Chapter 56 - 8.8 : A Night of Truths and Tea
After the room had quieted down, only five remained—Miss Aiza, Aurielle, and Al sitting quietly at the back, along with Miss Aiza’s two assistants.
The soft lighting of the restaurant gently lit their relaxed faces, while the evening breeze drifted in through the open balcony.
A waiter came to clear the empty glasses and replaced them with herbal tea.
The aroma of lavender and chamomile wafted gently in the air, soothing their nerves after the intense meeting. One of the assistants, the male one, discretely tapped his earpiece and gave a small nod—likely updating security that the room was secure. Al noticed, but said nothing.
Miss Aiza glanced warmly at Aurielle, the formal atmosphere slowly dissolving.
"I thought tonight would be dull," Aurielle said casually, "but it turned out to be fun. You managed to fend off two old sea sharks trying to swallow the land whole."
Miss Aiza chuckled lightly.
"Good thing they weren’t whale sharks," she replied. "Or else, I might’ve been eaten too."
Then she continued.
"Hmm... But you stayed quiet, Miss Aurielle. I thought you’d defend them—this deal would’ve benefited Virellano Group too, wouldn’t it?"
Aurielle took a slow sip of her tea.
"If we were only chasing business potential, Virellano Group wouldn’t stoop so low. We move based on principles, and we prefer well-structured ventures. Besides, I was personally curious to see how capable you really are, Miss Aiza." She smiled. "You’ve far exceeded my expectations."