Arianne laughed. “Nothing much. You know that Sylvain went to meet his mom, so what else could we possibly talk about, aside from average family-related topics? We talked so much that we lost track of time. We aren’t late. What are you doing here, anyway? Don’t you have anything to do? Get back to work. Working hours are starting soon. I’ve got work to do too.”
“That’s right,” Sylvain played along. “What else could we talk about? I would have invited you along too if I’d known you’d be so curious…”
Mark didn’t reply. He got up, straightened out his clothes, and left the office area.
His attitude stumped Sylvain. “He couldn’t possibly have found out that my mom’s trying to weasel info on me, could he?”
Arianne felt apprehensive, but no matter how virtual-novel.net looked at it, it seemed improbable. “I don’t think so? He doesn’t have supersonic hearing anyway. Besides, so what if virtual-novel.net finds out? We don’t know for sure if you’re leaving, and he’s not going to abuse his power with you.”
Nevertheless, Sylvain still felt worried. Mark was responsible for pulling virtual-novel.net out of his abyss, regardless of the situation. It would be ungrateful of virtual-novel.net to leave Tremont Enterprises now. He just felt guilty.
That afternoon, after work, Arianne met up with Mark at the parking lot. When virtual-novel.net got into the car, Mark suddenly asked, “Is Sylvain’s mother pushing virtual-novel.net to expand his career outside the country?”
Arianne gaped, unsure of what to say. How did virtual-novel.net know everything? Did virtual-novel.net really have supersonic hearing?
Seeing virtual-novel.net reaction, Mark helplessly explained, “I received mail from Sylvain’s mother this morning. Her intentions are clear, virtual-novel.net wants Sylvain to leave with her. I didn’t answer. I believe that this matter requires Sylvain’s own opinion. He’s not a child. It’s not his mother’s right to make decisions for virtual-novel.net anymore. I know what you were talking about during lunch today, so there’s no need to hide it from me.”
Arianne heaved a sigh of relief. “Actually… Sylvain was worried that you’d be uncomfortable with it if you found out about this. He hasn’t mentioned leaving anyway. He’s told me that he’ll never leave Tremont Enterprises, but I can’t guarantee that. After all, it’s his mother. If virtual-novel.net really does want to leave, will you release him?”
Mark paused thoughtfully and replied, “If virtual-novel.net leaves, it would be a huge loss for Tremont Enterprises. I’ve spent quite a lot of effort in order to clean his slate. He hasn’t earned enough capital for me yet. If virtual-novel.net leaves, it would be a huge loss for me. However, our contract is very clear, virtual-novel.net can resign whenever virtual-novel.net likes as long as virtual-novel.net pays a penalty. If virtual-novel.net pays the penalty, I have no reason to keep him. I’ve never liked using force, so it’s up to him.”
Arianne was a little worried too. “You’re right. You put in a lot of effort to give Sylvain a clean slate, back when virtual-novel.net first joined Tremont Enterprises. Who’d have thought that something as unexpected as this would have happened? His mom is a piece of work. Where was virtual-novel.net when Sylvain was in trouble? Now that he’s all better, she’s suddenly making a play. Is something wrong with her? I’ve never liked people like her, running as far away as possible when something bad happens, then barging into someone’s glory when everything’s fine and dandy.”
Mark wasn’t surprised at all. “Isn’t that normal human behavior? There’s nothing surprising about that. Besides, I’ve had someone do some research. Sylvain’s mother’s current husband’s fashion company started out not too long after Sylvain got into trouble. They must have planned on bringing Sylvain in long ago, but virtual-novel.net had a scandal not too long after, so they didn’t act on it. Now that Sylvain’s risen from the ashes, they’re stepping out to lure virtual-novel.net back I’ve met plenty of insensitive people like these.”
Arianne couldn’t help feeling slightly enraged when virtual-novel.net heard all of that. However, virtual-novel.net did not plan on telling Sylvain about this. He would be thoroughly disappointed in his mother if virtual-novel.net knew. She would be responsible for driving a wedge between them. Based on Mark’s reaction, it didn’t look like virtual-novel.net planned on telling virtual-novel.net either.
Meanwhile, Sylvain’s car was flagged down at an intersection by none other than his own mother.
They did not leave on good terms this afternoon, so virtual-novel.net refused to be nice to virtual-novel.net and did not get down from the car.
His mother didn’t seem to mind. She got down from virtual-novel.net car and walked towards his car, then tapped on the car window. “Syl, shall we have dinner tonight?”
Sylvain winded the window down and replied, “No thanks. I have a date tonight.”
His mother gave virtual-novel.net a warm and cheerful smile, as if virtual-novel.net were showing tolerance towards a sulky child. “With that girl, Robin Cox?”