Chapter 57: Chapter 57

-55-Assistant's call/ Unsaid challenge.

"Love scares you like melted chocolate. Which can melt if you didn't pay attention to it. If you left it without care. Yet it tastes as sweet as it when you are filled with it. Releasing happy hormones."

......

After that, they ate in silence. Nobody spoke. And Christian finally managed to calm himself down.

Riley looked at him from sideways. He ate quietly with one hand while the other one was placed on his thigh. Without any expression. Just the voice of cutlery rang in the silence.

Despite her inability to comprehend his expressionless face, she knew he was hurt. If not hurt then at least insulted. She shook off the weird feeling and resumed eating.

Steadily Stuart looked up at them. His eyes narrowing at their behavior. He could understand the struggler's emotions but why Riley was sad? It made no sense to him. Why? Why Riley Brown? I'll deal with whatever it is between you and him later. For now, let me just enjoy your suffering. I never thought there would be a day when I will feel so good seeing you suffering.'

"I am done."

Christian stood up and announced coldly. Making Riley and Stuart look up at him in confusion. He didn't eat anything. Just a few nibbling here and there.

Out of instinct, Stuart looked at Riley to say something to him. To finish his meal. But she kept mum.

"Excuse me. I would like to get some fresh air." Excusing himself he walked out of the small house. He has habitually started calling home. The noise lane reminded him how silence is costly. Three girls from the nearby house walked out and stopped to admire him for a few seconds. Talking in small voices with a lot of hushing. But when he moved his head towards them to glare. They giggled and greeted him with a large smile.

"Good noon Mr."

Which he chose to ignore. Seemingly there was no effect of his glare on them. As every single one of them took turns and greeted him.

Frustrated He nodded at them with a fake smile.

"Noon."

Seeing his rude behavior, they decided to leave him at peace. And he listened to their conversation.

"Let's leave him, he looks sad."

"Yeah. Otherwise, He always waves at us."

"You are right Rachel. He looks frustrated. It must be because of a fight between husband and wife."

"Huh. But I never saw him and his wife fighting."

"Ah. Don't you know, Our next-door neighbor told me in the morning that his husband had spent the night somewhere else. She saw him walking early to his home."

"Why do you think they would have fought?"

"Ah. It must be because of cheating."

They both made horrible faces and looked in his direction. Various emotions passed through their eyes.

"Who do you think cheated?"

"Of course his wife, I saw a man today who was asking for her address. Probably he told him about her affairs and that's why he is so sad."

"What a pity! Such a handsome man was cheated on!"

Their speculations made him speechless. What kind of noisy neighborhood he was living in.

He walked forward to their home, determined to tell them to shut up and not sprout some nonsense against his wife.

Horrified they ran inside. And his attention drifted to his phone. As it buzzed. He didn't want to talk to anyone so he didn't pay much attention to it. And stood there taking in the calm atmosphere.

A strong breeze flew from his side. Making him tremble. There was something in the air that made him feel like it was suffering with him.

A tired sigh escaped his lips as he placed both hands on his face. It was the first time he noticed that she did have another man other than him. A man who had insulted him in his home thrice.

It buzzed again and he lifted it looking at the screen.

'Cynthia.'

'Why is she calling me again and again? Why the fuck she wants to talk to me at this hour.'

'I shouldn't pick up. I told her to not disturb me at this hour.'

'But what if it's important? She never really disturbed you without a purpose.' A thought popped up in his mind. And he answered the call.

"Good Noon sir. I know you have ordered me to not disturb you at this hour. But this is important. So I took the liberty to call you."

Hearing her anxious voice made him a little curious about what would have happened that she took the liberty to disobey me.

"Noon. Just speak what is it? It better be important? Otherwise, I am firing you."

She exhales, "What, No. no sir. I am sorry."

"Just speak what is such an important matter?"

"Sir. You remember the man we met a week ago? Mr. Stuart? It's about him."

A smile graced his lips as he raised his brows. Inhaling a deep breath.

"What about him?"

She exhales again, the voice of it irritated him.

"He is Riley Madam's best friend. The man who was involved in saving you with her."

"I know that. Wait. what? What did you just say? He was involved in saving me?"

"Yes sir, The investigation is done by your private investigator. There are pictures of him with an injured face. It was reported by the man he calls his father that he had taken him in when he was injured."

'My accident? What the fuck happened? He did have a basic idea about it. But he never thought it would be true. Now everything makes sense. 'Riley's refusal to my proposals. Her insults. Her words. I will not marry you, even if I have to marry a beggar.

There was a long trace of silence between us.

"Sir? I don't know if this news is important to you or not. But I wanted to warn you as early as I could. After all, I know how much you love Riley Mam."

She exhales, continuing with a slight quivering in her voice.

"If you feel that it was not important. You can fire me. I will accept it. Maybe it would be better if I write a resignation letter?"

"I am not firing you. Also, I want a detailed report of his involvement in that accident on my table. First thing."

"Thank you, sir. I"

He ends the phone call. The feeling of insecurity increases yet the bad feeling decreases.

'So she hates me because of him. He is not trying to take her from me. She was already his. I took her from him. It means we are on the same page. I just have to work for my love.

His thoughts were interrupted as they both walked out from the gate. And he heard him say.

"Thank you for such a warm welcome Jelly Bug. I loved the food. You have worked hard on your cooking skills."

She smiles at him shyly.

"Thank you, Georgie. I wish you could stay for some more time. It's still early."

"I wish that too. But work waits for none. Dad will probably eat me alive if I reached late for the meeting."

"You are right. We can have another meal together."

"I guess so. I also want you to meet my new family. They are awesome."

"I would love to."

"Great. Give me a hug" Exhaling he puffed his cheeks and opens his arms.

Smiling she hugs him. As he whispers.

"Love you My Jelly Bug. Take care."

"Love You to Georgie."

After their hug, he turns towards him. Forwarding his hand for a shake.

"It was nice meeting you man. Although I came here to interview you, to know if you deserve her or not. We didn't get enough time to talk. Probably next time."

Christian exhales anxiety out of his body and takes the hand in his. He deserves a little gentleness if he was the one who was responsible for saving his life.

Christian responds "Thank you for coming here, Stuart. It has been a pleasure knowing you. Yeah, Probably next time. We can bond over the things we love."

After saying the last line he looks towards Riley and Stuart follows his eyes. A challenge dancing in his.

"Yeah. I would love that."