Gerald looked at the folder in front of him. Four hours after the mother and child drama performance, his assistant got all the data he needed.
How easy is the power of money? And networking, of course.
Twins Ariana Leonidas and Karenina Brooks. Born in January twenty-five years ago. Father, Bradley Leonidas. Mother, Caitlyn Brooks. The divorce occurred fifteen years ago, and the Reason is economics.
The second sheet contains even more specific data. Caitlyn left Bradley after her husband was declared bankrupt due to fraud. A month later, Caitlyn became Brooks' mistress despite the ongoing divorce trial. Meanwhile, since his wife left, Bradley's health has declined. He had a heart attack and ended with a stroke.
Caitlyn took Karenina. Meanwhile, Ariana was left with Bradley. Little Ariana was raised by her father's co-worker named, Hestia. Hestia also looked after Bradley until the man was declared cured. Two years after his divorce, Bradley married Hestia. Who is a divorcee because she cannot have children.
After that, they started the business again, which previously went bankrupt, and after thirteen years, Bradley Leonidas' business had become many times bigger than when it started. And the woman who became Bradley's second wife, previously declared barren, gave birth to two children. The first is a girl named Zelda Leonidas, who is 11 years old, and the second is Alexander Leonidas, who is seven years old. Strange? Maybe, but not according to Gerald.
Suppose the meek and spoiled Karenina stays home after graduating from business management college. So Ariana is different. The girl spread her wings in the culinary field. It already has a fairly well-known restaurant. Gerald even made Leonida's one of his favourite places to eat because the food is delicious. And, of course, that was before he found out that the owner was the twin sister of his forced fiancé.
The girl also opened a famous catering business. Even many officials and conglomerates use their services. Twenty-five years old and successful in her field was a fantastic achievement. There was no description of the man in the data provided to him.
Is that girl single, or is she too good at hiding her relationship?
"There is no information about the man close to her?" Gerald looked at Vivan, his assistant. The thirty-year-old man shook his head. "How's the Brooks family doing?"
"Still no sign of coming back, sir." He answered in his usual flat tone. Gerald nodded.
"Okay." Gerald slapped his thighs and stood up. "We'd better rest. It's not good if the groom-to-be looks ugly on their wedding day." Gerald smiled faintly. "And continue to tell them to monitor. Including monitoring the girl's whereabouts." he order. Vivan nodded. Gerald entered his room. And the assistant went to the other side of the mansion—where he lives.
Ariana... Gerald muttered the name again in his head. Seeing the girl lying exhausted beneath his body would be fun. Ahh damn, just imagining how he would touch that girl made Gerald horny.
***
The pick-up car had landed smoothly at the back of the restaurant. Wendi, the driver and assistant in the kitchen, is ready to ask other employees for help unloading the raw materials and putting them into the kitchen.
The restaurant managed by Ariana is not a luxury restaurant. But the system they use is like the Lunch and Dinner restaurant system like most other Western restaurants. As for the menu, it varies. Everyday. Before the restaurant opens, they always announce what menu they will make that day. A reservation system applies. They also accept menu requests as long as there is prior notification.
His crew, totalling eight people, were waiting. They immediately got busy with raw materials and their respective job descriptions. Ariana entered her office. There was already Amber there. A friend who is also an administrator at his restaurant.
"Full book for dinner. And the remaining four table sets for lunch." She said before Ariana even sat her butt on the sofa.
"Catering?" She asked while combing her hair and trying to comb her hair with her fingers. She had to wash her hair again. Earlier, a fish trader accidentally threw waste in front of her and dirty her clothes and hair.
Yes, it's also called a traditional market. Certainly less clean than a supermarket. But Ariana loves it every time she goes to the traditional market. See colourful vegetables and fruits, see the fresh meat and fish. And conversations between fellow traders need to be clarified. Be it personal discussions, politics and even artist gossip. Ariana likes crowds like that.
"There are two appointments for this Friday. If it's a goal then it's ours." Amber answered. Ariana just nodded. She opened the cupboard and took out a change of clothes.
"I want to take a shower again. My hair smells fishy. If someone finds it, handle it." Ariana said, to which Amber nodded.
