7 Late night call
In the elevator, Axel broke the silence, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of inquiry. “Quite the day, isn’t it?”
Flora merely nodded, keeping her gaze fixed on the illuminated floor numbers above the doors.
“It’s interesting, seeing you here,” Axel continued, his tone light yet filled with curiosity. “Especially after our encounter earlier today. And the one from the day we first met at the corridor and the encounter at the eatery with your ex”
Flora’s pulse quickened, but she masked her reaction with a composed facade. She knew Axel was probing, trying to unearth something, but she couldn’t afford to reveal her cards. She glanced at him, her eyes guarded. “Yes, it is quite the coincidence, isn’t it?”
Axel’s expression was inscrutable. “Coincidences tend to be rare, Flora.” He emphasized her name, the weight of recognition hanging in the air.
Flora’s grip on her bag tightened imperceptibly. “Is there something you’re getting at, Axel?”
He leaned back against the mirrored wall, his gaze never leaving her. “You seem to know your way around the business world quite well.”
Flora maintained a tight–lipped stance, choosing not to respond. Her silence spoke volumes as she held back from saying another word.
The elevator pinged, signaling their arrival on the floor. They stepped out, each heading in opposite directions, but the tension lingered like a phantom thread connecting them.
Axel turned briefly before entering his suite. “Goodnight, Flora.”
1
“Goodnight, sir.” Her response was polite but didn’t betray an ounce of the turmoil swirling
within.
Flora sighed softly as she entered her suite, trying to shake off the discomfort.. Her encounter with Axel had left her feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Kendra rushed over when she saw Julianna.
“What’s wrong, Mom? Are you feeling unwell? Shall we go to the hospital?”
“It’s just someone I met downstairs. He’s… someone annoying, let’s say.” She replied
Kendra raised an eyebrow. “Downstairs? Was it someone from the company?”
Flora hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “Sort of. He’s connected to the company, but not in a way I’d expected.”
Her curiosity piqued. “What do you mean, Mom? Did he bother you?”
Flora chuckled lightly, trying to lighten the mood. “Oh, nothing serious, honey. Just an unexpected
encounter.”
She glanced at her mother with a look of and Innocence In her eyes, sensing there was more to the story. “Are you sure? You seem tense.”
Flora paused, debating whether to divulge more. “He’s… part of the reason I didn’t want to darling. But it’s nothing I can’t handle.‘
be here,
Kendra nodded, not wanting to push too hard. “Well, if you say so, Mom. But if he’s troubling you, you should let someone know.”
Flora smiled gratefully at her daughter’s concern. “Thank you, sweetie. I’ll keep that in mind.”
The unease lingered, but Flora was determined not to let it spoil their stay. She changed the subject, steering the conversation to something lighter, hoping to ease the tension that had settled in the
room.
In the middle of the night, Flora’s phone pierced the silence, the glow of the screen bringing Kelvin’s name to her bleary eyes. She hesitated before answering, groggily murmuring, “Kelvin, what’s up? This better be worth the wake–up callIt has to be more than just a midnight chat.”
Kelvin’s chuckle echoed through the line. “Oh, I thought it was you who dialed my number, wondering why I’d call at this hour.”
Flora couldn’t muster a laugh; her silence conveyed the urgency she felt. Kelvin sensed her seriousness and quickly shifted gears, cutting to the chase. “Okay, serious mode. Listen, Axel’s been digging around about your past. Shako Town, specifically. Do you know why?”
Flora’s heart skipped a beat. “Wait, how did you find this out?” Her voice was tinged with surprise, trying to unravel how deep Axel’s inquiries ran.
Kelvin evaded the question, redirecting the focus, “That’s not important right now. What’s critical is how we address this. Axel’s suspicions can’t escalate. Do you know anything that might have triggered his interest in Shako Town?”
Flora’s mind raced. “I honestly have no idea why he’d suddenly be interested in my past, especially Shako Town. It’s been weeks since I left. What could have prompted this sudden investigation?” The worry in her voice was visible as she tried to recall anything that might have triggered Axel’s curiosity.
Kelvin listened intently. “It doesn’t add up. Axel’s persistent, though. We need to address this before it escalates. Any plan?”
Flora’s determination was evident in her tone. “I’ll handle it. I need to figure out why Axel’s delving into my past and put an end to this snooping. Thanks for letting me know, Kelvin.”
Kelvin understood the gravity of the situation. “Got it. Stay safe, Flora.”
“By the way, there was a lot of tension because of what happened at the engagement party. Your ex- fiance has been spreading rumors about you and your twins,” Kelvin said, reading the gossip on the
computer screen.
Flora listened, her brows knitting together in concern as Kelvin shared the unsettling information. ”
Presley? Intentionally spreading rumors about us?” Her voice conveyed both disbelief and frustration. Kelvin’s tone was serious. “Yeah. He’s been telling people things that don’t add up. Making it sound like you are the bad person intentionally had those twin to call off your engagement with him”
Her thoughts raced. Presley’s motives seemed murky, and the implications of such rumors deeply troubled her. “That’s absurd. I need to put a stop to this
She sighed, her mind working on how to address both Axel’s inquiry and Presley’s misinformation.” I’ll find a solution for Axel. But Presley… I’ll have to confront him directly. Thanks for letting me know, Kelvin. It means a lot.” Presley was unaware that the twins were Flora’s treasures. He was foolish enough to upset her.
As the call ended, Flora lay awake, her mind swirling with unanswered questions and a growing concern about Axel’s sudden interest in her history. The night felt longer, brimming with uncertainty.
In his suite, Axel reached for his phone and dialed his brother’s line. He knew he would be awake, playing games as usual even though he was hospitalized.
The late–night call startled Marc. He let it ring for a while before answering in a feigned sleepy voice, “Axel, why aren’t you asleep? Can’t it wait until morning?”
Axel replied, his voice urgent, “You’ll be asleep during the day. Who am I going to talk to then? Let me
finish.”
Marc’s heart quickened. He sensed the gravity in Axel’s tone and kept silent, the suspense thickening with every passing second.
Axel’s voice grew more assertive. “Marc, I need this information. There’s more to her than meets the
eye.”
Marc’s voice remained calm but resolute. “I get that, Axel, but you’re treading on thin ice here. You’re fixating on this Flora person, and I’m concerned it’s clouding your judgment.”
Axel’s frustration was evident. “I need to know what she’s up to. This is crucial. I can’t have loose
ends.”
He sighed. “I get it, but don’t let this consume you. I’ll keep digging when I’m discharged, but promise me you won’t get reckless. Cause what I am feeling right now is that this whole scenario is getting reckless”
Axel took a deep breath, trying to quell the rising irritation. He reminded himself to stay patient, for every family had at least an insensitive member.
As Flora stepped into the elevator, he followed suit, the space suddenly feeling confined with unspoken tension.
