Chapter 28: Chapter 28

All the way home after lunch, he ignored Hazel who repeatedly tried to talk to him, put earphones in his ears and played the song collection on his smartphone to make Hazel give up. It worked, because after that Hazel stopped talking to him. He continued to ignore Hazel when he got to the apartment, deciding to shut himself in his room. He just went out of his room to eat or when going to the bathroom.

He did not know whether this action was right or not. All he knew, this was the only choice he could make for now. Instead, focus on finding out about Simon Clive. The information he got was very little. Martha only gave him a little information about the mafia group that was currently targeting Amanda. There was no way he could ask Martha for more clue. He tried to ask Lucas. But apparently, the man did not help much. Almost all the information was held by Verdict. So, the only option he had was to find the information by himself with his hacking skill.

Now, it was difficult for him to trust anyone. At times like this, his intuition did not want to cooperate with him. At least helping him to choose who he could trust. He could not trust Hazel, and neither could Martha. Verdict? He did not know, considering that man's condition. Thyme? That kid was still young, so it seemed trustworthy. Lucas? As he thought earlier. Impossible. An innocent man with an utterly simple mind like Lucas could not possibly think of something as complex as planning an attempt at revenge. Not the type of lying naturally. In fact, he was too honest, the straightforward type that he often wondered how someone like Lucas could survive in an underground environment.

He looked back at his computer screen, read the data he obtained to put in his brain memory before he erased it from his computer. Based on the information he found, the reason was simple: revenge. Two years ago Simon Clive's headquarter in Morozov was destroyed by the Walter family, as well as a revival of the child trafficking headquarters.

Seeing this pattern, and considering Arnold's reputation as the best assassin in the world, it all seemed clear. What he did not understand was only one. Why did Simon insist on taking Amanda? It should be enough to kill Arnold. Was there something about Amanda that he did not know that caught that man's attention?

His smartphone which he placed beside his laptop vibrated, interrupting his thought. He opened his eyes which still felt heavy, sat back down and grabbed his smartphone that was just full after he had charged it five minutes ago. There was an incoming message from someone he did not expect.

Edward: Busy?

He turned off his smartphone screen, a little disappointed. He thought Thyme called him, telling him the progress of Verdict's condition. It has already been four days since that day, and still no news from Thyme made him worry. He wanted to visit, but this matter was much more important.

His smartphone vibrated again. This time it was not a short message like that, but an incoming call from Edward. Reluctant, he decided to pick up the phone.

‘Yes?’

‘Raymond? Where are you now?’

Finally, he just remembered that he forgot to tell Edward that he had not been able to work for four days. He was too busy thinking about his investigation. ‘At my apartment. Sorry, I should have notified Manager if I couldn't go to work these days.’

There was a sigh of relief from Edward. ‘I thought…’

‘What?’

‘Nothing. Rather than that, are you getting enough rest? Your voice sounds weird.’

‘Well, I haven't had time to sleep lately,’ said Raymond, yawning widely.

‘Oh.’

Then it became quiet. He did not hear Edward's voice on the other side for a few seconds. His hand hesitated, was about to move his smartphone away and pressed the red button to end the call when Edward's voice came back.

‘Raymond?’

‘Yes?’

‘Er, are you free now?’

‘Yes, I suppose,’ he said with a big yawn.

‘Are you sleepy? Then maybe another time,’ Edward laughed softly. His distinctive laughter made him want to record his laugh’s voice in his mind. He shook his head quickly, immediately cursed what he had just thought. His brain is messed up now. It must have been because he had not slept for four days, and he was sleepy. So his mind began to think beyond reason.

It must be so. But honestly, he did not want the call to end. He still wanted to hear Edward's soothing voice. Remembering what he had been through in the past few days made him uneasy. At least, he could believe Edward. To be honest, he really wanted to trust his manager.

‘Manager?’

‘Hm?’

‘Are you at home?’

‘Me? No. I'm in my office. At the cafe. Well, everyone's on their way home already. I just stuck in here, alone. What’s wrong?’

Listening to the man that talked about what he was doing in such detail made him laugh. Even though he was just making small talk about it.

‘No, nothing.’

‘O-oh. Okay.’

He could imagine Edward looking awkward as he said this.

‘You better sleep now. It's already midnight,’ said Edward.

‘Mm.’

‘Are you coming tomorrow?’

‘Yes. I'll try to make it.'

‘Very nice. Then, see you tomorrow, Raymond. Good night.’

‘Good night.’

The call ended after he said it. He stared at the screen of his smartphone, disappointed. He still wanted to talk a lot with Edward. Any topic did not matter. As long as he could hear Edward’s voice.

His vision began to blur. Perhaps he should take Edward's advice to sleep, indulging in the screams of her body in protest of getting their right to rest. He yawned again widely, got up from his chair and lay down on the bed. Within seconds, he fell asleep.

***

Raymond smiled wryly, realizing that he had been tricked by Edward. Yesterday, when Edward asked if he'd come to the cafe tomorrow or not, he replied that he would try to do it. And he really did it after finding out that there had not been any significant progress from Verdict's condition.

The problem was, he forgot that the cafe was not open today, so he succeeds as a fool who rushes to the cafe, thinking that he was too early. As soon as he prepared to leave the cafe after knowing that the cafe was not open today, Edward immediately held him back, asking him to remain in the cafe. Then direct him to a table for two that was arranged neatly, complete with tableware on it. The table that he knew was only used for dinner with their partner. He did not know why Edward did it, because the man did not answer his question after he tried asking him several times. Giving up, he complied with Edward's request to sit at the table.

Why did he come to this place? Why did he sacrifice his precious time to come see Edward? He sighed, confused about himself.

