“RENET”

‘Aren’t you usually more assertive?“Marcelo suddenly snorted,contemptuously.

His bwords /bleft me perplexed.

“You seerned quite pitiful at the banquet when you were bring bndered /bby you own family?“He reached out and gently held my chin as he spoke

I gulped and struggled to break free from his touch but eventually, I just allowed him study bme/b,

Memories of bRo /band Grace’s actions brought a cold sensation to my bheart/b, bas /bif a void had opened, ushering in a chilling wind.

Though it wasn’t a major issue it was still unpleasant.

“I wasn’t being assertive or pitiful just didn’t want to malo any more

tre scene. I’m quite known for my gentleness and decorum in our social circle. I bwould /bnever let them get the best of me.“****

He withdrew his hand and ordered. “Get in the car.”

I was pretty

used to his unpredictable nature, so I didn’t question his request.I rubbed my chin and got into the car.

*MARCELO

I nced at Renee who was sitting beside me.

I was suddenly curious about her.

bVery /bcurious

1 wanted to know how her life had been.

bWith /bwhat the Hudsons disyed in public, it was evident that they had always treated Renee badly.

I wanted to know how badb. /b

But most importantly, I felt proud of her

Proud of how she carries herself.

And when she yed the banjo!

Tuck

She had been glowing.

*suddenly caught myself smiling and I stopped.

This marriage idea bof /bmy mother might not be so bad afterall.

bI /breturned to my study and face jason a call.

I made a small request to him which made the punk chucked.

“bMarcel/b, this is the first time you’re doing something for a woman Do you perhaps have feelings for her already?”

“Stop being stupid.“1 snapped.

“Fine, fine.I’ll get on it right away.”

A knock came from the door and I was a bit startled.

“Come in.“I let out.

Renee walked in, carrying a tray.

On it was ba /bceramic bowl and she had a smile bon /bher lips.

I can’t get over how beautiful her smile was

Praised ban /beyebrow at her in silent inquiry.

Since our marriage, we had maintained our distance. This was the first time Rener had approached me on her own bount/b.

“… brought you a midnight snack “Renee said.“As my way of thanking you for btoday/b.”

I grind as I bwatched /bher ced the tray carefully on the corner of my rosewood desi

Her manners were wless poised yet not stiff,dignified yet approachable.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her.She was truly captivating.

Litting the ball was greeted by the rich smell of seafood.

It was a bowl of abalone and seafoodpre

I set the lid aside, folded my arms and reclined in my chair as I observed ber

she looked nervous now.

“Don’t you like it?Chad told me that you love to have these at night!

“This dish was prepared by our chrl.“1 pointed out and sat up “So you’re thanking me with something that’s already mine?“I snorted.

I couldn’t understand it too but I wanted her to do something for ine.

Something good.

And why the heck would she think that I was so easily content?

She bit her lower lip and I blinked, trying to ignore how adorable she looked.

“I can only bcook /bnoodles. But if you really want me to make something for you, could make those How do you like your noodles?

I rolled my eyes. “You can only cook noodles?

“Yes Why are you surprised?”

“You look like someone who could cool “I replied.

b“/bbWell/b,my nana wanted to teach me while growing up but Grace refused bto /blet me be in her kitchen.”

“Your nana?” probed curiously.

“She was the housekeeper at the Hudsons.The closest thing I have to family.”

I nodded. “Q…y.”

RENEE

Since when did he get so talkative with me?

“Trante this “He said to me,sliding a document across to me.

I was taken aback

I watched as he turned on theputer on his desk and started going through it.

1 frowned

Was he now treating me as if I were his employee?

I looked at the document. It was in a foreignnguage.

Spanish

“I’m confident that you already know what’s written here. “I replied.

**

I mean, he was a bbusinessman /bbA /bsessful one both bhome /band abroad so I was bsure /bhe knew ba /blot ofnguages.

He looked up at me.“I thought you wanted to show how grateful you are about today?”

Grasping the file firmlyb, /bI moved to a nearby table to begin tranting

All bI /bbhad /bto do was trante a document to show my gratitude,right?

That was easy.

I flipped through the p

e pages with my left hand and penned the trantion onto an A4 sheet with my right.

I might not have been to other countries but I have always been curious about a lot of things.

Languages were one of them. It had always intrigued me about how a word could be said differently in different parts of the world.

I knew a bit of Chinese, bThal/b, more of Spanish, French and Italian.

“This document was an investigative report,meticulously organized.

A

“The initial funding of Venus Bar came from ba /brich private foundation Aside from a 10% stake held by Venus Bar executives, the foundation is the majority shareholder but the bactual /bbeneficiary. The identities of the hivestors remain unknownb…/b”

My pri halted, momentarily.

Was Marcelo probing into the ownership of Venus Bar

Why?

Hfelt a tter of anxiety and quickly scanned the rest of the document.

“The designated beneficiary of Venus Bar is undisclosed Current leads suggest the funds are in a bank overseas, pending further investigation

Fortunately, there was nothing directly linking me bto /bthe bBar’s /bownership. The bprivate /brich foundation was a facade too in any case anyone probed into the ownership of the Bar..

Why was he doing this though?

Does he want to be one of the shareholders?

In any case, I was relieved he found nothing on me I didn’t know how he’d feel about me owning a bar.

I resumed my trantion trying to act unaffected.