Ten minutes later, Ariana was out of the bathroom. She wore faded blue jeans that fit perfectly and a Black long-sleeved shirt with folded sleeves to the elbows and half-buttoned buttons. Inside, she wore a camisole made from a T-shirt covering her chest's upper part. Tempt? She had no intention of teasing anyone, but she didn't show her cleavage. But if someone is tempted, it's not their fault.
A knock on the door made Ariana rush to open it. "Ariana..." Amber looked at her with a worried face. The small towel was still tied to her hair. She doesn't like using a hairdryer and prefers to dry her hair naturally. So Ariana wrapped her hair until it was half dry before she combed it.
"What?" Asked Ariana, who was applying moisturizer to her face.
"There's a guest. It looks like someone important." Amber whispered. Ariana still saw Amber's worried face.
"Who?" she asked again.
"Just see for yourself," Amber said again. Ariana walked ahead of Amber towards the workroom.
Yes, Ariana's office has a special room for her and a bathroom. Not too big. It's small enough, too. But it was enough to make Ariana as comfortable as she was in her home.
Ariana opened her bedroom door without bothering to remove her towel.
An older adult was seen sitting elegantly on Ariana's soft single sofa. He looks dignified and exudes a strong aura of nobility. A middle-aged man stood behind her firmly. Like a bodyguard. Or is it a bodyguard? But is a bodyguard that old still strong at martial arts? Ariana asked silently.
Then there were two other figures, both women, who sat with their backs stiffly facing her. Ariana could only see one in a simple bun while the other had curly shoulder-length hair.
Ariana took off her towel and threw it on the bed before quietly closing the door. She didn't bother combing and chose to go to his guests. They are not consumers because they would know business ethics if they were consumers. That is, make an appointment.
"Can I help you?" Ariana asked in a polite tone. But flat.
The three women turned to him. Two stared, While one looked shy. Ariana cringed at the sight. "S-She. How could that be?" Asked the shoulder-length-haired woman. The woman is beautiful, white-skinned, with a sad face, and of course, if she smiles, she will give a warm impression. Of course, her skin was smooth from care, as was the woman sitting next to her."Ariana Leonidas?" The voice came from the oldest woman there."Yes it's me." Ariana nodded politely at her."I'm Rosaline Zeroun." The woman just nodded without intending to stand up and reach out her hand. Ariana followed her and just nodded slowly. "He's my daughter-in-law Isidora. And next to her, it looks like you know who.""Mrs. Caitlyn Brooks," Ariana answered flatly. The older adult nodded again. "What's the matter with three respectable women coming to my dingy place?" Ariana asked, seeming to be sarcastic."We heard bad news." Said the older adult."Is it true?" Ariana asked sarcastically. "Does it have anything to do w
Ariana was leaning against the wall, chatting with her employees who were busy cleaning the seafood that would be the main ingredient for their lunch. A sauce chef was working on the ingredients, while others were cleaning vegetables. Ariana's laughter stopped when Amber tapped her shoulder and pulled her away. "We need to talk," she said. Ariana turned and looked at Amber with her usual poker face. They headed towards the front of the restaurant. Amber gestured for her to follow without saying a word. Ariana finally got into the girl's sedan. Okay, the bespectacled girl was clearly in her annoyed mode. Ariana would just follow along. Before long, they parked at a cafe, ordered gelato, a few slices of cake, and some cold drinks. It seemed like Amber was trying to bribe her. "What do you want to know?" she asked, getting straight to the point. Honestly, Amber couldn't stay mad at Ariana for long. Because if she got angry, Ariana with her stubborn attitude would ignore her. Or worse,
"Are you sure you don't want to give your mother a chance?" Amber asked again. Ariana looked at her and then shook her head. Okay, Amber wouldn't persuade her anymore. If she was just ignored by Ariana, what if Ariana fired her later? She might also get scolded by Ariana's father. They returned to the restaurant. It was already 11 in the morning when they got back. Both Ariana and Amber entered their workspace, which also served as their private break room. Ariana, who had left her phone in her bag, was now checking it. She slid the screen, unlocked it, and saw several missed calls. "Mom?" Ariana pressed her mother's number and made the call. "Ariana, hello, dear." The voice on the other end sounded panicked and tearful. "Mom? Is there..." "Your father, dear," her mother interrupted before Ariana could ask. "What about Dad?" "Mom, you don't know. Dad called earlier, but suddenly the call got cut off. Mom went to Dad's office, but they said Dad left for an appointment. Mom checke
