Chapter 26

"Hello, Grandpa?"

"Yes, dear? Why are you calling me all of a sudden?"

"Oh no, there is nothing wrong."

"Then what's wrong? we just spoke in the morning, is everything okay?"

"Yes. Hmm, listen, grandpa, I have a few questions related to that."

Ari was fidgeting in the back.

"Go ahead."

"I, wanted to ask if you know someone named Kale."

He remained quiet for a moment. "I do, did you meet him somewhere?"

Lyna raised her eyes surprised, looking at Ari who had the same expression on her face.

"Currently he is my friend's bodyguard in Korea. We are a bit suspicious of him, and I thought you would know him since he knew about us, being, werewolves."

"He does have a suspicious and mysterious vibe to him."

Now both Lyna and Ari knew for sure they were talking about the same person. "Can you tell us more about him?"

"I don't know why he decided to be her bodyguard, but if there is ever a safe place in the world, it is by his side. And for you, he is our family's benefactor, so treat him as such. Do pay my respects to him when you see him again."

Lyna was frozen, holding the phone tightly.

He is her grandfather's benefactor? For her grandfather, who lived for more than two hundred years?

"Dear?"

"Y-yes, grandpa, I understand. I shall do so then."

"Okay, be safe."

"You, too." She cut the call.

The room grew quiet for a long time.

---

Her grandfather sat down on his seat, "Ha, " he sighed, "Benefactor..."

He raised his eyes to stare at the ceiling, while a drop of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He is a benefactor when he spared our lives, my dear, he thought as if he was speaking to his granddaughter still.

---

Ari and Lyna couldn't even look at each other.

"Well, he is much more of an amazing person than we thought."

Ari remained quiet.

Was that why asking her to take over a country sounded like an easy thing to him?

Her eyes weren't intimidated this time nor scared.

She raised her eyes and met Lyna's. "Then I hit the jackpot, let us forget about that for now."

Lyna nodded. "Then there is only one way to find out more about him. The deal you made with him."

"Yeah, I shall become the matriarch first." Ari stood up, her eyes were cold and serious. "I have some papers to go over at the company. And I also need to have a talk with him."

"Will you confront him?"

"No, I can't do such a thing. From the deal we made it seems like he wants me to become an important figure, only then will he speak to me, and so I will become one worthy of confronting him first."

"It seems like you have made up your mind."

"Yeah, I did."

Ari's comportment was completely different from her usual one. She was speaking with confidence and weight behind each of her words. She exuded charisma that even drew Lyna, who smiled at her.

That is why I am your friend, thought Lyna. No matter how many times you faced struggles, those eyes always remained strong.

She stood up and followed her, "If that is what you wish, then I will do my best to help you."

"Thank you, Lyna."

"We are sisters~"

Ari smiled lightly, "Yes we are."

Ari walked up front and opened the door, finding Kale standing there like a true bodyguard.

"Your dessert, Miss?" He asked.

"Not in the mood. I have work to do."

He nodded and walked behind her.

"Ari," spoke Lyna, "Why don't you rethink the french expansion? I am sure my grandpa meddling in can help you tremendously."

Ari stopped in her tracks. She turned her head to look at Lyna while giving it some thought. "That is true..."

She raised the side of her eyes to look at the silent Kale. "But no."

"Ari..."

"Come with me to the company, let's see if we can approach it another way," she said as she walked ahead.

Lyna followed behind her, discussing the work a bit, while Kale stood there for a few seconds. A light grin appeared on his face. "Sss," he hissed as he was staring at her back, "That's my girl."

Lyna noticed Kale open the door for Ari, and held her hand to help her stand up when they reached the company.

Her eyes kept stealing glances at him here and there, even when they were working and he was sitting there reading his books.

Ari was too focused, she was really trying to find ways to expand without using Kale as a connection.

It is true that the french market would still be better than the Japanese who already have a family similar to hers.

She took over papers of her father's failed attempt to reread again and use them as a reference.

The day passed by in a flash.

Lyna went to take a small break, going to buy snacks, leaving Ari and Kale alone in the room.

At this moment she was conscious of his presence. Her hand paused as she held a paper with her pretty fingers.

She didn't raise her eyes to look at him and said, "Lyna seems interested in you."

He didn't answer her.

"She is sorry she used her abilities on you, and I know her enough to know you are her type."

"And what does that have to do with me?" He suddenly asked.

Ari took a deep breath. "You mean to say you don't see her as a potential partner?"

"I don't."

"You really won't give it a try? You may like her if you get to know her." Ari was speaking faster as if she was frustrated by this.

"I won't."

"Why? Is she not pretty?" Her voice was questioning.

"She can't compare to you."

Ari's body paused, forgetting how to breathe all of a sudden. She raised her eyes, he was still reading with a cold face.

She suddenly scoffed at his words, "Nice joke." she went back to work.

Suddenly she felt something weird with the atmosphere, she raised her head to look at him.

He was staring at her.

"Are you taking my words as a joke?"

His tone was too cold, making her nervous. "That, can only be a joke. I mean look at her."

"Are you, taking my words as a joke?" He asked again.

"No, no," she decided to remain quiet and look down. Why do you have to be so mad, she pouted in her thoughts.

She heard him sigh. She raised her eyes finding that he went back to reading, staring at him madly. "Then why don't you say it."

While he didn't answer her she shook her head and looked at her papers while he just had his eyes fixated on her.

"You are prettier," she suddenly heard him say.

Ari was starstruck in her place while Kale turned to read, uncaring.

The door suddenly opened, Lyna was back with the snacks.

"Ehem," coughed Lyna as she noticed something weird, breaking the silence. "I brought snacks."

"Oh," Ari also wanted to change the subject, "give me some." Her cheeks, ears, and nose were so red with embarrassment making her look so cute and adorable.

"I am sorry, I forgot to bring drinks."

Ari jumped from her place. "I will go get them."

Kale looked over at her. "Let me take care of that."

"No, no, I need to move a bit, so just let me." She stiffly walked out. "Lyna?"

"Oh, coming," she followed behind her with suspicious eyes, leaving Kale behind them.

He looked at the closed door for a few seconds. His expression suddenly turned playful with a handsome smirk while his gray eyes glowed like stars outshining the lights in the room. "Cute."