The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan)

Chapter 556

The next morning, the two set off at the crack of dawn, leaving Janice to watch Callum.

Yawning incessantly, Cordelia seemed to drag herself with every step.

"Didn't even break a sweat, and you're already pooped?" Ronan teased her playfully.

"Aren't you tired?" Cordelia shot back.

"Getting old, so I need less sleep," Ronan quipped with a mock sigh.

"Yeah right, pushing forty and losing steam in certain departments, huh?"

"That's right, definitely losing it. Used to be a daily drill, and now it's an every-other-day thing," Ronan

said with feigned seriousness, though his relaxed demeanor betrayed him. "Last night, you put a stop

to it, and now you're complaining?"

"Me, complain?" Cordelia retorted, a mix of frustration and humor in her voice. "I was just making an

offhand comment about your sleep schedule, not the risqué business you're implying."

Ronan just chuckled without another word.

The day was shrouded in thick fog. For safety, Ronan drove at a snail's pace, barely able to make out

the figures in the haze. Cordelia, overwhelmed by fatigue, curled up and dozed in the passenger seat.

At a red light, Ronan glanced over at Cordelia, who was wrapped up in her coat, her face obscured.

They seemed like travelers forgotten by the world in the midst of the fog.

"This fog's so dense I can hardly recognize you," Ronan jested.

Cordelia knew a jibe was lurking behind his words, so she chose not to retort. Instead, she wrapped Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

herself tighter and shrank down in her seat, staying silent, anticipating a bit more banter. "You

recognized me last night, but not this morning,” Cordelia muttered under her breath.

“Right, without the clothes, sure. But all dressed up, who are you?” Green light. Ronan started the car

again.

Cordelia just sighed and didn’t bother responding for the rest of the drive to Birchwood.

Once there, Ronan dropped Cordelia off at her school and then headed to Empower Operations for a

meeting.

Peter started by giving an update on the progress at Edith Hills, where they were about to break

ground. Then, hesitantly, he addressed Ronan, "Mr. Evans, that incident with Petra threatening to jump

off the building in my neighborhood really shook me up. You know, in our business, that's the kind of

thing we dread the most. I've heard through the grapevine that Petra had beef with Cordelia. Mr.

Evans, I'm worried. If there's a next time, we might not be so lucky."

Peter tapped the table lightly, trying to emphasize the gravity of the situation.

So Petra's plan had worked. Ronan knew all too well what Petra was up to.

"What do you propose we do?" Ronan asked Peter.

"I was hoping to get your take on it."

"Let her go from Empower Operations."

Peter's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected Ronan to be so in tune with the situation, so decisively aware of

the stakes.

"No need. I'll handle it," Ronan stated.

"Oh, then I won't pry. But, about letting Ms. Haselwood go, maybe you could..." Peter trailed off, hinting

he wanted Ronan to take the lead.

"That's your job," Ronan replied, unmoved.