Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

Irving dabbed at his hands with a napkin and looked at me with a grin, "If I'm not careful, I might as well be his getaway driver. Wouldn't I be digging my own grave?"

I chuckled and complimented, "You're sharp, Mr. Bradlee."

"Aaliyah, you're making me blush. I'm neck-deep in trying to ink a deal with VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals. Getting tangled up with him is like catching a falling knife." Irving spread his hands wide and laughed, "Don't take it to heart if I seem a bit cold."

We both laughed, though I thought to myself, "His cold is an understatement."

But I said, "Mr. Bradlee, you're a man who knows the score. Having an eye for a project like VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals' is an honor for them. Elixir Pharma Limited going from a no-name drug maker to one of the industry giants is no fluke. It shows you've got smarts, ambition, skill, and a keen eye for the future. I can't help but admire that."

I wasn't stingy with my praise.

"So, I invited Ms. Wilburn over today for two reasons. One is to close the gap between us. And two, to clear the air about my longstanding ties with Jaylan," Irving said, the corners of his mouth twitching awkwardly.

"Clear the air? There's nothing to clear," I said, setting down my fork, "Your friendship with Jaylan doesn't affect the business decision to partner with VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals. Business is business. I'm not petty. Just because you and Jaylan were tight doesn't mean I'd refuse to work with you. Business is about capability, not past friendships."

"That's true. Of course, I trust in your magnanimity. But to be totally honest, my old connection with Jaylan was all about you," Irving continued to bridge the gap between us.

I kept quiet, letting him go on.

"Back in the day, I got to know him through your connection with Janetta. I knew you first, and that led me to Jaylan. I really did want to team up with him properly this time, to ride the tailwind of the internationa conglomerate and do something big with VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals. What a great opportunity! But look how it turned out..." He shrugged in exasperation.

I believed him. Irving was the type who was always looking for a quick win. He wouldn't hesitate to suck up to anyone or anything that could benefit him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made it to where he was today.

But Jaylan didn't have that solid foundation. He was too eager to show off before having a stable base, aiming for the stars too soon.

"Mr. Bradlee, you might be a bit too eager. Such a big project isn't something I can just nod through. What's the matter? Losing your nerve?" I teased, taking a bite of the steak, "Elixir Pharma isn't out of the race yet."

Irving's eyes lit up, and his smile broadened, "With your words of confidence, I feel reassured."

"Sure, there's a lot of competition, including international clients. But not many can meet all the criteria, especially when it comes to production lines. That's why VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals funded the project of VitaGlow Capsules ourselves. We're testing new equipment from Germany and assessing the data.

Mr. Bradlee, opportunities like this are rare. Mr. Richardson doesn't lack funds. He's got several clinical trials in his hands. He is ambitious and wants to dominate the market. If our production lines meet the standards completely, then..." I suddenly paused, "I might be getting ahead of myself."

I laughed it off, pretending to have let something slip.

By dropping that hint, I was sure Irving would get the point.

"Let's not delve into that. To be honest, it's not my call to make. I haven't officially taken over VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals yet, and the real power is still with my father and Mr. Richardson. I wouldn't want to mislead you."

After that, I changed the subject and began chatting with Olivia about other things.

Irving nodded along, but I could tell his mind was racing.

Hannah had barely touched her food and had already set her cutlery down. Nettie, ever observant, suggested, "Ms. Hannah, how about I accompany you for a walk outside?"

Hannah looked at me for approval, and I nodded.

She got up, thanked Irving and Olivia, and went out with Nettie.

Seeing them leave, Sammy immediately pushed away his plate and stood up, "I'm done eating"

Olivia called out to him anxiously, "Sammy, sit down!"

I quickly reassured her, "Don't worry. Hannah won't cause any trouble."

Olivia forced a smile but still looked worriedly towards the door as Sammy dashed off.

Irving gave her a quick, meaningful glance, and she said to me with a smile, "Excuse me, I need to check on Sammy. He's a handful."

She said and hurried after him.

As soon as she hurried out, Irving lifted his glass towards me, "Aaliyah, let's have a toast."