Chapter 89: Last arrangements

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Last arrangements

The meeting concluded not long afterward the discussion.

As chairs shifted and books closed, the quiet atmosphere of the Literature Society gradually gave way to the familiar murmur of students preparing to leave.

Several members lingered to continue discussing the afternoon’s novel.

Others had already turned their attention to the weekend ahead.

Vivienne slipped her copy of the novel into her satchel before standing.

After bidding Professor Hartwell and a few of the other members farewell, she stepped out into the corridor.

The Humanities Building was noticeably livelier than before.

Students streamed through the hallways between their final classes of the day, their conversations drifting from examination results to plans for the upcoming Founders’ Ball.

Vivienne walked at an unhurried pace.

There was still some time before the Foundation members were due to meet at the collaborative study lounge.

Almost absentmindedly, she reached into her bag and retrieved her mobile phone.

The familiar blue glow of the small screen appeared as she flipped it open.

She scrolled through her contacts.

Sophia.

I’ll be heading to the study lounge now. See you in a bit.

Sent.

Jessica.

See you soon.

Sent.

Peter.

See you at the study lounge.

Sent.

Oliver.

On my way.

Sent.

Her thumb hovered over the final name.

Damian Blackwood.

Vivienne smiled faintly.

We already talked earlier...

For a brief moment, she wondered whether another message was necessary.

Then she laughed softly to herself.

It wasn’t as though she were saying anything different from what she’d sent the others.

Over the past month...

Talking to Damian had somehow become effortless.

It was a curious realization.

Not because Damian had changed.

If anything...

He was exactly as the novel had described him.

Kind.

Dependable.

Patient.

The surprise lay elsewhere.

She had never imagined they would become such easy companions.

In the original story, the Lady Vivienne Beaumont of the novel had met nearly every act of kindness from Damian with indifference, and sometimes outright hostility.

Perhaps...

She had simply never given him the chance to become a friend.

The thought made Vivienne smile.

Her fingers moved across the keypad.

Hey, Damian.

I know we already talked earlier, but I’ll be at the collaborative study lounge soon.

See you in a while.

She pressed Send.

Closing her phone with a quiet snap, Vivienne slipped it back into her satchel and continued down the corridor.

The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the Humanities Building, casting long bands of gold across the polished wooden floors.

Students passed in both directions, their conversations blending into a comfortable hum.

Vivienne descended the front steps and crossed the central courtyard at an unhurried pace.

The cool breeze stirred the leaves overhead.

Without realizing it...

She was still smiling.

--

Across campus...

Damian Blackwood stepped out of the Business Building.

The Strategic Management Society meeting had concluded only a short while earlier.

Most of its members had already dispersed, heading toward their own afternoon commitments.

Damian adjusted the strap of his satchel as he made his way along the stone path leading toward the university’s central grounds.

His thoughts had already shifted to the Foundation’s meeting.

There were still several documents they needed to organize before the Founders’ Ball.

Just then—

His phone vibrated.

Damian paused beneath the shade of an old acacia tree before retrieving the device from his pocket.

The screen lit up.

1 New Message.

From:

Vivienne Beaumont.

A small smile touched the corner of his lips almost instinctively.

Hey, Damian.

I know we already talked earlier, but I’ll be at the collaborative study lounge soon.

See you in a while.

He read it once.

Then, without hesitation, typed a reply.

Understood.

See you in a while.

After sending the message, he slipped the phone back into his pocket and resumed walking.

The smile remained for another moment.

It had become surprisingly easy to talk to Vivirnne Beaumont.

A month ago...

He never would have expected that.

--

The collaborative study lounge was noticeably quieter than it had been earlier that afternoon.

With the week’s final classes behind them, many students had already returned to their dormitories or ventured into town for the evening. Only a handful remained, scattered throughout the spacious room with open textbooks and notebooks spread across the tables.

Oliver was the first to arrive.

He chose one of the larger tables near the windows before setting down his satchel.

A few minutes later, Peter entered the lounge.

"Am I the first?"

Oliver smiled.

"Second."

"I’ll take it."

Peter pulled out a chair beside him.

Not long afterward, Jessica arrived, greeting the two with a polite smile before taking her seat.

Sophia was the next to arrive.

"Has everyone else not come yet?"

