NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: The Dangers Around Him
DANTE GROUP.
Xander sat behind his desk, doing some paperwork when a few knocks sounded on his door. Just then, Liam pushed the door open and stepped in with a tall handsome well-built man.
As soon as Xander saw the other man, the corners of his eyes crinkled. "Asher!" His face was full of smiles as he put his pen down and rose to his feet, pushing his seat backwards.
"Xander!" Asher beamed with a smile, spreading his arms apart as he marched towards Xander to embrace him in a brotherly hug. "Congratulations on your wedding!"
"Thank you, Brother." Xander patted his back a few times before slowly releasing him.
Liam excused himself as the best friends separated and moved to the sitting area to sit and chat over tea.
"When did you come in?" Xander inquired, pouring tea from the pot into a cup before serving Asher by himself.
"Thank you," Asher smiled, receiving the tea. "Around an hour ago. I'm coming straight from the airport. I'm sorry I couldn't make it in time for your wedding in Venice."
Xander waved it off, a smile, lingering on his lips. "There is nothing to be apologetic about. You couldn't have left your mission halfway. And you know that I would never ask you to do that."
"I never knew you were serious about getting married," Asher said after a while.
Xander asked, meeting his gaze, "Why would I joke about an important matter?"
"I mean." Asher scratched the back of his head. "It hasn't been long since you ended things with—."
"It doesn't matter," Xander said, cutting him off as he twirled his teacup in his hand. "You can meet the right person at any time."
Asher peered at him through the gap in his teacup while he took a sip.
"What kind of look is that?" Xander raised a brow, compelling him to speak.
"I believe you," Asher set his teacup down. "Only because you didn't mention you were in love."
Xander finished his tea in one gulp and dropped his cup. Then, he fixed his gaze on his best friend. "I wouldn't say I love her at the moment, but I will kill anyone who dares to touch even a strand of her hair or put her in danger."
"Tell me how you met your wife," Asher asked, his eyes sparkling with interest.
"I will reserve the story for some other day. You only have to know that I met her thrice before proposing to her," Xander explained as he recollected the memories from two weeks back.
"I hope this isn't some obsession. You should be careful." Sighing, Asher inquired, "Does your wife know your side job?"
A deep sigh escaped Xander's lips. "She knows nothing about it, but I would prefer she remains in the dark. It will do her no good." He was keen on protecting Aurora from the dangers around him.
The other day, Liam informed him about her sudden interest in that bronze sculpture, and when he looked through the surveillance camera footage from his study last night, he fell into a deep contemplation.
With Aurora finding the secret path, it wouldn't be long before she discovered the things in it. Now he has to find a way to solve the matter.
Asher agreed. "After all, you are entangled in so many dirty businesses, plus your enemies lurking around, ready to pounce on you." He saw no need to make unnecessary moves with a person's life on the line. So, he wholeheartedly supported his best friend's decision.
"How was your mission in Venice? Did you finally capture that looser?" Asher inquired.
"I did. Although there were some costly casualties, I turned him over," Xander replied, slowly massaging his temples with his fingers. He looked a bit exhausted.
Asher's gaze turned solemn as he leaned back on his seat and crossed his leg over the other. "Now, the reagent family will be after you."
"Let them come," Xander stated casually, his eyes, brimming with determination. "If they don't, I will go to them."
---
Aurora shut her laptop and relaxed her back into her seat. She closed her eyes, exhausted after sitting behind her desk without a break throughout the day.
All that she was after was getting her new product, 'Fruit Punch Champagne' into the market within two weeks.
A chime from her phone caused her eyes to flutter open. Immediately, she grabbed it. It was a text from Xander.
"Hey, Sweetheart! My best friend, Asher Moore, is in town. Would you like to meet him over dinner tonight? You can invite your best friend as well if you don't mind."
Aurora texted back, "I'd be happy to meet Asher. I will find out if Abby is free to join us for dinner and let you know."
As soon as she dropped a text for Xander, she phoned Abigail who was currently circling at a private gym.
"Hello, Abby. Are you free this evening?" She inquired.
"I'm all yours if you are going to buy me a wedding dinner," Abigail replied, letting out heavy breaths into the phone as she slowed down her leg movement.
"Of course, I will do that. Xander invites you to join us for dinner. His best friend, Asher Moore will be present," Aurora's disclosed, her brows, furrowing. "Are you at the gym?"
"Yes, Aura! I'm preparing for my next drama shoot," Abigail replied. "Also, let your husband know that I wouldn't miss this dinner for anything. Send the details to me as soon you can."
Aurora directly phoned Xander after that and after two rings, he answered. She went on to relay Abigail's response before receiving the time and venue for their dinner.
"I think you can come outside now," Xander informed. "I'm three minutes away from your company."
Almost immediately, Aurora sprang up from her seat. "I will be right there," she replied, picking up her handbag and grabbing her coat.
Arriving outside the building, she noticed three cars in convoy packed right outside the building and at the same time, she got a text from Xander, telling her to get into the second car.
Aurora turned to look around carefully before dashing towards Xander's signature car. As soon as she got in, she released a deep breath.
"I think I would prefer to use my car," she breathed, securing her seatbelt before facing Xander.
Xander quickly leaned in to capture her lips in a soft kiss before slowly dragging his thumb across her lower lips. "Next time then."
As Xander's convoy drove away, Olivia who had just stepped out of the building right at the time Aurora was getting into the car, stood there, dumbstruck.
"Whose car did she get into?" she thought out loud, her gaze narrowing.