Since there was no point in discussing it further, the duo naturally stopped talking. However, Robert’s attitude had given Heather an immense assurance. Knowing that her grandfather chose to side with her, she no longer saw any point to worry.
After exiting the study, Heather pulled out her phone that had been buzzing and opened up her Messenger, only to be greeted by Leon’s swarming texts. Unexpectedly, the last one grabbed her attention. ‘You’ll need my help with Paige.’
Reading the obvious blackmail, she helplessly typed out a reply. Never would she have expected Leon to be this reactive.
‘Thanks for the help.’ Since it was not much of a threat, she didn’t mind accepting his help.
Reading her response, Leon subconsciously frowned as he realized he was, as expected, no match of hers. Firmly believing that his family was indeed responsible for the explosion, he was unwilling to compromise by letting the matter affect the start up of their business.
‘I think it’s better that I head over to your place. Some things cannot be discussed via a mere call.’ Leon insisted on visiting the Langston Residence as there were some particulars regarding his family that he would rather disclose face-to-face.
‘There’s no need for that. I have no interest in your family feud. Our partnership bears no relevance to your personal affairs.’ Heather rejected his visitation right away, having no intention to get involved in Leon’s ambiguous family matters. Since she had agreed to partner up with him, she decided not to meddle in his shady family business.
Upon seeing that text, Leon was taken aback. It was as if something had thoroughly changed her mind with how she wasn’t one bit interested about his family.
‘Rest up. Bad weather doesn’t go well with discussion.’ Fearing that she might lose a good friend, Heather no longer had the desire to further conversate with Leon.
Since nothing was ever elementary as it appeared, why not just stay a simpleton in such a complex world? Despite that, she would continue looking into the detonation. If Leon’s family was actually pulling the strings, she would let him handle it himself.
Nevertheless, if there was a one in a million chance that the Moriartys were behind it, she would never let them off the hook so easily. Although Caleb hadn’t been showing up lately, Heather knew that he was never far away from her.
As if they were always lurking around the Langston Residence, standing by for a lethal strike to the Langstons, Heather couldn’t drop her worry of the Moriartys being aware that their conflict could drag the Hart family down. However, given how the Locke Group had been troubling the Hart Group, perhaps someone from the former did collude with the Moriartys.
With that, Heather couldn’t be sure that Matthias had no hand in this. After all, he was the director of the corporation, so opposing the Hart Group must have been his command.
Linking all the happenings together, it was as if the opponents had laid down a chess board and Heather could only play it safe. Up until now, the Langston Group hadn’t stirred up any major issues and the Moriartys were just staying put. No one could tell what they were waiting for.
And so, Heather decided to meet Myra at the same time to look for a chance to speak with Tony regarding the matter. Without having her breakfast, she immediately departed from the Langston Residence.
In this stormy weather, Myra suddenly got a call from Heather. “Open up, Myra. I’m at your door.”
As the go-getter she was, Heather would never delay her plans she had come up with even for a minute. When Myra opened the door, Heather looked somewhat damp—it seemed like she got caught in the rain.
Myra’s gaze fell upon Heather’s right hand that was holding a foldable umbrella. Despite having put up an umbrella, she still managed to get herself wet, indicating how terrific the storm was.
“Is Tony at work?” Heather questioned, going straight to the point.
Welcoming her into the house, Myra answered, “He’s having breakfast. What’s the urgency?”
However, Heather only hummed in response. By then, she had already decided to go against Robert’s will—to work with the Locke Group. However, it was possible that the Locke Group was already affiliated with the Moriartys, so she thought forming an alliance with the Hart family was the safer bet.
Reading the time on his watch, Tony had anticipated a traffic jam in the storm that would hinder him from reaching his workplace on time.
Clueless about whomever it was that Myra opened the door for, he curiously stared toward the door. A minute ago, Myra silently left her seat and walked toward the door. Before he even realized it, he heard the house door opening.
Heather, on the other hand, entered the house and put her umbrella aside. In all honesty, both Myra and Tony were simultaneously surprised and baffled at her sudden appearance.
“Director Hart,” Heather courteously greeted.
At that, Tony turned to Myra—only to see her confused expression—before politely asking, “What’s the matter, Miss Heather?”
“There’s something urgent I came for. If I could trouble you for a bit…” As a drop of sweat fell from Heather’s face, Tony felt somewhat odd as it was his first time seeing her so desperate.
As she donned a bare face, no one could have associated her current appearance with a strong, independent business woman. Perhaps she had indeed come with pressing news.
“Work?” Despite saying that, Tony had no idea what business could make her so restless.
“Yes.” Giving him a knowing look, Heather hinted that she didn’t want it known to Myra.
Tony never liked discussing work at home and after receiving Heather’s underlying meaning, he suggested, “Why don’t you follow me to work to talk about it?”
Since the matter should be kept from Myra, they could properly talk about it in the Hart Group’s building.
