Cedric could not believe his eyes as he stared at the man who held authority and power over him standing in front of him. "Bo...Boss." He mumbled in shock, his words failing him at the most critical moment.
Ivy chuckled at his horrified face while Noah just gave him a glimpse before he nodded at Ivy with a smile. "Am I late?" He queried gently, the softness of his tone stunning Cedric greatly.
'Is this my almighty Boss? What has happened to him? Why is he speaking in such a gentle tone?' He wondered, his face resembling that of a kid who had just encountered a terrifying ghost.
"Not at all, Noah. I had already informed the President's assistant about your arrival. There are still a few minutes for our meeting to start." Ivy chirped, glancing at Cedric, who had not said a word since the time he had finished greeting Noah.
"Looks like you scared the hell out of him." Ivy pointed it out, and now it was Noah's turn to chuckle.
"I have that effect on people." He shrugged lightly before he took a look at Cedric, who still was gaping at him.
"Do you, now? As far as I remember and from what I have heard, I presume it was only Aria who could stand you without fearing you."
Noah recalled the day he had first met Aria and the way she had scolded him without holding back after seeing the mess he had created in the ward. Only she had the courage to defy him, and this alone was enough to garner his interest in her. She did not care about who he was and how powerful he was.
Aria had not spared him, bashing him black and blue for destroying the hospital property, and unlike the other women, she was not doing it to gain his attention. It was purely out of rage and it was her character, and being the good judge of character he was, Noah had realized right at that moment how amazing the female doctor was.
"You are right and if I am not wrong, even you were quite daring to meet me and flirt with me to test me." Noah sassed, and Ivy's smile widened.
"Hey, hey, hey, in my defense, I was just looking out for my younger sister. She has no experience in these things and I had to make sure that you were not some psychopath or some idiot." Ivy had no idea why she was having such amusing conversation in the hallway at the Princep House while they waited for the President's assistant to fetch them.
"And I am glad you did. Otherwise, I would not have had the chance to get together with such an amazing girl." Noah mused and pointed at Cedric. "Is he going to stay this way all the time, frozen and in shock?"
"He is just stunned to see you here and more so to hear that you are my brother-in-law."
"Since you trust him enough to allow him to accompany us to the meeting, I presume he will keep his mouth zipped." Noah leaned closer to Ivy and spoke in a low voice, making sure to keep it between them. "Or else I know how to keep his lips sealed forever."
Ivy understood what Noah was trying to convey and she shook her head immediately. "You do not have anything to worry about. He is trustworthy. He will not betray us."
Ivy stopped speaking as soon as she noticed the President's assistant walk in their direction.
"Miss West, Sir is waiting for you." It was only after he finished speaking to Ivy did he notice Noah, and he was pleasantly surprised to see him here. He had only heard about her Boss who would be joining them during the meeting when she had approached him, asking him permission to allow him inside the Princep House.
The assistant was a smart man and he immediately understood what was happening and why Noah was here.
"Please follow me." He masked his surprise and put on a poker face before he tilted his head and started walking. While Noah followed him immediately, Ivy had to drag the still stupefied Cedric with her, startling him out of his reverie.
"Are you out of your stupor?" Ivy noticed his gaze on her and she questioned him, her tone filled with mockery.
"Ivy, this is great news. No, this is breaking news. I never expected Boss to be your brother-in-law. When did this happen?" Cedric could not conceal his excitement, his childlike cheerfulness making Ivy giggle.
"Let's just say Noah could not avoid falling for my amazing sister and her charms."
Cedric did not doubt it. He was just about to fire his next question when Ivy shushed him. "We are here. You can ask all your questions when we are alone."
Cedric nodded at her immediately, and the duo followed Noah inside the conference room where the President was already waiting for them. Just like his assistant, Luis too was surprised to see Noah here. Though it was not the first time he was meeting him, he had not expected to be here. His assistant had already informed about Ivy's Boss, and Luis understood the reason why he was here.
"I am surprised to see you here, Mr. Carter." Luis held out his hand to the businessman who solely had a lot of assets to his name and who was responsible for the economical productivity in the country.
"I had to meet as the Boss of the agency, Sir. I cannot allow just an employee of mine to meet you when it concerns some important yet dangerous aspects of our country. I cannot allow Miss West to shoulder all the responsibility alone." Noah shook his hand with him, his tone polite and controlled.
"I see that you have a very protective Boss, Miss West and I think you are quite right, Mr. Carter. Even though I am yet to find out the complete truth, I can say I will be shocked and mortified by what I will be finding out. And since it is your agency that holds the pieces of evidence, I had to have a word with you as well. Please take your seats."
Luis sat down first while the other three followed suit immediately after.
"I am still unable to come out of the shock since the time I watched all the video clips Miss West sent me. Is it true that there is only one person behind all the miseries and dangers our country has faced recently?" Luis looked back and further between Ivy and Noah, glancing at Cedric too as he waited for his answers.
"Yes, Sir. It is actually the same people behind all the dangers and pain we went through recently." Noah affirmed, and Luis sighed lightly, pressing his forehead in worry.
"Mr. Carter, did you just say people? Am I to presume that there is more than one person behind this?" Luis did not miss the clue in Noah's words.
"Yes, Sir. There is not one but two people who plotted all these heinous disasters. While some plans failed, some were efficient enough to take the lives of the innocent for their own gains." Noah answered again.
Ivy had handed all the reins to Noah while she sat back, listening to the two powerful men converse.
"May I know the name of the two criminals? Is Fredrick Clarke one among them?"
"No, Sir, Fredrick Clarke is just a pawn in the plan. The masterminds behind it are his son, Jared Augustus and the small-time businessman Charles Miller."