Observing this chaotic household, Cecilia felt a mix of amusement and exhaustion.
But Waylen and Rena seemed to bask in the joy.
Waylen, despite the bustling environment, looked dapper. He always said he aimed to remain enticing for Rena, not wanting to seem as if age was catching up to him.
As Cecilia settled in, Waylen threw her a casual greeting.
He was about to start cooking when his phone rang.
It was Peter.
Eagerly expecting this call, Waylen excused himself to the garden.
Angela’s Library
“Peter, what’s the news?”
Despite his relaxed demeanor, Waylen was adept at reading people.
Peter, likewise, was cunning.
Wearing his signature grin, Peter began, “I’ve reconsidered our last contract discussion. There’s a glitch.”
In the dimming light, Waylen’s features remained striking.
“Oh?
What’s the issue?”
Trying to sound genuine, Peter confessed, “Our finance team made a blunder; added an extra zero by mistake. It’s a major discrepancy in our financial report. I’ve let go of that accountant. We can’t have such negligence. Another expert’s handling it now. Consequently, your firm’s looking at an added 2% profit margin. We both stand to gain from this.”
Waylen offered a quiet smile, letting Peter fill the silence.
“Accounting errors have tied us up unnecessarily,” Peter sighed.
“How about this, Waylen? I’ll visit the Exceed Group tomorrow, and we finalize our intent with a signature?”
Considering the proposal, Waylen replied, “I’ll come to your firm instead.
Express my gratitude to Mark for the business opportunity. Children’s expenses nowadays aren’t cheap, especially given that we have many at home.”
Peter, fully aware of the enormous financial gains Waylen would gain from the deal, found his casual mention of children’s expenses absurd.
He responded with composed grace, “Indeed, children are an investment.
Mr. Evans understands that, which is why he had me reach out.”
“Extend my regards to him.”
“WiLL do.”
Ending the call, Peter mused that Waylen would finally step into the corporate environment the following day.
He recognized Waylen’s cunning; the man was more astute than both Rena and Cecilia.
Meanwhile, Waylen savored the moment.
Opting not to head indoors immediately, he lit a cigarette in the parterre, lost in the fiery hues of the sunset.
Finishing his smoke, he made his way to the kitchen. A dinner promise awaited.
As he prepped mandarin fish, Rena’s soft embrace enveloped him from behind.
“Do you enjoy the aroma of fish that much?” he inquired, turning slightly to face her.
Dodging his question, Rena posed her own, “Did you take a week off just to get on my uncle’s nerve?”
Acknowledging her sharp intuition, Waylen neither confirmed nor denied.
Aware of Rena’s astuteness, especially given her time as the president of the Exceed Group, he wasn’t surprised she had deduced as much.
“Does it bother you?” he ventured.
“Not in the slightest,” she replied, her fingers tracing a light pattern on his abdomen.
“I’m merely curious about your motives. Care to share, Mr. Fowler?”