Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 189

Chapter 189 

“What’s going on?” Aurelia stopped and demanded. 

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Miranda, practically fumming, said, “The rich list just dropped this morning, and there’s a new queen at the top!” 

Aurelia tapped her desk with two fingers. “Goofing off at work again? I told you, it’s just some unofficial list. Don’t waste your energy on it.” 

“Normally, I wouldn’t care, but the woman in first place is just insufferable!” Miranda huffed. 

“It’s gotta be Tessa, right?” Aurelia guessed. 

Miranda paused. “How did you know?” 

She didn’t even dare mention her name. 

But Aurelia wasn’t the least bit surprised. She even joked, “She wrapped up the paperwork for the share transfer so fast. Guess her injuries weren’t all that serious.” 

‘Even hurt, she still made sure to get Ascend Group’s shares sorted. She’s really got her priorities straight,’ Aurelia thought. 

Before heading out, Aurelia gave Miranda a light knock on the head and said, “Focus on your work. I’m stepping out and won’t be back today.” 

“If you’re going out for drinks, take me with you,” Miranda piped up. 

“Not drinking,” Aurelia shot back. 

Miranda grinned, “Good. Oh, and your period’s coming soon, so be careful. No cold or raw food. I stashed some pads in the inside pocket of your bag.” 

“Roger that,” Aurelia said. 

Aurelia was always the first to show up, so when she got there, no one else had arrived yet. 

She ordered some drinks and patiently waited for the others. 

Before long, the door slid open from the outside. 

Aurelia smiled, expecting Murel, but was surprised to see Kyler walk in instead. 

Kyler’s eyes flickered with obvious disgust when he spotted Aurelia inside. 

He stepped back, glanced up to check the sign on the door, making sure he had the right room. 

After confirming he wasn’t mistaken, he looked at Aurelia again, his gaze growing even icier than before. 

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Aurelia saw the look on his face and had a pretty good idea who he was. Out of courtesy, she stood up and greeted him. “Mr. Abbott said he’d be a bit late. Mr. Ackerley, please, come in.” 

Kyler shot Aurelia a cold glance, and seeing how polite she was, he reluctantly stepped inside and took a seat. 

His first words were anything but friendly. “So you’re the partner Mr. Abbott mentioned?” 

Aurelia really didn’t appreciate his tone, but since Murel was the one who introduced him, she figured she should at least be polite. She nodded. “Yes, Mr. Abbott and I have already discussed the details, and we’re…” 

Kyler cut her off. “I had no idea Mr. Abbott was talking about you. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have bothered showing up today.” 

He had zero respect for Aurelia and didn’t even try to hide how much he disliked her. 

Aurelia didn’t say another word. She just shot Kyler a calm, almost bored look, like she was just there to watch. his little performance. 

Kyler hated that look she was giving him. He was just about to say something when his phone rang. 

When Kyler saw the caller ID, his hostile expression instantly softened. He covered the phone and said gently, “Tessa, are you here yet?” 

“I’ll come out to meet you,” he added. 

He got up and headed out as he spoke. 

Aurelia couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. 

‘He invited Tessa, too?‘ Aurelia thought. 

‘Does he even realize Murel bailed on Ascend Group because he and Tessa just couldn’t agree on anything?‘ she wondered. 

‘Now this is getting interesting,‘ Aurelia mused. 

Kyler had barely stepped out when Murel walked in. 

“Sorry for making you wait, Ms. Corin,” Murel said, mentioning he got stuck in traffic. Then he asked, “Did you run into Mr. Ackerley? He should’ve arrived already.” 

“Yeah, I saw him,” Aurelia replied. 

‘Guess Kyler hasn’t told Murel he invited Tessa, too. If he had, Murel definitely wouldn’t look this relaxed, Aurelia thought. 

Just as Aurelia was about to say something, Kyler and Tessa walked in together. 

“Mr. Abbott,” Kyler said as he entered, introducing Tessa. “This is the Mr. Abbott I mentioned to you, Tessa.” 

