Kael closed Ashu's file and let out a tired sigh. "We'll leave this topic alone for now. If he tries to attack us again, we kill him."
'That sounds appropriate,' Nyxara echoed smoothly in his mind.
Setting his pencil back on the mahogany desk, Kael eyed the towering stacks of financial folders awaiting his review. He let out a long, heavy groan. "Right. Time to deal with this mountain."
Before he could pull the first file, his new assistant burst through the office door, gasping for air with a pale face. "Sir! There's a major problem outside!"
Kael didn't even bother lifting his head. "What happened now?"
"It's the new recruits, Ashu and Vrinda!" the assistant panted, catching his breath. "They're arguing in the main hall! It's turned into a full-blown verbal shouting match!"
Kael capped his pen, stood up, and rubbed his temples in annoyance. "Why are they even fighting?"
He opened his door and stepped into the main corridor. The floor was in total chaos. Ashu and Vrinda were hurling insults back and forth while several senior employees tried holding them apart. Nearby staff members huddled in small groups, whispering eagerly among themselves.
"Man, those two have no idea who they're dealing with," one worker whispered. "Making a scene on their very first day..."
Kael walked straight into the middle of the feud, raising his hands to separate them. "Alright, that's enough. Settle down."
Neither of them paid him the slightest attention, continuing to shout right over his head. Kael's patience snapped.
"Shut up!" he roared.
The entire floor fell dead silent. The gossiping stopped instantly, and every eye locked onto Kael's masked figure.
Kael narrowed his eyes beneath his black mask. "Ashu. Vrinda. My office. Now."
They followed him inside like two scolded children, keeping their heads down in regret. Kael sat behind his desk, leaning his elbows on the polished surface and resting his chin on his joined hands.
"Explain," Kael commanded coldly. "Why were you fighting?"
Vrinda mumbled something completely unintelligible, while Ashu stood rigid, staying quiet.
Kael pressed a palm against his forehead. "I didn't bring you two in here to listen to mosquito noises. Speak up."
Ashu raised an eyebrow. "Mosquitoes?"
Kael pointed at Vrinda. "Look at her. She's barely making a sound."
Ashu glanced over at Vrinda, who was sitting silently, her lips moving without any words coming out. "Wait... is she just really shy?"
"You tell me," Kael replied dryly, feeling like a primary school teacher dealing with two toddlers.
Ashu straightened his posture. "I just asked her for a glass of water!"
Kael stood up, his posture cold and imposing. "Sit down."
Ashu quickly pulled back a chair and sat, offering an awkward grin. "Right. Sitting."
Kael turned his head slightly. "Aren't you afraid of me at all?"
Ashu shrugged. "I was nervous at first, but it's not like you're a god or some high deity with cosmic powers. There's no reason to be terrified."
Inside Kael's mind, a fierce voice chimed in. 'He has no idea,' Drake chuckled. 'You could erase him in two seconds.'
Ashu cleared his throat. "Look, sir, I won't waste your time. I'll tell you everything correctly from the start."
Kael gestured forward with his hand. "My pleasure."
Ashu placed a hand on his chin, remembering the event. "I was working hard on my computer to understand my assigned tasks. Then I saw Vrinda pacing back and forth near my desk. I thought she was free, so I said..." He suddenly stopped, closing his eyes tightly.
"You said what?" Kael pushed.
"Don't get mad," Ashu muttered softly. "I told her, 'Go to hell, but stop walking back and forth here.'"
Kael stared at him. "And that's the reason why other companies couldn't keep you for long, Ashu."
"Wait, there's more!" Ashu added quickly. "She didn't get angry right then. But later, when I saw her again, I stopped her, handed her my water bottle, and asked her to refill it."
Kael turned his eyes toward Vrinda. "Is that true?"
Vrinda finally found her voice, nodding trembling hands. "He was bullying me."
Ashu's eyes widened. "Bullying?! When did I bully you?!"
Kael let out a soft laugh. "Alright, alright. Honestly, it sounds like you two are best friends—or maybe something more."
Vrinda shot up from her chair, her face turning red. "No! He is not my best friend! He's just an annoying colleague!"
Kael raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, my mistake."
He reached for his pen, uncapping it and spinning it expertly between his fingers before turning back to his paperwork.
Ashu looked at Kael with sudden curiosity. "By the way, sir... are you really forty years old?"
Kael nodded casually. "Yeah. But I look like a nineteen-year-old boy."
Vrinda blinked, her nervousness replaced by genuine wonder. "What kind of skincare routine do you use?"
Kael chuckled behind his mask. "It's not skincare. It's a disease."
Vrinda gasped softly. "Honestly? I want that disease too."
Kael gestured toward the exit. "Out. Both of you."
Ashu stood up, hesitating. "So... you're not going to suspend us from the company?"
"Why would I suspend you?" Kael asked without looking up. "Just get back to work."
"Right! Thank you, sir!" Ashu said, backing out of the office while waving his hands in relief as Vrinda followed close behind.
Meanwhile, back at the Redgrave bungalow, Sarina sat quietly on the living room sofa, her eyes glued to the television screen. The news channel was still broadcasting reports regarding the tragic loss of the Vrenj Group owner.
Renjiro walked over and sat down beside her. "I'm not great at giving speeches or offering deep sympathy," he said quietly, "but I can help you lessen the weight in your chest."
Sarina turned her head to look at him. "How?"
"Take a deep breath through your nose," Renjiro instructed softly, demonstrating the count. "And release it slowly through your mouth."
Sarina followed his instructions, taking a slow, steady breath. As she exhaled, her posture straightened, and the suffocating tightness in her chest eased up slightly. "That... actually made my heart feel a little lighter."
Renjiro offered a faint smirk. "Good. Is there anything your father wanted to complete? A final goal?"
Sarina paused, her expression shifting as something clicked in her memory. "Oh... he always wanted to build a strong business alliance with the Redgrave Group."
Renjiro tilted his head. "Why?"
"Because he believed Kael had the rare talent to turn a simple startup into a thriving business, and a normal business into an elite empire."
Renjiro chuckled softly under his breath. "That's ironic. Kael wanted that alliance too." He looked at her curiously. "If Uncle Vrenj wanted it so badly, why did he never talk to Kael about it?"
"Because he hesitated," Sarina admitted quietly. "He thought people would always view Kael simply as Adrian's son, so he wasn't sure if Kael would accept. Why didn't Kael ever try to contact him?"
Renjiro smiled warmly. "Same reason. Kael was always worried your father would turn him down."
Sarina couldn't help but let out a soft laugh at the absurdity of the misunderstanding, leaning back against the comfortable sofa as the dark clouds hanging over her finally began to clear.