Ch. 16..20: Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire Chapter 16-20
Chapter 16: Aurora's Resolve
"I don't care about the budget. Marketing is our top priority. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Olivia asked, her gaze falling on each member of her team, including the new ones she stole.
"Yes!" Her team members chorused.
Olivia sat back down on her chair and continued, "I want—." But she hadn't even finished one sentence when the door burst open. Immediately, all heads turned towards the direction. Standing at the door was the furious Aurora.
As soon as Olivia saw, she rolled her eyes, exhaling deeply. "You know, you have to exercise some manners, Sister. What are you trying to prove by barging into my office and disrupting an important meeting?"
Aurora marched into her office without a care in the world. Ignoring her, she looked straight at the other sitting in the office, her gaze, taking in the two people that left from her team.
"Who said you can switch teams without consulting me?" She interrogated.
Those two cowered, not daring to meet her gaze. There was no doubt they were guilty of their actions.
"Sister," Olivia called, rising from her seat. She seemed to be enjoying watching Aurora's emotions all over the place, and she will definitely continue to get to her. "I would advise that you calm down. Everyone is watching."
"You should be worried about yourself, not me." Aurora snapped her gaze to her, seething.
Olivia rolled her eyes again and folded her arms around herself. "What are you getting mad for? You are making fun of yourself. It's so easy to get to you, and I must say that I'm not surprised. Are you going to report me to Dad now?"
Seeing the heated situation, Olivia's team members hurried out, including the new ones, leaving the sisters alone to continue their face-off.
"You must be a terrible leader because I didn't even do much to convince them to join my team. Just some little promises here and there, and they came running," Olivia chuckled and burst into laughter.
Aurora's gaze darkened. "Do you think your actions are honourable?" She asked, pointing at her.
"You should know me by now, that I would go to whatever means and lengths to achieve my goals. I don't give up. And you know the difference between us?" Olivia asked, walking around Aurora with a proud smile that reached her eyes.
Suddenly, Olivia stopped and turned to face her. "I am tenacious. You should learn from me."
Aurora's gaze burned an invisible hole through Olivia's forehead. If she had been with a gun at this moment, there was no telling she wouldn't pull the trigger. She was pissed and had every right to it.
With this new quest upon them, she only wanted to focus on getting her product out there, and for that, she needed her team's help. But Olivia meddling in her work and trying to disorganize her was something she would not accept.
Aurora balled her fists, standing face to face with the woman staring boldly at her. As painful as it might sound, Olivia was right about one thing, she was overly emotional, and it was easy to get to her. That was her weakness.
But how could she control her emotions when all the mother and daughter had done since they came into her life was get on her nerves? They are the reasons she can't seem to control her temper, especially when she knows they are targeting her reaction purposely!
Olivia clicked her tongue, knowing that her words had sunk deep into Aurora's skull. Suddenly, she remembered what the latter had said to her and Owen at the mall the other day and sneered, "I understand that you must be very mad at me right now, but since it's very easy for you to get through heartbreaks, please try to find your way around this one."
"Olivia, I will never warn you again, mark my words," Aurora said, taking deep breaths to calm her nerves. Somewhere deep in her heart, she was grateful to Olivia for the wake-up call otherwise, she would continue to let her and her mother ride her emotions.
The corners of Olivia's lips curved into a grand smile. She took a few steps backwards and unfolded her arms. She didn't seem to take her seriously.
"Also," Aurora continued, "A thief will always be a thief, shameless and without honour. And you will only continue to help me get rid of the useless people who will be a hindrance in my path. Goodluck, accumulating those kind of people for yourself."
"W-What? D-Did Y-You just call me a thief?" Olivia stammered, her gaze widening in shock. The other day, she had insinuated that Owen was worthless but today, she called her a thief without morals who goes on stealing useless stuff.
Aurora glared at her and stormed away, totally ignoring her rants.
"Yes, leave! You are just mad at me for taking the important people by your side!" Olivia barked, but when she got no reaction from Aurora, she picked up the telephone on her desk and rammed into the door. "Bitch!" She cried.
Even after everything she had done, how come Aurora always got to have the last words?
Meanwhile, Aurora returned to her meeting room, to continue from where she left off.
"This is the last chance for anyone who wants to leave," she said, her gaze sweeping over the remaining members of her team. "I will give you a minute to leave and clean up your desk because after now, you won't be getting another opportunity unless you are fired."
