The Calm After The Storm

- Same day, evening -

Alex opened the door for Sia to get in. After she buckled up, Alex started the car.

"How did the day go? Learned anything new? Did anyone approach you, annoy you?" started Alex his body becoming tenser with his last sentences.

Sia thought for a bit and then shook her head,

"It was pretty boring, nothing new. No one approached or annoyed me. How about yours?"

Alex looked at her sceptically but chose to let it slide, as he was sure that if anything serious happened she would let him know. At least he hoped she would.

"Mine was quite good actually. Good for you, something came up on Mary's end so the collab talks are postponed until next week. So we can spend more time together!" he finished not hiding his excitement.

"Really!?" Sia chided but the next second she thought of something and asked seriously, "Wait, more importantly, has something happened? Is she sick or something?"

Alex looked at her amusedly and not being able to hold his chuckle he teased,

"Is that the doctor in you worrying or the good girl image? No, she is actually perfectly fine. A project she had been working on for years was suddenly approved by the authorities so she is preparing for the next stage."

"That's awesome!" Sia said happily not paying attention to his initial question.

Taking a look at her genuine expression Alex couldn't help but ask,

"Why are you so happy? You don't even know her."

"That's because seeing the way you talk about Mary I am sure she is a nice person and moreover she is your friend, so I am truly happy for her!" Sia answered matter-of-factly and continued without waiting for a reply, "So, what do you have planned for us?"

"How do you know I have something planned?" Alex asked puzzled.

"Coz you seem the type who wouldn't announce about spending time together without having planned beforehand."

"I don't know how you deduced that but you are right, nonetheless. How about I take you to one of my favourite food places to regain energy and then we can walk to the Veturian Aquarium which is right next to it?"

He looked expectantly at her and her reaction didn't disappoint him at all. She beamed and nodded her head vigorously like a child who was being offered her favourite sweet. Her smile actually made all his exhaustion disappear and infected him with her positiveness.

They reached their destination and proceeded as planned without anyone disturbing their 'sibling-bonding time' like the last time.

- Stario International Airport, Stario, Silveria -

The private jet landed and soon the passengers also got out of the plane with a man leading the group.

A group of men and women were waiting for them at the runway. Among the group, a woman stood out despite her petite figure.

Her dark brown hair reached her waistline which was so slim that one could almost circle it with the palms of their hands. Her hair complimented her tanned skin that shone under the sun rays. Despite her short height she emitted a big presence. She had a beautiful chiseled face complimenting her skinny built. Her brown eyes shone with excitement while the pink shades of her cheeks created a bashful expression on her face.

She was fidgeting, looking up and down all the time. But as soon as she saw the black haired man come out of the airplane she couldn't divert her attention from him.

He was even more handsome than in all the photos she saw of him. Every step he took towards her direction dropped her deeper and deeper into the abyss of her emotions.

She smiled brightly and widely, not being able to contain her emotions anymore. She knew she was a beauty and how men fell for her from the first sight.

'Is he going to fall for me from the first sight or has a already fallen for my charms? does that mean I am going to become Mrs. William Harding soon? Is our love story going to be as happy and as lasting as that of my parents?'

With every thought her smile was becoming more and more radiant. She had so many questions and so many expectations that she wanted to be left alone with William as soon as possible. She wanted to use every second to deepen their relationship.

Seeing Carla's infatuated gaze Will couldn't help but feel irritated and want to turn and go back. But he knew he couldn't do it so he just went to the group and greeted them politely.

They soon headed together to the Royal residences where the reception was organized.

The queen and the princess kept on asking questions enthusiastically, to which Will answered with as few words as possible. He wanted them to understand that he wasn't here on his own free will.

The problem was that his attitude had the complete opposite effect on Carla, who thought that he was trying to act cool to hide his emotions for her and to look cool in front of her. So instead she took his cold attitude as encouragement and continued her barrage of questions varying from his favorite food to his best memories.

The king on the other hand was not talking and was constantly debating whether he should try to pray into the question that has bothering him or not.

But alas, he was what you would call a passionately curious person so he asked coming from a distance,

"William, how are your friends doing? I was so sorry to hear about Mr. Muller."

"They are fine. Ren will be fine too. With time everything will be solved."

Will answered politely but deep down he found the king's question suspicious , 'where is he trying to lead the conversation?'

"That's good, that's good." The king said and then fixing his gaze on William he continued, "You three are really the sworn brothers everyone talks about, aren't you? Is it telepathy or something of that sort that all of you have major events happening on the same day?" He said laughing in the end of his speech trying to lighten the weight of it.

Will found his words suspicious. He already texted his friends in their group chat, and he knew about Alex's situation too. But he couldn't help but find today's events too coincidental to simply be a coincidence. Yesterday they were happily enjoying time with Siana and today both he and Ren were too busy to keep their promise with her. Meanwhile the lucky Alex actually was at the Aquarium with her.

'Siana....' he repeated and a thought formed in his head. He suddenly sat up straight, cold sweat started to form on his back and his forehead.

Seeing the sudden changes in him the king thought to himself, 'so he did somehow provoke the devil and he knows it.'

Quickly giving a brief answer, Will excused himself and went out of the room. He picked up his phone and after some deliberation texted,

"Alex, do you know of any powerful suitors that Sia has?"