Chapter 81 - Chapter 80

@International_Pen

((( CLAIRE )))

Through the slightly tinted glasses, I saw Deo smile. I smiled back. Clarisse also bid her goodbye and both of them disappeared just as fast as everything happened.  

"I'm exhausted. Can we just talk later?"

It was more of a statement than a question. I didn't need his approval. I'd do what I wanted to.

"Okay. I'll call you later," he leaned in for a kiss.  

I nodded and walked straight to my room without ever turning back at him. I locked the door in case Ma or Nadine followed me for questions. I looked around and wondered how free I am right now if that was still my dingy old room…If I didn't let him into my life.  

My family's living has bettered now but not mine. It has been as bleak as the black coat that hung around my shoulders. Zhio's coat, the second one I had from him. I stood for a while before the mirror and admiringly gazed at myself…at the coat.  

His coat felt like his arms…his warm embrace.  

In them, I'd felt safe.

Just how lucky I've been to ever stumble upon a good man as him?

(DEO)

If only I could write down on the calendar all my questions for him instead of his daily schedule, I would. I'd come to know Zhio better when he first asked me to find that woman. Then when he asked me to religiously buy white roses each day.

The Project Rose. Everything he did made me realized he was still a man with feelings. And in time, he'd realize that feeling was called 'love'.

He's just afraid to break free from that fragile shell he's built around himself. It was possibly the trauma that the deaths around his personal circle had caused. Anybody who knew him well would know just how messy his life was.  

And I was one of those few people who didn't envy him. His men in black that littered along the hallway was one of the reminders why. Medical personnel and security staffs paced forth here and there. Outside, few police cars were parked.  

Zhio was quiet when I entered the suite via his request. His sleeves were crudely rolled up and his lips were also paler than usual.

"Sir."

His gaze still lingered far outside the windows.

"What happened?" I probed as I placed his schedule calendar on the table.  

"Didn't you know I almost died?" he finally looked at me.

"Mr. Fung. That bastard tried to stab me with a Rotring fountain pen.

"Oh," I scrolled through the tablet for his earlier schedule.

His meeting with Mr. Fung was two hours ago but the bad news hasn't caught up to me until now. That business man has a huge grudge against Zhio but his appointment to buy a large sum of the company's common stocks seemed tempting enough for his schedule to push through into Zhio's calendar.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Whatever. Do a thorough double check on appointment requesters," his brows knitted,

"That old hag has flopped a major project and was nearing bankruptcy. He literally just came here to kill me."

I nodded.

It was another attempt against his life and the hundredth in total I guess. Anytime, anyone will just appear out of nowhere and threat his life.  

"How's she?" Zhio diverted the subject.

@International_Pen