A minute passed and no one did as much as uttering a word or moving a muscle, so Aurora went ahead with the meeting.
"We have to invest enough creativity on the product design. Although our main focus is creating a design that will appeal to our target audience, we should also leave room to attract other age disparities. Keep an open mind."
As soon as Aurora dismissed the meeting, she went to the HR department in person.
"I want these two people fired," she said, presenting the names of her team members who ran over to Olivia's camp illegally. She stated why she wanted them gone and added, "But you can only send them their quit notice a week from today."
Aurora isn't going to sit by and fold her hands, not with Olivia exploiting her weakness time after time.
She was going to make Olivia suffer by firing those two people after she must have delegated tasks and resources to them, a week before their new product release date.
Chapter 17: The Dangers Around Him
DANTE GROUP.
Xander sat behind his desk, doing some paperwork when a few knocks sounded on his door. Just then, Liam pushed the door open and stepped in with a tall handsome well-built man.
As soon as Xander saw the other man, the corners of his eyes crinkled. "Asher!" His face was full of smiles as he put his pen down and rose to his feet, pushing his seat backwards.
"Xander!" Asher beamed with a smile, spreading his arms apart as he marched towards Xander to embrace him in a brotherly hug. "Congratulations on your wedding!"
"Thank you, Brother." Xander patted his back a few times before slowly releasing him.
Liam excused himself as the best friends separated and moved to the sitting area to sit and chat over tea.
"When did you come in?" Xander inquired, pouring tea from the pot into a cup before serving Asher by himself.
"Thank you," Asher smiled, receiving the tea. "Around an hour ago. I'm coming straight from the airport. I'm sorry I couldn't make it in time for your wedding in Venice."
Xander waved it off, a smile, lingering on his lips. "There is nothing to be apologetic about. You couldn't have left your mission halfway. And you know that I would never ask you to do that."
"I never knew you were serious about getting married," Asher said after a while.
Xander asked, meeting his gaze, "Why would I joke about an important matter?"
"I mean." Asher scratched the back of his head. "It hasn't been long since you ended things with—."
"It doesn't matter," Xander said, cutting him off as he twirled his teacup in his hand. "You can meet the right person at any time."
Asher peered at him through the gap in his teacup while he took a sip.
"What kind of look is that?" Xander raised a brow, compelling him to speak.
"I believe you," Asher set his teacup down. "Only because you didn't mention you were in love."
Xander finished his tea in one gulp and dropped his cup. Then, he fixed his gaze on his best friend. "I wouldn't say I love her at the moment, but I will kill anyone who dares to touch even a strand of her hair or put her in danger."
"Tell me how you met your wife," Asher asked, his eyes sparkling with interest.
"I will reserve the story for some other day. You only have to know that I met her thrice before proposing to her," Xander explained as he recollected the memories from two weeks back.
"I hope this isn't some obsession. You should be careful." Sighing, Asher inquired, "Does your wife know your side job?"
A deep sigh escaped Xander's lips. "She knows nothing about it, but I would prefer she remains in the dark. It will do her no good." He was keen on protecting Aurora from the dangers around him.
The other day, Liam informed him about her sudden interest in that bronze sculpture, and when he looked through the surveillance camera footage from his study last night, he fell into a deep contemplation.
With Aurora finding the secret path, it wouldn't be long before she discovered the things in it. Now he has to find a way to solve the matter.
Asher agreed. "After all, you are entangled in so many dirty businesses, plus your enemies lurking around, ready to pounce on you." He saw no need to make unnecessary moves with a person's life on the line. So, he wholeheartedly supported his best friend's decision.
"How was your mission in Venice? Did you finally capture that looser?" Asher inquired.
"I did. Although there were some costly casualties, I turned him over," Xander replied, slowly massaging his temples with his fingers. He looked a bit exhausted.
Asher's gaze turned solemn as he leaned back on his seat and crossed his leg over the other. "Now, the reagent family will be after you."
"Let them come," Xander stated casually, his eyes, brimming with determination. "If they don't, I will go to them."
---
Aurora shut her laptop and relaxed her back into her seat. She closed her eyes, exhausted after sitting behind her desk without a break throughout the day.
All that she was after was getting her new product, 'Fruit Punch Champagne' into the market within two weeks.
A chime from her phone caused her eyes to flutter open. Immediately, she grabbed it. It was a text from Xander.
"Hey, Sweetheart! My best friend, Asher Moore, is in town. Would you like to meet him over dinner tonight? You can invite your best friend as well if you don't mind."
