Chapter 33

Mrs. Ellen turns her head to the side, vexed, "hmph." Smiling, I shake my head and ask, "anyway, what happen to Butch? And where is he?" Taking a deep breath, she calmly replies, "Well, he's currently getting treatment in the nearby hospital." Frowning, she looks at me with vigilance, "really, though. What the hell did you do to him?" I helplessly shrug my shoulder, "I don't know. But he's the stated it all, not me." She looks at me with suspicion, "is that true?" I helplessly nod, "it's true. It all started when he brought the other jocks to surround me."

Raising her hand, Mrs. Ellen asks, "wait, Why did he surround you?" I reply with a frown, dissatisfied by her sudden interruption, "well. You could say we got some enmity against each other. It's all because of one of his lackeys, Jack. He's been bothering my friend and me more than once." Even though I'm telling the truth, she still mistrusts me. Sighing, I shake my head and say, "if you don't trust me. You can ask the disciplinary teacher. He's the one punishing Jack when he stole something from me." She finally nodded, believing me a bit.

Soon after, I recovered a little. So I sit on the side of the bed And look at Mrs. Ellen eye to eye. Blushing, she moves around her seat, asking, "what is it?" Grinning, I shake my head, "nothing, but can you lend me a hand?" Puzzled, she stands up and reaches her hand to me. Without warning, I pull her arm toward my embrace. Shocked, her body froze for a moment. Turning red, she struggles in my arm, "what are you doing?!" Suddenly I kiss her on the lips. She gradually stops resisting. As she slowly melts in my arm.

Breathless, We tear our lips apart. While Mrs. Ellen looks at me with tearful eyes. Biting her lip, she asks, "why? Why can't you just let me go, and why can't I?" Smiling, I gently wipe her tears away, "I don't have any doubt nor hesitation anymore. I'm ready to take you as mine." Blushing, she looks away, "no, don't you already have Nicole? She's your childhood friend and younger than me." Sighing, she looks to the ground and mutters, "more importantly, she's not barren like me." Lifting her head, I shake my head with a gentle smile, "I don't care about any of that."

I realize something after everything that happens to me. My life is too short, and the world might end anyway. So, I'm going to do what I want, and what I want right now is her. Smiling gently, I ask her again, "so, would you be mine, Ellen?" Blushing, she's looking down in shame, "c-can you let me think for a day or two? I can't answer you right now." I'm nodding with a smile while gently patting her head, "okay. I'll be waiting for your answer." She nods with hesitation. As I let her go from my embrace. And get back to her seat.

We are looking at each other in awkward silence for some time. Soon after, the door suddenly gets pushed open, "bang!" As the excited Nicole enters with my bag on her back, "I'm back, Ray!" But she suddenly stops for a moment and looks at us with doubt. Smiling, I greet her with a nod, "ah, welcome back, Nicole. What took you so long?" Suppressing her suspicion, she put my bag on the bed with a grin, "well. I look around the area for a while. But turns out someone else already found your bag. And gave them to the student council."

Nodding, I gently pat Nicole's head, "oh, thank you for your hard work, then." Grinning, she smugly looks at Mrs. Ellen. Feeling her gaze, Mrs. Ellen responded calmly to her provocation. Vexed, Nicole intimately grabs my arm, "hey, Ray. Let's go home. After all, your injury already healed, right?" I think for a moment, then nods, "yeah, you are right. But I need to ask you to be the one to drive. I'm still tired from what happened." Nodding, she confidently pats her chest, "of course, that's a given, but." She turns her head to Mrs. Ellen, "excuse me, but can we go back now?"

Smiling, Mrs. Ellen nods, "sure, why not. He already answered all of my questions regarding the fight. When you, go fetch his bag. So there's no reason to keep him here anymore." Standing up, I wave my hand at her, "if that's the case, goodbye Mrs. Ellen." Nicole promptly follows suit and says goodbye. Nodding, Ellen stands up, "goodbye, you two. I need to go to the disciplinary teacher and confirm with him." Sighing, I respond back at her while checking on my bag. Phew, considering what has happened, my backpack is okay, just a bit battered.

Suddenly Nicole grabs my hand. Smiling, I hold her tightly and then go back home. On the way, I can feel she has a lot on her mind right now. Looks like she notices something back in the infirmary. I close my eye and think. Hmm, should I tell her? Sighing, I shake my head no. Not right now, at least. Days pass, and it's finally Saturday. Right now, I'm watching the sky in a daze. Questioning my decision, but a panel interrupts my reverie. Making me stop asking myself. Because I found the reason, +2 Unarmed. Uncle Victor suddenly appears over me with a grin, "get up! Training's over."

Panting, I slowly get up as my whole body feels sore after training. Grinning, Nicole quickly helps me walk to the kitchen for breakfast like usual. A sudden knock interrupts our breakfast, "knock-knock-knock!" Nicole stands up and walks away, saying, "oh, let me answer it!" Curious, I lean back in my chair and peek at the door. Soon after, she opens the door. Revealing a mysterious man in a black suit wearing sunglasses. With a black suitcase in his hand. Taking off his hat, the man politely bows at her, "hello, lass. Is this detective Victor's residence?"

