Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 5

Hearing her answer, Caleb looked both disappointed and a little envious. “Mr. Locke is a lucky man to have someone like you working for him. No wonder his business is doing so well.” 

Aurelia smiled politely. “You flatter me, Mr. Morgan. You built your company from the ground up. You’re the one I really admire.” 

It was just small talk, the kind people exchanged over business dinners, but Caleb was clearly charmed. 

“Ms. Corin, this is why I enjoy working with you. You always know how to make someone feel good. Come on, this drink’s for you,” he said. 

“Your liver could use a break. I’ll finish mine–you can just have a sip,” Aurelia said. 

Caleb liked straightforward people, and he enjoyed dealing with Aurelia. 

After she finished the drink, he leaned forward with a friendly smile. “Don’t push yourself too hard. I’m only signing this deal because of you. It doesn’t matter who else comes knocking.” 

“Thank you, Mr. Morgan.” Aurelia poured him another glass of wine. 

Caleb noticed she looked unusually pale and asked, “Ms. Corin, are you okay? You don’t look so well.” 

“I’m fine,” Aurelia said, nodding her head lightly. 

“How about I have my driver take you to the hospital?” he offered. 

Aurelia was just about to tell him it was nothing when someone knocked on the door of the private room. 

A waiter stepped in. “Mr. Morgan, Mr. Locke heard you were dining here and asked me to bring you this bottle of wine as a gift.” 

Caleb glanced at the bottle in the waiter’s hand. It was an expensive imported vintage–far too generous for a casual gesture. 

What puzzled him even more was why Cassian wasn’t with Aurelia if he was also here. 

Before he could ask, Cassian walked in–with Tessa by his side. 

“Mr. Morgan, do you like the wine?” Cassian asked, his gaze sweeping right past Aurelia as he greeted Caleb. 

He wore a crisp white shirt that fit perfectly, the kind that made him look effortlessly sharp and composed. 

His coat, however, was draped over Tessa’s shoulders–a quiet but unmistakable display of intimacy. 

Ironically, that very coat had been picked out by Aurelia herself. 

“Mr. Locke, what a thoughtful gift–how could I not like it? And this is-” Caleb trailed off as his eyes moved to Tessa, trying to guess their relationship. 

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Chapter 5 

When a man gave his coat to a woman, the meaning was obvious. 

He instinctively glanced at Aurelia. Her expression was calm, but her face had gone even paler. 

Z(44) 

Cassian smiled faintly. “Let me introduce you. This is Tessa Rowe, director of Honoria Capital’s Strategic Division Three.” 

Then he turned to Tessa. “And this is Mr. Caleb Morgan, president of NexPath Group–an old friend of our company.” 

Tessa stepped forward and offered her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Morgan. I look forward to working with you.” 

Caleb nodded politely. “The pleasure’s mine, Ms. Rowe.” 

His company had worked with Honoria Capital on several projects, so he knew a fair bit about how they operated. 

Strategic Division Three had been created less than a year ago, and the director’s position had always been vacant. Everyone assumed that spot was reserved for Aurelia. 

After all, for the past year, Aurelia had been the one running all of Strategic Division Three’s projects. 

Even while juggling two roles, she had turned it into the company’s top–performing division. Everyone knew how much effort she’d poured into it. 

So it shocked Caleb to see someone else step in to claim the fruits of Aurelia’s work. 

Even as an outsider, Caleb couldn’t help feeling sorry for her. 

“By the way, Mr. Morgan, Ms. Rowe will be your point of contact for the project from now on. I figured I’d bring her over so you two could meet,” Cassian continued. 

Caleb frowned slightly. “But Ms. Corin has always been my contact. This sudden change-” 

Cassian didn’t seem the least bit bothered. “Aurelia’s just a secretary. Before Ms. Rowe returned, she was only filling in temporarily. Now that Ms. Rowe is back, the project naturally goes back to her. 

“Don’t worry, Mr. Morgan. Ms. Rowe has a Ph.D. in Finance from Whitvale School of Management in Marvonia and worked at a top international bank. I personally recruited her for Honoria Capital with a high salary. Her qualifications speak for themselves.” 

