on?” Jonas asked as Alan approached him. “What happened?”
“The file is corrupted, sir. It won’t open. The team tried to fix it, but it’s completely corrupted.”
Jonas sighed as he looked around. The commotion in the technical team had spread to the conference table.
“Use my laptop. The meeting needs to continue immediately.”
Alan nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Hurriedly, Alan handed Jonas’ laptop to the presentation team. Meanwhile, Jonas tried to contain the uneasiness that had arisen.
“I apologize in advance, ladies and gentlemen. There seems to be a slight disturbance, and I’m going to-”
The commotion didn’t subside, it intensified. Several pairs of eyes widened, and many pointed openly at the projection screen.
Jonas turned around and found that the presentation file was not being displayed. Instead, the projection screen showed a blue screen filled with a series of indistinct letters and numbers.
The commotion was met with panic. Chaos and uproar. Speculation abounded, culminating in one thing: sabotage.
With sabotage came something equally shocking. Ironically, it wasn’t hard for everyone at the meeting to accuse someone of being the mastermind behind the incident.
“You’re trying to frame me, you bastard!”
Andreas was furious when he was publicly cornered. He stood up, and the situation became more tense.
“Oh, really?”
Jonas stepped down from the podium. The presentation couldn’t go on, and the only focus was to find the person responsible for the chaos.
“You must have done something to my laptop while I was having your wife examined,” Jonas accused without mincing his words. “I know you must have planned something, but this is outrageous.”
*