Puzzled, Nicole politely nods, "yes, this is his home. Who are you?" Smiling, he says while taking out a business card, "my name is Harper Simon. And I have some business to discuss with him. So may I ask, is he home?" Frowning, she takes a quick glance at the business card. And then shouts to the kitchen, "dad! A guest is coming looking for you!" Closing the newspaper, Uncle Victor stands up and says, "yes, sweetie, I heard that." Annoyed, he quickly walks to the door while muttering, "damn it! It must be one of those damn bastards again."

Victor P.O.V

Walking to the living room, I find a man in a suit standing at the door. Noticing my glance, the man politely nods at me, "ah, good morning, sir. It's such a good day, isn't it?" Nodding, I reply while signaling Nicole to the kitchen, "good morning to you too, sir. Do you need anything from me?" Without saying anything, she gets back to the kitchen. Leaving me standing at the door alone with the man. Smiling, the man puts back his hat and says, "hello, sir, my name is Harper Simon. And I have come here to discuss something with you. So may I suggest we speak inside?"

Taking a deep breath, I hesitantly nod, "hmm, sure, come on in." Moving aside, I beckon him to sit on the couch in the living room, "please take a seat." Nodding, the man gets inside and sits on the couch. Without saying anything, I move the lounge chair in front of him. So we can talk eye to eye. Crossing my arm, I ask, "so, what do you want to discuss?" Smiling, he leans forward. While resting his chin on the back of his hand, "I heard you have an interesting photo belonging to my client?" I frown upon hearing his question.

Hmph, as expected, those companies were involved in the Quannapowit incident. Want to get rid of the evidence in my hand. Cocking an eyebrow, I ask, "I'm sorry, but I'm a detective, not a paparazzi. What I have is evidence to catch a criminal. Not some cheap photo scandal of a random celebrity." Smiling, Harper shakes his head. While he looks at me meaningfully, "I think you already know what I'm talking about, detective. So I won't beat around the bush." He puts his briefcase on the coffee table and shows its content.

My eye twitches in shock as he shows me a suitcase filled with cash. With a devilish grin, Harper tries to tempt me. Patting the briefcase, he says, "this is a gift from my employer to you. If you would be so kind as to give me back the photo without any problem." Taking a deep breath, I shake my head. Then firmly shut the briefcase, "I'm sorry. But I won't be easily swayed by money." The grin fades out from his face. As he pulls out a folder from his coat. Without saying anything, he spread the folder content right in front of me.

I'm looking at Harper coldly. As I glimpse at the notes laid in front of me. Because on the notes is all the information regarding my family and me. Agitated, I pound the coffee table, asking, "bam! What is the meaning of this?" Harper casually takes a note from the table, "well, nothing. It's just that, as a negotiator. I need to know who I'm negotiating with." Ignoring me, he calmly read the notes in his hand. With a sly grin, he cock an eyebrow. While waving the paper in his hand, "oh, what this? Looks like you really love your daughter, huh."

Narrowing my eye, I'm threateningly glaring at him. Grinning, Harper ignores my threat and calmly puts the paper on the table, "wouldn't it be such a shame. If anything dangerous happens to her?" Furious, I stand up and point at the door, "get the hell out of my house!" Without saying anything, he calmly packs up everything on the table and then leaves. But he leaves a message before he goes. As he stands at the door, "my client won't take no for an answer. And remember this detective. You have more than one enemy."

Ray P.O.V

I overheard everything in silence. While absentmindedly eating my breakfast. Hmm, from what I heard looks like someone tried to bribe uncle Victor. Out of the blue, aunt Chelsea pats my shoulder, "Ray, why are you keep hitting your bowl? Do you want more gruel?" Embarrassed, I quickly lift my bowl, "yes, I do want more gruel. I'm somewhat starving." Smiling, she pours some gruel into my bowl. While Nicole giggles, seeing me flustered. Ignoring her, I eat the gruel in peace. But a sudden loud sound made me drop my spoon, "bang! Those damn bastard!"

Uncle Victor storms into the kitchen after slamming the door shut in anger. With a gentle smile, Aunt Chelsea tries to calm him down. Making me hesitate to tell him that I would be gone for tomorrow. So, I decide to talk about it to Nicole after breakfast instead. Before long, we finish our breakfast. Taking the chance, I invite Nicole to my home to help me clean it up. As I don't have time to clean it up tomorrow. After that is done, I tell her an excuse for why I'll be gone for a day. I'm telling her I'm joining a training program for the weekend.

So I'm asking her to take care of my house when I'm gone. After that, I go to uncle Nate's home. And telling him pretty much the same thing. Phew, everything I need to do at home is done. I decided to take a short rest before the appointment. After lunch, I put on my coat. And then ride toward the address in the invitation Roxy gives me.