Chapter 77 - Chapter 76

@International_Pen

((( DEO )))

"I'm not talking to you," she scrunched her forehead at him, "and stop ordering your friend around."

"I'm taking you home Miss Claire," I butted in.

"I'm sure you also don't know this place well."

"Call me Claire," she was smiling coyly now, "and thanks."

I don't really have the appetite but that breakfast was part of our little act. I had to go along.

"How would I tell my family why I didn't go home last night?" Claire suddenly mumbled.

"Deo will take care of it," Zhio answered although Claire was particularly just talking to herself. He gave me a sharp look and smiled.

"Right?"

Protocol 02. Nod, lie, and say yes...  

"Are you crazy?" she said in surprise that was as much as mine.

"He doesn't even had an idea what happened last night."  

And you too don't have an idea just how crazy he is…

"Don't worry about it," I said with the most convincing bright smile I could.

Protocol 03. Don't complain...this is basically my job.  

Claire looked worriedly at her feet when we were about to leave. She doesn't have any footwear on.

"You want me to walk outside barefoot?" she scoffed at Zhio.  

"Want me to lift you to the car?" he swiftly recoiled.

"No. But I'd look stupid with these bare feet…"

"Those feet almost killed me last night," Zhio snorted. "Deo will take care of it."

I nodded.

"I told you to stop ordering Deo around. You're not even his boss," she protested.

"Thanks but no thanks."

"What's your size Miss Claire?"

"It's alright Deo. Don't listen to this hulk," she argued.

Her feet looked small. Around size 38.  

"I'd be back," I sprinted to the nearest convenient store despite her refusal.

While away, I spared that little time to improvise a story for Claire. I called the men that followed her to the cabaret and their narration provided me an idea.  

"Get a crew from that bar and make him act accordingly to what I wanted to," I ordered before cutting the call.  

Zhio and Claire were still bantering when I returned.

"Your breath sucks last night!"  

"And your armpit was smelly!"

I knocked at the car door and Claire opened it for me.

"Here," I handed her the rubber loafers.

She put them on and got off Zhio's car.

"Thanks."

"I don't have body odor," Zhio defensed and averted his gaze to me.

"Take her home."

He took off his coat and threw it to me.

"Here. Tell her to wear that."

"He just want me to wash them," she grimaced before Zhio's car sped off.

I wrapped the coat around her and drove off silently, all the while preparing myself for the questions she'd ask. I didn't know exactly what lies had Zhio already told her. So I must be careful. One unmatched lie and our stories would be inconsistent.    

I sighed.

Protocol 00.  

The most important one for Zhio…

Make sure people believe my lies.

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