Alan leisurely commented, "Either they want to stand top or they want Aria so that they could stand top."

Vince quickly analyzed, "Did they attack you or the company?"

​​

Alan was deep in thought as he responded, "Company."

"Need any help?"

Vince glanced at his brooding look to understand he doesn't need help and spoke again, "Make sure Little one is safe."

Alan rolled his eyes. More than anybody, he was the one who wanted her safe, and both were suffering because of that.

They had continued to talk a long time but Aria woke up from her sleep and called Alan.

"Alan…"

She was panicked seeing the bedroom and bathroom empty. She checked in the villa as she called him a few times before Alan and Vince could hear her.

"Alan… Alan…"

Alan went to her swiftly and saw her teared up eyes before she hugged him tight as if he might disappear at any moment.

"I'm here... I'm here... Honey, I'm right here..."

It was the first time Vince saw her emotionally weak in five years. He had seen her nonchalance, confident, bold, strong, and mischief to everything around others but her delicate, fragile side was always reserved for Alan who smoothly takes care of her.

Alan took her back to the bedroom to coax her to sleep. He knew she was scared something might break them apart so he was extra careful in handling things.

"Aria, we will solve it soon."

Aria hummed.

"You have to be strong for us."

Aria hummed again.

"Don't worry, I will meet you often."

Aria hummed and her muffled tone sounded, "I was strong for five years, I can wait for a little longer. But I will not let anything come between us."

"Dummy, nothing can come between us until we trust each other."

Aria raised her head in his embrace, "What if you read the news as President Cooper and President Baker are in a relationship?"

Alan gave it a thought, "Since he is a homo, you can have an affair with him. I will not mind."

Aria: "..."

Seeing her staggered, he wanted to peck on her lips but Aria held him and deepened the kiss with a deep frown. Alan looked at her closed eyes as her tears flew down kissing him.

He gently wiped her tears and heard her say, "My need, want and everything, it's only you." Nobody else.

She wanted to say, don't believe any such thing how much ever the media tries to sound it as true. Hearing him making fun of it, she really wanted to beat him.

Alan's smile was very tender and embraced her. Her confession to him every time was 'I just want you.' or 'I need you' He just loves how she always openly says it.

Even when she was in a different country, her confession used to be, 'I want you here and now.', 'I want to see you.', 'I want to go there with you.', 'I want to try that with you.' and so on.

If not, she would sit and call his name uncountable times just to hear his hum and feel his presence sitting in a faraway country.

As soon as he was waking up, their video call used to start, he was working out whereas she would do her work. When he takes a bath, she used to finish her bath or would have dinner with Finn.

Then the video call again would start when he would prepare breakfast, eat it, get ready, drive to office as they would talk, or just look at the other on tab living in their own virtual world.

It would repeat again during her morning and his night. They rarely broke it and never got bored of each other.

But now being in the same country, they were failing to give each other time.

---

Aria half-heartedly hopped on a different car to go to the office looking at Alan who had to take a different car to go to his office. Vince also left to a different country warning them to be careful.

The trio's life might seem colorful and easy for outside but only they knew how difficult it was to live such a life and how much they yearned for a simple life unbounded by such things.

...

Alan was working when his maternal grandfather and his wife's nephew went to meet him. Alan had seen them at the wedding and Aria's homecoming party.

Considering his grandfather's age, he wished, "Grandfather Gray... Second Uncle Grayson."

Old master Gray, Ford Gray was an amiable old man who was in his late seventies. "Alan, are you very busy?"

Jeremy Grayson smiled, "Alan, you seem tired."

A lady entered Alan's office carrying an alluring smile holding a tray in her hands.

Alan's eyes narrowed at her making her tremble, "I... I brought coffee for grandfather and Dad. President Morgan, I'm sorry, I entered without permission."

Monroe Grayson, one among nine secretaries of Alan. Amelia had requested to take her under him and train then eventually Aria convinced him to approve.

"Moon"

Monroe placed the coffee on the desk and smiled at Old master and Jeremy, "First Grandfather, Dad."

Alan glanced at the family and frowned.

'Crash'

"Ahh…"

Monroe jumped on her heel in fright and instantly tears welled up in her eyes due to hot coffee spilled on her foot.

Alan had tasted coffee and threw the cup down because it wasn't as per his taste.

"Nathan." He grunted coldly.

Monroe was smart and understood, "President Morgan, If it isn't as per your taste, I will prepare another cup."

Nathan entered quickly from the adjacent office room, "President Morgan"

"Did I ask for coffee? How long is she working here? If she doesn't even know how to brew coffee, what is she still doing in this company?"

Nathan glanced at Monroe, "President Morgan, I will teach her."

Nathan knew Monroe was very talented at work and she always did nearly two secretaries of work alone just for the appreciation from Alan but the latter never cared about any secretaries.

If he gets to know they were overworking for the company, he would scold them for that too, saying just to mind their work.

According to Nathan's analysis, Monroe was in love with Alan but the latter had his heart only for one.

"Get out. If it repeats, fire her." The decree from the heartless daemon.

He warned the Gray family members indirectly to know their places instead of running to him and sit.

He could understand his grandfather would want to meet but his nephew Jeremy had no reason to be sitting over there.

Monroe cued her father and First grandfather that she was fine before leaving looking at Alan's captivating yet cold face.