Chapter 226: The Disappointment
"Malcolm...""Tartt, this is Malcolm. She doesn't require your presence for her birthday celebration. She's a wedded woman now. If you're in need of a companion, I can arrange an introduction," he stated firmly, reminding Tartt that Reese was no longer available, but his wife. It would be inappropriate for her to celebrate her birthday with another man, wouldn't it?Tartt never harbored any particular fondness for Malcolm. He'd ardently pursued Reese for several years to no avail, while Malcolm had seemingly won her affections effortlessly. Naturally, Tartt was far from pleased.Did Malcolm expect Tartt to treat him with civility? That was a far-fetched notion."Malcolm, despite Reese being your wife, she isn't your possession. The manner in which she chooses to celebrate her birthday is her prerogative."However, Malcolm was not one to retreat without a fight; his tone turned frosty. "I have no intention of allowing my wife to celebrate her birthday with another man."Having said his piece, Malcolm abruptly ended the call. On the other end, Tartt was practically boiling over with rage, teetering on the brink of stamping his foot in sheer frustration as he commanded his assistant, "Arrange a ticket for tomorrow. I must be there immediately!"His assistant appeared concerned. "But securing a ticket for tomorrow might be too late."Tartt's countenance grew even more stormy.Reese observed the childish squabble between the two men over a simple birthday disagreement with mild amusement. It was hardly worth her intervention.She reclaimed her phone, "If you can afford to squander time on such trivialities, why not close a few more deals? Earn some extra income—doesn't that sound more appealing?"The mere mention of money elicited a smirk from Malcolm, reminding him of Reese’s earlier concerns and instantly lifting his spirits.Seizing a moment when Reese was distracted, Malcolm playfully pinched her cheek, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "My dear wife is quite the frugal one, isn't she? Perhaps you should manage our finances henceforth, Mrs. Accountant?"Reese was not one for sentimental exchanges like Malcolm, whose flirtatious remarks often set her heart aflutter, even though she maintained a composed exterior. Only she was privy to the rapid pace of her heartbeat.Despite her lack of reaction, Malcolm’s words resonated deeply within her.The fact was, their marriage was still in its infancy. Initially, she had entered it with a specific goal in mind, but she had found herself gradually growing fond of this man.By this point, his words had the power to influence her mood—a state that left her feeling incredibly exposed.Emotions were the most complicated when one was deeply invested, and she dreaded the prospect of having to disengage if the need arose. Her obstinate nature meant that once she committed to something, it was challenging for her to reverse course.Reese remained silent, her expression laced with indifference as she tersely informed Malcolm, "I'm returning to my room."Malcolm watched her retreating back, his gaze laden with complexity. Although she'd shown signs of change, there were moments when he felt the old Reese creeping back—the sharp thorns of her defenses still intact, not fully lowered, fearful that she might revert to her old self at any moment.He placed a call to Justin, his eyes filled with worry."Delve into Reese's childhood for me. Investigate if she's had any traumatic experiences or tough times," Malcolm instructed.Justin shuddered at the mention of Reese; probing into her past was not an easy task. They suspected her, yet lacked evidence.It was akin to having a suspect right before your eyes—certain of their guilt, yet utterly incapable of proving it.It was a feeling of helpless impotence, Reese was like a fortress of secrets, and what could they do? They were utterly baffled by her.
Malcolm hung on the line, the silence from Justin stretching on for so long that he began to wonder if the call had been disconnected."Did you hear what I said?" Malcolm demanded, his patience thinning."Understood, Mr. Flynn, I'm on it," Justin assured him, though his voice held a note of uncertainty. "But what if I come up empty?" This wasn't their first rodeo; they'd hit roadblocks before.Malcolm rubbed his temples, the tension of the situation radiating from his every gesture. "If you can't find anything through the usual channels, tap into our inside connection."There was a pause on Justin's end, a hesitation that spoke volumes. "Mr. Flynn, constantly pulling strings with our contact could backfire. If they trace it back, your real identity, not to mention the Flynn family, could be in jeopardy."Justin privately questioned the necessity of delving into Reese's past. It didn't seem important enough to justify such risks.But Malcolm was adamant. Despite his best efforts, Reese remained an enigma, her heart a fortress that no one could penetrate.The old saying came to mind: "You made the mess, you clean it up."He hardened his resolve. "Do it. Start the search now!"Recognizing the futility of further argument, Justin capitulated. "Alright."After the call ended, Malcolm's gaze drifted to the second floor. Reese stood at the window, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment before she quickly looked away and closed the curtains, her expression seemed troubled.Malcolm's prying had clearly unsettled her. Without any significant leverage, stripping away her layers of privacy would indeed be a daunting task.If Malcolm found something substantial, it would suggest that he was no ordinary man, perhaps even on par with Reese.Yet, the enigma that was Malcolm remained largely unsolved.Later that afternoon, Reese received a message from Calvin.Their robotics project had been snatched up.Without hesitation, Reese dialed the provided number. "Who snagged the project?""No idea, it's all hush-hush. I heard they're going public with the project in a week, that's when we'll find out who," Calvin relayed.Reese's expression hardened. "So, you can’t get any information now?"Calvin sounded apologetic. "Reese, it's not for lack of trying. The information is under lock and key."Reese decided not to push further. Her concern shifted from the project to the person behind it; someone capable of gathering such detailed robotics data in record time was clearly no ordinary individual.She had been gathering information for over half a year, utilizing various channels, yet the other party had secured the project for development in mere days.One week...In a week's time, it would be Valentine’s Day—a day she now awaited with a sense of intrigue, curious to see who had the audacity to claim a project she had set her sights on.It seemed someone was biting off more than they could chew, taking on a project without considering if they had the skills to see it through.In the past few days, Reese hadn't seen much of Malcolm. Sometimes he wouldn't come home at night, but he always made time for her on his days off.Deep down, Reese was content with being busy with her own pursuits; she feared that spending too much time together might lead to her becoming dependent on him.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
