Beverley blinked, "Aurelia, this CEO’s younger brother reminds me a bit of Skyler."
Aurelia burst out laughing, "You got me! I actually based the character on Skyler. If he ever found out I wrote him into the script, he'd be over the moon."
Grinning mischievously, Beverley said, "Does this CEO have a sister? Come on, write me into the story, too. I can join in on the rescue mission as the CEO's sister."
Nodding enthusiastically, Aurelia agreed, "Sure, let's add a sister to the mix."
Lisbeth looked up thoughtfully and glanced at them, "Do you think Skyler would be into concocting antidotes, or did you make that part up?"
"He's definitely into it," Aurelia replied earnestly. "He's the guy with four PhDs and three Master's degrees. There's no antidote in the world he couldn't whip up."
Lisbeth was sparkled with surprise, "Who would have thought he's that brilliant?"
Aurelia explained, "Don’t judge a book by its cover. Skyler is like those eccentric geniuses you read about, the ones whose skills are unparalleled. He could outsmart any villain with his wit."
Nodding in agreement, Beverley chimed in, "Lisbeth, if you ever run into a tough spot, just go to Skyler. I bet he could help you figure it out."
Lisbeth gave a nod, recalling how Skyler, despite his age, would play with the neighborhood kids always like a big kid himself. She had once thought Skyler was a little slow, never guessing he was a genius.
Aurelia took a sip of her juice, "Let's get back to the script. The real puzzle now is that no one knows where the villain's holding the CEO. How are we going to find him?"
"How about we poison the villain to force him to give up the CEO?" Beverley suggested.
Aurelia made a face, "Would a villain fall for poison that easily? Wouldn't that make him look a bit dumb? He is the boss, after all."
She was thinking, “Aurelia was no ordinary woman. Had she sensed something? Was she dropping hints? Could Aurelia have started suspecting that Raines was an impostor? Or was Aurelia harboring doubts and covertly testing me?”
Lisbeth picked up an orange and began to peel it slowly.
Then Beverley asked another question, "Aurelia, have you decided whether the story ends with a tragedy or a happily ever after?"
"I haven't decided yet," Aurelia shrugged, "Of course, I'm rooting for a happy ending, not a fan of tragedies. In repentance there is salvation."
Lisbeth trembled her shoulders slightly. The last sentence seemed to hint at her.
She was out in repentance, with no salvation in sight. How was she ever rescued?
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