Closed Retrospect

[Ai Nightray]

It was a relief that it was finally spring. Winter hadn't been easy in the last two years, though Ai had remained utterly quiet on the matter. She'd never had the best health when it came to being pregnant, which is why most of her pregnancies had been kept quietly until the information getting out was inevitable. But now, she could feel that there was a definite change in her body since the last. Which was not surprising considering the incidents that happened then. It was just best not to think about that. But nowadays, it felt like potions made her feel worse when she felt ill. It was perhaps for the best that most of the children didn't stay in the manor full-time and that Nik preferred to spend time with Liam so she wouldn't be worrying any of them. It was both easier and harder to hide from her husband but Ai knew him better than he knew her even after almost twenty years of marriage. Today, at least, was one of those days that she was feeling normal, though if she wasn't careful she'd need a rest soon enough. But there would be none of that today because she was due to meet Laurent in a matter of minutes. At least this time, she wasn't cornered and was more prepared since she had called this meeting. She didn't know why Laurent was meeting with her son, but she hardly trusted the man with Mikael's welfare right now since his kids and Mikael were still on equal standing. Until their deal was in effect, Ai wanted to make sure he stayed far away from her children.​

 

[Laurent Nightray]

Laurent, of course, took his time arriving at Ai’s beck and call, never one to rush when he didn’t feel it was necessary. Despite Ai being one of the Head’s of the family, Laurent hardly considered her necessary. The air was crisp today, but tolerable, not his favourite season, but certainly better than Winter. He liked Autumn the most, he always felt it was the most interesting of times. He adjusted the cuffs on his favourite tailored suit as he stepped into Ai’s office. It certainly was not common for her to summon him like this. Usually he would suffer the indecency of being expected to ask for a meeting, and then waiting several months for a reply, which was hilarious when one considered their closeness geographically. Just another point on the list of reasons why she and Liam (mostly her) were not fit to be the Nightray Heads. He’s been saying it for years.

“Well, you look well, Ai,” he said smoothly, though by the fact he’d not seen her around as much recently (look, he wasn’t a stalker alright) he wasn’t sure how true his statement was - not that he cared, seeing as he would have rather preferred Ai be a bug under his shoe if given have a chance. She was so difficult to read sometimes, and not for the first time he wondered if she was a legilimens. She was even harder to read when she was guarded - like now. “I must say, I was rather surprised to receive your summons. It’s not often you call on me willingly.”​

 

[Ai Nightray]

Ai was not at all bothered that Laurent was late. She'd expected it because he was a petty little man. Most of the Nightrays were really. And it wasn't like this was her first time dealing with them. She'd been working for the Nightrays for years before she even married Liam. Had known Liam in school. As much as she loved her husband, he could also be a petty man. She was pretty sure he wrote the definition for it in the dictionary. And so, she was completely unbothered and working on some paperwork when Laurent finally deemed it appropriate to grace her with his presence. She lifted her head after a moment passed with his greeting. "And you as well, Laurent," she said as she waved her hand at the paperwork to send them off to whoever needed to receive them. "It's not often that I feel the need to," she said as she leaned forward on her desk, elbows resting on the surface before resting her chin on her hand. "You do splendid work and I respect my relationship with you and your siblings enough to not grace you with my presence more than necessary," she said with a small smile that was almost regretful. An emotion she didn't really feel when it came to their long history. Said demeanor didn't last long though, as her gaze hardened just a fraction, the small smile sliding off her face with practiced ease. "But you'll have to excuse me for being curious as to why you've been meeting with my son."​