Chapter 173 - The Damage Is Done

At Matthews Industries,

Secretary Harrison contemplated before entering the chairman's office. He carefully placed the iPad on the desk in front of Casper who was typing something on the keyboard.

He started reporting in a monotonous tone without revealing his emotions, "Chairman Matthews, Second Young Master visited Elder Collins today. But the sports car windshields were tinted so our men weren't able to get the pictures…. And there was no woman with him but the kid." Their effort to push the matter to Elder Collins's ear was considered a failure.

Secretary Harrison didn't continue informing Elder Collins seems to be very fond of the little boy as there was a picture to prove it. He expected Elder Collins to accept Anya Owen and her son for the sake of Alvin, but he didn't expect the old man to be fond of the little boy.

Unlike the Oasis or Matthews mansion, the door of the Collins mansion was very close to the road. Thus they were able to get very good pictures of Alvin with the little kid.

Casper sniggered while analyzing the picture. Entering and leaving, Alvin made sure the shotgun seat of the car was facing the mansion door. Thus the little boy's face wasn't facing towards the camera even once.

In another picture, Elder Collins was holding the little boy's hand to see him off. Nobody received that privilege so far. Meanwhile, Alvin was standing at another side of the little boy, causing the camera to block the view of the little boy.

Casper hadn't expected Alvin to be so keen about very details. There was nothing to be angry about as Anya had a case in the Coastal city to solve. "Where did they go?"

Harrison responded a bit uneasily, "Err… We weren't able to track them." They better don't try to openly follow Alvin again. 

Casper ignored it and asked as he shifted his attention to work, "Harper Johnson!?"

Harrison reported the recent update he received from their men, "In some time, they will cross the domestic waters. Chairman Johnson's yacht is waiting to pick him." So they don't have to take Harper to a different country.

———————

At the Secret Service Bureau,

Zane noticed his mother was cool despite Alvin holding her hence he stayed cool. He tugged on Anya's coat, "Mommy…" Thus the two separated. 

Anya ran her fingers through her hair to fix it roughly. She looked at the lunch bag in Zane's hand and heard him.

"Mommy, GG sent this with me when he got to know we are visiting you." He tried to pass the lunch bag to Anya.

"Baby, what does GG mean!?" Anya felt dumb asking that to her son.

"Great-Grandfather, Momma." He was forced to address Elder Collins as a great-grandfather who was very excited to meet him. Being a good little boy, Zane gave into the old man's little demands.

When Elder Collins noticed how Zane had to say a long word to address him, he shortened it to GG and asked Zane to call him GG.

It is a different matter that Alvin is still bewildered by his grandfather.

Anya: "…"

Didn't they just meet today? 

How did they become so close? 

Anya didn't turn down the lunch. She collected it from his little hands and kissed his cheek, "Thank you, My Baby. Please thank GG on behalf of me."

Zane flashed a knowing smile, "I have already done that, Momma."

Anya could only smile at her smart, sensible son. She looked at the man. Before she could speak with Alvin, her gaze shifted upstairs and noticed two men, "Baby, Brother Senon was asking about you. Would you like to meet him?"

Zane nodded and went inside the building to go upstairs. It was the safest place so Anya didn't have to follow him.

Anya's expression turned serious when Zane went out of her sight, "Alvin Matthews…" She faced him.

Alvin cut off her little anger, "Your job is interesting." Everyone who heard about her job was mind blown. He, his grandfather, and Rob. It was kept a secret from Bernard's wife to hide from Bernard. Alvin never expected his naive Little Donut to choose something cool and fascinating.

Anya: "…"

She saw admiration in his eyes. It felt good to be admired by the man who always inspired her in the past.

Anyway, she took a deep breath and tried again, "Alvin Matthews…"

He cut her off in a fruity, flirty tone, "Do you like my name so much?" A sexy smirk stayed at the corner of his lips.

Anya: "…"

What was wrong with this man? He starts teasing her when she is trying to have a serious conversation.

'Beep…'

She was about to speak, her mobile beeped. It wasn't suitable to ignore any message as she was handling a case in Coastal City. She fished the mobile out.

'Beep, beep,…, beep, beep..…'

Anya and Alvin furrowed hearing the continuous beeps of the messages. It was like there was something critical. Thus Alvin took a glance at her phone.

Anya's eyes widened looking at bank messages alerting her about the credit to her account. What surprised her was the messages were still coming. 

"Did I win a jackpot?" She mumbled with an amused look.

Alvin was confused looking at numerous messages. And each message was stating the same thing. That is 20000 bucks were credited to her account. 

