CEO's Contract Obsession-Chapter 291: Detective

Five days have elapsed since Ash and his father discussed the possibility of accepting Amy’s proposal. The approaching weekend is almost here, yet Ash has been unable to discover any definitive information that could sever their connection with San Francisco Petroleum Corp.

"Damn it!" Ash exclaimed in frustration, forcefully tossing the documents he had been reading onto the coffee table.

Upon hearing the loud crash, Ava, who was in the kitchen, grew concerned and approached Ash. "What happened?" she inquired.

Ash, in a state of complete defeat, expressed, "I made a promise to Amy and my dad that I would find a solution to get rid of San Francisco Petroleum Corp., but I haven’t found anything. I’ve failed."

"Oh, come on, you know that’s not true," Ava replied, expressing disbelief. "However, I am curious. Why do I sense that there’s more than just business reasons behind your desire to get away from Dimitri Turner?" Ava asked, in curiosity.

"Since we were young, he has been blackmailing my father," Ash explained, with obvious frustration. "I apologize, Ava, but I’m not ready to disclose the details of why and how just yet. Furthermore, I believe it’s best for you to stay uninvolved. Your safety is my top priority," Ash stated, leaning back on the sofa.

Pursing her lips, Ava let out a sigh and took a seat beside Ash. "I understand. Even if you can’t disclose all the details, let me still offer my assistance. I can provide advice and suggestions based on what you’re comfortable sharing," Ava offered.

Nodding, Ash proceeded to organize the documents he had previously thrown. "I’m making an effort to counter his blackmail," he explained. "I want to find a solution to put an end to it. If we can achieve that, we can terminate the contract and pay the penalty."

Ava propped her elbow on her lap, resting her chin on her knuckles. "This is proving to be more challenging than I anticipated," she remarked, pausing momentarily. "What does Dimitri value the most?" she inquired.

"Money, without a doubt," Ash replied tersely.

"What else? There must be something more. People like him always have something they hold dear, beyond money. Money is merely a means to acquire what they desire, but often, it’s also a tool for safeguarding what they value the most," Ava stated assertively.

Comfortably seated on the sofa, Ash pondered deeply upon Ava’s insightful words, as they resonated with him. However, he knew that Dimitri Turner was an extremely private individual. He rarely engaged in conversations with others and avoided social gatherings altogether. Preferring to keep a low profile, Dimitri’s guarded nature added to the challenge of understanding what he truly valued.

"Is there any record of his family or background available?" Ava inquired.

"To the best of my knowledge, he was adopted. There are no records of his biological or adoptive parents, as they were kept private. He was an only child, and there is no information about any siblings. Dimitri was married once, but his wife passed away early, and they did not have any children. Therefore, he is entirely alone, with no immediate family or known relatives," Ash explained.

"How did your father come to know him?" Ava inquired, seeking further details. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"I’m not sure about the specifics of where and how they met, but my father was just starting the company when he encountered Dimitri. Dimitri became his first significant client. Furthermore, Dimitri’s wife was the original owner of an oil rig. Unfortunately, she fell ill and couldn’t recover. That’s also why they didn’t have any children; her illness struck shortly after their marriage," Ash explained.

"I find it puzzling as well. Despite his vast wealth, he lacks an heir. What will become of his fortune once he passes away? Have you investigated whether he has designated a beneficiary or established a last will and testament?" she inquired.

Exhausted, Ash let out a deep sigh. "Yes, I’ve already done that," he replied wearily. He felt drained, as he had already exhausted all avenues he believed could provide assistance, yet he found nothing.

Ava tenderly clasped both of his hands, fully aware of the tremendous effort Ash was putting into this ordeal. She couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him.

"I hope you won’t take offense to what I’m about to suggest," Ava began, choosing her words carefully.

"I think we should consider seeking help from Rei. You’re familiar with his background, his wide and deep network, and the extensive resources at his disposal. If we explain the situation to him, I’m certain he’d be more than willing to assist.

