NOVEL NEXT Chapter 627: Taking Steps (1)
Saturday — February 2
Damien arrived at the Maverick Security's headquarters to check in on Zero and Styles who had been monitoring the activities in Park Group since they installed the system in the company's security. So far, there had been no findings, and the company looked as flawless as it ought to be.
This was good news for Damien, of course. He didn't want to sully this legitimate business as this was the only thing that's real in the Park family's line of businesses. Ever since he found out about his uncle getting involved in the drug business, he'd been feeling uneasy, wishing that Frederick hadn't compromised Park Group.
"Maybe Frederick cares about the company and does not want to involve it in his clandestine activities," Styles remarked.
"I'm pretty sure he does." Damien stared at the huge monitors on the wall with his hands in his pockets. He was looking at them, but his focus wasn't entirely there. Something had been at the back of his head recently, and he wanted to look further into it, so he brought a file with him. Tossing it onto the table, he told them, "These are the properties under his name. Look into them and have some of our men check the site. Do not trespass, just observe."
"You think he's using one of these to hide his drugs?" Styles wondered in a low voice that only the three of them could hear. "Don't you have a secret warehouse? Maybe he has them there."
Ever since Damien found out about the drug shipment that his uncle had received, he'd been trying to investigate it. But after that one instance, it hadn't happened again. The worst mistake he made was letting go of it that day, thinking he'd be able to catch his uncle red-handed. Damien glanced at Zero as if to remind the man that this was confidential and said, "Frederick's smart. He knows William and I are against it, so he wouldn't put it where it can be found easily. If it's there, William would have already known about it."
Styles nodded and split the addresses between him and Zero. "We'll keep you updated."
"Call me if there's anything," said Damien before he left the tech room.
He bumped into his mother in the lobby on his way out. Amelia had just finished a training session with some of the Maverick men. They thanked her, the smiles on their faces never leaving until they disappeared into a corner. She wasn't wearing anything indecent. In fact, her body was fully covered. But Damien noticed that his men were very fond of her and threw glances at her whenever she was around.
When he decided to put her in his agency, he'd establish a rule to all of the men working for him that she was off-limits. There were sighs, but none of them protested. Though someone sneakily asked a question: "Why the strict rule, Boss? You're already engaged…"
The question, although incomplete, was enough to understand that the person had insinuated something Damien couldn't stomach. With gritted teeth, he answered, "This is a professional environment. There will be no hitting on the trainers, superiors, juniors, or anyone for that matter. This is a safe place. We don't want Miss Am—Miss Lia to feel like she's been thrown into a den of cavemen. So leave your fantasies out of this agency. Anyone who dares to attempt will pay a hefty amount that's higher than your annual pay on top of being relieved from your duties. Understood?"
Damien thought it was a good deterrent. So he was comfortable having his mother work there.
"I thought you'd be busy preparing for your party tonight," said Amelia when everyone else was out of earshot.
"I had to drop something off in the tech room."
Nodding, she gently patted the sweat off her head with the face towel that's hanging around her neck. "Well, I hope you'll have a great time. I'm sure Katherine will look pretty in her dress."
"She's beautiful in anything."
"She is." Amelia's smile widened. "I'm glad you found each other."
Damien's heart began to race, and he scratched an invisible itch on his forehead as he thought about how his mother wouldn't be there tonight. It had been about three months since they'd reunited, and things were slow between them. They talked from time to time and hadn't fought even once, but they were more like friends rather than mother and son. It was a bit difficult for him to tread forward when he'd missed out on having her with him as he grew.
As he contemplated, he thought that there was nothing else that Amelia should be hiding from, given that Parker was already in custody. Her life was no longer in danger.
"You should come tonight," he told her.
The sudden invitation surprised Amelia that her eyes widened, and her mouth slightly hung open. But she quickly snapped out of it and declined with a small smile on her face, "I don't think it's a good idea."
"Why not? You don't have to hide anymore."
She swallowed and averted her gaze, looking as though she was giving it a thought, but she immediately shook her head. "I haven't shown up in front of your grandmother and the rest of your family in a very long time. I don't think it's best to do that on such an important occasion. It's your engagement party. You should enjoy the evening with Katherine."
Damien felt a tiny prick in his chest when his mother declined his invitation. But he understood where she was coming from. "I understand… But if you change your mind, just let Markus know that you're coming, and he'll let you in."
"Thank you, Damien…" Amelia squeezed his arm before walking away and entering the women's locker room.
He exhaled a sigh, rubbing his nape as he watched her leave. Well, he tried. Maybe it just wasn't the time.
As he left the doors of Maverick Security and headed towards his car, he paused and looked back to the lobby with his mother in mind. Maybe a little push was all he had to do to convince Amelia to show up. He could try one more time, and it's up to her to take the step.
Fishing his phone out of his jacket pocket, he called someone from West Bespoke shop and arranged an appointment. After the appointment was confirmed, Damien sent Felix a text, telling him to drive Amelia to an address he attached to the message. Then he sent another one.
[ Damien: Registration table opens at 6:30. Tell Markus you're coming so he can meet you outside. ]