“Sir, I’ve brought the medicine.” Larry, who had been incessantly keeping an eye towards the direction of the bedroom, felt compelled to voice his concern, “Even if it’s all for the sake of the-little one, you really ought to pay some attention to your well-being.”
Dexter, his gaze fixated on the cigarette that was burning slowly between his fingers, responded in a dismissive tone, “I’m not at death’s door yet.”
Larry, at a loss for words, continued, “Mr. Barrett has made his way back to Wavery. We’re still in the dark about the investigation’s findings, but he’s got wind from his connections that Charles is perfectly fine and out of harm’s way.”
This news seemed to lift a weight off Dexter’s shoulders. With a sense of relief, he closed his eyes momentarily and remarked, “The moment Charles shows his face, you can bet Mark will be on our doorstep, loaded with questions.”
“Think we ought to send someone over to give him a gentle nudge?” Larry pondered aloud.
Meanwhile, when little Grape stirred awake, craving her milk, Josie began to hum a soft melody to calm her, her actions in preparing her bottle both skilled and fluid. Dexter turned his attention away, indicating, “No, let him come to us with his questions.”
“Weren’t you planning to-”
“What if something happened to me?” he casually threw in, a comment that notably unnerved Larry.
This prompted the latter to quickly reassure in a whisper, “As long as you keep yourself in one piece, nothing dire will transpire. After all, we’ve struck a solid deal with Wavery.”
A ghost of a smile played on Dexter’s lips, yet it was devoid of any real joy, leaving one to ponder over his true thoughts.
Construction was back in full swing over in La Oriele, with Alice and Jade taking up temporary residence in Rivodia to supervise the ongoing work. During one of Josie’s visits, she thoughtfully brought along Grape.
Having not stepped out in quite some time, she was captivated by the freshness of her surroundings. Jade took the lead, guiding her around the bustling construction site, both of them indulging in a moment of carefree exploration.
“Do you reckon we can wrap this up in two months?” Josie inquired.
Alice glanced over, estimating, “I’d say about a month and a half, give or take. The push from the higher-ups is pretty intense. You’d almost think we were in a rush for reincarnation.”
Josie let out a light chuckle, adding, “Given that La Oriele rakes in millions a day, it’s no wonder the top brass are itching to get things moving.”
The scene around them was a hive of activity as if this place was immune to adversity.
“Grape!” A call rang clearly across the room, unmistakably from Laura. She had dropped by the studio to check in on the team, her assistant laden with an assortment of goodies.
Crouching down, Laura gently cradled the little girl in her arms.
“Aunt Laura!” Josie greeted her with a warm smile.
Curious, Josie inquired, “Has Laura been stopping by regularly during this stretch?”
“Exactly, she’s been utterly devoted to this project,” was the response.
Laura, holding Grape, beamed, “See what I’ve brought you!”
Josie watched the scene unfold, a bit overwhelmed by the sudden rush of memories. The last update from Mallory had confirmed that the person on suspension was indeed Rachel, who was not only still in Rivodia but also working for Arnold. However, Josie couldn’t wrap her head around why Laura was at that club.
With no clear answers, she resigned herself to the possibility that she was just overthinking things.
Yet; upon laying eyes on Laura, a flood of memories came rushing back.
As Josie’s gaze shifted away, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. At a nearby intersection, a group approached, led by none other than Arnold, who sported sunglasses and briefly glanced their way before a staff member ushered him inside.
Josie exchanged nods with Alice, following the movement instinctively.
Arnold was there to inspect the site’s progress. Accepting a safety helmet from a staff member, he made his rounds across the site.
“Mr. Mills, the crew has been working overtime. We’re on track to resume full operations very soon,” a staff member reported.
Without a word, Arnold completed his tour and returned to find Josie standing off to the side, prompting a scoff and a dismissive gesture toward the others.
“What’s this? Decided to come and see your handiwork?”
Josie, leaning casually with a mischievous grin, replied, “I was just hoping, Mr. Mills, that you might cut me a deal when La Oriele swings its doors open again.”
Arnold, gesturing toward the exit, questioned, “Is this the place for you? Isn’t your kid still on the bottle?”
“You!” Josie exclaimed, caught off guard by the remark.
