Chapter 996 Austin Is Back (1/2)
At the FS Empire inside his office, Lawrence pored over the hundreds of files stacked on his desk. FS Empire had been working on a lot of projects lately and, as a result, he had a lot more papers to check. As President and CEO, he made it a point to attend to all the important documents himself.
He jumped when his office phone rang and disturbed his silence. He pressed the speakerphone to answer the call, ”What is it?”
”Mr. Lawrence, you have a visitor,” the receptionist announced. ”Mr. Mike is already on the lift to your floor.”
”Okay,” Lawrence returned and hung up the phone.
Soon enough, Lawrence heard footsteps approaching.
”Bro, you need to chill, take a break. Since Aria left, you have buried yourself in your work. You're becoming a real workaholic!” Mike joked to lighten the mood. He crossed his legs as he settled on the chair opposite Lawrence.
”I have no choice. There's no one else I trust to do this,” Lawrence responded with his eyes still on the papers.
”You still got to relax, bro!” Mike replied after his jaw dropped at Lawrence's statement.
”You know I take my work seriously. I can't afford to slack off,” Lawrence reminded Mike.
”Yes, I know, you are the CEO,” Mike returned, defeated that he couldn't persuade his friend to join him and have some fun. He knew trying to convince him was not going to work so he changed the subject. ”I heard Ryan is coming here, is that true?” he asked.
”Yes,” Lawrence replied with an edge to his voice.
”Why would he come back?” Mike asked. ”He's just wasting his time.”
”Not if he could get her back,” Lawrence retorted. He finally looked up to meet Mike's eyes.
”No one will get in the way between you and Aria. Now, if Anna and Ryan end up as a couple, that'll be good news,” Mike analyzed.
”What about you and Amanda?” Lawrence blurted.
The look on Mike's face changed and became all serious. He sighed and said, ”I met with her family yesterday. It was good, pleasant. But I still don't know if they like me.”
”And Amanda?” Lawrence prodded.
”She'll always be my girl,” Mike responded with a sly smile.
”You're living together now?” Lawrence asked. He already knew they were though.
”Are you jealous?” Mike asked. He grabbed the tissue box on the table and threw it at Lawrence, who caught it. ”Why ask? You already know where are,” he continued.
Lawrence leaned back against his chair and ignored the papers on his desk to focus on Mike.
”A super quick marriage is not bad. Your father will be happy,” Lawrence reassured Mike.
”He's still on vacation but my household register is here. I'll be able to get the marriage certificate anytime, as long I give the go signal,” Mike bragged with a big smile on his face.
”You still need to get her father's permission first, though,” Lawrence reminded him before he changed the subject. ”Mike, I need to tell you something.”