HIDE

EPISODE 25 - GOING AWAY.

Wilson successfully ended the conference where he would have sold out his company for peanut money. Getting back to his office, Wilson sent for Brandon. Brandon took a deep breath before entering Wilson’s office.

“You wanted to see me, sir?”

Wilson lifted his gaze from his computer and simply eyed him for a moment. “Close the door.”

Brandon’s heart jumped into his throat—or at least it felt like it. “I’m not sucking you off again,” he hissed. “Yesterday was a one-time-thing—”

“Close the door.”

Brandon closed the door, hating himself for the way his body seemed completely unable not to listen to this man’s commands.

“We’re leaving on a business trip tomorrow.”

Brandon blinked. That wasn’t what he’d expected. “What?”

“We have received an excellent offer for a partnership with a European corporation. It’ll open a new market for us in the UK, Australia, and Spain if the deal goes through. They are a versed company which has access to anywhere in the world. I am looking at them, including Africa. Possibly Nigeria, Ghana, and Ethiopia.”

Frowning, Brandon studied the grim expression on Wilson’s face. “You don’t exactly look happy about it.”

“Becky was the one who normally dealt with that side of the business.” Wilson’s lips thinned, his unseeing gaze on his computer. “But I relieved her of extra duties, including the executive wing, since the issue with Edward Snr. So, I’ll have to deal with it.”

Brandon nodded. He knew his boss preferred managing the Media and Talent sector to everything else the EW Group got involved in. Still, he was surprised by Wilson’s obvious reluctance—he usually wasn’t one to complain about work, regardless of what it entailed.

“What is the problem, exactly?”

“There is no problem.”

Brandon rolled his eyes. Sure. “Please. I know you.”

Wilson raised his eyebrows.

Resisting the urge to stick his tongue out, Brandon corrected himself with, “I know you better than ninety-nine percent of people you come in contact with. So please don’t insult my intelligence. This trip clearly bothers you. Why?”

“Even if Becky was to handle it, my presence at the negotiations was requested specifically.”

Okay, that was a little weird. But it still didn’t entirely explain the unsatisfactory look on Wilson’s face.

“And?” Brandon said.

“The negotiations will take place in Italy.”

Brandon was beyond confused. “And that’s a problem why, exactly? Isn’t it your home country? Surely, you’ve been to Italy since moving to the US?”

“Of course. The location isn’t a problem by itself. It’s who the offer is coming from.”

“All right, I’m completely lost now. Explain it to me like I’m stupid. Use small words.”

“The offer is coming in collaboration with WARD.”

“That means nothing to me.”

“Its CEO is Elizabeth Edward,” Wilson said, his gaze turning

thoughtful.“Again, that means nothing to me.”

“Eleanor is… well known in certain circles.”

“Ugh,” Brandon said, beyond frustrated. “It’s like pulling teeth! Can you elaborate for once instead of being all arrogant, mysterious, and s**t?”

Wilson shot him an irritated look, but to Brandon’s surprise, he actually

clarified what he meant. “She is my sister. The one that my father wants to hand over everything including my company to. She is the eldest child.”

“Wow!” Brandon gasped. “That is f****d. Why don't you reject the meeting?”

“I would have if it was that easy. She is just a major partner with my main client, Aldo Massimo. He’s an Italian oligarch suspected to be an important figure in the Italian mafia,” he said, without any inflexion in his voice. “Or maybe he used to be one. There have been rumours for the past few years that he’s getting rid of the illegal side of his business, but I don’t know how true the rumours are.” The corners of his mouth turned downward. “I don’t exactly move in those circles, so any information I have is secondhand and possibly unreliable.”

Brandon tried to digest what that meant—what Brandon wasn’t saying. “You suspect Aldo has some notorious motives? That is why he brought you in, knowing full well that your family is already linked to his business?”

Wilson shot him a sarcastic look. “Have you been gossiping about me?”

Brandon flushed. “No more than everyone else. It's common knowledge that your family is… hu-la-hu.”

“Hu-la-hu,” the asshole repeated, his lips twitching.

Brandon glowered at him. “Don’t mock me. So, what, you think he wants to use you to get to your family? Everyone knows your family basically disowned you.”

A strange expression crossed Wilson’s face. He shrugged.

“Then what are you worried about?” Brandon said.

“I’m not worried.”

Brandon rolled his eyes again. “Right. What are you mildly concerned

about then?”

Wilson said nothing.

God, he was so damn infuriating!

Brandon racked his mind. “You’re worried he’s made a deal with your father to get you implicated in something you don’t want?”

After a few moments, Wilson shrugged, his eyes hooded. “It’s possible.”

Brandon was sure Wilson wasn’t telling him something important, but he doubted he’d get an honest answer—or any answer at all. "Why did you change your name from Edward to Wilson? And how come you banned the name Edward from being used to address you? Let us not forget that you discarded Morningstar as well. I want to know.”

Oddly, instead of getting infuriated, he answered Brandon. “Because those names remind me of a past I want nothing to do with. It is a stain I don't want to stare at anymore.”

There was a lot more beneath those expensive suits and shoes. But Brandon pushing might lead them to a road of no return. It was best to let it go now. At least now he knows that those names are a trigger of some sort to Wilson.

“You may leave early today to pack and get your things in order before the trip. Becky has already bought the tickets. You can get more details about the trip from her.” Wilson said so casually like he didn't just tell Brandon about his hatred for anything linked with his family.

“Why do you need me with you, exactly?” Brandon said. “You didn’t take me with you to the Australian trip.”

“Because I didn’t need you.”

“But now you need me? Why?”

“Later,” Wilson said curtly, returning his gaze to his computer. “Pack for a week-long trip.”

Brandon looked at him suspiciously, his inspection-senses tingling and insisting that something was off, but he knew when he was being dismissed.

He turned and left, feeling baffled and annoyed.