"Bonjour mademoiselle..." Jia said which startled Lilly from her reverie while she just took a seat at the dining table
"Bonjour Jia" Lilly smiled as she looked at her and saw the strawberry waffle already in front of her "Mommy-" Jia and the other maids looked at Lilly's suddenly gloomy face when she listening to her mom answer
"I didn't make that sweetheart..." Jane replied when she heard Lilly shouted who thought she was the one who made the waffles. She felt bad that she had time to cook for her because she was her world life even though she knew that Lilly really liked her homemade food especially her favourite waffle. Jane walked into the dining room to see Lilly's face was sullen while she was already holding the fork and knife but had not touched the food at all. "I'm sorry baby, I promise to make your favourite dish on the weekend..." Jane kissed her cheek as she took a seat opposite her daughter who was still getting a pout face from Lilly "whatever you want-"
"Whatever I want, really?!" she answered enthusiastically as she looked back into her mother's face with an amused smile making Jane smile widely and nod "Okay then" Lilly nodded while eating her waffle, although her daughter was more expressionless and silent for anything but Jane could understand right away from the way she showed it to her. ”-Mommy, about my name?” she said quietly as she contemplated looking at her food, Jane smiled as she thought of how big her daughter's heart was, Lilly knew maybe her grandparents were dead but she still felt guilty every time her surname between Arnault and Lockhart was precious to her, she always took her grandfather's name when in Paris she doesn't have a problem but now she is in America, she doesn't want the name to attract people's attention even though she doesn't doubt her grandmother's name is also very influential here...
"Just follow your heart dear, whatever your choice..." Jane answered slowly with a smile making Lilly look up quickly to face her with pursed her lips before Jane continued "-Mommy has to go to the company, are you okay to go with Aunt Viola, she will pick you up-"
"Hello there, did anyone mention my name..." Viola said as she walked over to the dining room, just arrived
"How did you get in..." Jane said surprised as she knit her brows
"You mean how your handsome driver greeted me" Viola replied with a grin as Jane rolled her eyes. Lilly just looked at the two of them who felt happy but also disappointed because her mother couldn't take her but also because she like it when she look of her mother's behaviour bond when she met her aunt.
"He's just doing his job Viola, if he doesn't know you he might shoot you..."
"Oh wow, I really want that" Viola said happily making Jane burst out laughing.
Her laughter cut shortly when Jane's phone rang, breaking her laughter, seeing that her new assistant's name had called her, picked it up and she immediately got up from the chair and headed back into the living room. Lilly just smiled sadly when she found out that her mother had to leave immediately even though her food wasn't even halfway through, her time with her mother was really very short, she really missed the old days though-
"Mommy, have to go-" Jane kissed Lilly's cheek which startled her from her daydream when Jane had finished her call "-you are okay with Aunt Viola, right?" Jane asked while looking into her daughter's eyes with deep focus and concern, Lilly just smiled briefly before nodding "I love you, and I know you’ll have good day" Jane murmured kissing her daughter's crown head once more before hugging her briefly and inhaling her daughter's scent, which would she missed all day.
"Viola... please take care of her, you know she is one of my only-"
"I know...don't worry" Viola said as Jane approached her too and gave her a short hug "Do your best, you got it Jane" Viola said trying to strengthen Jane as they let go of her hug.
"Thank you, I'll remember that-"
"I know, and now go, go-" Viola said as she pushed Jane away who moved to grab her coat and handbag as they laughed.
"Mommy-" Lilly stood up from her chair when she stopped Jane who was about passing the open door before she walked towards her then stopped in front of her mother with a warm smile that could calm Jane's mind "I will keep my attitude and be a good girl if you promise you will keep fight for oldPapa's company too-" Jane opened her mouth as Lilly shook her head and took her mother's hand who had not finished her words "I know you are a strong woman mommy, you will get this, you can do this because I believe in you..." Her daughter said softly and firmly making Jane smiled proudly and sadly... to have a daughter like her, of course she is the world of life for her, if without her she also doesn't know what Jane Lockhart Arnault’s life would be like... but with her, having her everything feels so easy, she knows her daughter isn't people who are vocal in talking about everything or something but God knows when she says her words, even though what she thinks, everyone knows how lucky she is.