"Not yet," Oliver replied.

Almost as if on cue, Vivienne entered the study lounge.

She smiled apologetically.

"I hope I didn’t keep everyone waiting."

"You didn’t," Jessica assured her.

"We’ve only just gathered ourselves."

Before anyone could continue, Damian appeared at the entrance.

He inclined his head toward the group.

"My apologies."

"I had one last matter to confirm with the Transportation Office."

Vivienne smiled.

"Perfect timing."

Once everyone had settled into their seats, she looked around the table.

"Shall we begin?"

Everyone nodded.

Vivienne turned toward Damian.

"You said there were a few updates?"

Damian opened the blue folder he had brought with him before distributing copies of the itinerary.

"The Transportation Office approved our request this afternoon."

"We’ll have a Foundation vehicle available tomorrow."

Peter glanced over the schedule.

"That certainly simplifies things."

Damian continued.

"I’ve also confirmed tomorrow’s meeting with the community coordinators."

"They’ll all be expecting us."

Jessica looked up from the itinerary.

"So we’ll begin the day with the orientation."

Damian nodded.

"Yes."

"They’ll brief us on the communities, explain the current situation in each district, and let us know anything we should be mindful of during our visits."

Sophia turned another page.

"So we’ll stay together for the morning."

"Correct."

Vivienne rested her hands lightly on the table.

"Our objective tomorrow isn’t simply to visit the bakeries."

She looked around at the group.

"The bakery initiative is our starting point, but we’re also there to understand the communities themselves."

"The local businesses."

"The transportation routes."

"The needs of the residents."

"The environment the businesses operate in."

Jessica nodded thoughtfully.

"It’ll give us a much better foundation before we begin making recommendations."

"Exactly," Vivienne replied.

Damian added,

"Once we’ve finished meeting with the coordinators, we’ll decide the most practical way to continue our observations."

Everyone seemed to agree.

Oliver glanced through the itinerary once more.

"Everything else looks straightforward."

"We depart at eight."

"We’ll meet the coordinators first."

"And after that, we’ll proceed according to the orientation."

Vivienne smiled.

"That’s right."

"I don’t think there’s anything else we need to decide tonight."

A brief silence settled over the table as everyone reviewed the itinerary one last time.

Satisfied, Damian closed his folder.

"Everything appears to be in order."

Jessica nodded.

"I don’t have anything further."

"Nor do I," Peter said.

Oliver looked around the table.

"Then I suppose we’re ready."

A quiet sense of anticipation settled over the group.

Everything that could be prepared had been prepared.

Vivienne closed her folder.

" alright then it’s sertled. Tomorrow, we’ll listen first, observe carefully, and leave the proposals for later."

Everyone nodded.

With that, that meeting naturally came to an end.

--

The six students stepped out into the evening together.

The last light of the setting sun cast long shadows across the stone pathways, while a gentle breeze stirred the trees lining the university grounds.

Jessica glanced around the group.

"It’s already dinner time."

She smiled.

"Would anyone like to eat together?"

"I’d love to," Sophia replied.

Peter nodded.

"Count me in."

Oliver smiled as well.

"Sounds good."

Jessica looked toward Vivienne.

"What about you?"

Vivienne returned an apologetic smile.

"Thank you."

"But I think I’ll pass."

She adjusted the strap of her satchel.

"It’s been a long day."

"I’d like to head back to the dormitory, take a bath, and get some rest before tomorrow."

"That’s understandable," Jessica said warmly.

"We’ll see you in the morning."

Vivienne nodded.

"Tomorrow morning."

Peter turned toward Damian.

"How about you?"

For the briefest moment...

Damian’s eyes drifted toward Vivienne.

I’ll walk you back.

The thought came as naturally as breathing.

Then—

Julian’s quiet reminder surfaced in his mind.

Other people don’t know your history.

His gaze lingered only for an instant before returning to Peter.

"I’ll join you."

Peter smiled.

"Let’s go before the dining hall gets crowded."

The group began walking toward the main avenue.

Damian slowed for only a moment.

"I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Vivienne."

She smiled back, completely unaware of the words that had remained unspoken.

"Tomorrow morning."

With a small wave, she turned toward Rosemont Hall.

Damian watched her disappear down the tree-lined path before quietly following the others toward the dining hall.