Gerald was dressed in a white suit with silver threads adorning the lapels. He looked even more handsome with his clean-shaven face, specially prepared for this occasion. His thick, black hair was neatly styled with expensive musk-scented hair oil. His grandmother sat beside him, holding his left hand with her wrinkled right hand. Gerald patted that hand reassuringly. He loved his grandmother deeply, even more than his mother. And this marriage wasn't the marriage they initially wanted, but after learning who his bride was, both of them had found new motivation. They had entered the grand estate. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, along with their son, were waiting at the entrance, along with several people Gerald didn't recognize. They were all dressed in expensive and classy attire, clearly tailored for the occasion. They welcomed Gerald and his family as if they were honored guests. And indeed, they were honored guests. The Brooks family had to flatter them, or else their family's nobility woul
Gerald had stopped pretending to be sick. He sat on the bed, supporting his body by placing his hands on either side of him. His legs crossed each other. His eyes looked at Ariana, scanning her from top to bottom. "You're beautiful," the man said. "No need to remind me. I already knew that. You're not the first person to say that," Ariana answered casually. She was now sitting with her back to the mirror. Her hips leaned against the dressing table, while her arms were folded in front of her chest, making her ample bosom look even puffier. "Besides, if 'she' is ugly, how would a man like you marry her?" The sentence referred to his identical twin sister, Karenina. "A man like me?" Gerald raised an eyebrow. "Yes, men like you. And people like you. People who prioritize reputation above all else. Respect seekers," Ariana mocked. Gerald smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think you're right," he said later. "But my wife," Gerald rose again from his seat and slowly approached. Aria
The night had grown so late. Ariana once again entered the room that had been used for her preparations earlier. The reception was not yet over, but she was exhausted. Extremely tired. Especially because she had been forced to look elegant by wearing stilettos all night. Something she had avoided for so long. And she had no idea when the event would end. She didn't care anymore. What mattered was that she had fulfilled her duties as a bride earlier. Welcoming the guests. And after that, it wasn't her obligation to accompany and engage with them all night long. After all, she didn't even know them. They were Brooks family guests and her unfamiliar husband's guests. Not hers. Fortunately, the peach dress she was wearing was easy to take off. The only thing that puzzled Ariana now was, where was her change of clothes? The jeans and shirt she had been wearing earlier were nowhere to be found. As a result, she sought out the housemaid who had been accompanying her since earlier, asking h
Ariana struck the man's hand hard enough that her own hand hurt afterward. "What are you doing?!" the man asked in a drowsy voice. Ariana turned over, her head turning to the right to look at the face of the stranger who was now her husband. "I should be asking you. What are you doing?!" she retorted sharply, accusingly. "Didn't you say last night that you would take me home?" Instead of answering, the man slid closer and nestled his head against Ariana's neck, wrapping his arms around her waist and entwining his legs tightly. He didn't seem bothered at all. "I did take you home, dear. I brought you to bed, and I even kindly took off your clothes. What's wrong?" he said with a muffled voice against the curve of Ariana's neck. Ariana shuddered at his breath. "But why bring me here? Why not take me to the apartment?" Ariana now spoke softly. "Because your home is here. Where your husband is," he replied curtly. "Don't forget that I married you as a stand-in for Karenina," Ariana r
Ariana lightly slapped both of her cheeks. Oh God, what had she just done? Making out? It felt like more than just making out. It hadn't even been 24 hours since she became this man's wife, and she had already done such... "Aaarrrggghhhh..." Ariana stifled her restrained scream. She swore she felt embarrassed, even though she didn't want to admit it. The man had taught her such wicked things. For God's sake, Ariana had never been touched by any man before. So why had she behaved like a loose woman, allowing herself to be kissed and touched by a stranger? Okay, not entirely a stranger. He was her husband now. And Ariana hadn't committed any sinful act, even though she had gone further than that. But the man was still a stranger. Despite his status as her husband. All Ariana knew about him was his name, Gerald Zeroun. She barely knew anything about his job, age, and she couldn't even remember the name of the old woman, Rosaline Zeroun, who was apparently his grandmother. As for the w