Author's note: this is from Jonathan's point of view

- - -

​​

~ London, the Thompson family's villa ~

I found my father in the study, staring at the computer screen.

Really, this old man drives me nuts. The older he gets, the more he turns into a child. No wonder Magda can manipulate him easily.

We are supposed to leave for our event in less than fifteen minutes, yet he is browsing social media.

I pushed the door open completely and leaned on the doorframe.

"Are you ready to go?", I asked.

"Mhm… just to put my jacket.", he responded without lifting his gaze from the screen.

"Did you prepare your points for talking with Mezzanottes?"

"Why do you think they are coming? You know very well, saying that they will attend and actually attending are two different things.", father grumbled.

"I have a strong feeling that they will come."

"Who will come?", Magda's voice sounded from behind me.

I cocked my eyebrow at her. "We are discussing tonight's business event."

Magda pouted, knowing that I won't say more than that.

I am confident that Seraphina Mezzanotte will attend our event, and the only question is who will come with her because Notte Pharmaceutical RSVP'd for two.

Why am I confident that Seraphina is coming? Because she reached London yesterday and headed to Eclipse before she had lunch with Drago Orsini. My men lost them after that in London's traffic with an excuse that Mr. Orsini's skills can compare to professional driver's.

Will Mr. Orsini come as Seraphina's date? Or will someone else from Notte Pharmaceuticals accompany her? After all, Seraphina never associated herself with a man, and if she comes with Drago as her date, that will be huge.

However, I have no intention to reveal any of that to Magda, because last time I told her something that involved Drago, she acted recklessly. Who knows what would father do if I didn't come to save the situation? I already know that Magda is peeved against Seraphina, and I don't want to risk my spoiled sister messing up with my plans.

Anyway, I'm sure that Magda will find out everything from her gossipy girls eventually, but by that time, tonight's event will be over, and who knows what my relationship with Seraphina will be?

"How come you are here? Did the afternoon party suck? Or your evening one didn't start yet? Wait! Don't tell me! I know. You realized that you are wasting your time partying and you decided to do something productive with your life?"

Magda glared at me, and her chin shivered in rage before she turned abruptly. She left without a word. Nice.

"Don't bully your sister.", father reprimanded me while getting up from the chair.

"Since when is telling the truth bullying? Be honest. If she parties less and gets serious, you would be much happier."

Father exhaled and shook his head. "It's too late. Magda was never the one to put an honest effort into anything useful. At most, we can expect her to marry well."

"So, why don't you arrange some suitors for her?"

"Don't you think I tried? She is set on that youngster without any background. I admit that his company is doing well, but he is only one man, and his foundation is not solid."

I knew that my father is talking about Drago Orsini. I don't like him either. Part of me hoped that Drago will show up tonight. It will give me a chance to size him up and show him who is the better man between the two of us, right in front of Seraphina.

"Maybe you just didn't find the right candidate.", I said when father joined me at the door.

"Well, if you know someone who is qualified to be my son-in-law, and Magda will consider him, let me know and I will get things in motion. I tried what I could, and nothing worked."

…

With every passing minute, my dejection mixed with anger.

I was greeting our guests and wondering why Seraphina is not here yet.

"Is there a reason why you told staff to delay serving dinner?", father asked me when it was just the two of us.

Dinner was supposed to be served at 19:00 sharp, and it was already few minutes past that. How can I tell him I still hope Seraphina will come before the food is served and since she is still not here, I pushed the timing further? If I admit to that, father will only rub it in with I-told-you-so.

It was my task to find a way for Aldus and Seraphina to attend. The truth is that I didn't care much about the old man, as my target is Seraphina.

When I saw the response from Notte Pharmaceuticals that two people are coming, I was ecstatic about achieving this victory. I was confident that Aldus and Seraphina will attend because she is in London and the only man she ever attended business functions with is her father. But now I'm doubtful.

Where is Seraphina? If she is not coming, why would she be in London?

Notte Pharmaceuticals has no events of major milestones.

Is it possible that she really came only to see Drago Orsini?

"John?", father's call pulled me out of my thoughts, and I realized that he was still expecting an answer from me.

What should I say? That I did it on a spur of the moment?

My phone vibrated and I glanced at the message.

My eyes flashed in surprise and relief and then I showed it to my father. "Look who just arrived at the main entrance."

"Oh? It seems you achieved unachievable.", my father offered rare praise. He patted my shoulder. "Now let's get this collaboration going."

"Even if collaboration doesn't happen, just the fact that they are here is enough to prove to our partners that we have what it takes so that Mezzanottes can't ignore us.", I said proudly.

My father frowned. "No one can ignore us. Do you suspect they will refuse the offer you sent them?"

Of course, they will! If they wanted to accept, they would do it already. The only response we got is that they need to think about it and they made no effort to schedule a meeting with our representatives, which is a clear sign that they are looking for a way out. But I couldn't say that to my prideful father, so I mellowed it down.

"That is Aldus Mezzanotte we are talking about. I'm confident that they will want to negotiate before signing anything."

My father nodded in agreement and patted my shoulder. "I will leave that to you. Bring them to us. I only hope to get a chance to talk to Aldus and see what he is made of."

God, help us!

I smiled at my father and wondered at what point did he lose his business sense, or if he had one. Maybe all those forceful takeovers messed with his brain and now he thinks that he can plow his way through anything.

Sure, Notte Pharmaceuticals is a smaller company compared to Giantshade Industries, but we are spread thinly over various markets, while they are giants in the area of medicines and cosmetics.

If he read the reports seriously, my father would know that they are not small bugs that can be easily crushed.

Two figures appeared at the door of the event hall with a staff member who was guiding them to their seats.

Seraphina Mezzanotte.

Her arm was linked with Aldus's and all my dejection disappeared when my eyes landed on her. She is a beauty.

"Aren't you going to greet them?", my father asked.

"Now is not the time. If I show them preferential treatment, they will be on alert. Once they relax, I will make my move."

My father hummed in approval.

I wanted to go but my heart was thundering against my chest, and I needed time to calm down. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of Seraphina. Now that I see her in person, the aura she projects can't be compared to the photos.

No wonder half of the London stirs whenever she makes an appearance. Her every move is graceful, and her beauty is ethereal.

I waved at our event manager to come closer. "Start serving dinner."

---

If you are not reading this at 'W e b n o v e l . c o m', then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.