Moreover, you’ve repeatedly witnessed how adept he is at keeping secrets, haven’t you?" Ava smiled gently, attempting to ease Ash’s concerns while simultaneously persuading him.

"I’ve contemplated that too, but I’m hesitant to ask for his assistance," Ash explained, voicing his concerns. "Rei is an incredibly busy individual. They’re still investigating Josephine’s death and searching for the true mastermind behind all of it. I don’t want to burden him further by adding more to his already full plate," he expressed.

"I understand your reservations, but can we at least give it a try?" Ava made an earnest appeal. "If we ask him and he declines, at least we’ll have a clear answer. But if we never ask, we’ll never know if he could have been of assistance," she reasoned, attempting to persuade Ash.

"I’ll take some time to consider it. I’ll have one final conversation with my dad to gather more information from him. If he truly doesn’t provide any valuable insights, then we’ll turn to Rei for help," Ash responded, outlining his plan of action.

Ava’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she pondered an idea she believed could be highly effective.

"Is that the reason you’re meeting with him tomorrow?" she inquired, curious if her intuition was correct.

A playful smirk crossed Ash’s face as he observed Ava’s sudden enthusiasm. "Why do I sense that you have a multitude of thoughts brewing in your mind, some of which I might not be particularly fond of?" he teased.

Ava’s eyes widened with anticipation as she sought permission. "Can I accompany you tomorrow? You mentioned that you’ve already informed him about me, and he has no objections to us being together, correct?" she sought confirmation.

Narrowing his eyes suspiciously, Ash stared at Ava. "What are you plotting? If it’s something risky or dangerous, just forget about it," he warned with concern in his voice.

Ava pouted and lowered herself onto her heels on the sofa. "You haven’t even heard what I’m about to say!" she protested.

Amused by Ava’s reaction, Ash chuckled softly. "Your excitement suggests only one thing... You’re concocting some thrilling and dangerous scheme," he teasingly remarked.

Ava’s jaw dropped in disbelief. Despite their relatively short time together, Ash seemed to understand her remarkably well. "It’s not dangerous, I promise. Just hear me out, okay?" she urged, hoping to gain his attention.

Rolling his eyes, Ash relented and agreed to listen. Ava began explaining her meticulously devised plan, and Ash listened intently, comprehending every detail of her well-thought-out strategy that she had formulated not long ago.

He couldn’t help but admire the way her mind works, feeling fortunate to have the heart of the woman standing before him. They were vastly different individuals, opposite in nearly every aspect, yet he now agreed with the notion that opposites truly attract.

"Hey, are you even listening to me?" Ash suddenly heard Ava’s voice, snapping him back to reality.

"I think it’s an excellent idea, but let me give my dad a call first," Ash suggested. "I’ll inform him about the change of plans. We’ll stay at the mansion over the weekend, and we can bring Beethoven along as well. That way, you’ll have an additional alibi if necessary. What do you think?" he asked.

"The entire weekend?" Ava inquired, taken aback by the proposal.

Ash nodded affirmatively. "Yes, the whole weekend. Our mansion is quite spacious, and one night wouldn’t be sufficient to thoroughly search the premises for something we’re uncertain even exists," he explained.

After a brief moment of consideration, Ava agreed to the plan. However, she also contemplated involving additional individuals to increase the chances of success. Aware that there were certain aspects she would need to keep hidden from Ash, as she anticipated his disagreement, she made up her mind.

"Alright, I agree. Let’s proceed with the plan," she responded full of determination.

Following Ava’s request, Ash began sketching a detailed layout of their mansion, carefully noting every room and corridor. Ava studied the drawing attentively, determined to commit it to memory. As they delved into the planning process, Ash shared insights about the individuals they might encounter during their search. Together, they crafted a seamless web of excuses and alibis, preparing for any unforeseen encounters or suspicions that might arise.

The excitement in the room was clear as they brainstormed and strategized. It felt reminiscent of their childhood days when they would plot imaginary adventures and play hide-and-seek in vast spaces. This time, however, the stakes were higher, as they embarked on a real-life mystery akin to the detective movies they had watched together.