“You want to gamble with my seat on the board, Yuri?” Zenon hissed at his older brother. “Who gave you the right to award my spot to just some random woman Wolfram found on the streets?”
Yuri didn’t drop his smile as he shook his head. “Zenon, you have been part of the board since you received the Rhea Faction. Your scores are beyond impressive in the first few years, but you’re clearly lagging. On the tenth-year mark of your acquisition, I only want to see Rhea hit 90%, just as any other member of the factions.
“Since you continue to fail to improve, I merely gave you a nudge.” Yuri’s smile grew tamer. “Your household expenses kept on rising because of your daughter and your wife. You might as well contribute bigger. At least, take solace in the fact that I didn’t go through firing you as the President of Rhea.”
“You’re really discussing things like this in front of strangers?” Janelle whispered as she glanced at Delta. At least, that other woman decided to be Wolfram’s wife.
When she said so, however, Yuri eyed her. Janelle felt how her entire rattled from the single gaze. Yuri sure knew how to terrify people, even if he kept on smiling. “Ms. Strauss, you are not a stranger to us anymore. Why? Do you think Xander is still going to let you go?”
Xander hissed, adjusting his chair to cover Janelle with his body. “Hey, fuck off my grass, Yuri. If you want to play with Zenon and that woman, play with them alone. Leave my baby out of this.”
“I guess I’m not mistaken.” Yuri withdrew his petrifying gaze and turned to their father. “We have given enough time to the children to eat. I have no idea about Ms. Hart’s cute children, but I’m sure Regina must have stuffed her face with so many macaroons by now.”
“I think so, too.” David looked at Zenon, who barely contained his anger. “I’ll get someone to pick Regina from the room. You can pick up your children… hmm, I figured I should be able to call you by your name, Delta.”
Delta nodded with a smile. “There’s no issue with calling me by my name, Dad. Eine and Foxley would like to meet you, too. Can we come over tomorrow before you check out?”
At the promise of speaking to the twins, David chuckled. “I will be in the hotel until Tuesday morning. You can visit me until then. That boy is quite a personality.”
“He’ll be very happy to be complimented by you.” Delta bowed her head a little before smiling more at the old man. She didn’t want to stay longer than a month, but she wanted to see how long she could stretch her stay. After all, she would have a board seat to snatch.
…
Delta and Wolfram walked shoulder-to-shoulder while going to the room where the desserts were put on a buffet. Behind them was an usherette to pick up Regina. Normally, Zenon and Trisha would have to pick up their daughter from there, but David figured it was not a good thing to leave the two groups on their own. After all, David was so sure Wolfram would get stabby if Zenon punched him.
The single mother only smiled at Wolfram. “I asked for a position in the company? I don’t remember saying anything like that.”
“You look like you will ask sooner or later.” Wolfram rubbed his neck. “I’m surprised how you didn’t even back down after I threw you into the lion’s den.”
“Don’t you know? I used to be a zookeeper.” Delta chuckled.
She would put her arms behind her and prance on her spot, but it looked strange when she was wearing this dress. She should just do that when they leave for the mall. That reminded her of Wolfram’s promise.
Delta smiled after nudging the man. “So? After visiting your dad in the morning, should we hit the mall to buy things for Foxley and Eine? You promised to buy Foxley games.”
Wolfram hummed before nodding. “I almost forgot. I don’t really go out, so I don’t normally remember going through promises like that. Still, I gave him my word.”
He turned to her. “Aren’t you running away from your husband, though? Was he that man who escaped my people that day? He tried to protect Eine back then.”
“…no, but he’s a better father figure to them than my real husband.” Delta only had a dry smile. “Sorry, but if I end up accidentally pitting Colton Industries against him, are you going to get mad at me? This company is your father’s life work. If he ended up destroying it…”
“Then Yuri must have died along the way…” Wolfram shrugged. “I don’t know his identity yet, but Yuri was the most attached to the company. If he isn’t dead, there is no way Colton Industries will crash. You should worry about your husband. I only handpick and offer guidance to Red Core. The formation of the squad is Yuri’s idea.”