"Thank you my love and I'm sorry..." Jane whispered in her daughter's ear softly as she hugged her tightly, Lilly closed her eyes while nodding also hugging her mother tightly
"Ma'am..." Jane sighed as her driver and bodyguard appeared at the door to informed Jane that it was time to leave.
"It's okay mommy..." Lilly mumbled as she let go of her mother's arms that hugged her tightly making Jane look at her guiltily, Lilly nodded once again trying to put a big smile on her face before Jane kissed her cheek and turned around heading to her Genesis G90 car.
"Good Morning ma'am" Andrew greeted her gently while opening the car door for her.
"Good Morning Andrew" Jane smiled and nodded as she get into the car before Andrew closed the door and rushed into the front seat car to take his boss to her company.
It took half an hour to get to her company. Andrew looked at Jane who was busy looking at the chart on the tablet on her lap, looking very busy and thinking but it was also obvious that she was daydreaming about something.
"Are you ready ma'am" Andrew said breaking Jane's thoughts who looking at her from the rear view mirror before Jane glanced at him smiling confidently.
"Always Andrew" Jane glanced at him from her blue eyes making Andrew nod with a smile
"Then, here we are ma'am" Andrew said as their car stopped in front of a company main building.
Jane put back her tablet in her handbag while taking out her sunglasses before putting them on after Andrew got out of the car standing by the car waiting a few minutes giving Jane time to feel presentable, nodding with a bodyguard who appeared from the other side to help him block the reporter who was about to block the way to the entrance for Jane will walk later before Andrew opened the door for Jane.
All the reporters gathered in front of the famous Fashion company, waiting for the arrival of someone who was heard to be controlling and taking over the company. The car door was opened, black Louis Vuitton suede baby goat leather heels appear. It is embellished with an oversized LV Circle accessory, paved by hand with white and gray crystals, which sparkle against the velvety texture of the suede and a woman who wear it. A heels worn by a woman's left foot slowly appeared with a left foot that was so charming long leg that she held herself up before her right foot also appeared along with her majestic and beautiful body making peoples flocked and reporters rushed to take pictures of her to ask questions and offer sincere compliments from their minds. Jane smiled but her smile stopped when a man tried to grab her by her arm but Andrew quickly pushed the man to the floor with the help of another bodyguard, before he’s leading Jane quickly into the company as reporters kept asking thousands of questions non-stop photographing her.
Jane walk in a magnificent building with automatic doors protected by many bodyguards, this magnificent building was steel structure and glass facade even from a distance she could see all the activities of the people pacing above even that from her blue eyes where she was standing now. Lord her days are still very long, and she has faced such things outside earlier, but in an instant this building calms her mind, maybe that's why her papa' told her to keep this company, because he also believes in her...
"Ma'am" Her secretary greeted her while giving a bouquet of flowers and the section heads from various fields lined up to greet Jane, who had been waiting for her arrival to break Jane's thoughts, who immediately greeted them one by one and smiled charmingly with sincerity, making the male officials whisper behind their backs in surprise. Who shock by Jane's appearance, which before Jane came only said bad things when they’d heard about someone who would serve as CEO here is nonsense but right now even many offered unexpected things to her, huh, people just don't know how easy it is to deceive people with her physical appearance but people don't know that she has knowledge and sharp memory doing a thing, she has many abilities that are very more dangerous if people try to play with her, but yeah for now she will try people think of her as an innocent woman who doesn't know anything. Just for now, let's play...
"You should be escorted by the private helicopter that we have Mrs. Arnault..." Will Gardner a man from the head of finance and law said as Jane was in front of him and just as Jane finished greeting all the section heads.
"Just Jane Please..." Jane said softly as she looked at him kindly before continuing "-And yeah I should too, but I'm more comfortable breathing fresh land air than up there" Jane grins making Will laugh and look at her with an amused smile
"Would you Jane... I'll help you get to know the building at the company better if you're willing" Jane was a little confused when she heard Will said what he was asking for? whether he was trying to convince her, or he just wanted to hear her convictions... whatever what he thought, after all they really would companies her around to introduce this company this morning schedule.
