Chapter 802
Chapter 802:
Without missing a beat, Charles called his assistant to handle the food run, and the others set off for the bar. The atmosphere buzzed, as always. As soon as they settled into their private room, the waiter hustled over, uncorking bottles and lining up drinks for everyone.
Giffard wasted no time grabbing a bottle of beer and downing several gulps. Charles and Egbert shot each other a knowing look. They had heard what Giffard had done during his stay in Flaville and chose not to interfere.
When Giffard finally paused for breath, Alexia reached over and took the bottle right out of his hand. Alexia shot her brother a stern look. “Slow down, Giffard. If you end up passed out, don’t expect me to drag you home,” she warned. Without saying a word, Giffard wiped his lips and gave a quick nod.
Their kebabs arrived at that moment, filling the room with savory smells. Charles grinned and clapped his hands. “Let’s eat!” He motioned for his staff to order another round. Catching the lingering shadow in Giffard’s eyes, Charles passed him a skewer.
He said, “I heard Elliott Group’s tying up loose ends back in Flaville. Any updates?” Giffard chewed thoughtfully on a piece of meat.
Things were different in Flaville; their legal system didn’t work like the one back home. Giffard nodded. “The institution agreed to drop the charges. We’re working on a private settlement right now p>
He had told Myron the locations of all the important documents he had stolen, and those had since been returned. Now the negotiations centered around Vivian’s medical record. Private deals were common with the Flaville hospital, so discussions had shifted to money and compensation.
Giffard paused, weighing his next words. “Right now, we’re stuck haggling over the final amount.” Jail time probably wasn’t in his future, but this resolution would not come cheaply.
Charles reached over and gave Giffard’s shoulder a reassuring tap. “Glad things are looking up.” A quiet nod was all Giffard managed, the weight of the situation still hanging over him.
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Trying to lift his friend’s spirits, Charles added, “Don’t let it get to you. At least you found Vivian’s medical record so we could expose her p>
Instead of downing his drink, Giffard took a slow sip and let out a long breath, while Alexia stayed silent beside him. Her focus was elsewhere as she munched happily on another skewer.
With the topic dropped, Charles didn’t say anything more to Giffard. They were all grown-ups; everyone handled these moments in their own way. Charles, for one, was already shifting his attention to work. Building up his company and expanding its reach topped his list of priorities. The mood around the table lightened as everyone started to relax.
Meanwhile, in a private room nearby, Darden sat alone. Repeated calls to Brandon had gone unanswered, despite his persistence. A frustrated sigh escaped him.
Lately, everything seemed to be slipping out of control—Vivian’s situation most of all. At first, Darden believed Vivian, with her florist business and social media following, was genuine and thoughtful. But bit by bit, he learned there was more beneath the surface.
He found himself whispering, “Where is all this headed, anyway p>