Of course, Caleb wasn’t doubting her credentials–he just couldn’t ignore the way Aurelia was being pushed aside after everything she’d done. Even as a bystander, it stung to watch. 

But Aurelia’s reaction was calm, almost detached. 

Cassian personally introducing Tessa to a client made his intentions clear–he planned to protect and promote her. 

Aurelia thought he was being thoughtful and loyal, in a way he’d never been with her. 

18:45 Thu, Dec 18 

Chapter 5 

So she said quietly, “I’ll organize all the project files and hand them over to Ms. Rowe as soon as possible.” 

“Thank you for your hard work, Ms. Corin,” Tessa replied politely. 

Aurelia gave a faint nod, picked up her bag, and turned to Caleb. “Mr. Morgan, you can coordinate directly with Ms. Rowe from now on. I’ll be taking my leave.” 

Caleb wanted to ask her to stay, but he knew he couldn’t interfere. 

44 

Still, he found a subtle way to stand up for her. “This is your company’s internal matter, and of course, I have no objections. It’s all the same to me who manages the project. 

“But Mr. Locke, you know my rule–I like to seal partnerships over drinks. Ms. Corin once drank nine shots of hard liquor with me, and I’ve respected her ever since. I wonder how Ms. Rowe’s tolerance is?” 

“I may not be as good as Ms. Corin, but I’m happy to drink with you, Mr. Morgan,” Tessa said, smiling confidently as she lifted a glass. 

Before she could take a sip, Cassian reached out and took the glass from her hand. “She’s not feeling well. I’ll drink this for her.” 

Without waiting for a response, he downed it in one smooth motion. 

Caleb froze. He knew Cassian was allergic to alcohol–that was why Aurelia had always drunk for him at every business dinner. 

In all the years he’d known Cassian, this was the first time he’d seen Cassian take a drink for someone else. 

And for a moment, Caleb wondered what those drinks Aurelia had swallowed for Cassian were worth. 

Outside the door, Aurelia was wondering the exact same thing. 

***** 

When Aurelia got home, she took her medicine. She had just collapsed onto her bed when her phone rang. 

It was Mia, asking if she had been resting, taking her medication, and avoiding alcohol as the doctor had instructed. 

Aurelia’s answers were vague, 

Mía caught on immediately. “So you’ve been drinking again, huh?” 

Aurelia sighed softly, “It was for work. I couldn’t avoid it.” 

Mia’s voice exploded through the phone. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Did you forget you almost died from alcohol poisoning? How can that bastard Cassian still send you to those dinners?” 

“It won’t happen again,” Aurelia said quietly. 

“You’ve said that before,” Mia shot back. 

18:45 Thu, Dec 18 

Chapter 5 

“This time, I mean it,” Aurelia said, her tone firmer than before. 

“You mean it?” Mia asked suspiciously. 

Aurelia hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Do you know any lawyers? The kind who aren’t afraid to take on Honoria Capital’s legal team.” 

Mia’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you planning to do?” 

“I’m going to break my contract with Honoria Capital,” Aurelia said. “But you know I signed a long–term one. and the terms are heavily against me. Their legal department is aggressive–most lawyers won’t touch it 

Mia went silent for a few seconds, realizing she wasn’t kidding. Her voice was half in disbelief. Is this really you, Aurelia?” 

“The one and only,” Aurelia said. 

“Then today deserves a celebration! You finally snapped out of your lovesick phase.” Mia’s joy was genuine. bubbling with relief. 

If Aurelia hadn’t needed to rest, Mia would’ve talked with her all night. 

“Leave the lawyer to me. I’ll find someone good,” Mia promised before hanging up. 

Talking to her had lifted something heavy off Aurelia’s chest. She was just drifting off when her phone rang again–it was Cassian. 

She answered calmly and asked, “Do you need something, Mr. Locke?” 

“Bring me my allergy medicine,” Cassian said, his voice as commanding as ever. 

“Okay, Mr. Locke,” Aurelia replied evenly. 

After hanging up, she switched off her phone and went to sleep–peacefully, for the first time in a long while. 

As for Cassian playing the hero, drinking for Tessa, and ending up with an allergic reaction—she felt none of it had anything to do with her anymore. 

AD