Aurora texted back, "I'd be happy to meet Asher. I will find out if Abby is free to join us for dinner and let you know."
As soon as she dropped a text for Xander, she phoned Abigail who was currently circling at a private gym.
"Hello, Abby. Are you free this evening?" She inquired.
"I'm all yours if you are going to buy me a wedding dinner," Abigail replied, letting out heavy breaths into the phone as she slowed down her leg movement.
"Of course, I will do that. Xander invites you to join us for dinner. His best friend, Asher Moore will be present," Aurora's disclosed, her brows, furrowing. "Are you at the gym?"
"Yes, Aura! I'm preparing for my next drama shoot," Abigail replied. "Also, let your husband know that I wouldn't miss this dinner for anything. Send the details to me as soon you can."
Aurora directly phoned Xander after that and after two rings, he answered. She went on to relay Abigail's response before receiving the time and venue for their dinner.
"I think you can come outside now," Xander informed. "I'm three minutes away from your company."
Almost immediately, Aurora sprang up from her seat. "I will be right there," she replied, picking up her handbag and grabbing her coat.
Arriving outside the building, she noticed three cars in convoy packed right outside the building and at the same time, she got a text from Xander, telling her to get into the second car.
Aurora turned to look around carefully before dashing towards Xander's signature car. As soon as she got in, she released a deep breath.
"I think I would prefer to use my car," she breathed, securing her seatbelt before facing Xander.
Xander quickly leaned in to capture her lips in a soft kiss before slowly dragging his thumb across her lower lips. "Next time then."
As Xander's convoy drove away, Olivia who had just stepped out of the building right at the time Aurora was getting into the car, stood there, dumbstruck.
"Whose car did she get into?" she thought out loud, her gaze narrowing.
Chapter 18: Two Friends, One Couple and A Date
Aurora stared at the small red marriage certificate booklet in her hand in wonder.
She and Xander had filed for their marriage and fifteen minutes after the registration without any witnesses from their side, their marriage certificates were given to them. She had never seen anything like that.
'Are protocols only meant for a certain grade of people?' she wondered. Even her millionaire father always followed protocols. Just who was this Xander Scott?
Aurora wondered if he actually came from the same Scott family as Owen because the latter receives a different treatment.
"Let me have your booklet," Xander demanded, pulling her out from her thoughts.
"Huh?" her brows furrowed in confusion. He had his own booklet, why did he want hers?
The corners of Xander's lips curved into a smile that spread across his face. "I will hold onto it so you don't lose it," he explained and directly took the booklet from her hand before leaning in to kiss her cheek.
Aurora watched him as two lines appeared on her forehead. "You know, I'm not careless."
"Sweetheart, I didn't mean that." Xander looked apologetic thanks to her expression of confusion mixed with a tinge of doubt. "I have a safe where I keep all important documents, so these two, are going in there."
Xander's explanation does nothing to stop Aurora's wary thoughts. It seemed to her that he liked to hide the things he deemed important.
Although she wasn't sure if she was that important to him, but he wants their marriage to be kept a secret until three months. Secondly, he had a secret space in his study which obviously means there was something he was keeping away from others. Lastly, their marriage certificates. He wants to keep it in a safe.
Even if her deductions might be wrong, there has to be some truth to it.
---
Aurora and Xander arrived at the private restaurant the latter had reserved for their dinner and were escorted to their private room where Abigail and Asher had been waiting.
"Aura!" Abigail sprang from her seat and rushed towards Aurora to embrace her. She was so excited to see her.
"I missed you so dearly." Aurora wrapped her arms around her tightly.
On the other hand, Xander and Asher shook hands casually as they had already met each other earlier.
"Sweetheart, let me introduce you to my best friend, Asher Moore." Xander beckoned on Aurora after she separated from Abigail. And she came to stand next to him, fixing her gaze on the tall handsome fellow smiling at her.
Asher reached out his right hand and as Aurora took it, Xander added, "Asher, meet my lovely wife, Aurora Swift."
"It's an honour to meet you, Mrs. Scott." Asher shook Aurora's hand gently before bringing the back of her hand to his face. He leaned in, pressing his forehead to it instead of his lips. And all this while, Xander stood there without a reaction.
He knew his best friend was going to greet his wife respectfully like the well-raised son he was. But Aurora had been a little horrified, thinking otherwise.
"Xander, meet my best friend, Abigail Miller. Abby, meet my husband, Xander Scott." Aurora formally introduced Xander to her best friend, and they shook hands, before going to sit around the dinner table.
