The Tycoon's Odyssey

The atmosphere in NextGen Innovations was abruptly disrupted by an unexpected arrival.

Aria inhaled a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the striking figure at the doorway.

Suri's entrance was as poised as it was startling, her tall stature and impeccably tailored suit exuding an air of calm confidence. Her dark amber hair was pulled back into a sleek bun, and her piercing eyes scanned the room with a blend of authority and curiosity.

While Suri's presence was unsettling, it was her next words that sent a shiver through Aria.

"How... how did you know all this?" Aria's voice wavered, betraying her attempts to remain composed as her pulse quickened.

Aria had only just begun to reach out to IBM, with little success, when Suri appeared at the door and, with a composed yet commanding tone, inquired, "Why are you contacting IBM?"

As Aria struggled to make sense of the situation, she heard a soft hum from Ria.

[Calm down, Miss Aria. Just try to gauge her intention. According to the analysis, she might not harbour bad intentions.]

Suri's gaze remained steady as she crossed her arms elegantly, her fingers lightly tapping on her upper arm.

"Suri, how do you know all this? Do you have a mole here?" Aria's voice sharpened, her fingers gripping the edge of her desk as if to ground herself.

Suri's lips curled into a serene, almost imperceptible smile. "Of course not," she said, her voice smooth and controlled, each word measured with precision. "However..."

With a graceful shift of her posture, Suri stepped closer, her movements fluid and deliberate. "I am keeping tabs on all this," she declared with an air of nobility, her stance exuding both authority and reassurance.

"Given the recent events, I believe it's essential to monitor Evan closely to prevent any further incidents. This is my responsibility. I understand neither Evan nor anyone else may appreciate such intrusion, but I want to ensure that no more accidents occur."

Aria's eyes widened slightly, her mind racing. While others might be oblivious, Aria could detect subtle hints of Suri's deeper feelings for Evan, though she couldn't quite discern the reasons or extent for it.

Moreover, given Suri's commanding presence and the intensity with which she spoke, Aria was genuinely concerned that her involvement might lead to further complications for Evan.

At that moment, Ria's gentle prompt encouraged Aria to reveal more.

With Ria's reassurance, Aria laid out all the details for Suri, who listened with unwavering focus, her gaze sharp and attentive. She made a few notes, her movements deliberate and precise.

After a contemplative pause, Suri offered her thoughts. "If you wish, I have resources that could be of assistance. They would provide both protection and a secure environment."

Aria's gaze flickered between Suri and the documents in her hands. "I can't decide that," she said, her voice steady despite her uncertainty. "It all depends on Evan."

_____

In a room filled with the beeping of electronic machines and the hum of colossal computers, a large screen prominently displayed a rapidly changing sequence of numbers

9982..

9983...

9997..

9998..

99...

[Evan, you have an important call.]

Aurora's voice cut through the cacophony. The screen flickered, and a notification appeared in the corner of the main display, highlighting the incoming call from Ria.

An annoyed clicking sound echoed from across the room.

"10000...Complete…"

A man with his upper body glistening with sweat and marked by the sheen of recent exertion paused his push-ups. His broad shoulders, powerful chest and arms rippled with the effects of his vigorous exercise.

Wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, he took a few deep breaths to catch his breath.

Standing up, he asked, "Any problems?"

[There isn't any problem. Miss Suri has met with Aria and they are discussing something important.]

"..."

"Okay, pick the call."

Evan's reached out his hand to grab the bottle of water as two sudden, startled screams jolted him awake.

"AAHHHHHH!"

His entire body stiffened he turned to see two wide-eyed women staring at him through the video call.

"What the hell? Why did you start a video call?" Evan's voice cracked with shock as he frantically grabbed a towel, draping it over himself with an embarrassed scowl.

[The call was initiated from the other side.]

"Why didn't you say that it was a video call?"

[You didn't ask,] Aurora answered coolly.

"Switch it to voice call," Evan demanded hurriedly while trying to protect his bare chest. As a man, it wasn't something to be embarrassed about, but he still felt self-conscious.

Before Suri and Aria could react, the video feed was abruptly cut off.

Trying to mask his discomfort with a veneer of cold indifference, Evan spoke through clenched teeth, "What's going on?" MVLeMpYr-your-novel-source

"Evan, you want to use the IBM research facility, right?" Suri's voice was crisp, almost too businesslike.

Evan's expression remained stoic, no surprise on his face. Aurora had already informed him of her team's surveillance, so this was nothing to be shocked about.

"I planned to create something," Evan replied, his voice flat.

"Does it require their quantum computer?" Suri asked, her tone clipped.

"Um..." Evan's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't say anything more.

"Then you can use the one at Macrosoft. You can also utilize the Hololens," Suri suggested, a hint of smugness in her voice.

Evan raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not entirely convinced. Aurora quickly brought up the relevant data on his screen.

Suri's family held some shares in Macrosoft, and Suri herself owned a 2% stake, giving her the ability to leverage certain advantages.

"I'll consider it," Evan said, his voice icy, betraying no emotion.

"So, why don't we meet? Let's discuss this further and have a pleasant chat," Suri's tone was insistent, with a slight edge of impatience.

"Sorry, not interested," Evan replied, shaking his head with finality.

"Why? Don't you—"

"If you want something trivial, then no. I don't have time. And if you're offering this as a bargaining chip to set up a meeting, then I don't need the help," Evan cut her off coldly, his face a mask of indifference as he ended the call.

The screen went dark, leaving him alone with his thoughts and a palpable silence.

_____

In the office...

A heavy atmosphere lingered for a moment.

Aria swallowed nervously and observed Suri's expression.

On the other hand, Suri seemed a bit dazed, but her expression softened slightly after a moment, "Sure enough he is more hurt than it looks."

"Miss Suri, are you really—"

"Yes, I am interested in him, but I don't want to push him too much. Right now, I only want to help him for owing a lot and to lessen my guilt. After all, my presence had brought him great trouble."