Will raised his brows trying to reassure Jane when Jane just stared at him in silence with a million thoughts in her head making one of the people far from them clear his throat before Jane nodded with a smile that failed to cover her confusion as Will smiled kindly "I'll help you get to know this company better..." Will said slowly but firmly reassuringly as he nodded causing Jane to close her eyes briefly her brows furrowed and look at him again with a grateful smile.
"Yes please..." Will held out his hand in front of her to show her to go ahead before him walked beside her, Jane turned her head back nodding to Andrew and her secretary Marisa, who gestured to allow Will to stand and motioned for her, it's okay with him to tour her know this company building this time, when the other section heads were behind her. Take turns explaining to her each room building and the tasks they take care of....
Jane changed into her thin black lace pajamas with see-through and went about her nightly routine, replaying that night's events in her mind. After they returned to the table, Richard continued to explain, taking every opportunity to point out similarities and common interests between Herself until Jane could barely speak to one another; Richard had said all there was to them. while Jane is tempted to look at her past lover, but forces herself to be a good poker face, relaxing and sipping her wine. There would be time to think about Richard later.She was beginning to suspect Marisa had been talking more to Richard in her absence too, because by the time they all said goodbye it was clear he had the impression it was indeed a date, no joke. he. She pulled him aside and told him in a charming tone how wonderful it was to meet her, and would hope to see her again sometime, to talk business, or…. Jane groaned closing her eyes, for in her memories of being with Richard distracted by the i
Luckily, the orchestra chose that moment to finish the song and the couple in the ballroom stopped dancing, applauding their final performance.She took that as an excuse and checked the watch on his wrist watch “Oh, I didn't notice the time. It's very late," she said to him, "I have an early meeting tomorrow, with your team"Richard looked surprised and disappointed but just nodded at her. She knew it was a lousy excuse and probably one of the worst performances of her life, and they returned to their table again when they wanted to finish the bill."You understand that I invited you to dinner just to not piss me off, right?" he said.Jane laughed at him gently, "Yeah, that's pretty obvious.""So officially, I still owe you another dinner," he smiled, after he waved and silently asked the waiter for the bill, "But we can make it dinner in Chicago if you want," he said as casually as he could and waited for her to answer.Before she could say anything, the waitress returned with the b
He chuckled but pretended to look offended, “Of course! In fact, I am a great dancer. I'm the grandson of the British Ambassador, remember? I started taking ballroom dancing classes at the age of four, just in case Queen Elizabeth stopped by New York,” he said as she joined in on the laughs, irony isn't it? and she'd be dealing with politically strong, it was too complicated Jane thought"—Oh wait. I understand. It's a car thing, right? You don't think people who own automotive companies can dance," he continued the conversation, following another song.More like a robot linker and an airplane, Jane's mind thought with a smile.Out of the corner of her eye she saw a pregnant girl in her twenties dancing with a friend of Richard's who she knew was in his late fifties and her smile faded. She asked herself again, for the thousandth time, how a man could do such a stupid thing.Richard noticed the change in her mood and followed her gaze, “It's Hiko Yamato and his wife. You've probably s
-0-0—YESTERDAY“-uhm, and why do you like roses?” Jane tried to break Richard’s gaze too fixated on her“Well, it’s different with you I guess I should explain first—” Jane smirked as Richard teased her before he continued “Apparently my father is an American businessman who grew up in Europe and my mother is British,” he began after tasting the wine, “They have nothing in common, just the fact that they’re both fresh. Students from the same university in France. My father is a student engineer and my mother studied Literature. Dad loves numbers, and mom loves words. Dad is brown hair, and mom is blonde. Dad is friendly and talkative, mom is shy and introspective—” Jane laughed looking at him“and it’s very specific The other way around” Jane laughed making Richard smile happily“In every way imaginable,” he nodded, “They met at one of those student meet and greets once. “He said he was instantly smitten by her, while mom wasn’t impressed with him at all,” he laughed, “Instead of givi
