After returning home around four, having spent quite some time at the mall with Layen, he began preparing for the event.
He has bought a few gifts for his future father in law other than the unique glass Layena gifted him. Other than that, he has communicated with Blakeâs secretary and got the assurance that she would bring the flowers.
While polishing his shoes, he sent Veronica a voice message, asking if they could talk.
It didnât take long for her to call back.
Kyle put the call on speaker and asked, "Hey, were you busy?"
{No. What about you? I heard youâre going to the Maylith Patriarchâs birthday.}
Kyle paused before asking, "I really want to know how you hear about these things." He had only learned about the celebration from Amanda yesterday and hadnât even spoken to Veronica about it.
{This time, it was just a guess. I also received an invitation, so I assumed youâd be going.}
Kyle hummed, still suspicious. "Sometimes I feel like you have a camera in my house or something."
{...so you are going, huh?}
Kyle gave a wry smile and shook his head. She was clearly avoiding the topic.
"Well, yes. Alone, actually. What about you? Are you coming?" Well, he knew he wouldnât be able to talk to her there but surely they could exchange greetings.
{No... not after she arrived.}
Kyleâs brows furrowed. "Ava, huh? I met her." His tone shifted slightly, clearly displeasure in his voice.
{Yes, Layena told me about it. You handled that situation pretty well.}
"Oh, so you two talked, huh? Well, Ava... is a disturbing person. Someone Iâd rather avoid."
That woman was rude and patronizing. The kind who viewed everyone through a filter that placed them beneath her.
Not to mention how she had cornered Layena during their conversation. The fear she stirred in the girl had been unsettling.
Truthfully, the way he behaved with her was still quite tame. Such people truly disgusted him. Smiling sweetly while spitting venom.
{I will try to keep her away from you as much as I can. However, Kyle, itâs very likely she will reach out to you again.}
After a brief pause, as if forcing herself to say something she deeply disliked, Veronica continued,
{You are one of the prime suspects on the list. Even though Layenaâs report cleared the doubts, I know Ava will disregard every report weâve prepared. All she cares about are facts, and once she goes through the old records... itâs inevitable she will investigate you again.}
Kyle let out a quiet sigh. It wasnât unexpected. He knew that multiple incidents had already placed him under suspicion. Avoiding it was never an option.
"I understand. Donât worry about it. Iâll handle things, so donât go out of your way, alright?" He doesnât want Veronica to get under the radar.
She has already helped him a lot in the past. And with the central government involved, he would rather not have come in limelight.
Veronica didnât respond immediately, prompting Kyle to call out, "Veronica?"
{I will call you later.}
The call ended.
Kyle blinked in confusion. What just happened?
...
On the other side, Veronica had sensed someone inside her office the moment her hand touched the doorknob.
She glanced at her assistant seated nearby and noticed the girl was sweating heavily, not out of fear, but anxiety.
Something was definitely wrong. But she didnât ask her anything.
Veronicaâs eyes narrowed as she pushed the door open.
Stepping inside, she scanned the dim office.
Suddenly, a figure lunged at her from behind the door, attempting to strike.
But the silver-haired woman reacted instantly, ducking low and driving her fist forward with a sharp pivot.
DHAK
Her punch was parried, but the sheer force behind it sent the ambusher skidding backward.
"You are as brutish as ever, eh?"
As the hood came off, Veronica found the face she had expected.
"Ava Klaus. If I had pierced your heart just now, no one would have blamed me. You canât just sneak into someone elseâs office."
Ava snorted. "Like hell you could do that." She strolled over to a chair and dropped into it lazily, as if she hadnât just attempted a sneak attack.
The silver-haired woman turned on the lights and walked to her seat.
Once settled, she spoke, "So? What do you need from me? I believe all the information required for the investigation has already been relayed by the intelligence department."
Veronica had only been asked to cooperate. At this early stage, her role was minimal. Surely, Ava wasnât expecting her to physically verify the sites.
"Youâre way too stiff, Veronica. Weâre batchmates. Weâve sparred and bled together. Iâm not just here to investigate, I came to see you as well."
Veronica hummed softly. "As far as I remember, we were never friends." She casually flipped through a document, scanning the list of equipment requested by the technical department.
"Yeah, but we once shared a room."
"For a day. You were too unruly to live with anyone else."
Ava smirked. "Well, I couldnât stand the attitude you gave me back then."
Veronica resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Ava Klaus considered herself the hottest topic of the academy, someone who had to stand at the pinnacle. someone who deserves everyoneâs respect and fear.
Veronica was just not the type to bow her head and the result was, "We never got along, did we?" Ava asked with her smile never fading.
Veronica shrugged, "Our values about lives are different. You seek something I call superficial and shallow."
"Ow...still blunt as ever, eh? Well, I have moved past that phase. Now, I donât chase supremacy rather something far greater."
Veronica didnât ask but still the woman stated, "I pursue streak. A clean achievement streak. And ever since I have joined the Alpha Team, I have maintained a sucess streak."
Her eyes narrowed, a dangerous gleam appearing in her eyes before she added, "And I want to maintain that streak. So donât...try to come my way."
Veronica didnât respond, too busy with the work to bother with her.
Ava didnât say anything further and got up.
Letâs see what chaos has caused such an uproar.