Chapter 41


    They talked about business not until the food was served, as their topic about it changed and Andreus was already switching topics.


    “So..is it okay to ask…something personal?” he asked, his lips stretching for a smile.


    Ciara’s phone beeped again. She looked at it and saw the texting from Callum’s number again.


    Unknown:


    Finish that right now, and I’ll fetch you.


    Ciara’s brow wanted to arch, but she just set it aside and put her attention back on Andreus, who seemed so interested in asking about personal things.


    “What is it?” she asked while she was slicing her steak.


    “Hmmm… So…are you single or are you currently dating someone he asked.


    Ciara chuckled a little, almost without humor, and arched her brow.


    “Nothing really interests me at the moment aside from my own brand, she answered timidly.


    Andreus blinked twice as his lips stretched even more.


    “Oh, so you are single?” he rified, his expression lightening.


    “Yes.” She nodded and stuffed a little amount of food into her mouth, chewing it slowly.


    She saw how Andreus’ lips stretched even more like he just found out the winning numbers of a lottery ticket and got all the money to bet on it for his own benefit.


    “Hmm…interesting.” He smiled sweetly as he sipped on his wine without taking his eyes off her.


    Ciara’s eyes drifted to the screen of her phone again when Callum’s text popped out again.


    Unknown:


    Text me once it’s done. I’ll wait outside.


    And how did he find out where I was at the moment? Really, Callum? I didn’t think you had this side. You weren’t like this in the past. You don’t really interfere with my space.


    Well, have you forgotten that you always favored him from the past and that it was you who’s giving him reasons not to doubt


    you because you’ve given her your one hundred percent loyalty?


    And while he was there, he had his own faith in someone else.


    Every time Ciara would remember that Callum had Shane, and despite the exnation he had already given, a part of her still believed that in those moments, Callum never cared for her feelings; either it would hurt her or torment her for a lifetime every time she would remember it, but Callum never reilly considered her, which would always scar the wound that was almost healing.


    “But I heard a rumor with you and the current CEO of Haynes Corp. Callum Haynes?” He looked at Ciara like the answer would be stered on her face.


    “That’s just a rumor.” She smiled as her phone chimed again.


    1/3


    |||


    Chapter 41


    Unknown


    What time will it end?


    Damn, Callum, Calm your ass down. You act like a jealous boyfriend who has no rights in the first ce.


    It tickles her stomach, but at the same time, it stops her from being too giddy about it as she is still doubting Callum’s actions toward her.


    “Rumor. Then that woman, who was the daughter of the Wilson, was lying?”


    What Ciara hates so much is when people stick their noses where they don’t belong. Though she couldn’t me him because the scene was so scandalous that it left everyone more curious, and knowing her reputation as a Sullivan that was very mysterious, hearing open information about them was very rare,


    “I have really nothing to say about that issue,” she said, shrugging


    “You know, being in this business is quite dirty. People would always find a way to bring you down and would choose everything just to put dirt on you. You are now exposed publicly and that wouldn’t be the first time that someone would attempt to ruin your reputation.”


    Ciara nodded, as she knew that part as well. She didn’t sign up for this without getting herself ready for how the others were so dirty and toxic.


    Despite the security they have, she knew that there were days when some of it would be unstoppable. But to her, as long as she knew that she wasn’t doing anything wrong and waspletely innocent, she would let the time pass to tell the truth and just focus on her own business.


    “Aren’t you releasing your statement about that controversy?” Andreus asked.


    Ciara sipped on her wine for a while, indulging in its tiste, until she was fully satisfied.


    “I might ruin two reputations if I do that. And I think there’s no need to aggravate the issue.”


    Andreus’ brow arched. “Two reputations…”


    Ciara continued eating while Andreus looked so curious, which Ciara didn’t fully disclose anymore as she wanted to protect her daughter as well. She knew that by opening up the topic of what Shane said, her daughter might be dragged on it as well, so she would rather let them believe Shane as long as she knew the truth.


    Unknown:


    I’ll go in after five minutes..


    That was Ciara’s cue to end the dinner since she knew that Callum would really do it. She doesn’t want to create more rumors; she would rather stop what was on Callum’s mind.


    “I will drive you home,” Andreus insisted when ra was already ready to leave.


    “No, it’s okay. My personal driver is fetching me,” she said and smiled.


    Andreus nodded and let her as Ciara walked to the parking lot until she found the familiar sports car of Callum waiting for her.


    She sighed and slipped into the front seat when it opened. Callum, who was sitting on the driver’s seat in a ck buttoned shirt and khaki pants, looked brooding and intense while he pushed the gear roughly and maneuvered the car right away.


    Ciara could feel his inner wrath that was screaming in the silence between them.


    27/3


    15:42 Fri, May 31 A M


    Chapter 41


    “How did you know that I’m here?” She asked nonchntly as she started typing a message for Cara for an update.


    “I thought you were busy enough that you couldn’t say yes to my dinner, he stated coldly while his eyes lingered on the


    road.


    66%


    “It’s a business-rted dinner,” she exined, and she nced at him as she caught his jaw tightening while the veins on his neck were protruding.


    “Really? A business-rted… Callum repeated like he had seen evidence that she wasn’t lying and he was trying to catch her.


    “Yup. Why? I am single. I am also a businesswoman. Am I not allowed to talk to men right now?”


    Callum licked his lips, Ciara could see the controlled frustration he was trying to bury but failed to do so as it wasing to


    the surface.


    “So if I invite you over to dinner to talk about business-rted things, you’d approve it, is that it?” He bargained sarcastically.


    “If it’s worth it, then maybe?”


    Callumughed a little without any humor at all.


    “So meeting him up was worth it? He’s the CEO of Vervani and came from a prominent family of business hustlers. Well, I am not bragging here, but Haynes was three times better than the Evanders. I am not trying topare myself to him, but if I were to invite you over for dinner that’s business-rted and you decline it and ept his instead, as a businessman, I might question what kind of business you were trying to build because you are getting someone who’s the least helpfulpared to Haynes.”


    Ciara wanted tough at how cocky Callum sounded, but she knew that he made sense. She learned from him before anyone else. It was he who inspired and motivated her to dive into the business world, as she learned a lot from just watching Callum do his thing smoothly.


    He was her first mentor before anything else. And it was he who really molded her in the business industry.


    But despite that realization, she doesn’t want to admit to Callum that he was right and he was three times better Andreus because there was something about him being sopetitive that felt so hot and sexy, which she shareThis belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    “Haven’t you thought that I am not epting the Haynes because I care for them? They have a lot on their te. T like a superhero who saves apany that’s almost in bankruptcy. Why would I insert myself more if I could find so who would prioritize me? Nothing but just only me?” Ciara said it meaningfully.


    Callum nced at her. And the way he reacted, Ciara couldpletely tell that he knew what she was talking about.


    “I told you that it doesn’t mean that you think it is,” Callum exined,


    “I am just saying, okay? Whatever it is, I want something for mypany that matches my vibe. And the Vervani is the best pair for CARA. I like the simrity of the brands. And Andreus seems ready to prioritize me,” she said, emphasizing thest two words that made Callum sigh heavily.


    “I did that as part of the strategy, Ciara. You are misinterpreting t


    “This is my strategy, too. Don’t misinterpret it,” she argued back.


    3/3


    SEND GIFT


    COMMENT