Chapter 123: Settled Deed

Selene looked at the Millhaven tickets on Xavier’s phone screen again but this time for a longer moment.

Then she set her fork down.

She’s taking it seriously, Xavier thought. Not performing consideration. Actually considering it.

The restaurant was quiet around them. Everyone around minding their own business . Someone’s anniversary was at a table near the window. The ordinary machinery of a Thursday night that didn’t know what was sitting in the corner.

"Millhaven," she said finally. Quietly. Like she was trying the word out after three years of not saying it with any intention behind it.

"Yes it’s Millhaven," he confirmed.

She looked at him. "You booked tickets to my city."

"Yes," he said.

"Without telling me," she said.

"I’m telling you now,is that a problem?" he asked.

She held his gaze. Something moving through her expression that was more complicated than anything the professional environment had ever produced from her. Surprise. Something adjacent to being touched. The particular recalibration of someone whose Thursday evening had just become something they hadn’t budgeted for.

"Xavier," she said.

"Selene."

"Why," she said. The genuine version. Not the professional version.

"Because you’ve mentioned it twice," he said. "And both times something in how you talked about it said it wasn’t finished."

She stared at him.

She didn’t expect that answer, he thought. She expected something simpler. Something she could process and file.

"You noticed that," she said.

"Yes...," he said.

She was quiet for a moment. Long enough that the waiter came by and refilled their glasses and left again without either of them acknowledging it.

"I haven’t been back in three years," she said.

"I know," he said.

"It’s not..." she started. Stopped. Started again. "It’s not a bad place. It’s just.."

"Unfinished," he said.

She looked at him.

"Yes," she said quietly. "Unfinished."

Another moment of quiet.

"When," she said.

"Tomorrow," he said. "Friday. We’ll take the Morning flight."

She looked at him. "Tomorrow."

"Yes," he said.

"Xavier I have work," she said. "Vincent’s firm doesn’t just.."

"I’ll handle Vincent," he said, repeating himself again.

She stared at him. "You’ll handle Vincent."

"Yes," he said.’why the fuck is she’s so hard on this request’he thought.

"He’s my employer," she said.

"I know," he replied. "I’ll handle it."

She held his gaze for a long moment. The expression moving through several things simultaneously. The practical assessment of someone who was genuinely considering it rather than performing consideration, something warmer underneath it, and the particular look of someone who had been shown something they weren’t expecting and wasn’t sure yet what to do with it.

She’s deciding, he thought. Not performing indecision. Actually deciding. Weighing it against the practical reality of her job and whatever Millhaven means to her.

He waited.

"Okay.. Then I’ll need to pack," she said.

There it is, he thought. That’s a yes. That’s entirely a yes.

"Pack tonight," he said. "I’ll handle Vincent now."

He picked up his phone. Opened Vincent’s contact. Called.

Vincent answered on the second ring.

"Xavier," he said.

"Vincent," Xavier said. "I need Selene for the weekend. Possibly a few days after. Starting tomorrow."

A brief silence on the line.

"She’s sitting across from you isn’t she?," Vincent asked.

"Yes....," Xavier said.

Another brief silence. Then... "Who covers her work while she’s away."

Xavier thought about it for exactly three seconds.

"I’ll sort that," he said. "Send me a list of what needs covering. I’ll have someone in place by morning."

"Someone," Vincent said. "You’re going to find a qualified financial analyst replacement by morning."

"I’ll have someone capable there by 9AM," Xavier said. "Whatever the daily rate is I’ll cover it."

"Xavier.."

"Vincent," Xavier said. "I’ll handle it."

A longer silence this time.

Vincent was quiet for a moment on the line.

"Alright," he said finally. "I trust you. Take your time. And treat her well." Another brief moment. "And make sure this so-called temporary replacement is actually on par with her. Selene is not easily replaced. I want whoever you put in that seat to understand that."

"They will," Xavier said.

"Good," Vincent said. And hung up.

Xavier looked at the phone for a moment.

I trust you, he thought. From Vincent Hale. He set the phone down. That’s not something he says often.

He looked at Selene across the table.

Treat her well, he thought. On both counts.

She was watching him with the expression of someone who had heard one side of a conversation and had read everything from his face.

"Vincent said you’re good to go," he said. "He’ll expect you back when you’re ready."

She stared at him.

"You just arranged my leave," she said.

"Yes," he replied. Throwing a small smirk.

"In under two minutes," she said.

"Vincent is reasonable when approached correctly," he replied.

"And the coverage," she said. "You told him you’d have someone there by 9AM."

"Sure," he replied.

"Xavier it’s Thursday evening," she said. "Where are you going to find a qualified.."

"Leave that to me," he said."By the way you ask too many questions. She’s really underestimating me. Maybe she doesn’t know how money works.

She held his gaze for a long moment.

Then the corner of her mouth moved. Not quite a smile. The shape of one sitting just underneath the surface.

"So back to Millhaven," she said again. Quieter this time.

"Yes Millhaven," he confirmed.

He called for the bill. Then opened his banking app while they waited.

Now I need coverage for Selene, he thought. Someone Qualified and readily available by tomorrow morning. $10,000 a day should be tempting. He opened a message to Patricia.

Xavier: I need a qualified financial analyst available at Hale and Associates tomorrow morning 9AM. $10,000 per day for however long they’re needed. Find someone tonight.

Patricia responded in four minutes.

Patricia: I have two names. I’ll confirm by midnight.

Xavier: good please do.

He put the phone down.

The waiter brought the bill . He paid without looking at the amount by swiping his card.

[ REBATE SYSTEM ]

Transaction Detected: $1,850 spent on dinner

Base Multiplier (Tier 2): 2x

Total Return: $3,700

[ Net Balance: $15,844,250.00 → $15,846,100.00 ]