His Devious Rule

Casper Matthews was a man in the late fifties. His black pepper hair was styled cleanly without a single hair out of place. He dressed his well-maintained physique in a polo t-shirt and trousers to play golf.

Despite a fake smile and friendliness on the surface, the frown lines were deep on his forehead as if those were imprinted to his life. His amber eyes were sharp and his presence domineering, naturally making the people fear him and watch out for their actions and words.

Though the Matthews company was centuries old, Carper spent his whole life on it and developed to the state none had expected. There wasn't a single day he didn't work. Maybe a Sunday or day off for the company, he didn't take a single day off.

He dreamed of growing the company to new glory. He always aimed for a new height and climbed up with his efforts. Then his aim would jump higher so his hard work. He was a true inspiration for never giving up. However, he was a failure in his personal life. He gave no value to any relationship. He always solved problems with money and never considered his presence was also required for his family.

His eyes darkened when he noticed Liam leave in halfway. He decided to reproach him at home while faking praise for the client. Noticing Harris signaling him, asking for a minute, Casper looked at the middle-aged man, "Excuse me for a minute."

Casper went aside and Harris reached him immediately, "What is it?"

Harris was nervous though he prepared himself for the worst. He carefully reported as it was an important matter, "Chairman Matthews, Ms. Dalton threatened to withdraw the partnership of Dalton company." He paused and quickly swallowed when Casper's expression was dark and scary.

Harris was used to working with Casper but it never stopped him from fearing the man, "It isn't confirmed if what she said was right. We are still...."

Casper cut in in a dark displeased voice, "What is it?"

"Ms. Owen is back with the Second Young Master." He hurriedly reported so that there won't be any misunderstanding, "It's not confirmed yet. Ms, Dalton might be making these up or confused or misunderstood." Harris swallowed hard, hearing Casper grit his teeth. He thanked the client's presence due to which Carper didn't flare up yet.

Harris internally sighed and added, "President Matthews went to deal with the situation."

Casper's expression turned even uglier. He wanted his sons to be like him, zeal to conquer the business world. But one was a harmless lamb and another one wanted to open a petty company. He thought Alvin would be like him after a few years of experience. Anyway, nothing went as planned. Certainly, his second son grew so big and strong, he couldn't touch his field or company but he and his son were dead against each other.

Hearing Liam wanted to do the job, Casper sniggered looking at his secretary, "And you believed he would do it." He snapped at Harris. "He went to keep that girl safe." He knew his elder son too well.

In the past, he stopped looking for her as Alvin had nothing to offer her and he left the country alone. Now that Alvin was strong enough to threaten Matthews' business, Casper couldn't be brash and willful.

"I want all her details on my table." He instructed and forced his bubbling anger back into his stomach before going towards the client who was waiting for him.

Harris finally breathed some air. Recalling the past and present, he realized Liam voluntarily left each time saying he will handle Anya Owen. He discerned Liam was indeed helping his younger brother indirectly. But this time Liam's efforts weren't necessary. Alvin alone was enough to keep Casper rooted.

—---

Liam, who rushed out, fetched his mobile from his car and dialed Alvin's number immediately. It was switched off. He dialed the landline number of the Oasis mansion.

He heard Oliver's voice soon, [Hello!?]

"Uncle Oliver, I am Liam. Where is Alvin? I can't reach him." His concern and hurriedness were clear in his tone.

Oliver responded as he always did, "Young Master, Mr. Matthews isn't at home."

Liam knew how Alvin had trained his butler and housekeeper. Though the butler was telling the truth, they won't reveal everything about Alvin. Yet he tried, "Did he bring any young lady home?..." He paused, guessing Oliver might lie as 'NO' as per Alvin's instruction. So he tried to describe hoping to hear yes or no, "She is… chubby and…" He didn't know what to describe, "Her name is Anya Owen."

[Young Master, there is no one as such in the home.] The butler didn't reveal anything.

Liam let out a frustrated sigh. Though he could understand Alvin's attempt to keep his itinerary private, couldn't he let his own elder brother know about him?

"Alright, Uncle Oliver, inform Alvin that Dad got to know Anya Owen is with him. Dad will definitely try to threaten or hurt her. I will try to look for her family. Please don't forget to mention this."

Butler didn't realize and subtly revealed Anya was with Alvin by using a worried voice, [Ah.. yes, Young Master, I will inform Mr. Matthews as soon as possible.]

After ending the call, Liam contemplated reaching Ean or Linus but they would do the same and keep Alvin's whereabouts a secret. So he gave up on it. Instead, he thought of looking for the Owen family before his father.

—----

At the Narnia private airport,

Anya, who hardly slept in the night, dozed off in the car. After the inspection, the car went directly to Alvin's private jet which was ready to take off. Alvin had seen her looking lost and blue through half of the journey on the road. So he didn't have the heart to wake her up. He carefully carried her in his arms.

As soon as the cold wind brushed her skin, she unawarely leaned closer to him for his warmth. With a small lift of his arm, he buried her face in the crook of his neck and swiftly got inside the jet.

He was leaving her on the recliner when she opened her eyes in a haze for losing the warmth. His right arm slowly left her legs and his left arm shifted from her back and cupped her head. He was so close that she could feel his tickling breath on her skin and cold crawling up her body losing his warmth.

Their eyes met. Anya blinked in a daze looking at his gentle gaze. He slowly leaned her head on the headrest and brushed a few strands of hair away from her face. She kind of knew it wasn't a dream but her heavy eyelids and her mind refused to believe his tenderness.

Alvin saw her groggy, innocent eyes weakly blinking at him. He asked, trying not to startle her so that she could sleep longer, "Are you cold?" He asked in a soothing whisper without moving away.

She closed her eyes and a faint smile painted on her face for dreaming such a side of Alvin. He was a man who would hide his intention with a lie. How could he become so sweet?

Alvin didn't get the answer and didn't understand what just happened. He buckled her seat belt and received a warm blanket from the staff. Covering her from neck to toe, he sat down next to her.

The plane took off for their three days of new adventure without having a complete idea of how their three days were going to end up.

### Doesn't affect the coin value ###

<strong>Next bonus chapter goal:</strong> Cross weekly power stone ranking - 200 or 25 golden tickets.