Chapter 13
I wonder why he was giving his all. It is not as if he would die if he doesn’t finish it today… but…it was the first time I ever saw Aiden be like this. Although we really haven’t had the time to be together for me to notice it… seeing him work his self out… I can’t help but think that he was just like me.
Holding the pen and paper I borrowed, my hands are shaking a bit. I still can’t believe how I can handle such big pressure! How can he easily say that??
“You have an idea? Right? Jot it down and I will read it. But do make sure that it isn’t a waste of my time”
Just… just how can I even write it down!! Who knows… if he even gets mad about what I have written, he would surely cut my head off… Ah… why do I even need to do this… this is your work to fix right? But… I still love my neck so… if ever it was cut off…
Shaking my head, I can’t let that happen. I need to focus!
His company was being copied by the other company. Although… I think that it is one of the problems that each company have the problem with.
‘Spy’
I was lucky that one of my grandmother’s hobbies was reading journals written by my grandfather. He seems to be a consultant of sorts. I never really had the chance to ask about it since my grandma always change the topic whenever we talk about him.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“Although I do have the idea of who the spy is, I have no plan on how I can let that spy out”
He blurs out while clicking on his mouse. His eyes were fixed on the screen of his laptop.
Why does he think that I have the ability to help him? I don’t even have a degree that is comparable to what he achieved. As a child, I didn’t have the privilege to finish school. All I know is how to live… how to do simple things…
So to let me take care of something as this…
“Are you just going to stand there and waste my time?”
I… how can I have the courage to blur out words that he would be pleased to hear?
“Or maybe you want me to cut off your dinner and- ”
“NO! I… I mean… I am just thinking of how to say it”
I gulp. How did I ever have the courage to say that?! I am doomed! I am really, really! Doomed!
“Say… it… already. I am not an idiot to not understand your words even if it is gibberish, I will try to understand it. Just do make sure it makes sense even a bit”
There is nothing left for me to be worried about. I will just hope that my memories serve me right… because in my grandfather’s journal… something like this really did happen.
“To catch a mouse out, we need to prepare cheese. But if it isn’t cheese that they are liking, peanut butter and chocolate can turn the tables upside down”
Now looking at me, I think that I got his attention at me. Putting his hand together, I somehow feel like I said something wrong. But… I just need to say my thoughts and nothing else! I don’t want to end up not eating dinner just because of this matter. I finished my task for that reason!
“All you need to do is place a bait for that spy to fall into. The works that you showed in the fabric industry were easily taken by the others. That means that someone inside your company is selling your designs and information. The fact that the other company seems to publish your designs first means that they have the advantage. No matter how people would look about it, you look like you are just following their trend even if you are really the original creator of those designs”
That is all that I can think about…
“And what would you do if you learned that it was really I who copied them??”
What is he even talking about?
“No, that is not possible at all”
I immediately replied as I really find that it won’t be the case at all. How could he even do that if he know this would happen? And…
“Why do you sound so convinced that I am not?”
Asking me such question, I even wonder how I would be able to answer that… is it really alright for me to reply? But… maybe I should just explain it. Be honest, Lea. If you are honest, there won’t be a problem at all.
“Your eyes show it… no, I mean… you can’t possibly do something like that”
Wait, did I really blur it out so honestly? But… nevermind!
“My eyes?”
Just don’t push much about it please…
“…”
Not replying anything at all, I was realty hoping that he would just let it be. And to my surprise, it really did work.
Lucky me…
“Forget about it, now, do you have a plan on how to bring the spy out?”
“Yes … but, I am not pretty sure if it would work”
Explaining it like that, I am not a pro so there is a high possibility that case wont work at all.
“Can you do it?”
But saying that it is impossible I would beg disagree with that matter.
It is… possible
“I think… I can”
Why does it sound like… something was off? My heart beats fast…
“If it succeeds, you have one wish I can grant”
So, this is why I feel like there is something about it!
Wait, did he say that I have a one wish he would grant? Can I ask for my freedom then?! I didn’t know that I can escape so easily! With that, I can finally-
“Don’t be overjoyed, you are still my slave. By means you forget about it”
Oh… right… it can’t be as easy as that…
“Yes” I smiled
.
.
.
‘Your eyes show it’
That words keep ringing on his head. Aiden couldn’t forget about Lea saying that phrase. As soon as the girl excuse herself to write the plan she thinks about, Aiden can’t focus on his job. Staring at the screen half filled with words… he remembers a memory he had before.
‘Aiden, tell me the truth’
‘Mother, it was really I who did this to me…’
‘How can it even possibly be true when your eyes say how you hated that? Aiden, there is no use in lying to me. You know how much I care about you. Your father shall know about this. How can that Brylle hurt you in our own home? ‘
‘But mother…’
‘Aiden, as long as I am here, no one can hurt you. As long as me and your father is alive, we will never let anyone hurt you like this again. That Brylle, I really don’t know why he became like that. But if he hurt you, then I can no longer trust him. I can never forget those who hurt the one I loved’
Her words keep on opening a spot in his heart. As if there is a hole opening. Although Aiden didn’t hate any bit of remembering it, it was still true that it hurts him not just a bit. Closing his laptop, he can no longer focus in finishing it. His time will just be wasted if he stares at it any longer. All that would possibly happen is him remembering bitter memories.
Leaving his room, he has no idea if it was a good thing or not. For as soon as the door opens, what welcomes him is the sight of his father looking at the window pane, as if he was watching something worthy for his eyes to see.
“Aiden, I have been wanting to talk to you for a while now. But it doesn’t seem to fit in your schedule. Have you been taking any rest? Overworking yourself won’t do you any good. You should also take some time to leave all your worries away. Or else, this father of yours will be truly worried of your well-being”
Looking at him with the same smile he had on his face, it was one of the things why he hates to see the sight of his father.
“I don’t have any time to chat around with you”
Muttering it with no heed of hiding his feelings, Menandro can tell how much his son hates to hear even just his words.
“You always say that”
But even so, there is still a small smile on his lips. That makes his son hate to see his face more.
“Am I? or maybe you just don’t want to read what I am implying to say?”
“And what might it be that you want to tell?”
Glaring at him, Aiden was well aware of the fact that their discussion will not go into anything useful. It will just lead to nothing at all.
“There is no sense in talking to a fool ”
“I still find a sense in talking to my foolish son who can’t get over in what happened seven years ago”