‘Are you disappointed?’

To his surprise, he found Edward standing behind him with his hand carrying a champagne bottle. Somewhat amazed, he looked at his manager who looked enthusiastic. ‘Huh? Disappointed because of what?’

Edward sat in the chair opposite him, leaning forward after placing the bottle to his left. ‘Well, you don't seem to be happy.’

‘A little. For forgetting that today is a holiday. Because yesterday Manager said—’

‘Speaking of that, Raymond, can I ask you one thing?’ Edward interrupted him. ‘Can you just call me by my name? Yes, we are in the workplace. But today is a holiday. It's weird hearing you keep calling me Manager even when we're not working.’

That was true. All this time, he was accustomed to calling the man in front of him 'Manager'. He looked back at the man, doubtful. ‘Is that okay?’

‘Yes. I would appreciate it if you did it,’ Edward rested his hands on the table, smiling. It was hard for him to get used to seeing Edward being so gentle to him. Better to see Edward's stern face when he started working in this cafe than to see this current Edward. It felt so strange. Moreover, his heart was now very noisy whenever he saw Edward paying more attention to him.

If someone asked him if he liked it, he would answer it without hesitation if he liked it. But that did not mean he was used to being treated like this.

‘I will try.’

‘You can start it right now. I want to hear.’

‘Edward?’

He saw Edward who looked satisfied as soon as he did.

‘Much better. The atmosphere won't be awkward,’. Edward opened his champagne bottle, poured it into the wine glass beside Raymond. ‘I heard that champagne tastes much better with white wine glass rather than using flute glass. Do you know why?’

He shook his head.

‘Because the top surface of the white wine glass is narrower than the flute glass. It will be ensuring the bubbles don't escape too fast. So that the champagne will not lose its taste and its aroma. Try it.’

‘Oh,’ Raymond raised his glass, then took a sip of champagne. What Edward said was right. The champagne tasted much better. He took another sip of his drink, looking at Edward in amazement. ‘By the way, can I ask something?’

‘Yes. Go ahead.’

‘Actually, what is all of this for? Telling me to come over here and prepare all of this, is that for the cafe promotion idea next month?’

Edward laughed softly. ‘No. This for you. Yesterday you said that you didn’t have time to rest, right? So I prepared all of this. Think of it as an appreciation for sacrificing your rest time. Ah, after this it's up to you where you want to go. I'll accompany you. Amusement park, karaoke, ice skating. All you just need to do is say to me.’

He looked away from Edward, staring at the white wine glass he was holding at the moment while trying to hide how thrilled he was to know why Edward was doing all this. What a strange man, he muttered to himself. Edward did not even ask him the reason why he was so busy that he could not get enough sleep.

‘Then, can I choose ice skating after this? It's been a long time since I was there.’

‘Sure,’ Edward nodded, then got up from his seat as soon as he saw their empty plates. ‘I forgot to take out the food. Wait a moment. I'll go to the kitchen first.’

‘You cook?’ asked Raymond, doubtful. As far as he knew, this man rarely cooked his own meals, considered from what he saw when he was staying at the man's house a few days ago, he only found a little groceries in the refrigerator.

‘Of course not. My cooking is still below average when compared to yours. Mike cooked all of these. I asked him for help.’

‘Mike?’

‘He just enrolled in a culinary school. He said he wanted to pursue his dream as a chef. That's why he is busy lately.’ Edward walked away from him to the kitchen room and returned with some of Mike's cooking which looked delicious. His eyes looked at the food Edward placed one by one on the table in amazement. Perhaps it was because Mike's head was filled with food that the food he made was so beautiful and mouth-watering.

‘Can I eat it now?’

Edward nodded.

His hand reached for the knife and fork, taking a few slices of steak from the first plate. ‘Delicious.’

Edward laughed at him, then asked him to taste another menu which he gladly accepted.

‘Are you sure Mike made it? I doubt it. It's really delicious. ‘

‘One hundred per cent,’ Edward supported his chin with his right hand resting on the table, continuing to stare at Raymond while occasionally eating his food.

***

Raymond's smartphone rang as soon as he finished eating. He wiped his lips with the napkin beside him, asking Edward's permission to pick up the call. Edward nodded, giving him the green light. Hurriedly he ran away from Edward, reaching for the smartphone that was in the pocket of his pants. The name Thyme Umberbridge appeared on the screen of his smartphone, making him a little worried because it meant he should be prepared to hear what Thyme says about Verdict’s condition. His hand slides the green button on his smartphone screen, bringing it closer to his left ear.

‘Hello?’

‘Raymond, are you still busy?’

He looked back to find Edward smiling at him, then turned around. ‘Not really. All the data I need has been gathered. How about Verdict?’

‘He just passed his critical condition and woke up. Still being examined by the doctor.’

His worries disappeared instantly, replaced by a feeling of relief. ‘Tell Verdict. I'll be there.'

‘Okay. I will.’

Thyme hung up the call. He stuffed his smartphone into his trouser pocket, back toward Edward. ‘Sorry, about the ice skating plan. I’ll take the raincheck. I have to go now.’

‘Want me to accompany you? I happen to be free today.’

‘No need. I can do it alone.’

‘It's much safer if I come with you than to let you go alone. What if you were attacked like that time? ‘

‘I can take care of myself.’

‘I'm the one who will be worried.’

‘But—’ Raymond paused, finding it impossible for him to get his manager to give up. He finally accepted Edward’s offer.

‘Then can you wait for a moment? I want to clean up all of these first.’

‘Let me help.’

‘No need,’ Edward pushed him up to the front door of the cafe. ‘Be a good boy and wait in front. I'll be fast.’

Giving up, he followed Edward's words.

***