Delta chuckled. “I worry about his health every day. It must be frustrating not to catch me after so long. Now, he has to think about you and your brothers, too. Sigh, I’m really getting worried.”
Wolfram only pulled on his lips for a soft sneer.
When they arrived at the dessert buffet room, they saw a few clusters of families enjoying the feast. At a table was a group of three kids. Two maids were attending to them, but the kids were all well-behaved, it seemed. After all, the twins were listening to Regina as she told them about her overseas travel.
The shine in their eyes made Wolfram frown. He was getting a bad feeling about it. What if those two asked to travel around with him? Gosh, he didn’t really like dealing with humans.
“Mommy!” Eine spotted them first. She then moved to give her seat to her mommy. “I’ll get you some cake. I know a flavor you will like!”
“We’re supposed to leave already, but I haven’t eaten dessert yet, too.” Wolfram caught Eine’s shoulder and took over the heavy plate from her. He then walked with her to the serving islands. “Which do you recommend, Chef Eine?”
Delta just sat down and joined Foxley who was sharing his ice cream with his mother. She then smiled at Regina. “I heard you talking about some flower fields. Do you like seeing them?”
Regina didn’t know why the mother asked, but she was never asked by her own mother. Since she was happy and energized, she began talking about it again. Delta and Foxley continued to listen, even until Eine and Wolfram returned to place food for everyone.
…
The small ‘family’ of four returned to their hotel suite after an hour of snacking on desserts. Delta was watching over the kids brushing their teeth before bedtime. Wolfram was on the phone for work, his head obviously hurting. He then glanced at the woman inside the bathroom.
He wondered if she could really relieve him of the workload he needed to deal with. The lazy man didn’t want to work in an office, and he found someone who did.
Knock, knock. Wolfram frowned at the knocking. He looked through the peephole and saw no one. However, he still opened it with a crack, only to open it widely. “Regina? Why are you here?”
“…Mommy and Daddy already left the hotel because of an emergency. I remember Eine telling me your room number. I don’t want to stay in a room alone. Can I stay with you?”
Delta’s eyes flickered. Wolfram drew an unbearable picture of Regina—the supposed bitch-princess daughter of his second-eldest brother. However, she clearly looked like a rather unfavored child. Could this child be the way she was because tantrums and screams attract the attention of her parents more?Came with this thought was a look she gave Wolfram. However, the man gave a head shake. Don’t be fooled, he implied. Delta then looked at the girl sitting on the twin’s bed, joining them in looking at the two adults. Everyone was waiting for Zenon to pick up his phone.The woman then turned to Wolfram. “Maybe he blocked you already? How come he’s not answering? If they had to fly somewhere, the operator would say something else.”“He just didn’t want to answer my call. Why would he after what happened earlier?” Wolfram finally stopped trying. The light in the eyes of the children grew duller by the second. He just dialed Yuri’s number, hoping to just pass the message.[“Did you run into
“Safer?” Delta echoed softly, but she figured it was a talk for later. She just turned to find Foxley and got him to stop plastering his face against the glass wall.Wolfram squatted down to see how it looked from Foxley’s eye level. He couldn’t even see the price as if it was not something a child should see. He then turned to Foxley, whose cheeks were being wiped clean by his mother. After all, he pressed his face against something other children must have pressed their faces as well.Foxley then hugged Wolfram’s leg. “Wolfie, will you buy it for me? Let’s play on it together. I already know a lot of games we can play together!”“Sure, but you have to be extra well-behaved to your mom. If you misbehave, she will take it away.” Wolfram laughed, patting the head of the obedient child. He then got to his feet. “Let’s go inside. Maybe you can find more games for it.”“Okay!” Foxley went to hold Wolfram’s hand instead. “Help me read instructions, too. I can’t read all words yet. Mommy sa