“Sure.” As Heather answered, she thought that she might have been too impulsive given the fact that she had even come to the Hart Residence when she could have waited for Tony in the Hart Group.
Watching as Heather and Tony leave as they put up umbrellas of their own, Myra, who had been clueless since the beginning, couldn’t help but feel a little left out.
Although they were behaving formally with each other, they seemed like criminals that were avoiding suspicion. With that, Myra couldn’t help but wonder what it was that had Heather rush over to the residence.
Shortly after, the both of them got into their respective vehicles. A lot of times, some women hoped their best friends would befriend their partners while the rest would expect them to keep their distance.
Myra belonged to the former as she wished that Heather and Tony could get along. Since she had utmost trust in them and their qualities, she believed there wouldn’t be anything messy happening between them.
As the storm continued to raid Bradfort City, every vehicle seemed like a mini canoe drifting in the endless sea. Gazing out the window, Heather looked rather dazed, and she was perturbed by the fact that she was actually considering bailing on her own decided plans.
Thinking of Robert, she couldn’t help but feel like she had betrayed him and a weird sensation surged in her heart. At that moment, she was hesitant on whether to confess the matter to Tony. Weirdly, the confidence she initially had was now nowhere to be found.
Very soon, the both of them had arrived at the Hart Group. Consequently, Tony exited his car while Heather, after spacing out for a while, weakly got out of hers.
Following Tony’s footsteps, Heather worried that her trailing Tony into the building might not be a good idea. After all, it had been a hell of an autumn, so she intended to avoid any unnecessary trouble, knowing paparazzis were as savage as hungry beasts.
“Go ahead, Director Hart. I’ll be with you shortly.” Worried about the adhesive shutterbugs, Heather decided to stay in the parking lot for a little longer to steer clear of any possible sneak shots.
Once the fearless lady that never bat an eye to scandals nor cared enough to explain things herself, Heather had finally acknowledged the true dread of rumors. Back in the Langston Group, one of the partners had publicly shamed her with rumors during a banquet, indicating how a woman’s pride was always disregarded in the real world.
And so, Heather reentered her car and waited inside for another quarter of an hour before walking into the building alone. Apart from the fact that it was her first time visiting the Hart Group, her pretty bare face prevented the employees in the building from recognizing her—the mighty Heather Langston.
Without taking a detour, Heather walked to the director’s office, only to be stopped by Tony’s secretary, Leo. At that moment, even Leo couldn’t tell it was indeed Heather.
“Do you have an appointment, Miss?” Leo interrogated.
“Mr. Clark.” Heather revealed a tender smile as she continued, “I’ll have to trouble you to notify your staff. I’m Heather Langston.”
Hearing that, Leo dazedly glanced at her a few times. Although her current look was as beguiling as ever, it was a whole new semblance from her usual appearance.
“I’m sorry. You may enter.” Instantly, Leo felt embarrassed for making such a rookie mistake. No wonder Tony said Heather was coming!
Perturbed, Leo pulled the door open for Heather as he lowered his head, feeling too shameful to look her in the eye. That was the reason she always had makeup on. Otherwise, no one could recognize the robust identity she possessed.
Of course, Heather would sometimes enjoy looking at her own bare face. Although she was already pretty without makeup, perhaps even possessing a tinge of Everly’s attractiveness, it was no way appropriate to be presented in the industry.
At her presence, Tony invited her for a seat with a smile. Immediately, the tension that was on her face was relieved. Recalling her awful scowl, Tony got curious about her thoughts.
“I’m sorry for earlier. That was rude of me,” Heather apologetically expressed after having shocked Myra with her visit.
“It’s not a big deal. You must carry some important news, huh?” He spoke to Heather with a welcoming smile since she was Myra’s closest friend.
After the incident at the hot springs, Tony had no idea if he had left Heather a bad impression. After all, he felt guilty after having bashed her that day despite her genuine concern toward him and Myra as a couple.
Presently, Heather dropped the courteousness and went straight to the point. “Do you know anything about the Moriartys?”
Hearing her question, Tony deliberately peered at her. Undoubtedly, he had heard some things about the Moriartys. Perhaps she comes bearing news about the Moriarty Family?
“I worry that the Moriartys might have come to Bradfort City to have their revenge over a feud from many years ago.” At the thought of Caleb, Heather felt that he would bring bloodshed upon Bradfort City.
“Revenge?” Tony repeated the word as he didn’t quite grasp her message.
“Back then, the Langstons, Harts, and the Moriartys had a relationship but after a certain event, the three families held grudges against each other. Do you know about this?” Heather questioned. Although she didn’t know how much Tony understood about the families’ history, she thought it was best for them both to be upfront.
Unwilling to talk about the past, Tony stared at Heather thoughtfully, as he wasn’t prepared to discuss such matters with her.
Hearing no response from him, Heather switched to a more friendlier approach. “Caleb’s already in Bradfort City. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”
