Chapter <b>305 </b>
Ondo sat <b>on </b>the sofa, scanning the proposal as he said, “I told her, but Aris didn’t seem to care much.<b>” </b>
Russell said coolly<b>, </b><b>“</b>She has no feelings- why would she tare<b>?</b><b>” </b>
It was within his expectations, so Russell wasn’t the least bit surprised.
<b>“</b>What now?” Ondo spread his hands helplessly. “Without Ruby Olsen, this project is stuck–we’ll have to work at least another year to catch <b>up </b>
For the Cole Group right now, a year was no small matter–it would only further widen the gap between them and the industry’s leadingpanies.
With Ruby on board, recruiting other tech talent would be much easier.
Just as Russell was about to speak, his phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Olivia.
His and Ondo’s eyes met.
Ondo picked up the phone and answered, “Ms. Remar.”
“Oh<i>, </i>Ondo!” came Olivia’s soft voice through the phone. “Where’s Russell?”
Ondo thought for a moment and replied, “He’s at a business dinner and forgot his phone. I was just about to take it to him.”
“Ah, got it,” Olivia said with a knowing smile. “I’ve got a question for you.”
“Go ahead,” Ondo replied.
Olivia asked, “I heard Russell is looking into <b>a </b>girl named Aria Saxon?”
Ondo instinctively nced at Russell. After a moment of silence<b>, </b>he spoke deliberately, “I’m the one investigating. Given <b>my </b>current identity as the Cole family’s illegitimate son, Aria Saxon is connected to our mission.”
Olivia had investigated Russell, so naturally, she’d looked into Ondo too. Hearing his exnation<b>, </b>she half–believed him and teased, “For a moment there, I thought Russell had found himself a new crush.”
‘Nothing between them in the first ce–a new crush? That’s just absurd,‘ Ondo to with a wry smile.
“Ms. Remar, you must be joking,” Ondo replied tly. “Russell has always been a man of principle–he’d never mess around.”
“Got it.” Olivia chuckled and said, “My flightnds in an hour. Make sure to tell Russell toe pick me up, okay?”
Ondo’s expression shifted abruptly. “You…”
Olivia said, “I’m already in Mandino City, Huthailia–with Rachel in tow. Don’t keep us waiting too long, okay?”
The call ended abruptly.
Russell’s face darkened <i>like </i>storm clouds. In an <b>icy </b>yoice, hemanded, “Find them and deal with them on the spot.”
Ondo asked, “So, who’s going to pick them up?”
“You,” Russell said curtly.
Ondo asked, “What about you?”
Russell stood up. “I’m at a business dinner, remember?”
<b>Chapter </b><b>305 </b>
<b>Ondo </b><b>was </b><b>speechless</b>.
<b>Owen </b>gradually regained consciousness, his head throbbing and limbs weak. He dragged himself to the <b>living </b>room and took his temperature on
<b>‘</b>Well, that fever dropped faster than I’d like,‘ Owen thought wryly.
His gaze fell on the coffee table, where Aria had neatly arranged the medicine and thermos before leaving.
Owen popped the pill into his mouth and lifted the thermos, about to take a sip, when a sudden thought struck himn.
At this rate, who knows when Aria will ever see me as more than just a friend? Maybe she really will treat the like a buddy for the rest of our lives, <b>Owen </b>thought with a bitter smile.
He had always been in robust health, rarely getting sick. Yet this time, his illness arrived at just the perfect timing.
A bold yet calcted idea took root in Owen’s mind. ‘<b>I </b>can’t get better too fast.‘
Owen spat out the pill, took <b>a </b>few sips of water, then headed to the bathroom. With deliberate movements<b>, </b>he tossed the medication into the toilet <b>and </b>flushed it away.
‘Perhaps skipping the meds won’t work–what if I get better on my own<b>?</b><b>‘ </b>Owen <b>thought </b>slyly.
After a moment’s thought, he stepped into a cold shower to make his sickly appearance more convincing.
An hourter, Aria arrived at Owen’s apartment and, with practiced ease, keyed in the passcode to let herself in.
The apartment was silent as Aria walked to the bedroom door. She raised her hand and knocked lightly, then called softly, <b>“</b>Owen?”
For a good while, there was no response.
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