Chapter 58
“Tell him I won’t meet with any bidding company representatives before the bid opens!” Alaric’s tone was firm and resolute.
“I told him straight up, but he’s incredibly persistent. He even insisted I take a look at his proposal,” Cormac mentioned casually. “You wouldn’t believe it—it’s incredibly thorough.”
“You actually went through his whole proposal?” Alaric raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I couldn’t refuse his hospitality.”
“Cormac, tell me you’re not taking bribes now,” Alaric challenged, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
The insinuation struck a nerve. “Watch what you’re saying, man. I’m not in it for the money. I wouldn’t take his bribe,” Cormac shot back, practically seething. “Go ahead, investigate! If you find that I’ve taken even a dime from him, I’ll chop off my hand and present it to you!”
“Whoa, dude, it was just a joke. Why the overreaction? I don’t want your hands,” Alaric replied, trying to defuse the tension.
“A joke?” Cormac let out a resigned laugh. “Since when are you the joking type, Alaric?”
Alaric blinked, caught off-guard. ‘That’s true. I’m not usually one to joke around.’
“I get it now,” Cormac said with a smirk. “You’re smitten. Love changes people, I understand.”
“Get out of here!” Alaric snapped, irritated. He glanced at the time, then toward the hospital room. Caspian was still inside, and with how eager the boy was to visit, he wasn’t likely to leave anytime soon.
“I’ll leave you with Caspian here at the hospital. I need to make a trip back to the villa.” Without waiting for a response, Alaric was already on his way out.
Inside, Caspian was in a blissful state. He had spent a long time nestled in Galatea’s arms, chatting and listening to her stories. It was the comfort and closeness he had longed for.
“Alright, Harry, you’ve been here the whole afternoon. Mia’s going to start worrying if you don’t head back soon,” Galatea said gently.
“Okay, Mom.” Caspian gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Take good care of yourself and make sure to rest well.”
“I will,” she replied with a smile.
After Caspian reluctantly left the room, Alaric entered, carrying a food container.
“The doctor said you can eat pretty much anything, as long as it’s not too spicy or hard to digest,” Alaric informed her as he began to unpack the meal.
Soon, the room was filled with the tempting aroma of food. Unlike the bland meals he had brought before, this one was particularly appetizing.
“Try it,” Alaric said, setting the meal in front of her and handing her a fork.
Galatea mused over the sudden change in Alaric, who had stormed off earlier but now returned with such gentleness. Hungry as she was, she took a bite.
“How’s the taste?” Alaric asked eagerly.
Galatea nodded affirmatively. “Delicious.”
“Really?” A genuine smile spread across Alaric’s face as Galatea praised the taste.
“It’s delicious. Where did you get this? It’s really good.”
“I made it myself,” Alaric said, his voice carrying a touch of pride.
“You made it?” The surprise was evident on Galatea’s face, but then she recalled the first time she had visited his place. He had been wearing an apron, bustling around the kitchen. It seemed clear now that he knew his way around the stove.
“Why do you know how to cook? Did you learn it in the military?”
“For soldiers, cooking is a basic survival skill,” Alaric explained. “More importantly, my son is quite picky about his food, so I got used to making it myself.”
“I wouldn’t have pegged the busy Mr. Knight for such a good father.”
“Thanks for the compliment,” Alaric responded, clearly pleased by the acknowledgment.
Galatea smiled and continued eating. It was by far the best meal she’d had since her hospital stay, deeply satisfying her both physically and emotionally.
“If you like it, I wouldn’t mind cooking for you again,” Alaric offered.
“Although you’re boring and annoying, I must admit your cooking is a plus,” she teased.
At that, Alaric just grunted in response, choosing not to say anything more.
After the meal, Silas Moon knocked and entered the room, holding a bouquet of flowers. He greeted respectfully, “Mr. Knight.”
Silas placed the flowers on the table, then turned to Galatea. “Dr. Galatea, I’ve been meaning to visit, but with your health not at its best, I didn’t dare to.”
“Thank you, Silas,” Galatea said quickly, grateful for the gesture.
Silas smiled politely before handing Alaric a stack of documents. He glanced at Galatea, hesitant to discuss business in her presence.
“It’s okay,” Galatea said, picking up a book from the side table. “I’m not versed in your professional matters, nor do I intend to eavesdrop.”
“Mr. Knight, we’ve received bids from sixteen companies, and after meetings and discussions, we’ve narrowed it down to six. All the relevant files are here for you to review. The final decision will await your return to the office.”
Six out of sixteen firms remained. Alaric took the documents, nodding as he said, “Got it. You can go. I’ll look over these.”
“All right, Mr. Knight, Dr. Galatea, I’ll take my leave now.” With a small bow to both, Silas exited the room.
“You should get on with your work. I’ll just read for a bit and won’t disturb you,” Galatea said, offering him space.
As she began reading her book, Alaric settled in, going over the documents. A warm light filled the room, casting a peaceful, cozy atmosphere. While studying the bids, Alaric occasionally glanced up at Galatea, noting how engrossed she was in her book, marking passages with the intensity of a diligent student.
She’s already quite proficient in medicine, Alaric thought, yet her ongoing dedication to learn is admirable.
He turned his attention back to the papers in front of him, going through one company’s file after another. Then, he reached a dossier marked with the name Far East International.
Though Far East International was a major corporation, they were newcomers to the construction sector. Alaric instinctively felt that they might lack the expertise required, and he was certain they would be among the ten companies eliminated. But, to his surprise, they were one of the six remaining firms. Cormac had even praised their proposal’s thoroughness, sparking Alaric’s interest.
Flipping open the company’s dossier, he was struck by the level of detail. It included information on the company, the construction subsidiary, and the young executive Gavin. Alaric couldn’t help but notice Gavin’s age. It was rare for someone so young to hold such a senior position in a major corporation. He was about to turn the page when a name caught his eye—Ambrose.