Delta knew that this would happen sooner or later. After all, the news about her supposed marriage to Wolfram Colton had already spread far and wide. There was no way this man had not heard of it. He just had to see it for himself.“Die here? Is this how much you look down on me now, Delta?” Brandon chuckled in his deep voice. He then turned to face her, even standing before her. With a rather intimidating aura, he reached over to crush his cigar against the sink close to Delta’s arm. “Just because they intercepted Carolus, it doesn’t mean they are formidable enough to stand against me.”“Brandon, leave me alone. Eine and Foxley remain with me, and—” Delta would say something more, but her face was grabbed by the man.Brandon pulled on his lips to smile. “Delta, Delta… I should have said things clearer. I only want you back. Do you really think I care so much about your children? You’re a woman; I’ll just let you make as much as them if you like. As for those two outside, they’re bett
The man was speaking to another person, but he quickly ignored the other person when he caught sight of the disheveled Delta. He even walked toward her. “Delta! Are you all right?”“Mommy, they’re so scary!” Eine cried, and Delta got down to the floor to hug her. This daughter sobbed like this when her mother finally found her that time. Delta also pulled Foxley close for a hug. She thought the twins were shaken, but it seemed Foxley was not even affected.“Wolfie, you were so cool!” The boy was watching from the table. His sister was hugging him by then, but he didn’t cower in fear with her. “You were like a secret agent!”Wolfram also kneeled when Delta fell. He was ready to console the three, only to be taken aback by that boy. The ninja wasn’t even scared to watch such a very violent scene.He reached out to pat Foxley’s head. “We’re called ‘secret’ agents for a reason. Erm, don’t be like this. Console your sister and your mother, Foxley. Are you not terrified of the guns?”“I am,
In the House of Ra Secret Server…Akhenaten: This is to call everyone who may or may not be shot at in that accident…[Akhenaten sent a link.]Cleopatra: Gosh, I was even getting my brows done when that went done.Sobek: I heard the entire mall lost power. Are your brows safe?Cleopatra: Obviously. Else, I will be crying like a baby.Sekhmet: I guess everyone is actually safe. That’s good.Imhotep: That was a complete disaster. Police are all over the mall.Akhenaten: And a major loss. All the losses that day are very painful.
Delta’s eyes flickered. The past few days were quite lonely and tiring. How could she not miss these people who brightened up her three years on the run? It was just that there were innocent people in this chatroom. She needed to protect them all from Brandon… and possibly Wolfram if things took a turn for the worse.…[PM: @Akhenaten That’s very kind. Thank you so much. I’ll pay that money back when I can.][PM: @Imhotep He gossiped about your money. You should reflow it again.][PM: @Sobek Thank you for helping me, but please stop hacking accounts to give me money.][PM: Akhenaten: No need. Just give your testimony if I end up suing that man for taking too much.]
“Hey, we should head to that place now. I got Avalon to bring Eine and Foxley there as well.” Wolfram waved in front of her. He then wore his suit jacket.“I thought we were going to do it tomorrow.” Delta looked up at him. She didn’t even realize that the workday was over.“Nah, they’re also calling me for some new stuff. I’d rather go there today for two things than go again tomorrow.” He invited Delta with a gesture. “Also, I want you to see Red Core at its finest.”Delta didn’t know why he was willing to show her their family’s arsenal and secret army; however, that was for the best. She must have made him feel inadequate when she grew worried about her children. After all, she only knew a squad from Red Core.
Foxley’s mood didn’t dampen. He got off the couch and started scanning a few things in the MVP lounge. After all, a lot of things were on display, and he didn’t know all of them. Eine soon joined him to make sure Foxley wouldn’t break the device lent to him.“Is that safe?” Delta asked the squad member, who only chased them with his eyes for a few seconds.“That’s just a scanner, director. We normally use that to identify people and other devices. It can also pick up hidden cameras and electromagnetic signals.” The man regarded the mother. “I left it on scanning mode, so it should be fine. If he figures out how to hack into the locks, well… he’s quite the child. Commander will like him some more.”Delta smiled at the person. She just deci