As the waiters stepped in to serve the appetizers, Auora, Xander, Abigail and Asher, got to know more about themselves, a discussion that centred more on their career. They got to learn a bit about each other's job.
Aurora gave Asher a few glances during dinner after catching a snippet of the tattoo along his neckline with the remaining part hidden inside the collar of his shirt. The latter seemed to notice her curious gaze and flashed her a harmless smile.
Aurora withdrew her gaze after being caught and never let her gaze stray again.
Watching Xander from the corner of her eyes, she wondered if he had tattoos or any part of his body.
They had only had sex once, and it happened that night she was disoriented. Also, she hadn't got a properly look at Xander's back that morning even though his chest had been bare, so it wasn't enough to conclude he didn't have one.
After the main course meal, Abigail excused herself to use the bathroom and dragged Aurora along.
"Does that Asher look like someone who has a decent job?" Abigail stood in front of the sink to wash her hands, peering at Aurora through the mirror.
Aurora narrowed her eyes at her ridiculous question. "Abby, you heard the man. He is into importation and exportation."
"I bet he only exports drugs and imports ammunition." Abigai rolled her eyes.
"Abby!" Aurora's gaze widened as she stood stunned watching her best friend. "Why would you say that? You are literally calling him a criminal. Are you judging him based on his tattoos?" What if someone heard her?
Abby scoffed. She stepped away from the sink and walked to the dryer to dry her hands. "It's a gut feeling. I know dangerous men when I meet them."
"I think you have been watching far too many movies lately." Aurora frowned. Suddenly, a thought came to her. "You sound like you already hate this Asher. Did something happen between you two before Xander and I arrived?"
Abigail stepped away from the dryer, hooking her arm around Aurora's, she dragged her out of the restroom.
"That is not important. My hunch is 80% correct most of the time because I am meticulous."
Aurora eyed her from the side. "You mean, it's because you never mind your business?"
"It's not fun minding my business." Abigail smiled. "Anyway, be careful of your husband since he associates with someone of the likes of Asher Moore."
Aurora shook her head, letting out a soft sigh. "I think you need to take a chill pill," she said as their steps fell in place.
Back in the room, Xander and Asher continued chatting after the women left.
"I'm glad you didn't marry someone like that Abigail," Asher said, dabbing the corner of his lips with a napkin.
"Why?" Xander mused with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. It doesn't matter that he could already guess the reason for that remark, he just wanted to hear Asher's thoughts from his lips.
Asher met his gaze as he leaned back in his seat. "You wouldn't be able to keep anything from her for long."
Chapter 19: Right Timing
~One Week Later~
Aurora drove straight to the wine production factory from home to pick up the sample bottles of the 'Fruit Punch Champagne'.
She inspected the bottles, looking out for any production fault with the bottle shapes and the labels before popping a bottle to have a drink.
"Everything is perfect. Go ahead and produce two hundred cartons," Aurora instructed, taking two cartons with her back to the company.
Meanwhile, Olivia arrived at the company and learned that the two new members of her team didn't show up to work, making further investigations, she discovered they had been fired the previous day after work.
Olivia was furious about losing her team's two new people a few days before their product launch just after assigning tasks to everyone.
As it is, work was already exhausting and now, she was going to have to reassign the tasks despite their tight schedule. What a more frustrating situation.
Olivia's breathing ragged as she thought of the one person who could be behind her current problem.
Immediately, she found her way to the HR department to confront them about the reason they fired the people under her without her consent, thereby making a scene.
"They went against the company's code of conduct," they said to her.
"So, you mean that joining my team is against the company's code of conduct?" Olivia seethed, pointing to herself. She felt that Aurora had bribed them to do her bidding just to spite her.
"Leaving your designated team for another without informing your team leader and taking her permission, is a breach of the agreement," someone from the HR department reminded her, but how could she listen when she felt wronged?
"Good!" Olivia clapped her hands. "Maybe I should work towards getting the remaining members of Aurora's team, fired!" she spat and trotted away.
The people in the HR department shook her head watching her storm away.
"I pray the day Director Olivia takes over the company will never come," one of them whispered. "She will bring the entire years of effort to dust."
---
Aurora arrived at her office with a security man carrying a carton of her latest invention.
"Put it at the corner," she instructed as she settled behind her desk. And not long after that, Olivia stormed into her office.
