The Alchemists

Caspar and Finland agreed that the second week of March would be their last day of work, after which they would move to Germany and live peacefully while waiting for the birth of their second child.

Ruth seemed very surprised when Finland tendered her resignation. She didn't expect Finland to quit working so soon.

"You're only five months pregnant, right? Are you having problems with your pregnancy?" Ruth looked at Finland from top to bottom to check if something was wrong with her, "Hmm… you do look a bit big for only 5 months in..."

Finland almost spouted her tea when she heard Ruth bluntly called her fat. They were having lunch at the restaurant on the 30th floor and the place was very crowded. Naturally, many people immediately turned towards them.

"Uh... sorry, I made a mistake..." Ruth said quickly. "You're pregnant, so it's only natural that you gained weight..."

Finland could only sigh because Ruth just called her fat for the second time. She remembered that when she was pregnant with Aleksis, she only gained a maximum of 7 kg and her body barely changed shape. But that was because she was very stressed at the time and experiencing a lot of pressure.

Now, throughout ther second pregnancy, her body which was usually very slim slowly began to expand and at 5 months she had gained weight up to 15 kg. Moreover, with someone by her side spoiled her to no end, how could her body stay thin during her pregnancy?

Finland did not even realize that she gained weight because no one mentioned it at home. Her daughter and husband never once mentioned the word fat – big – heavy – or gain weight, not even as a joke! Caspar's attention and affection to her had not changed one bit.

Today was the first time Finland actually felt fat and her face immediately became grim. She looked at her protruding tummy and slightly swollen feet and almost cried over them.

"Gosh... don't cry... I'm sorry..." Ruth immediately felt uneasy. She quickly approached Finland and rubbed her back, "I understand that pregnant women are said to be more sensitive..."

Finland shook her head slowly while biting her lip. Ugh... alright... she shouldn't take this to heart, she thought. As long as she felt healthy and well and Caspar never complained about her appearance, she didn't need to care about what other people say.

Ah, today Caspar should have lunch at the restaurant too, but Finland hadn't seen him at all. At times like this she suddenly missed him and wanted him to console her.

[Didn't you come down for lunch?] She asked him via text.

[I forgot to tell you that there is an important guest today. We are still having a meeting on the 35th floor. Let's meet later in the lounge?] Caspar replied to her text.

[Oh ...]

Finland wondered who the important guest was. When it came to work, Caspar usually casually mentioned the names or roles of the people he met. But today he only referred to them as a guest.

Priyanka entered the restaurant and sat down beside her, followed by Susan. They look rather disheveled.

"Pfew... we just had a long meeting this morning with the CEO of the Meier Group to work on selling our shares in their companies. It was very complicated and intense..." Susan said, stretching her body.

"Meier Group?" Finland asked slowly. She seemed to recognize the name. "Do we have shares in the group?"

"A few months ago, our CFO took some actions by buying a lot of the shares of the Meier Group's main companies to drop their values. We lost a lot of money at that time." Priyanka replied while peeling an orange and eating it, "I don't know what really happened. The rumor is that there was a dispute between our boss and the boss of the Meier Group, but I don't know exactly what. It looks like the dispute has been resolved as they are now talking about how they can restore things to normal."

Finland could only wonder which representative from the Meier Group came to their office. Was it Alexei? How dare he, if that were true.

"Does that mean the meeting is over or is it still ongoing?" she asked Priyanka.

"It just finished. That's why I am able to come down here to eat," Priyanka said. "Oh, by the way... Meier Group's CEO is really... beautiful. Maybe she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen... She should be a movie star or something..."

Finland was immediately stunned to hear Priyanka's words. Beautiful girl?

Was it Sophia?

Her blood started boiling immediately. Memories about the incident two years ago started streaming in her mind, when Sophia tricked her and told her that she was living together with Caspar and that Caspar considered Aleksis as Jean's daughter.

How dare Sophia come here, she thought.

When her eyes accidentally saw her cellphone on the table, Finland suddenly remembered that Caspar told her that he still had a meeting with a guest whose name he did not want to mention. How could he still have a meeting when Priyanka clearly told her that the meeting was over.

Did this mean that Caspar and Sophia were having a private conversation after the company meeting was over?

Her face turned hot and her tears almost dripped from annoyance.

"Uhm... Priyanka... do you have access to the 35th floor?" she asked quickly.

Priyanka nodded, "Yes, why is that?"

"Uhm... can I borrow it? There is someone I want to meet..." Finland answered, refusing to explain further but her pleading eyes made Priyanka unable to say no.

"Uhm... okay. You can use my access card." Priyanka took out the access card from her pocket and handed it to Finland.

"Thank you, I'll return it to your room later." Finland immediately finished her tea then took her tray of food to the restaurant kitchen and went out to the elevator.

Susan, Priyanka, and Ruth could only stare at her in surprise.

"That's unusual," Priyanka said, surprised, "What does she want on the 35th floor?"

"She doesn't have any acquaintances on that floor," Ruth continued with surprise.

Finland tried to calm her feelings while in the elevator. She pressed the 35th floor button and impatiently waited for the elevator to reach its destination. With long steps she immediately rushed to Caspar's office.