Evening had fallen, and the sun had already set, marking the end of the first day of the conference. Aliana was back in her suite, sitting on the plush sofa in the lounge area, flipping through a stack of portfolios with half-hearted interest.
Nigel sat directly opposite her, reviewing another pile with far more focus than Aliana could muster. Her phone sat on the cushion beside her, the speaker active as a deep voice echoed through the room.
"So, have you made any progress on our deal?" Alester asked.
Aliana paused, her hand hovering over the page of a potential suitor. She let out a sigh. "I'm working on it, Dad."
"I see. Did anyone catch your interest?" Alester asked, his voice sounding more hopeful this time.
"Not yet. I'll shortlist a few first and see how I feel after I meet them," she stated. She spoke as if she were selecting a new business partner rather than a husband.
