The Tycoon's Odyssey

"Thanks, Aurora," Evan replied curtly before opening a box to retrieve the custom-made watch.

The watch, embedded with one of the four remaining quantum chips, allowed him to carry Aurora's full capabilities with him at all times.

Evan even planned to create a lesser version of the watch.

Although a phone could have sufficed the purpose, Evan preferred the watch for its subtlety.

With the watch in hand, Evan left the room and made his way to the parking lot, where the hotel chauffeur, along with his personal guard Big Mac and two additional bodyguards, awaited him.

"Mac, make sure we don't have trails," Evan instructed.

"Don't worry boss, we will make sure that there is no truck or car speeding at us. We will take action immediately," Mac reassured Evan with his signature smile.

[If only we had our own satellite, I could have mapped and tracked everything. Or should I make way and act like a satellite?] Aurora suggested.

'No, just wait a few days. It's not good to be so high profile.'

_____

"I'll be back in about two hours or so. Go and get yourselves some food," Evan instructed Big Mac and the other bodyguards as he stepped out of the car.

"Yes, Sir," Big Mac responded, steering the car toward the parking lot.

As Evan stepped through the grand entrance of the Great Royal Hotel, he felt a cold, detached excitement at the opulence around him. Despite being a billionaire, this was his first time experiencing such luxury in a seven-star hotel.

The lobby was an extravagant display of elegance, with towering columns, a dazzling chandelier, and exquisite art pieces adorning the walls. Plush carpets and sumptuous furnishings added to the grandeur.

Evan approached the front desk, where he was greeted by a courteous concierge.

"Welcome, Sir. How may I assist you?" she inquired.

"I have a reservation under the name Aurora," Evan explained. Enjoy reading at m _v _le _mp _yr.

The concierge quickly found the reservation and offered to escort him to the private dining room. Evan accepted, knowing that he might have difficulty navigating the sprawling hotel on his own.

As they walked, Evan's gaze remained cold and impassive. Finally, they arrived at the private dining room, where the concierge wished him a pleasant experience before departing.

Evan took a moment to appreciate the breathtaking view of the city from the dining room before the door opened.

His breath caught as Suri Barret entered, radiating an air of sophistication and grace. Her amber hair cascaded in waves, and her eyes sparkled with a captivating intensity. Her smile seemed to illuminate the entire room.

Suri was also taken aback by Evan's presence. He now exuded a chilling, mature demeanor that starkly contrasted with the childish side she had seen before. His cold, composed aura made the situation feel remarkably different.

Evan stood and extended his hand with a practised formal smile. "It's been a long time."

His smile was somewhat forced, as inwardly, he felt saddened by the fact that he still couldn't see through Suri using insight, except for affection, which had almost reached 80.

Suri hesitated for a moment before taking his hand, her eyes meeting his with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "It's a pleasure to see you doing well, Evan.."

"And I didn't expect that you would ask me to dinner," Suri teased with a mischievous grin.

Seeing it, Evan felt as if she was asking—Are you finally falling for my charms?

"It's all for business," Evan replied, his tone straightforward, though his lips twitched with amusement. He was certain that if he didn't clarify, she might pull out a contract and start planning about their future.

As they settled into their seats, Evan gestured toward a beautifully wrapped gift box on the table.

With a blank, almost emotionless face, he opened it to reveal a pair of exquisite jewellery—a set of earrings, a ring, and a necklace of great value.

"I wanted to start our meeting by expressing my gratitude for all the help you've provided," Evan said, his voice cold yet sincere. "Please accept these as a token of my appreciation."

Suri's eyes widened with surprise and pleasure. Her smile grew wider, though it was tinged with uncertainty at the stark shift in Evan's demeanor. "These are stunning, Evan. You didn't have to, but I'm deeply touched."

Evan's expression remained composed and detached as he leaned slightly forward. "You've helped me so much, Suri. I'm simply showing my gratitude."

He wasn't just saying it for show. As Aurora expanded her realm, Evan had come to realize just how much Suri had done for him.

She had blocked many threats, had her group of men closely observing his house, and had also subtly supported Next Gen Innovation in various ways.

Evan knew that she felt guilty for dragging him into a mess that was gonna be difficult to get out of.

Suri's cheeks flushed lightly, and she gave a soft, somewhat awkward laugh. "Thank you. It's not every day someone shows such generosity."

"Ahem!" Evan cleared his throat, knowing very well what she meant.

After exchanging a few more appreciative glances, Evan's expression turned more serious. "Now that we've started on such a positive note, let's discuss how we can move forward."

Suri nodded, her demeanor shifting to one of determination as she adapted to Evan's cold gaze, "You have something to say."

Evan took a deep breath, ready to outline his plans and discuss the collaboration that would be crucial for their mutual success.

They talked about Hololens and the partnership.

The previous discussion he had with Hololens CEO was solely about the profits. For the expansion, they still had to finish talks with Macrosoft. And honestly, Evan wasn't very eager to meet the person, lest it disgust him more.

That guy was more crooked than Steve Hook. After all, a few years ago, he had stood at the top of the richest list and maintained his hold.

"I don't know how you are going to sell or implement it—that's your job. However, I only have one request. Before releasing it, I want you to grant a free experience to every major person in the world as a test."

"You mean?" Suri paused, raising her brows.

"Start with big universities and institutions. Then include scientists, politicians, sports figures, some key military personnel and so on…" Evan explained.

He was doubtful that Micheal would keep the bargain, so he decided to discuss it with Suri.

Suri fell into brief thought for a moment before she responded, "I will relay it. Evan, though I hold a significant number of shares, I am not the main decision-making body. Nonetheless, I will try to put forward the proposal. I don't foresee any problems with the plan, still, you should be prepared for rejection."

"Umm!"

They finished the business talk, after which Evan decided to address the main topic.

"Now, Suri…I hope you can be frank and just answer yes and no."

"Of course, you can," Suri returned a smile.

"Do you know about the real decision-making body of the world?" Evan asked, his expression solemn, causing Suri's smile to falter.