32 She's my dream

Ayu took two steps back defensively. No way. No way he knows. No way anyone knows.

"Shut up, stop talking nonsense. Shouldn't you be with boss right now? He's going to torture that troublemaker James, doesn't he need you?"

James was usually the one who did the dirty work while Shen would watch on. He never soiled his own hands unless required.

Ro-kun scoffed again.

"Do you honestly think I'm needed after what James asked for? Young master will take pleasure hurting him tonight."

It made sense to Ayu now. After those disgusting words fell upon Shen's ears, he would personally rip James to shreds.

They recalled the eyeballs incident. That was done by Shen personally, too. They had to clean up the blood afterwards. It was a horrifying mess.

"But you know what was really interesting, Ayu? I noticed a few things when I was watching James earlier after you left him to report his requests to young master."

The hairs on the back of Ayu's neck stood up. If Ro-kun really knew...everything she'd worked for would come to an end.

"And what exactly did you notice?"

She asked him very carefully, trying not to seem frazzled.

"Oh, just a big, blue bruise on his neck. Looked like a size 7 shoe....like the ones on your feet right now."

As he finished his sentence, Ayu's terrified eyes met Ro-kun's condescending ones.

"I've never seen you too bothered about anyone but yourself and your work. Before she came into his life."

He knew.

He knew.

He knew where her heart was. He knew about Lina. He knew how she loved Lina.

Ayu's eyes suddenly brimmed with tears. She'd been holding back since the day she met the madam. It had been nine months of watching the woman she loved with the man she looked up to.

It hurt so much. She couldn't hate either one of them. Even though she wanted to.

"Ro-kun...." Ayu's voice was now a soft whisper.

"You're funny, Ayu. Like those kids in the playground teasing, bullying and being nasty to the girls they liked because they don't know how to process their own emotions. You almost killed James today, because of his request for the madam. You can't be any more obvious."

Ro-kun's eyes softened as he spoke to the unraveling beauty in front of him.

"I adore her...she...she's my dream."

Ayu's tears fell freely, hugging her injured arm. The arm that had been touched by the woman she'd secretly admired. The woman she'd been pining for. The woman she'd starved herself for with worry, when she was in a coma. The woman she could only watch from afar.

Ro-kun looked at Ayu hopelessly. Who knew this cold-hearted, steely woman had been secretly harbouring her love for the boss' own wife from the very beginning. He felt sorry for her, but at the same time remained aghast at her stupidity.

A teary Ayu looked at Ro-kun with pleading eyes.

"Fine. I won't tell anyone. But get over it. You're only going create more problems for everyone if you lose sight of reality."

Ayu wiped her tears, seemingly relieved. She felt better too, finally someone knew. In a way, she didn't have to keep acting strong.

But she was embarrassed too. She never cried in front of her own family. And now Ro-kun knew of all her weaknesses.

The next minute, Lina burst out of the study and saw the two looking awkwardly at each other.

She could sense the tension. Ayu's eyes looked moist.

"Uhh...did I interrupt something?"

"No, madam." Ro-kun answered calmly, as if nothing had transpired.

Ayu just looked away coldly.

Lina shook the uncomfortable feeling away and authoritatively made a declaration.

"Bring me to Shen, please."

Ro-kun and Ayu both looked at each other, worried.

AGAIN?

"Madam, we assure you, this time there is no reason to worry. There's no danger to young master."

Lina didn't understand why Ro-kun was being so poker faced about it. Shen didn't even have him for protection. He'd almost been shot the last time even WITH protection!

"What do you mean there's no reason to worry?! We all know what would have happened the last time if I hadn't worried!"

"Madam, young master has only gone to speak to someone important. It's a business meeting, nothing more."

Lina's heart relaxed.

"Fine, call him for me, then. I want to speak to him immediately."

Ayu picked up her phone and called Shen.

Lina heard a loud voice yell at Ayu through the phone.

"Sorry to disturb sir, but madam would like to speak to you."

The voice on the other end quietened down like a tame puppy when he heard his wife being mentioned.

"Hello, Shen?" Lina wanted to hear his soothing voice to knew he would be okay.

"Was my sweet wifey worried again?" Shen teased.

"Of course I was!" Lina was now annoyed. "You think you can just leave me a note and run off! What kind of behaviour is this?"

"Sorry baby, I'll be back in exactly half an hour okay? If I'm not, you can punish me however you like."

"FINE. I'll be waiting." Lina was indignant as she hung up.

-- at the Moshi Corp basement --

Shen walked back slowly towards James, whose mouth was oozing blood. In one hand, Shen held his phone and in the other, he held a freshly chopped off human tongue.

"You should be grateful to the woman you degraded by asking me to whore her out for a night. She just saved you from any more pain you could have received tonight."

"OOOhh AhhH" was the only sounds James could make. He would never be able to speak dirt about Lina again. Or talk about anything at all, for that matter.

With that, Shen slammed the door to James' cell and walked out to return back home to his annoyed little wife.