He looked at her, and she acted as miserable and also relieved. "Somebody is taking pity on a poor officer and depositing money into my bank account."

That was a useless move by Harper. The bank asks for identity proof if one deposits more than 20000. So the over-smart man or men were depositing 20000 at a time.

Alvin: "…"

'Poor officer!?' He held back from asking what she wanted since he sensed her sarcasm.

Anya had the urge to put the mobile in silent mode when the messages didn't seem to stop. However, she didn't want to miss anything. So she waited for it while Alvin discerned what must be going on.

Kyle was being forced to speak against Anya Owen. So this is another trap for her.

After about ten minutes, Anya selected all the messages from the bank and calculated. There were 50 messages, thus she was a millionaire.

She wasn't much surprised since the amount was deposited to the account which was receiving the Assistant-general-secretary salary.

She looked at Alvin who was silently watching her. He asked mockingly, "Why were you dumb in the past?" She identifies the tricks of her opposition so easily. Then why is she still naive enough to stay away from him?

Anya: "…"

She ignored it and focused on the present. Honestly, she was impressed with how he found her. She was delighted to meet Zane and him on a stressful day. However, with the current situation, his arrival could stake her job. 

She uneasily told him, "You should have called me, Alvin. I would have met you outside." She wasn't sure how she would be punished for Alvin's arrival.

'I should have told him not to come near my office.' She bit her lip as it was too late.

Alvin snickered as he leaned back on the car. "Don't think highly of yourself. I am not here for you." The tsundere was back.

Anya: "…"

Did she just see him roll his eyes?

Anya crossed her arms and questioned, to know his unreasonable response, "Then who are you here to meet?"

He was there on another task, "Jason."

Speak of the devil.

A Jeep Compass entered the premises and unnaturally slowed down. Anya could feel the piercing eyes of the man. Her body turned cold as ice when she recalled the real consequences of Alvin's arrival at her office.

Her stomach lurched and her eyes stung. Zane had permission to enter the office but nobody else. If she brings anyone or anyone who reaches there to meet her, she will lose her position in team Ace and the secret service bureau. It was the same for every Team Ace member.

Jason might look easygoing, but it was only until they weren't doing something that was against the rules. 

Not just the mission, even her job was slipping her hands. She felt suffocated, craving to cry at her ill fate.

Why does she have to pay the price for Alvin's actions? 

Alvin watched her expression change before it turned distant. He quite didn't understand it. He clicked a button on the car key fob and his car trunk opened. He went to the trunk, grabbed a handbag.

Anya was quick to compose. She saw Alvin voluntarily go towards Jason. She panicked and ran behind him, wondering if Alvin was still possessive of her. He might say something odd to Jason.

Looking like a grim reaper, Jason alighted the car looking at the stunning man. His handsome face held the sternest gaze and deep frowns, loudly screaming he was annoyed by Alvin's presence. His eagle-like eyes brushed over Anya who wasn't calm as she pretended.

As soon as Alvin's eyes fell on Jason, there was a brief pause in his movements. Jason, Alvin, and Anya graduated from the same university. Alvin entered the university when Jason graduated as a topper. Anya entered a year before Alvin graduated.

"Alvin…" Anya tried to stop him but the men ended up standing face to face.

Alvin held up his hand that was holding the paper handbag. Anya's jaws dropped looking at the apparel brand logo on the bag. She couldn't believe Alvin kept his words. 

For lending his jacket to Anya, Jason was getting a brand new jacket.

Jason was very smart to understand the pettiness of the man in front of him, especially when he saw Anya's lips gap looking at the bag. He probably would have teased the petty man if they were outside but he wasn't in the mood and the circumstances were terrible. 

"Mr. Jason, thank you for taking care of my wife." Alvin was blunt. He wasn't jealous there, he just didn't want to call her a friend.

Anya: "…"

She kicked his leg. Jason was her chief, she didn't want Jason to misunderstand as they are married.

'Chief?' She doubted if she would get work under him anymore.

Jason discerned they weren't husband and wife by Anya's reaction. He collected the bag and looked at Anya, "To my office." It was a merciless order.

Anya's back straightened when she responded in a clear, crisp voice, "Yes, Chief,"

Alvin was about to speak, Anya squeezed his forearm, shaking her head. His words hold no effect 'cause the damage is done. The rules aren't compromised in the Secret Service Bureau.

Jason walked away collecting a few files from the backseat of his car. Anya turned away from Alvin's gaze before the tears could trickle down on her cheeks.

The new relationship might begin with a hefty price.