Something is Definitely Fishy

Next day at Julia's private villa,

Julia came out of her bathroom wearing a white silk robe, showing her flawless skin which was a bit flushed due to the warm bath she took letting her auburn hair down which were still a little wet.

Even though the robe was revealing only a part of her cleavage and her slender legs starting from her mid thighs, she still looked elegant and graceful.

She went directly to the kitchen, opened a new pack of juice from her refrigerator, took two glasses from the rack, and went towards the dining area.

She majestically sat on the chair crossing her legs and showing off her long slender legs in the process making her assistant blush like a ripe tomato.

Her assistant, Sarah was already waiting for her there with a tablet in her hand, averted her gaze and greeted her as soon as Julia sat near her.

"Good Morning, ma'am".

Julia poured a glass each for both of them, and smiled at her assistant calmly and replied, "Morning, Sarah. You are here early. What do you have for me today?".

Sarah sighed a little sadly and reported,

"It seems our PI has gone MIA. No matter how many times I called him, my call never got through. I even sent someone to check on him, but they said his house looked clean, as if no one ever lived there.

I can't understand, how can someone just disappear into the thin air like that, without leaving a single trace behind. Something is definitely fishy here".

"Calm down, Sarah. Things like this happens in their line of work. Lets not jump to any conclusions. We can only hope that wherever that guy is, he is atleast safe", replied Julia.

Sarah said, "I'm sorry for losing my cool there, he was cute though. Anyways, there's another thing that I have to report".

Julia sighed and said, "Shoot".

"SM Investment Group is still not responding to our request for a meeting. Its like they don't even give an ounce of importance to our company", reported Sarah.

Julia looked at her for a moment, and in a long while, for the first time showed her true emotions in front of anyone other than her family.

She pouted in a cute manner and said with a disappointed voice,

"Why are they behaving like they own the world? Its not like we are asking for there properties! I was really interested in doing business with them. It would've been a mutual benefit deal".

Sarah was surprised to see her boss acting in such a manner, as if a kid was denied her favourite doll to play with and stifled her laughter.

She cleared her throat for controlling herself, and said "Maybe this is for the best. Maybe this a sign to avoid bad people? Why don't we look for other people for this?"

Julia looked at her assistant in amusement and said, "Alright. But just in case keep a look out, in case they are interested, but make sure we don't sound desperate for there co-operation.

Since it will put our business at a disadvantage. Also, keep looking for that detective. But don't attract any attention from anyone. Maybe he was already involved in some dangerous case before we hired him".

"Understood, ma'am. Is there any other order for me?" asked Sarah.

Julia thought for a while and said, "Forward the files for that Luxurious Water-Resort Project that we accepted in the suburban area of our city to the CFO. And tell him to see if all the numbers mentioned are matching to the market figures.

We can't take any risk since about a billion dollars are to be invested in this project. That's all for now. Wait for me here, we will leave together for the office".

She went to her room after saying that to quickly dress up for her job, while her assistant started sorting through the files required to be sent.

After making sure that she was ready to face another day of battling with the odds, they both went to garage and unlocked Julia's cream white colored Bentley Mulsanne.

Julia sat in the back seat with a serene expression thinking deeply about her next steps to be taken. She couldn't help but think about that guy again and was not even sure if it was the same guy she met before in that banquet.

She inwardly laughed at her own thoughts, as she never imagined herself ever before that she will be thinking about a guy so much.

Putting her unnecessary thoughts at the back of her head she started going through some reports on her tablet, as the car drove through the city towards their company.

________________

At the same time at Paradise Residency,

Julia was not the only one thinking about the other person, as the person in question was also thinking the same thing.

Mark was currently working out in his home gym as he was also making plans about how to approach the woman he was interested in.

He kept on glancing at his friend Jake, who has made himself comfortable on a sofa in his gym eating an apple, enjoying the music that was being played on the speakers.

Jake saw that his handsome friend with a perfect body was working hard to make it more perfect, as if it was not drool-worthy enough for all the ladies out there and also some dudes.

He noticed that his friend kept on glancing at him from time to time with a contemplative gaze and couldn't help but seriously comment,

"Brother, I know I am a very charming and handsome person, but sorry I don't swing that way. I prefer girls anytime over dudes, man. So will you stop thinking of me that way? Even if we are brothers, I can't accept this, you know?"

Hearing his idiot of a friend, Mark almost choked on his saliva, and immediately refuted,

"Were you born this stupid, or something happened during my absence that I don't know of? I have been meaning to ask you about something, but how did you even come up to that conclusion?"

Jake felt a relief after hearing his friend say that and immediately diverted the topic, "Then ask me whatever you want, I'll answer you to the best of my knowledge".

Mark rolled his eyes at his friend's antics and asked, "Do you know anything about Julia Casey?"

Jake couldn't reply anything for a while as he was unable to process what his friend was saying. After some time, when he realized what he heard was true, his face lit up with excitement and mischief and said,

"Bro, since when did you started getting involved with women, and that too with a beauty who is way out of anyone's league?

I don't know much about her, but only that she is the CEO of that famous hotel and resorts chain group and that she hates showing herself much in public.

Even I have only seen her once at a birthday party of a business partner of their company. She was like an untouchable goddess in between the crowds of people. But why are you asking about her?"

Mark heard his friend attentively and pursed his lips after hearing his last question. He refused to divulge any information no matter how much Jake pestered him later.

Jake gave up after a while and making his own assumptions of his friend.

After they had their dinner together Jake departed for his own place, while Mark sat in his balcony with a wine glass in his hand and had a faint smile on his lips making him look roguishly handsome.