The culprit (2)

"That is not true!" Queen argued back, and tried to jump right up. But she couldn't as her foot still hurt and she plopped right back onto Quince's laps.

"Don't get up too soon. You've injured yourself." Quince scolded. "You're really clumsy."

"That is not true! It was an accident!" Queen turned her body side way, making it sink deeper into his, before continuing her argument. She was definitely not clumsy! Even if she were, she would never admit it. Her pride as the notorious prime minister was at stake here!

"Are you sure? You tripped on air and almost fell just now." Quince said in his usual tone. Though his eyes softened considerably while looking at her.

"I didn't trip on air, it's your table! It wouldn't get out of my way." Queen replied heatedly. It was definitely not her fault.

"So you're saying, my table is misbehaving? Should I punish it then?" Quince asked seriously.

Queen nodded vehemently, "Yes, throw it out!"

Quince chuckled softly then. He couldn't help smiling at her. She was truly acting like a little girl. A spoiled one nevertheless.

Queen was mesmerized by his expression. It was the first time she saw him laughed. She noticed that when he smiled, he actually had dimples on both side of his cheeks. Her cat looks so damn adorable!

A knock was heard from the door right at that moment. Queen sat up straighter on Quince's laps as she turned her head to look at it.

"That must be One!" She exclaimed excitedly. "Don't let him in yet! Put me on the chair first!" She said hurriedly as she realized she was still sitting on his lap.

"But why?" Quince asked pretending to be confused.

"Isn't it obvious?" Queen retorted hotly.

"What is?" Quince tilted his head 45 degrees and gazed at her. He looked perfectly innocent that way, if one does not account his usual non expression.

"You....you...." Queen was stunned by his shamelessness. If her foot was alright she would definitely kick him! If this is how he wants to play it then fine!

Queen used her right forefinger to drag it slowly down his cheek and whispered seductively, "Are you sure you want to play this game with me?"

"You...you...." It was now Quince's turn to be stunned by her shamelessness. Originally, he only planned to tease her a bit before taking her to the chair. He clutched her misbehaving finger before it went any further and abruptly got up, with her in his arms.

Her body faces his as his arms wrapped beneath her bottom. Queen had to wrap her arms around his neck to keep her balance.

"Can't you tell me before you get up?" Queen complained.

Quince ignored her and yelled,"Come in."

"Wait!" Queen could only utter one word of protest before One walked in the room.

That was how One walked in to witness the astonishing sight of his boss carrying the Miss to a chair.

One saw how his boss gently placed her down and walked over to the cabinet where the first aid kit was usually kept.

'Boss is really treating the Miss well...did some devil possess his cold boss to do this ?' One was so shocked he couldn't speak for a moment. That was until Quince asked for him to report his findings.

"Yes sir! I found out that the relationship between the engineers are very good. They are close friends and business partners. They have an equal partnership of 20% each."

"That's fair enough, 20% for 5 people." Queen nodded her head as she listened to his report.

Quince on the other hand, walked right back to Queen and bend down to look at her foot.

"What are you doing?" Queen asked, surprised by his sudden movement.

"Checking your foot." Quince replied easily. He took a tube of medicine preparing to put it for Queen.

Queen immediately moved her foot away from him,"No way! I can do it myself!"

She wasn't trying to be difficult but letting her cat do something like this was simply too much. It's the men that have to take care of ladies not vice versa! Her pride as a man simply won't allow it! Especially from him, whom she swore to protect.

At this moment Queen completely forgot that she was a woman. While it was true that she had been living as a woman for 23 years but she had lived as a man for many more.

Occasionally she would still think of herself as that valiant young lord and mighty prime minister.

"Don't be stubborn." Quince said as he gently pulled her foot towards him.

Queen couldn't resist his strength so she had to comply unwillingly. She pouted as she glared at him.

Quince saw that expression and bent his head down to hide his smile. He pulled her shoe out before gently applying the ointment for her.

"You don't need a bandage for this, but apply the ointment daily. It should be alright within 2-3 days." He said.

As for One, his soul already flew out of his body watching this lovey dovey scene. His cold ruthless boss was helping a woman! No one knows this but his boss actually hated women!

One had once asked his boss for the reason and his reply was,"Their tricks are dirty and manipulative. You should also stay away from them."

One had followed his boss's instruction to the tee. Till now he had never even had a girlfriend because of this. His boss...that boss that is convinced that all women are evil except for his own mother was actually treating a woman gently!

"Alright, can you stand already?" Queen said, still pouting. That was truly an uncomfortable experience for her.

Quince turned his head to other side to hide another smile before getting up.

Queen turned back to One before saying,"Is that all? Isn't there anything suspicious at all?"

"Yes Miss, they are generally no problems at all with their relationship...except there is one strange thing." One said cautiously.

"Oh?" Queen's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned her body slightly forward.

"Yes Miss, since the engineer team is quite popular in the company, a secret fan club has established." One said. "Though the fan club base is not as big as the base for Master Quince, it is still quite a large number."

Queen immediately laughed at One statement in regards to Quince. Her laughter sounded bright and happy, causing Quince's chest to tighten once more. Regardless of his own reaction, he first shot a warning look at One before glaring at Queen.

She was now clutching her stomach and laughing at the sheer absurdity at the thought of his fan base. "There is actually a fan club for this cold faced cat?" She asked in between laughter.

"If you are done laughing Miss Vancroft, please let us know." Quince said inserting more iciness in his tone than usual.

"Of course." Quince said before immediately straightening to sit tall and prim like a proper lady, though she still had a wide smile on her face.

Quince looked over at One, signaling him to continue his report.

"Well" One cleared his throat before continuing,"All the engineers are deemed to be extremely handsome and the fans have plenty of pictures of them. However...there isn't a single picture with all five of the engineers together."

"How is that strange?" Queen asked confusedly.

"It is strange because it is not just pictures, but even in general. No one has ever seen the 5 of them together. The maximum number is 4." One said gravely.