Title: Shadows of Deception: A Tale of Love

Chapter 4: Within our Circle

Saran sat at the corner table of the quaint restaurant, her gaze scanning the bustling crowd with a practised eye. She spotted the man she was looking for—a shadowy figure, his frustration evident as he impatiently tapped his fingers on the tabletop. With a graceful stride, Saran approached the man and took a seat beside him, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, her voice smooth and honeyed.

The man glanced up, his eyes narrowing suspiciously before softening at the sight of Saran's charming demeanour. "Sure, why not," he replied gruffly, his tone wary yet intrigued.

As they exchanged pleasantries, Saran steered the conversation towards the topic at hand—the stocks of the Warin Fashion House. She spoke in hushed tones, her words laced with an air of secrecy as she emphasised the need to keep things low-key for the time being.

The man nodded in understanding, his expression grave as he listened intently to Saran's words. He seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation, nodding in agreement as they discussed potential strategies to navigate the delicate financial landscape.

Just then, Saran made her move, sliding a stack of money and a neatly folded resume across the table to the man. "Consider this a token of goodwill," she said smoothly, her eyes glinting with determination. "And here's your ticket to a fresh start."

The man's eyes widened in surprise as he glanced down at the stack of bills and the resume before him. He looked up at Saran, a mixture of gratitude and suspicion flickering in his gaze.

Saran leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "He knows you're my brother," she said, her words laden with meaning. "Let's keep it that way for a while. We have big plans in store, and I could use someone like you on my team."

With that, Saran rose from her seat, her gaze locking with the man for a fleeting moment before she made her exit, leaving him to ponder the unexpected turn of events.

As the man sat alone in the restaurant, his mind reeling with the possibilities that lay ahead, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of a new beginning—a chance to carve out his own destiny in the cutthroat world of high fashion.

And as he pocketed the stack of money and the resume, a sense of determination washed over him, propelling him forward into a future filled with endless possibilities. With Saran by his side, anything was possible.

 *         *          *      

Non Warin looked up from his desk as Babe entered the room, a warm smile spreading across his face at the sight of his son. "Babe, I called earlier but New told me you were out with Billy," he remarked, his tone gentle yet curious.

 Babe sighed; his frustration evident as he launched into a tirade about his encounter with Billy. "He's just so cocky, Dad," he complained, his voice tinged with annoyance. "And did you see the way he was dressed? It's like he doesn't take anything seriously."

Non listened patiently as Babe vented his frustrations, his expression sympathetic as he tried to offer words of comfort. "Don't worry, son," he reassured him, his voice soothing. "Soon, you'll be styling him up, and then you won't have to worry about his wardrobe choices anymore."

Babe nodded in agreement, feeling somewhat mollified by his father's words. Handing over the signed document, he shifted the conversation to lunch, agreeing to stay when Non insisted.

As they sat down to eat, the atmosphere at the table was awkward, tension simmering beneath the surface as Saran attempted to make conversation with Babe. But Babe remained distant, his polite smiles and nods failing to conceal his discomfort.