Tessa looked genuinely surprised, her expression flickering with awkwardness for a moment. 

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But she quickly recovered and said with poise, “Mr. Abbott and I know each other.” 

Then she reached out her hand. “It’s been a while, Mr. Abbott.” 

Kyler was all smiles. “That’s even better.” 

Murel shook Tessa’s hand out of politeness, but he didn’t look thrilled at all. 

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Naturally, Kyler was so wrapped up in Tessa that he didn’t even notice how cold Murel was acting. 

Kyler began. “Mr. Abbott, the person I mentioned on the phone is Tessa. She’s got a PhD in finance from overseas and spearheaded the largest port acquisition in history. She’s got the credentials and the chops.” 

“So here’s my idea: you handle the tech, I’ll put up the cash, and Tessa will run the whole operation. With the three of us, this project can’t fail,” Kyler declared, full of conviction. 

But Murel just gave a faint smile. “So this is the great idea you were talking about, Mr. Ackerley?” 

Kyler didn’t pick up on Murel’s cold tone. He just kept going, even more pumped up. “Tessa’s got a bunch of wins under her belt. That new mobile game, Dreamscape, was all her doing. She’s got real business chops, and when it comes to connections…” 

Kyler paused for a second. 

He really didn’t want to bring up Cassian’s name, but this really wasn’t the moment to split hairs. 

So he just went for it. “And as for connections, you don’t have to worry. Tessa’s got Mr. Locke from Honoria Capital in her corner.” 

That was what made Tessa so sure of herself. 

Even if she and Murel had some history, when it came down to it, people always followed the money. 

With Kyler singing her praises and Cassian in her corner, anyone with half a brain would know which way to 

1. go. 

Tessa kept glancing at Aurelia throughout the whole thing. 

She noticed Aurelia knew better than to speak up. She just sat there quietly, not saying a word. 

She looked pretty unfazed. 

But Tessa figured she was probably just pretending. 

Murel shot Tessa a look before finally speaking up. “Thanks for the offer, Mr. Ackerley, but Ms. Corin and I already have an agreement. I won’t be working with Ms. Rowe, Sorry.” 

That answer caught Kyler off guard, and his smile faltered for a split second. 

Tessa kept it together and said, “Mr. Abbott, if you’re still bothered by what happened before, I can apologize.” 

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Murel waved her off. “That’s all in the past for me. I believe in keeping my word. Ms. Corin’s put a lot into this project, and I can’t just turn my back on her.” 

“Mr. Abbott…” Kyler looked like he wanted to keep arguing. 

But Murel just got to his feet. “Sorry, but I think we’re done here. See you.” 

He turned to Aurelia. “Ms. Corin, sorry for wasting your time.” 

Aurelia just shrugged. “Don’t mention it, Mr. Abbott. Want to head out together?” 

“Absolutely,” Murel said. Honestly, he’d been hoping to get Aurelia alone to talk things over anyway. 

“Mr. Abbott, maybe we can talk this out a bit more,” Kyler said, trying to get him to stay. 

Aurelia slipped out of the room first, figuring she’d wait for Murel outside. 

But she hadn’t even taken two steps when she bumped into Cassian. 

‘Figures. With Tessa here, of course, he’d show up,‘ Aurelia thought. 

Aurelia just kept walking, acting like he wasn’t even there. 

But as she brushed past him, Cassian asked, “Got a dinner meeting?” 

Aurelia frowned, but didn’t bother answering. 

The door to the room next door slid open, and Graham stepped out. 

Graham grinned, “Fancy running into you here, Ms. Corin. Long time no see. Come on in for a drink. It’s all familiar faces here.” 

Aurelia peeked inside and saw it was indeed a crowd of old friends. ‘Might as well go and say hi,’ she thought, and headed in. 

Breon called out, “Pour Ms. Corin a drink. She’s been on a roll lately.” 

“Mr. Locke, did you and Ms. Corin come together?” Graham blurted out as soon as he spotted Cassian. 

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