"Did you ask the HR department to fire two of my team members?" She interrogated with a dark gaze.
Aurora rolled her eyes and quickly waved her off. "Please, I don't have any time for you today. Besides, it's too early in the day to want to pick a fight. Go find someone else, I'm not in the mood."
"Who gave you the right to fire people in my circle? Is this your petty way of getting revenge because you are not fit to be a leader?" Olivia asked, rage building in her eyes.
Aurora paid her no mind and directly turned her attention to her system, and as if she wasn't yet satisfied with provoking Olivia, she put on her headphones.
Seeing this, Olivia balled her fists. What could she do to Aurora when the latter is her older sister, and that too in her office?
"We shall see!" she spat and turned away.
As soon as she banged the door shut and turned to the corners, she saw someone from Aurora's team carrying a bouquet. The lady walked past her and headed straight for Aurora's office.
Immediately, Olivia stopped in her steps and watched her knock before entering the office.
"Is she seeing someone?" she murmured, her curious eyes lingering at the door to Aurora's office.
On the other hand, Aurora's brows furrowed seeing the bouquet brought into her office.
"Director, someone sent these flowers to you," Lilian, who served as Aurora's assistant, informed her. "And a rider delivered it."
Aurora stared at the flowers warily, wondering who sent them before taking the bouquet. "Thank you," she said to Lilian, immediately dismissing her.
Now left alone, Aurora opened the card stuffed in the bouquet to read the content.
"I miss you already and hope to see you soon."
Aurora could only think of the people in her life capable of sending her flowers, so she texted them inquiring if they had sent her flowers.
Tessa: "I didn't send any flowers Aura. Have you asked your husband?"
Xander: "Sweetheart, I didn't send any bouquet to you. Remember, we don't want the attention now."
Having read all the feedback texts, Aurora's brows knotted with a glint of confusion in her eyes. "Who the hell is messing with me?"
Since she could not think of anyone else who would send her flowers, she walked straight to the bin next to her office door and dumped the bouquet and the card.
Aurora returned to her desk and worked until lunch break. She grabbed four bottles of wine from the carton and picked up her phone before heading out.
She stopped at her father's office and walked in after getting approval from his secretary.
"Dad, I stopped by at the factory this morning and got a few bottles for you and some directors to try," Aurora explained as she set the bottles down in the sitting area. "I heard you have a meeting with a few of them today."
Adam stepped out from behind his desk and walked towards the sitting area with a proud smile. Seeing the four bottles on the table, he shifted his gaze to her. "I think you need to bring six more bottles if you want to remain in the good books of the board members arriving in half an hour."
"Oh," Aurora mouthed, a smile slowly appearing on her lips. "I will send someone with the extra bottles then. Thank you for the information."
Adam patted her back and permitted her to leave.
At the same time, Olivia waited for a while before returning to Aurora's office during lunch break after targeting the time she wouldn't be around.
"Director Olivia, you can't step into Director Aurora's office when she is not around, and without her permission," Lilian said, immediately blocking the door to the office.
"Get out of my way!" Olivia pushed her aside, sneering, "Who said I need her permission to walk into any room of my choice? It seems like you are tired and want to change jobs."
Lilian didn't dare to stop her anymore. She could only watch in anger and frustration as she went into the office and shut the door.
As for what she had gone in there for, she would have to find out when she emerged.
Chapter 20: The Mother and Daughter Plots
The second Lilian sighted Aurora, she left her desk and rushed up to her.
"That's right, Lilian. I need you to deliver a few bottles of wine to my Dad," Aurora mentioned as soon as she saw her. "Gather the team when you return so we can all try a bottle of the 'Fruit Punch Champagne," she added as she opened the door to her office and walked in.
"Ms. Aurora, Director Olivia left your office a minute ago," Lilian informed, following after her.
As soon as Aurora heard that, she quickly snapped her gaze to her, stopping in her steps with brows furrowed. "What? You let her into my office?"
"She forced her way in. I'm sorry I couldn't stop her." Lilian bowed, completely guilty.
Aurora quickly marched to her desk, her eyes searching around for what that bitch of a sister must have touched. "What did she come into my office for? Did you at least see what she touched or did?" She was anxious, hoping that Olivia would not steal any important documents or information from her office.
That girl was only good at stealing in her possession.
"She didn't touch your desk. I think she was only interested in the bouquet you received," Lilian replied and went on to explain how she watched Olivia pick up the note that had come with the bouquet from the wastebin and read the content, through the open window blinder before the former marched out.
