Chapter 35 Made A Move

Chapter 35 Made A Move

…

At MJ Corporation. 

Why was it so difficult to focus?

Why was his heart beating in an uneven rhythm?

Asher couldn't get any work done.

A simple signature had become so difficult, taking up at least one hour.

Now and then, he'd find his mind wandering off to this morning.

Clyde Crawford.

Violet.

And Mimi.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't envision himself inside the same frame.

Was he being too insecure?

Was he letting Clyde’s statement intimidate him?

“Mr. Sydney, the meeting will start in five minutes.” His assistant walked in, holding a stack of documents. 

He placed them on his desk, checking out the previous ones he brought. 

When he noticed that he'd only put his signature on three documents, the assistant gave him a worried look. “Mr. Sydney-”

“I know what you'll ask.” Asher stopped him, sighing in defeat. “Yes. I'm not fine.”

Asher didn't know why he was speaking this out.

He'd probably look like a coward.

But he rarely hid anything from his assistant.

Most of the time, James came up with the perfect solutions.

“I see…” He drew out a chair and sat across from him, the worry on his face disappearing. “Let me guess. It's about the hacker.”

How ironic.

Asher was no longer worried about the database after confirming his suspicion that Clyde had a hand in it.

The man did that to waver his resolve, and indeed, Asher was flustered.

Well, Clyde Crawford would think twice before using that against his company.

He only did that to intimidate him. 

“It's about Violet…” Asher explained, wiping his face in frustration. “Her ex-husband… He wants her back.”

“Who?” James’ eyes flew open. Thrown into shock, the assistant jolted to his feet before sitting down. “She’s been married before?”

Asher nodded, chuckling sarcastically. 

He would have been more comfortable with the fact that Violet had only been taken advantage of, and that was how she got Mimi.

Turned out she harbored that huge secret.

Of all people, Clyde Crawford had to be her ex-husband.

“He's someone we know,” He murmured to the assistant's question. “Someone the MJ Corporation dares not trifle with.”

Asher was stubborn but not insane.

He couldn't overlook the fact that he was dealing with someone above his expectations.

James' frown returned, his eyes expressing a wariness that he wouldn't deny also having. 

Right. Who was he kidding?

Clyde was here to take everything away from him.

But Asher had a mission in his mind.

Something he promised never to back out from no matter the obstacle.

What he never expected was that this obstacle was going to be quite challenging.

“A formidable opponent I presume.” James nodded thoughtfully. “That's quite a challenge. It only means you have to step up your game, Mr. Sydney. Doesn't the decision lie in Ms. Hayes’ hands?”

He was right.

Violet had a say in deciding whomever she wanted to be with.

She reassured him that she'd still choose him no matter what.

Why was he being too sensitive? 

“But if the opponent is formidable, I guess not even Ms. Hayes will have much say in it.” James went on. 

That was exactly the source of Asher’s wariness.

Aside from that, Clyde had something he didn't have.

Her daughter's support. 

Wouldn't that render him a failure?

“Mr. Sydney, don't give up. The MJ Corporation only got to this height of success because of your determination. Fighting for a woman shouldn't be that hard.”

Asher didn't plan to give up.

But maybe this little chat with his assistant was what he needed to uplift his spirit. 

Standing up, he walked up to the water dispenser and poured himself a cup.

Staring at the crystal-clear liquid, he spaced out.

He wasn't just going to give up on Violet that easily. 

He'd waited long enough. 

Eight years…

Although it felt like yesterday, the pain of waiting was still raw.

His patient gave him this opportunity again. 

By luck, Violet returned to him even though she had another man's child.

Well, this time, Asher wasn't going to keep relying on any damn luck. He needed to take action immediately. 

The ringtone of his phone interrupted his thoughts.

He returned to his working desk and picked it up.

The maid.

Why was she calling at this time?

Asher answered the call and placed the phone on his ear. “What's the matter?”

“Mr. Sydney, I was wondering if Ms. Hayes came to visit you with Mimi at the company.”

The maid sounded unsure, her voice shaky as she asked. 

Asher narrowed his eyes. 

What now?

What the hell happened?

“Did Violet leave the house?”

He needed not to ask. 

His mind was already telling him that something bad had happened.

What the hell were the bodyguards doing?

Why did they let her out without informing him?

“Actually, Ms. Hayes asked me if I'd seen her daughter. Then she left the Villa shortly. By the way, Mr. Crawford came to visit-”

Asher ended the call before he could utter something as brutal as ‘You’re fired’ to the maid. 

Why the hell would she let a stranger into the house?

Having realized her own mistake, she spoke to him in circles.

“It seems Mr. Crawford has already made his first move.” James was still sitting in his chair, watching him keenly. “That was fast, Mr. Sydney.”

It was baffling indeed. 

Asher didn't expect Clyde to make a move so soon. 

He must have taken both Violet and Mimi away. 

Where did he take them?

What the hell was he going to do with them? 

The Villa Estates’ security was tight, and no stranger dared to enter, no matter who they were. 

He wasn't surprised that Clyde had access to that place easily.

What surprised him was the fact that he went to and left his Villa while he didn't get a single notification from the security. 

“Where are they?” He turned to James, who was already typing away on his phone.

The assistant looked up after a minute, clicking his tongue as he smiled. “The Amusement Park. It seems Mr. Crawford wants to win Ms. Hayes with fun. By the way, you won't believe what happened at Golden Mall.”