Jim's eyes rolled in amusement at Tom's sudden sycophancy, but he chose not to expose him. Instead, he retreated to a quieter corner.

The events of the morning had been tumultuous, but now, formal rehearsals were finally underway. Ariana remained with them in the practice room, providing guidance and support.

As the rehearsal drew close to its conclusion, Ariana's phone began to buzz.

The display showed an unknown number.

Stepping away, she accepted the call. The composed voice of a middle -aged man greeted her, "Hello, Dr. Edwards speaking? I represent Mr. Fredrick. We had earlier discussed a child psychology appointment with you."

With the day's whirlwind, Ariana had nearly forgotten about this consultation. She had been anticipating a call from the Fredrick family, wondering if they might retract their interest or cancel. But she hadn't expected the call right now.

"Yes, I recall. How may I assist you?" she replied.

"Is it possible for you to visit Mr. Fredrick's residence for an initial face-to-face consultation tomorrow afternoon?" the man asked.

Taking a moment to ponder, Ariana realized that with the day's schedule settled, she wouldn't be needed directly for tomorrow's rehearsal. Seeing an opening in her schedule, she assented, requesting the address and specific time from the caller.

On the top floor of BRD Group's building, Shawn handed a document to Holden.

"This document holds all the details about Miss Edwards."

Holden nodded.

"Okay." He collected it and began flipping through the pages. He then motioned for Shawn to leave without lifting his gaze from the document.

However, Shawn hesitated, clearly wanting to say something.

Sensing this, Holden looked up, encouraging him to speak.

After a moment of hesitation, Shawn inquired, “Mr. Fredrick, may I ask why you suddenly decided to investigate Miss Edwards? Is there an issue with the energy project?"

Holden averted his gaze, offering no reply. He merely slid his empty coffee cup toward Shawn, signaling that further questions were unwelcome.

Shawn understood the cue. He held his silence and promptly fetched a fresh cup of coffee.

Alone in his office, Holden delved into the extensive information on Ariana.

The Fredrick family had large information networks and connections.