Aurora scoffed. Olivia would never cease to surprise her. She wondered what else could if jealousy and envy didn't kill her.
"The next time she tries to get into my office, tell her that if any important file or information leaks from my desk, she will be held responsible. Do you understand me?" Aurora said to Lilian.
"Yes, Ma'am," Lilian nodded in understanding.
---
As soon as Olivia returned home from the office, she went to find her mother who was sitting on the terrace reading the latest ELLE magazine while eating some oranges.
"Mum, you won't believe this!" Olivia walked in and went straight to sit on the woven chair across from her before reaching for the oranges. She popped one into her mouth as her mother met her gaze.
"If you have gist for me, then you better don't make me wait," Stella said to her.
Olivia nodded as she gestured for her to wait before quickly swallowing the orange piece in her mouth. "Mum, I think Aurora is seeing someone."
Stella narrowed her gaze, instinctively closing the magazine with a finger stuck on the page she was currently reading.
"And how is that possible with Owen recently ending things with her?" she asked, lowering the magazine. "Is she that desirable and quick to move on from heartbreaks? If that is the case, we need to break her heart even more seeing that she has gotten accustomed to it."
"I think we might not be doing a good job and need to up our game." Olivia relaxed into her seat. "A week ago, I saw her getting into a 'Martin' car after work and just today, someone sent her a bouquet with 'I miss you already and hope to see you soon' written on it."
Stella removed her finger from the page she had been on and finally put the magazine down, her eyes on Olivia. "Did you find out whose car she got into and the identity of the bouquet sender?"
"Unfortunately, I couldn't see the car's plate number or the face of the man sitting in the back seat from the distance I was standing. Also, the bouquet sender didn't leave his name on the note." Olivia sighed and asked, "But what if she is doing all this to attract attention to herself since Owen sent me a bouquet at work the other day?"
Stella picked up an orange section from the plate. Leaning back, she crossed her legs. "That's why we need to look into it."
"So, what if she is actually dating? Will you let her get married?" Olivia asked, raising a curious brow. She really wanted to know what her mother planned to do with Aurora's destiny.
"I don't mind her getting married in any way. What I do mind is the class of man she attracts. I can't let her marry a better and more influential man than Owen. She has to stick to the spot below you," Stella said, a smirk appearing at the corner of her lip.
Olivia smiled proudly, feeling lucky to have got herself the best mother in the world.
"The people keeping watch on your sister mentioned that she hasn't been home in a while," Stella mentioned as her gaze turned serious. "When your father returns, tell him we should have dinner at her place tonight to celebrate the new products you two are launching since she failed to come home for dinner last weekend. And our coming should be a surprise."
Olivia nodded immediately as she got off the chair. "I will, Mum." She was in for any mission that had everything to do with bursting or offending Aurora.
---
Aurora returned from work to meet Xander in the living room with several papers scattered on the table and wondered what happened to his study.
"Come give me a hug," Xander smiled as he spread his arms out for her as soon as she walked in.
She let out a soft sigh and went to him. She hugged him and received a soft kiss on her cheeks and just when she was about to lean away, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to sit next to him.
"How was work today?" he inquired and picked up his tablet to continue with the mail he was going through.
"Fine," she replied. "I went to the wine production factory today and got some bottles from my new product."
Almost immediately, he glanced at her. "Where is my bottle?"
"Did you think I wouldn't bring any for you when you helped with the idea?" she asked and immediately had the butler bring the carton of champagne she returned with.
Aurora brought out six bottles and set them on the table as Xander made space for her.
"Two belong to you, and two for your parents. I want to know what they think about the Fruit Punch Champagne. The review will help with last-minute improvements," she explained. "And the other two are for your friend, Asher. He can give a bottle to another friend, and I don't mind him taking pictures and posting on his social media."
As Xander listened to her plots, a grin appeared on his face. "I know what you are trying to do," he said. "And I will help you only if you are willing to share a few more bottles with me so I can send them to the people in my network. How do you see it?"
Instantly, Aurora's gaze widened in surprise seeing his efforts to help her promote her new product to the people in a class higher than hers.
"Oh. My. God! Do you think I'm stupid not to need your help?" she asked.
"I for say." Xander tapped the tip of her nose and immediately called for the butler to bring two champagne glasses before turning his attention back to her. "Trust me, you don't have any problem with getting your 'Fruit Punch Champagne into the market, and no one can hinder its growth under my watch."