Saving the Villain

When dinner was served, Cosette just stared at the three boys with a dead expression. Conrad told her he asked them to stay for the night since it was not safe for kids to commute at night. It wasn't like Cosette had any problems with that, but when she heard Luke and Remo preferred to sleep in Maxen's room instead of occupying the guests' room, Cosette was screaming internally.

But she couldn't berate the two — not in front of Conrad. In the end, she could only chew her handkerchief in envy as they finished dinner.

"Cosette." Conrad's voice snapped Cosette back to the current lapse, making her look away from the three to her father. "Come to my study once you finish eating."

"I'm already done, Papa." Cosette looked at her empty plate and frowned. "I'm not eating anymore."

"Alright. Just follow me."

Cosette clicked her tongue faintly before she lazily dragged herself from the chair. Her father just indirectly told her she had a huge appetite and acted as if nothing. Well, it wasn't like it completely annoyed her because there was some truth in it.

She had a quick metabolism, so she wanted to eat to her heart's content. No need to mind her figure since she was still young, and she could always work on it in the future to seduce Maxen.

"Papa, what is it about?" asked Cosette as she closed the door of Conrad's study behind her. Her eyes followed Conrad as he walked to his desk, taking a folder before sitting on the one-seater couch.

"Did Maxen mention it to you?" Conrad inquired as he placed the documents in front of her when she sat down on the couch.

"Mention, what?"

"Take a look at it." Conrad raised his hand, gesturing her to the content of the folder.

"Well…" Cosette shrugged as she bent over, picking up the folder. She leaned back controllably as she opened the folder, making her brows furrow.

The BLK Corporation was known in the manufacturing industry. But their family company also had different subsidiaries. Cosette knew the business from inside and out since she used her previous life studying it to take it to greater heights.

It wasn't like she didn't think Conrad wasn't doing a good job. But in their previous life, Conrad had an accident in the country of Sharie, and their company stagnated. Hence, she agreed to get engaged to Ezekiel Stone.

To put it simply, Cosette memorized and knew how the business works — not just the major company but the subsidiaries that were generating income.

One of them was the security agency that Conrad manages since their clients were high-ranking officials, businessmen, and such.

Cosette raised her head to Conrad when even though she hadn't read everything yet.

"Papa, do you want me to close a deal with the senator?" she asked out of plain curiosity.

"No. Read more."

"Oh…" since Conrad didn't want to speak until she read everything, Cosette took her time to read everything and comprehend every little detail. The more she read, the more she understood Conrad's reason for telling her to read the documents.

"It's already signed…" she whispered, but her eyes lingered more on the other person's signature rather than the client. "... why is Max's name written here, Papa?"

Conrad watched his daughter raise her head before he explained. "I made a lot of thinking when you mentioned Maxen's father and his relationship with an international crime group." He cleared his throat, pausing as he pondered on the words he should use so she wouldn't get surprised.

"Since you and I agreed that Maxen is already a part of our family, I cannot just chase him out of our house just because he was a son of a felon," he continued. "That's why I wanted to teach him skills he could use in the future and power so he can have control of his life."

"That organization and their don… will do whatever they can to get what they want. It's good that they have made no movement so far, but I want Maxen to have an option when it happens," he added. "Of course, Maxen is getting paid according to his position, and the board had been happy with his performance. My recommendation will do nothing if he doesn't do well."

Conrad explained the general details to her, keeping it as short as possible and concise. But Cosette only stared at him in silence, and he couldn't tell what sort of expression she was wearing. Was she angry? Sad? Did she think he was exploiting Maxen? Or did she think it was too dangerous and was nothing different from that organization? It could be this was a sort of insensitive topic for her since Cosette often proposed to manage a subsidiary in the past but he rejected it repeatedly.

Conrad tapped his fingers against the armrest as his thoughts grew more negative the longer she stayed silent. Much to his surprise, a tear suddenly rolled down her cheek that made him freeze.

"Papa…" Cosette's lower lip trembled, making his heart thud against his chest.

"If you do not approve it, then tell me the reason. I will reconsider —"

"Thank you," she added in a muffled voice, replacing the chaotic thoughts of her father with question marks. Cosette sniffed hard, gazing down at the documents with a warm smile. "It seemed this was his first deal, and he aced it. As expected of him."

Staring at Cosette's soft expression, Conrad let out a sigh of relief. He thought she didn't like his take on this, but he was relieved she understood.

"Thank you, Papa." Cosette faced Conrad again. "I know you didn't have to tell me about this, but you still did. It really means a lot to me."

"You have to know," he returned calmly with a smile. "If Maxen was a part of this family, so were you."

"Papa…" she bit her bottom lip as tears pooled in her eyes. "You're making me cry…"

"Haha." Conrad chuckled as his eyes softened even more. "I'm just relieved you were fine with it."

"Why wouldn't I?" Cosette smacked her lips as she raised the documents proudly. "Maxen's achievements were mine, just like how my papa's achievements were mine to celebrate. It makes me happy."