The Tycoon's Odyssey

Aria, who was startled for a moment, stepped aside, noticing Evan\'s gaze for help. She just averted her gaze, as if to say, "This serves you right."

"Son of bitch, did you think I am your servant? You went on vacation, dumping all your work and troubles on me?"

"Fucker, I work wonder you but that doesn\'t mean I am your servant…I need a vacation too, but you dumped everything on me, you bastard.."

Evan was terrified as the demoness pounced on him with an ugly expression. Coming out of the stupor, he held Maria\'s hands and shouted.

"Stop it, Maria. I will give you a raise...."

At the very next moment, the world seemed to change as Maria, who was grasping his collar, tidied it with a soft, gentle expression.

"Boss, you are such a kind-hearted guy. Where will I find such a good boss to work with? Increase my salary by 50...no, 30 percent would be enough."

Evan was taken aback and choked seeing the abrupt shift.

"Can\'t you do something about your shamelessness and pettiness? How many times do I have to tell you to behave like a girl?"Evan snorted.

"As you wish, Boss," Maria said, stepping back and bowing with a mischievous foxy grin.

Everything is for the sake of money.

"Hmph!"

"So, what\'s the problem?"

"Supplies!" Maria answered abruptly.

"Huh!"

Question marks appeared on Aria\'s face.

"What\'s wrong with supplies?"

Maria turned towards Aria and sighed with a heavy expression, "Things are slowly going downhill, Evan. You know we have managed to establish channels but they are canceling the deals. We have expanded to other cities and are facing trouble in getting the supply of tea."

"Previously, it wasn\'t much but now everyone is rejecting us. The only ones who are willing to provide us are the ones selling inferior quality tea that has many added chemicals. If not for your order to check and experiment with every substance we get, we might have unknowingly sold harmful substances already."

Aria frowned and opened her lips, "This is a grave problem. I suspect someone is behind it. Such a large-scale ban is only possible if the one behind is a high-level businessman who is either feared or has a great influence."

"I suspect that but it\'s hard to track the leads and even if we do manage to do it, I don\'t know how to deal with it," Maria groaned and slumped down on the chair.

This was entirely her job and she had to be one to deal with such problems. After all, she isn\'t alone in the whole world who has to deal with such things. In business, this kind of occurrence was pretty much normal.

"It\'s okay..."

Just then, she heard Evan\'s calm voice.

"I had somehow expected this to happen someday, so I have made some preparations beforehand. Do you really think that I was playing around in the hills?"

Flashing a smile, he assured her that everything was alright.

"The supplies will be arriving in two days," Evan then turned to Aria. "Miss Aria, I need you to accompany me to USL as you are familiar with."

"Yeah, I will be there."

"Maria, can help us with booking tickets?" Evan just wanted to tease by seeing Maria\'s reaction but unexpectedly.

"I am already on it and I will give you a great surprise," Maria answered with a foxy, cunning smile.

"Surprise!"

Evan\'s expression froze and a bad premonition welled up in his heart for some reason.

_____

After an hour or more, Evan felt his strength draining. The accumulated fatigue slowly was creeping back. He hadn\'t felt much since he was preoccupied with the argument with Maria and was running his mind about what Aria had said rather than thinking about what surprise Maria had planned.

Weirdly, he didn\'t go to his small villa but rather to a place that felt warm enough to be called home.

RING!

He rang the bell of the apartment, and as the door opened, he was greeted by a lovely, sparkling girl who made a shocked expression.

The shock then disappeared quickly turning into a loud shriek...

"Brother!"

The little girl threw herself at him.

"Ha!"

Evan couldn\'t help but chuckle.

As expected, meeting happy children was the best way to relieve stress. The look of shock followed by the happiness that flashed on her face was a sight to behold.

Ruffling her hair gently, Evan tugged her ponytails, making the girl angry.

"Smelly brother, don\'t ruin my ponytails. Mother styled them for me," Elina chided, sticking out her tongue.

She then pulled Evan inside and asked, "Brother Evan what did you bring for me? Where are you hiding the surprises?"

Her brows furrowed as her eyes shone with hope and her lips curled mischievously.

Evan froze at that.

\'Gift...What gift? I have come from the hills, still, I didn\'t bring anything…\'

\'Damn!Evan, you piece of shit.\'

Just then, Celina walked from the other room.

"Elina, stop disturbing Evan. Your brother needs some rest. And what are you? A child?"

Elina\'s mood drooped down after hearing her mother scold her.

Feeling guilty, Evan patted her head and decided to be honest, "Elina, I didn\'t bring anything this time, but I promise to bring you lots of souvenirs next time."

Then he looked at Celina.

"Aunt, I am going to the Union States of Liberty for an award."

"What! Really? Can I come with you?" Elina shouted with a peal of childish laughter, tugging Evan\'s sleeves forcefully.

"Girl! Do you think you have grown up and caught wings to fly out? Where did you learn all these bad habits from?" Celina shouted angrily.

Faced with her mother\'s anger, Elina could only tremble and shrink back with a wronged look on her face.

Celina shook her and smiled at Evan.

"Yeah, I heard that. Congratulations Evan! Also don\'t worry about everything and don\'t mind Maria\'s complaints. I am sure we will figure it out somehow."

Evan just smiled and relayed everything.

"Evan, I can\'t believe you solved things quickly. I don\'t know how long peace will last, but we should prepare thoroughly for any such instances. Competition and fighting won\'t end as long as our brand exists."

"Can\'t agree more."

"Okay, enough of all this talk," Celina declared, clapping her hands.

"I knew you would be coming here, so I made your favourite dish, Chicken Biryani, and Butter Chicken."

"Really?" Evan leapt with joy and shouted, "Aunt, you are the best."

"Yes, mother is the best," Elina added with a mirthful grin.