Rosse looked at Richard prejudicially until she caught her breath and realised what he meant. It was true that nothing was free in this world. Everything costs money. "What can I do for you, sir?" She doubted there was anything Richard wanted from her.Richard saw the change in her face with a faint smile. He was sure that Rosse must be thinking of something strange to pay for, probably something sexual, as most men would expect that from a woman. It was a pity that Richard only said that offhandedly because he felt somewhat disturbed by Rosse's situation. He was honestly annoyed but couldn't just leave her.He took a breath from his mouth and fully filled the air into his lungs, then turned his gaze nonchalantly while looking at the crowd crowding the streets again. "Save the payment for next time, I don't need anything right now."Next time? Rosse looked confused at him.What did she mean by next time? Although Richard was an important person who would probably show up anywhere, she
"They said the road to this place is being diverted, sir, so arriving might take a little longer." The driver approached Richard after reading the message he received on his cell phone.Richard took a deep breath. "Alright, let me know when they arrive. I'll wait there." He walked towards a tree not far from the building, not among its main parts but still in the same neighbourhood.Richard sat back under the tree with his feet on his lap and his shoulders resting against it, gazing out at the bustling street. It was unfamiliar because each person was busy with their own business and not paying attention to the other.Richard's gaze drifted to the bustle, to those passing by, and to what was moving in the wind. He was too tired of many things to find the trivial and simple things around him soothing. At some point, he began to romanticise the simple things that happened around him.He enjoyed that tranquillity briefly until a group of people surrounded him, blocking the light from his
"Are you alright, sir?" The driver who came to inform him that the pickup Richard was waiting for had arrived was surprised to see the chaos.He stared at the stocky men lying on the ground unceremoniously with many bruises and blood on their faces, the sound of the men's groans drawing his attention deeper. He furrowed his brow, somewhat sympathising with them for their dire situation but also blaming them simultaneously for dealing with Richard, who would never hold back from teaching those who bullied him a lesson.Richard got a handkerchief from his driver, who immediately realised the back of Richard's hand was scratched thanks to the repeated blows he gave those people. He then wrapped the handkerchief around the back of his hand. "Ask someone to take care of them. Send them somewhere far away without anything." Putting them in prison would only fill up the prison.He was beginning to be reluctant to let those people enjoy the prison services because, to him, even the prison tre
"Your master has received a letter from Miss Andrea. She left this letter to be given to you directly. She said that it contains important matters." Smith held the letter carefully in his hand.Richard, who had been struggling with his work, looked at Smith. He looked at the maroon envelope letter with no interest. "Just put it there. You can get back to work."Smith did exactly as Richard said, but the letter remained unmoved and untouched for the rest of the day. The next day, the same letter came to him via the same person, Smith said the same thing, that the letter was from Andrea and she said it was important.Just like the previous days, Richard let the letter pile up like the other letters waiting to be opened by him. Until the fifth day, he found Smith coming back always at the same time with the same maroon letter. The persistence of the sender of the letter somewhat disturbed Richard, who then, for the first time, took the letter directly from Smith's hand and did not leave
"I don't think there's anything to talk to you about," Richard replied coldly.For him, he did not have any interest in Andrea, especially since many people like Andrea were currently competing to offer her marriage proposals with a variety of objectives, ranging from those that benefited her to the most unfavorable ones, but reasoned by falling in love with her. Some of them sounded plausible, and some sounded utterly absurd.Among the proposals, nothing caught her attention, piqued her interest, or made her change her mind about the possibility of a relationship. So far, it all seemed like dishonesty, ambition, and the hope of those who saw him as an object of specific achievements rather than seeing him as Richard, without the name Marrison behind him.To him, those people only wanted to use him as a bridge to get into the Marrison family list, they only wanted to participate to get benefits, fame, comfort and other guarantees."But you still haven't listened to my explanation, sir
After their conversation that day, Richard investigated what was really going on. He knew that it was possible and very likely that several people were conspiring with each other to bring him down from his current position.He was somewhat annoyed that this time it was not just his guess, not just a prejudice that the smiles shown to him were just a mask. Someone had come to her and told her about the rot directly to her."To what extent do you think they've planned it, Smith?" Sitting in his place rather bitterly, Richard momentarily broke away from his work.Smith, who was at his desk, looked up at his Master attentively, yet he did not fully understand what Richard was suddenly talking to him about.Richard took a deep breath. "Do you think maybe they did it a long time ago? The plan couldn't have come together overnight all of a sudden, could it?"Smith was silent. He looked down for a moment, thinking about it seriously, and then he looked at Richard. "I think so, sir."Richard s
"Morning miss, breakfast has been prepared downstairs. Or would you like me to prepare it upstairs?" A servant greeted Andrea, who was sitting on the sofa in her room reading a book.Judging by her appearance, the woman seemed to have woken up hours ago. She was dressed neatly in a comfortable-looking midi dress that looked luxurious to the eye.She slowly placed her book back on the table and then turned to the waiter. "Let me just go downstairs." She came out with a small clutch and went downstairs for breakfast.She sat there alone. It was strange for her to have breakfast alone at someone else's table. But she didn't think much of it and just enjoyed it. He ate quietly without knowing that many pairs of eyes were watching him, watching him as their master ordered.Perhaps he sensed that, behind the hospitality shown in the house, it was impossible not to have their vigilance. What's more, they worked for an essential family in this country. They must be on their toes at all times.
"Where do you want to go first, sir?" Andrea sat down and tightened her seat belt.Richard glanced at her. He made sure the passenger beside him was safely seated before he drove off. "Checking those places directly at this time is actually pointless."He was sure about that. Everyone was currently acting friendly in front of him and unlikely to show their ugliness, so checking on them right now was not the right time."Why do you think that, sir?" Andrea looked back at him with a furrowed brow.She had a different view. For her, it was a matter of confirming everything and the more times they were visited for inspection, the better it would be as it put pressure on those people with her presence.Richard's breathing slowed down. "You must know what my family went through a while ago. As a result of the attack and my actions that day, the entire country must currently be on alert.""The attack that happened some time ago and left your cousin dead." Andrea was silent for a few moments