Chapter 222 - Mission Double Date

It took several hours before Edward was finally released from the headquarters and he was not expecting the headquarters to be at the Wilde mansion. Who would have imagined that there would be a bas.e.m.e.nt at the bottom of the mansion? Then again, the mansion was a remodelled castle that the family bought over in the outskirts of New York. Edward couldn't believe he didn't think of it.

Claire excused herself and left the poor teen in the hands of Jenna. Edward wasn't very familiar with the female butler but since he was in his girlfriend's home, he couldn't show any disrespect or refuse the sudden meeting with her mother. Orita Wilde wasn't the simple person the media painted her to be and Edward did his research. Alexandra Wilde took after her mother in that aspect and Edward wondered why Orita wanted to talk to him. Surely she would have known about his interrogation with Claire and why the head maid had gone to such lengths to 'invite' him over. A chit-chat session over some high-class tea wasn't all that was going to happen.

He couldn't say that he made the best impression in this house or had the best experience. Everything was too extravagant even though it was in a classy manner. Edward was so afraid to leave fingerprints on the polished glass windows. He was also afraid of sitting on the few-thousand-dollar designer couch. The teen was so stiff that Jenna wondered if they should have moved the meeting to the sitting room instead of Orita's private study.

On the opposite end of the study, Orita was dressed in nothing but a white bathrobe. She was looking very comfortable and in her element after a lovely bath. Edward wondered why the heiress was doing this to him. It was difficult to look at his future mother-in-law wearing just a bathrobe. He wasn't into older women and he certainly wasn't going to be seduced by whatever Orita was trying to do. His heart was loyal only to Scarlet and compared to s.e.xy, he found cuteness to be the ultimate justice that this world needed.

"Don't look so tense," Orita laughed. This child was fun to tease. Now that Claire let him go, it meant that this boy's loyalties can be trusted. He might be dangerous to others but Orita knew that a good knife, in the right hands, was a gem. Scarlet managed to hook a full-time bodyguard who wouldn't hesitate to lay his life down for her and dedicate his existence for her happiness. What was there not to like about Edward? If anything, Orita wished that they could quickly tie the knot so that she could have her peace of mind.

Orita told Jenna to bring up some refreshments to settle their guest in and the butler complied without giving Edward any chance to refute. Hospitality in the Wilde Family was not to be taken lightly and Edward had a bad feeling about it. With Claire in charge of housekeeping matters, surely she wouldn't put any truth serum or poison into the refreshments served... right?

In a timely fashion, the lady butler returned with a tray of earl grey tea and an assortment of muffins. Edward blinked. They looked rather ordinary and the only thing that unnerved him was the expensive porcelain tea set.

Watching Orita lift a cup to her lips after Jenna poured the tea, Edward decided that it was safe enough to follow her example. They didn't start talking until Orita watched Edward choose a muffin. While the heiress was enjoying seeing her daughter's boyfriend have a mini mental breakdown at which flavour to choose, Edward was praying that his luck will guide him through this ordeal.

Chocolate? No, it was too easy to disguise something into the dark colour without anyone noticing. Edward glanced to the chocolate chip-banana muffin and frowned. A rather safe choice but the baker could easily replace the chocolate ch.i.p.s on the inside with something else. Too risky. Edward passed quickly on the strange green muffin and settled on the remaining two choices. The first was blueberry and the second was banana. Both choices were relatively safe but Edward didn't trust the blueberry one. Never trust the blueberry ones because many similar berries can replace it but are poisonous. With the only 'safe' option left, Edward gambled and took it.

Orita smiled serenely and waited for Edward to take a bite. She didn't know what he was contemplating about for so long but she supposed Edward must really hate sweet treats because he chose the one with the least amount of sugar and flavour.

"What do you think about living with Scarlet with a more permanent arrangement?" Orita asked pleasantly, making Edward choke.

Of all the things that could happen, he wasn't expecting Orita to be so bold and direct. Truth be told, Edward didn't think that their current cohabitation could go on for very long. Living with Scarlet was comfortable but he didn't know if it was appropriate. It hasn't been all that long since they started dating and moving in within the first few months was something Edward didn't think was possible. Not to mention, Scarlet was currently still a minor. They were also in the middle of their first big fight and have not made up. He felt slightly bad at the thought but he shouldn't be thinking about it now. His future mother-in-law was grinning like a mischievous cat and Edward's mental alarms went off. This lady was planning something and Edward wasn't sure if he liked it.

"I-I'm afraid I don't understand," Edward replied. Yes, this should be the safer option.

Orita laughed. "You don't have to be so nervous. Of course, this isn't something for you and Scarlet to decide. I need to talk to your parents about it if it becomes a more permanent arrangement. I'm sure you could already tell from the moment you entered the mansion but we're not an average family. You're also not an average boy. My daughter is constantly causing me to worry because of her reckless behaviour and her overly-kind heart. Hence, I will only feel relieved if someone was there beside her to be her shield and pillar that she can rely on. Of course, we will compensate you accordingly. I heard that you had a tiff?"

Edward squirmed, his appetite gone. "I wouldn't call it a tiff," he said and looked down. "She had every right to suspect me, I wasn't being transparent with her. I shouldn't have walked out like that but I don't know how I can apologise now or what to do."

Nodding in agreement, Orita snapped her fingers. Jenna came forward with something and Edward looked up. It was an envelope and Edward somehow felt a sense of deja vu. Why does everyone like to give envelopes when it concerns important things? Scarlet wanted a confession letter in an envelope. The information that CEO Zhu passed Scarlet was also in an envelope. Suddenly, Edward was scared. What could this possibly be? He didn't feel like opening it here but Orita's expectant look gave him no choice.

Slowly but reluctantly like a man walking to the gallows, Edward received the envelope with both hands and opened it. Inside, there were some tickets and Edward wondered why there were four instead of two.

"This is...?"

Smiling like an angel, Orita clapped her hands in glee. "A way to make up with Scarlet! Isn't it great? With this, you can ask Alex to plan a double date and you can be the surprise. It's something fairly new that I learned about from some of my friends. They say it's good for couples to get to know each other better."

Edward studied the tickets. They didn't look familiar to him so they weren't movie tickets or plane tickets. It took him a while to read the details and Edward frowned.

"What's an escape room?"

Jenna explained that it was a new activity similar to a haunted house of an amus.e.m.e.nt park but with perks.

"Perks?" Edward was now curious. He wasn't sure if Scarlet was good with scary things but he knew that Jasper wasn't a fan of such things if he could do without them. Alex looked like the kind to scream and run away or panic and be the first to die in a zombie apocalypse but Edward doesn't know how Scarlet would react. With PTSD, it could be more detrimental than helpful in patching their relationship. Edward didn't know her PTSD triggers and he hesitated.

"Is it not to your liking?" Orita asked when Edward hesitated for a long time.

Edward quickly denied it and thanked them for the thoughtful gift. However, he couldn't help but ask if it would truly be alright.

"Scarlet has difficulties with certain issues that trigger her PTSD. I don't know what they are... will playing in this escape room truly be alright?"

Orita smiled. This boy was right for her daughter. "It'll be alright because you're there, aren't you?"

Edward didn't answer and he was at a loss for words. There was both a warm acceptance and a cold dread that clashed against each other within him when he heard those words. While he was glad for the trust placed in him, Edward couldn't help but doubt his capabilities to truly keep Scarlet safe. With the mission to lure Julian to their trap and find Anastasia's link to Pineapple Group so close to the double date mission, Edward wondered if they would truly be alright.