Chapter 177 - Safe For Now

'F*ck! How long has he been standing there? Did he hear everything?'

Elle's mind was in turmoil. She did not know what she would do first, whether she should answer his question or shut the computer down in front of her.

Erick was confused seeing the shocked expression on her face. She looked like she had seen a ghost or more likely she looked like she was caught cheating by her boyfriend.

Erick's brows furrowed into a knot as he did not get any response from Elle. 'Why does she look so troubled? Is she nervous? But why?' Erick pondered to himself.

Erick cleared his throat to break the silence. Elle snapped back after hearing it. Her mind started to function again but her heart was pounding rapidly on her chest.

'Elle, what are you doing? You are about to get caught. Think clearly!' she scolded herself. Elle put her right hand on her chest and breathed in deeply.

"You almost gave me a heart attack. Why are you suddenly appearing without a sound or any warning?!" Elle complained to him.

Erick raised his brow as he folded his arms across his chest. His lips formed a thin line before he spoke up to her.

"I should be the one asking you that. You suddenly disappeared without notice. When I woke up, I did not see you in my arms so I searched for you all over the house, only to find you here. You too, you almost gave me a heart attack. I was so worried just a while ago." he lamented to her.

Elle's eyes were focused on Erick but her hand simply moved to close the portal and server on the computer screen. She was glad that Erick remained standing on his spot.

Hearing her conversation with Charles was enough to rack her brain to think for a good excuse. But seeing what on the screen right now would make it more difficult to find a good excuse. So she could not afford to let him find out what she had done.

Her body started to have cold sweats. Erick started to approach her. In the corner of her eyes, she could see that there were still two windows she had not closed yet. Her hand was moving secretly using the mouse.

"You have not answered my question yet. What are you doing here? and Why are you talking with Charles at this hour?" Erick repeated his question as he continued to walk towards her.

Elle did not know how much he had heard about her conversation with Charles. She knew that Erick was somehow suspicious of her action now. To think that she was talking to her boss at this hour, it was almost midnight. Plus the tone she used while talking to Charles just a while ago was not like a staff talking to her boss but. The other way around. It was quite suspicious indeed.

'I just hope that he only heard the last statement before I hang up the phone.' Elle was hoping silently.

Elle was a little bit tense but she was trying her best not to lose her composure.

"We are just talking about work. It just so happened that he was still awake. He messaged me but I haven't replied until now. When he received my message he decided to call me." Elle said as she smiled at him, hiding her nervousness.

Erick rubbed his chin as he mulled over it. His gaze was still fixed on her. Elle started to feel the pressure. She could not help but bit her lower lip.

'Eh… it seems like he is not buying my words.' Elle became more uneasy.

"Sorry for being here. I woke up and I could not sleep. I decided to come here and read some books. You were sound asleep. I don't want to wake you up and disturb your peaceful sleep." Elle started to elaborate on her excuse.

Erick was now standing at the back of her seat. His eyes were now on the computer screen. Elle heaved a sigh of relief when she followed his line of sight. There were no open windows left on the screen, only the computer desktop could be seen.

"Sorry for touching the computer. I felt bored while reading so I decided to play some games on your computer so I opened it. I was about to use it when Charles called me." Elle explained again.

Erick nodded and smiled at her. He bent down to hug her from behind. He nuzzled his face into her neck, sniffing her sweet vanilla scent. Elle rubbed his arms wrapped around her body.

"What situation he should update you?" Erick asked her again, there was a tinge of jealousy in his voice.

She frowned after hearing his question and sensing a hint of jealousy in his tone.

'So I guess I am right, he just heard the last statements before I hang the phone.' She began to ease up a little bit.

Waiting for her response, Erick squeezed Elle into his arms. She could feel his hot breath against her skin.

"About the Cafe. Remember, I was not able to come to work for the past few days so I am just asking if they are doing fine without me since someone I know banned me from leaving the house or should I say leaving his sight." Elle pouted after saying that.

Erick let out a soft chuckle since he knew that someone she was talking about was him.

"Hmm. I just want to spend more time with you before I go back to work. You can also go back to work on Monday." Erick said to her.

"Hmm, you are really shameless." Elle pretended to be annoyed.

Erick broke into another laughter because of her remarks. "I am just happy that you are too obedient."

"Anyway, another question. What company are you talking about a while ago?" Erick asked her curiously.

He sensed the seriousness in Elle's voice when she said "Take care of that company. Make them pay double."

Elle's pupil contracted at the mention of that company. But she was able to conceal her negative emotions.

"Oh, it's nothing. It is just that there is a certain company that became our customer, ordering cakes and other bread in our Cafe. The Cafe became the supplier of their company's cafeteria. I just ask Charles to double the price. Is that too much? Hehe," Elle laughed at him awkwardly as she scratched her cheek.

"When did you become a profiteer?" Erick said as amus.e.m.e.nt was evident to his voice.

"Ah." Elle gasped when she felt Erick suddenly bit her shoulder. Then she pinched his arm in return.

"Let's go back to bed," Erick said to her as he pulled her up from her seat. Elle just nodded in agreement.

'Whoah! It looks like I am safe for now.' Elle thought to herself as Erick did not ask her any more questions.

Erick took one last glance at his computer screen before he followed Elle. Conflicting emotions appeared in his dark brown eyes. He had some doubt but he pushed the thought at the back of his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, everything seemed to be normal. Charles and Phantom's mission was successful. They were able to take all the money inside the vault of de Dios's Lending Company.

As of now, the management and staff were oblivious to what happened to the company. The security guards did not suspect anything since they were knocked down not by force but because they had been drugged that's why they passed out last night.

Since it was weekend, no one went to work today so for the time being, they would not find out that their company was robbed.

Now, Phantom and Charles were executing their next move. After gathering the information, they were able to track down Diego de Dios.

After coming back from his out of town trip, Diego was now spending his time at one of the restaurants in City Z together with his assistant.

"Mr. de Dios, do you mind if I join you?" A voice interrupted Diego in enjoying his meal. He gazed up to see a stranger smiling at him.

"Pardon? Do I know you?" Diego asked the man standing beside their table. A deep frown appeared on his face.

"No. But I know you very well." A mocking smile appeared on the stranger's face.

The stranger looked like he was in his mid-50s. He was wearing a white shirt and a brown coat paired with black pants. His aura was somehow intimidating. Diego knew that this person was not an ordinary person.

"Why should I let you? I don't even know you." He gave him a side glance. The man just let out a c.o.c.ky chuckle that annoyed Diego.

The strange man leaned over to whisper something to Diego. His eyes widened in disbelief when he heard his statement. Diego dropped the spoon and fork as his hands were trembling. Diego's face became pale.

His assistant was puzzled about what was happening to his boss. The strange man gave Diego a meaningful glance before he walked away and vanished to their sight.

"Boss are you okay? What did he say to you?" His assistant asked him with a concerned look on his face. However, Diego did not respond to his question.

Meanwhile, Phantom just entered the car where Charles was waiting for him. 

"Have you talk to him, Master? Did he get our message? What is his reaction? Did he say anything?" Charles bombarded him with so many questions. Phantom just gave him a meaningful smile as his eyes followed Diego's figure who went out rushing from the restaurant.