“I thought you want to help me?” Gary said speaking up. “You said you need me for a mission to get all this started so what do we have to do?” She wasn’t surprised Gary was the first one to ask that question. He had the most experience working with the CIA after all.“It will actually be two missions,” Sia said turning back to the image. “This place belongs to you leader of one of the stronger factions but you hold on it is gonna through black mail and you are assisted in this by your father whom I believe you are familiar with.” An image of his father appeared on Gary mind.“Yes me is leading a Fashion businessman?” Gary said clearly shocked. “I mean I know he’s ruthless enough but I didn’t think anyone would follow him.” She could understand their disbelief but one Gary know the whole picture of his father done then he migh be understand. “He has control over the Command system ship through it’s Dark control systems,” Sia said bringing up the image. “He has allied with his brothe
She glanced at Gary and looked uncomfortable with what he was about to ask her and she did her best to look supportive when his eyes found hers. “I know you would prefer to take some time to deal with leaving your home world again but we don’t have time,” Gary finally said. “We have an important matter to discuss, if you’d tell them what you asked me to do.”She took a breath as She look at him again “Some time ago I asked myself to consider putting myself in contention for this Mission alone.” She could see the understanding look on Gary face. “I agreed to consider it and discuss it with the rest of the truth but when Chief mantion you it kind makes me challenge Doing my job”“This is why you not stepped down to this mission isn’t it?” Gary asked looking at Sia. “You’ve agreed to go along with this mission idea of you take me in to this?” Sia nodded and Gary glanced over at his other side. “You knew about me accidently?”“Only after Chief be seen supporting you behind” Sia said afte
The silent level in the cafe was deafening; so much for the belief that a meeting of the him was always conducted in a decorous fashion, hah. Sia exchanged glances with hm. Of the people present on CIA, she is must to meet him, and here she is. And the only two who weren’t currently expressing their opinions at the top of their lungsDespite the seriousness of the situation, Sia had to stifle a grin as Gary rolled his eyes and whispered, “Now I know why Captain has resisted being promoted for so long!”“I certainly would go insane if I had to deal with you on a regular basis,” Gary agreed. She looked around at the room; to her left. At her immediate left, before She was glad she couldn’t make out more than a few distinct phrases from that particular ‘conversation.’“Gives you a greater appreciation for how tough it is to be CIA agent,” Gary said. “It’s not just I’m who’s unhappy, though I think most of the others were all right until this brought up the plans for the colony.” He shift
“Although their motives appear to be pure,” Gary said with only a trace of irony disappointed in his voice, “but why my dad assets been included to them?!”Sia nods when sigh “That’s why we’ve decided that it would not be prudent to have you going back this job. I’m sending a second ship with you-the Odyssey.” Sia pause considering “but I do want to help you” Gary closed his eyes grunts in annoyed This was exactly what he didn’t want to know about his dad done or his assets... even the Dark Auction wasn’t any worse“Who will be in command of the selection of this mission?” Gary asked slowly“I am but you will be in charge of the overall mission if you join me,” Sia said immediately, answering his unspoken question. “Captain Effic La Farley will be in command to help in France. He’s an excellent officer. Although he’s never held a field command before, he’s headed up a variety of research teams, plus garnered immeasurable experience serving on senior staff for nearly fifteen years befo
“Do they have any other purpose other than making a living for their group?” he asked after awhile “After much effort and time I don’t think so but if the Federation cooperates in their business I’m not so sure” Sia said it made sense because people need dark political funds “There aren’t many easy worlds for illicit or unclaimed business that fit in, especially in that area,” Sia said leaning forward in her chair. Suddenly she had an insight. “Do you think there are the size of the hands of the higher ups in France?” she remembered how the Humans there offered arrivals a chance to settle down if they had sufficient funds. And this must be how the new ship got involved. The more she thought about it now, the more sense it made. Gary’s eyes met hers. “Ahh I think that’s how They claims her Retail is easy since Ms. Arnault’s father is from and settled in France.” Gary sat back, stunned. Many images and memories of his time in France – with Jane, for what they thought would