Trouble (1)

Xavier sat before the mahogany desk, his finger tapping a steady rhythm upon its polished surface. He gazed upon Lou and Rio, who stood before him with unflinching composure. He was aware that the incident that occurred on the cruise a year ago was far from being a simple matter.

His intuition had been nagging at him, insisting that a crucial member was absent during the game. And yet, despite his suspicions, he proceeded to publicly execute Willy. To his surprise, not a single member of the esteemed "Wheel" organizations so much as flinched. They appeared to anticipate the inevitable consequences.

Not a single soul dared to retaliate against him, not even once. It is disconcerting to consider the unpredictable nature of their establishments. Moreover, the thought of receiving treatment in Alana's room without being detected continued to trouble him.

He was acutely aware that if Willy had stationed a sniper on deck to monitor their every move, he must exercise caution in divulging any information about the number of people he had in his team.

The burden of this matter has weighed heavily upon him, to the point where he seldom returns to the main residence in order to avoid any potential complications at the doorstep.

"The organization's leader has been dissolved, resulting in a complete lack of new activity."

Lou strode over to the leather sofa and settled himself upon it, fully aware that a year had passed since the incident.

"Yes, it is true that under normal circumstances, one would expect a certain level of noise and commotion. A struggle for power would typically ensue. However, they all agreed to dissolve it as if it were a boy band. The statement does not make any sense".

Rio stood tall, his gaze fixed on both Xavier and Lou, keenly observing their reactions.

Xavier wholeheartedly concurred with Rio's statement that no organization, particularly one that functions like a "Wheels", is likely to disintegrate. Willy has no children to inherit it. There is an apparent absence of something.

"Keep your eyes fixed on them," he instructed, addressing both of them.

"Boss, all the preparations to Beaufort have been completed. We can leave for our drive on Friday evening."

With a subtle inclination of his head, Xavier acknowledged the statement. His gaze remained fixed on the photographs strewn across the surface of his desk. A certain individual appears excessively recognizable to him. The man had a sense of familiarity towards the individual before him, yet he could not recollect any past encounter with him.

Xavier gestured towards the man in the photograph and instructed Lou and Rio to keep a watchful eye on him, as he appeared to be familiar. He then urged them to uncover his identity before dismissing them.

In his quest to alleviate the weight of his responsibilities, he conducted numerous interviews in search of a suitable CFO for the company. Recognizing the impossibility of single-handedly managing all tasks, he sought to delegate some of the workload while still maintaining oversight.

As he delved into the resume resting on his desk, the sudden interruption of his phone ringing jolted him out of his concentration. He cast a quick glance towards the table and noticed that his mother was calling him.

Indeed, it his mother.

"What??????"

As he listened intently to his mother on the other side of the conversation, his eyes darkened.

"I'm on my way,"

he said before abruptly ending the call. His face contorted with anger, revealing the intensity of his emotions.

Lou and Rio stood before him, exchanging glances as they observed Xavier's demeanor. It was as if he was prepared to demolish the very building they occupied.

Despite the confusion, none of them dared to inquire about the situation. They remained motionless until Xavier's voice broke the silence.

"Amanda is at the Manor's doorstep, introducing herself as my girlfriend."

He observed the two who mirrored each other's expressions of shock, their eyes widening and mouths agape. Without Xavier's permission, no one is allowed to visit his family's house. He vowed to never bring any woman to that place, for his mother was a difficult person to be with.

With a long stride, he retrieved his coat before departing, followed by Lou and Rio who harbored a secret desire to witness Amanda and Mrs. Killian.

Within the circle, it was common knowledge that Mrs. Killian possessed a formidable nature. She deftly navigated the male-dominated corporate world, while her husband, Mr. Killian, managed the shadowy underworld organizations.

Without wasting a moment, they reached the car and sped off towards the manor. Rio's skilled driving was even faster than usual, his eyes constantly glancing towards Lou, who remained quietly seated beside him. From time to time, their gaze shifted to the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of Xavier as he pinched the bridge of his nose in an effort to manage his agitation. Rather than succumbing to worry, the two individuals exchanged snickers in a knowing manner. They were well aware of Xavier's disdain towards his own decision of allowing Amanda to remain for more than seven days, thereby violating the very rule he had established.

As the car pulled up to the grand manor compound, a loyal butler stood ready to greet Xavier upon his arrival. The old butler's face was painted with vivid flashes of worry and anxiety as soon as Xavier emerged from the vehicle.

As he addressed Xavier

"Young Master,"

he made sure to bow respectfully, as per the longstanding tradition upheld by the Killian family.

"Where are they?"

Without wasting a moment longer, he followed the butler who was leading the way towards them.

He fretted that Amanda's proposition would be readily accepted by his no-nonsense mother, who was not one to engage in frivolous pursuits. Killian's descent into madness was fueled by his mother's desperate desire for an heir, following the unexpected passing of his father which had taken everyone by surprise.

The grandiose entranceway loomed before Xavier, an impressive sight to behold. As he pushed open the door, he was met with the heartbreaking scene of Amanda, weeping on the ground before a woman of middle age. With a slow lift of her head, relief washed over her at the sight of Xavier approaching.

"Xa... Xavier... "

Amanda emitted a sound that was infused with her tears. Her makeup had melted together, resulting in a less than desirable appearance.

With a huff from Nicolette.

"There you are".

Nicolete Killian's eyes rolled as soon as they landed on Amanda once more. She was filled with contempt.

"I am disappointed in you,"

she said with a heavy heart.

"I want an heir and a suitable partner to stand by your side," she stated firmly, leaning back and crossing her arms. Her gaze averted from Amanda's pitiful state, emphasizing the importance of her words. "I do not want you to choose just any random girl from the street." she spoke again with disdain.

"Rio," Xavier commanded, "escort Amanda home."

She had stop her attempts to remain in his presence. Her countenance betrayed a deep trauma, rendering her unable to even contest the fact that he was sending her home. As he gazed upon his mother, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. Despite her obvious desperation for him to settle down, she had not caved at whatever Amanda trying to do.