IN THE CAGE

53. STILL ON THE SAME DAY

...NORMAL pov...

...----------------...

Although the sky was very clear out there, Ace Hunter barged into his own room with a dark expression. Tension was evident on the surface - the result of discussions with Jack and Margot was what made him so grim.

Ace thought about Margot's safety, but damn it, there's nothing more important in this world than revenge! Not even Margot's own life. Everyone turns a blind eye to the risks they can accept and free-fall into opportunities that cannot even be considered a help or even a threat.

"Are you okay?" Fawn who peels an orange on the couch-turns face towards Ace. The sparkles in his eyes showed anxiety mixed with nervousness.

The last time Ace walked into the room in a fit of rage, the man went on a rampage and spat out everything in this room. Fawn was afraid the same thing would happen again. That's terrible enough to see.

Ace returned Fawn's gaze and shook his head. "It's none of your business" he said.

"Everything that happens in this house is really none of my business" Fawn replied. "But I'm worried about you...,"

"Again? No kidding. You must be mocking me in your head."

Again with the same accusation, Fawn began to argue Ace.

"Well, it's up to you. Maybe you're right, you seem to know me better than I do." Fawn said sarcastically before whispering to herself. "I'm sorry I asked you to talk, motherfucker."

"What did you say?" Ace was curious at Fawn's whisper.

"Nothing."

"You said something.."

"No way!"

"Are you scolding me?"

Fawn took a long breath. "By Neptune, don't be narcissistic. Also-please don't vent your anger on me! If you get angry-ummm-angry in that area only. This sofa is my territory..." Fawn stood up and created an invisible line around the sofa with her index finger.

"Do you know this is my room?" Ace raised his eyebrows instantly. Fawn knew she was angry and instead of cowering in fear the girls showed indifference instead?

He-an Arcelio Hunter was the most feared person in the country, whether in a state of anger or not. And Fawnia Alder-si lackey Indira, her captive-alah showed an attitude as if her anger was nothing.

"I know, that's why..."

"If you know, then you realize that every corner of this house is mine, don't you?"

"Yeah, then, are you gonna hit me?" Fawn took a step back as Ace sauntered towards the sofa, the man's change of attitude which from full of pressure to ambiguous and mysterious made Fawn daze. What is Ace bipolar? Why did he change his mood as quickly as a wink?

"I won't hit you, sit down and eat." Ace implied to a small basket of oranges still scattering on the glass table.

Ace sat on the sofa and patted the empty side next to him, asking Fawn to sit there. "Come," he called again. Softening sound.

"What do you want?" Fawn approached hesitantly.

"none. Don't worry about anything. I'm not gonna hit you. Why do you think I'm gonna hit you?"

"Because you're being..., angry?"

"I'm not mad at you, either, you've been acting good all this time, I'm not gonna hit you." Ace reached out his hand at Fawn, and though there was still some doubt - Fawn welcomed the helping hand. As if following Ace's pre-programmed will in his bones, Fawn chills at the fact that he is weak when the man speaks softly to him.

After successfully making Fawn sit by his side, Ace without any hesitation instantly laid his head on Fawn's shoulder. His eyes closed tightly while his hands wrapped around Fawn's back which was warm and scented like a laundry detergent. It's not sharp, but it's quite comfortable.

"Let me charge my energy for a moment" Ace said, his voice weak.

Fawn-without ability or more like determination to fight-let Ace lean on his shoulder. Depends on. It's better than being slapped in the face.

...----------------...

A large fire broke out in the backyard of the Hunter residence, alongside a light-Vera fire extinguisher monitoring the blaze while leaning against a concrete wall. Cigarettes tucked into his lips, accompanying him who was on duty to burn Margot's bed.

As long as his eyes were fixed on the fire, Vera again pondered over his fate which had somehow gotten more unlucky lately. Not only was his vacation ration cut off, his sleep ration was reduced thanks to the madness his boss created. This afternoon - when he was supposed to take a break to sleep for three hours, Margot instead ordered him to burn the expensive mattress right now. Just because the bed was stained.for God's sake!

"He can donate this to me, and I'm willing to wash it..." Vera mourned and lamented at the sight of the expensive bed of premium quality that had already melted to ashes. Imagine how much money was wasted there...

'Haaaah, these rich people are giving me a headache!'

"Veras?" Willa-a fellow Vera-bodyguard appears in the backyard. Join Vera and frown lightly upon seeing Vera's cigarette. It was not a new sight anymore, but it was still not something that would be able to get Willa used to it.

"What's wrong?" Vera removed the cigarette from her lips and tucked it in the clothespin.

"Prepare, Margot's boss is taking us to Leviathan" Willa said.

"All right, I'll catch up..." Vera lifted her cigarette which was half left. Hinted to Willa that she needed to finish her cigarette before leaving.

"Kai."

...----------------...

Leviathan is not a new place for Margot's bodyguards. The place has been a witness to the rise and fall of a Margaret Hunter because, both he was in a state of joy and sorrow, Margaret's best friend was alcohol.

Vera who has accompanied Margot throughout the depression his boss was accustomed to go to the place to the stage he had already died the ins and outs of the club that night. Hapal names his bartenders and even his workers.

"What are we celebrating tonight, boss?" Vera opened the door to Margot when they arrived at Leviathan. The ear-splitting sound of music was faintly heard from outside. Vera imagined the hubbub inside there and had already let out a breath of air.

"We're celebrating my victory, Ver. Today I managed to defeat Ace in a debate with my uncle."

"Huh, that's good." Vera smiled faintly before catching up with Margot from behind.

Unlike the previous days, tonight Vera is shocked by the additional bodyguards sent from the branch-Jack Hunter family home. They were all sent to accompany Margot.

While Margot breezed into Leviathan with Vera and Willa by her side, the other bodyguards obeyed Vera's eye cues and spread across the room.

"The entrance is safe."

"The back door is secure."

"Chore two is safe."

"It's safe."

"First floor is safe."

"Monitor space is safe."

The reports entered one by one into Vera's ears and she gave a quick nod to Willa.

"Ow, ow, ow..." Margot breezed towards the bar table, a face gleaming with pleasure. "Look who I found in my favorite place."

Facing the bartender who was slicing a lemonade into a glass, Anggara Rashid was propped up with his chin while stirring the margarita in front of him.

Realizing the arrival of Margot and the excitement of her voice, Anggara turned with wide eyes. "Margareth?"

"Hola..," said Margot. "You don't need to be formal with me, Margot, call me Margot. I thought I'd said this over and over again."

'Are you a fool?'

Vera could hear his boss' curse in his heart. His boss Margot is not the kind of woman who likes to say things over and over again. He often cursed people who did not hear his words.

"Hmm, Margot.yes, it feels a bit awkward on my tongue." Anggara forced a smile. "So, are you alone...?"

Anggara's eyes rolled behind Margot only to realize that her question was a stupid one. Margot may have left her lackeys.

"Hi again, right there..." Anggara greeted Vera who was monitoring them with a flat and alert expression.

Acclaimed by Anggara, Vera was somewhat surprised and nodded.

"You're very friendly to my bodyguards.., but where's your bodyguard, Anggara?"

"I don't like to travel with a lot of people."

"What if you get attacked?!"

Anggara laughed faintly. "Nobody's gonna attack me here."

"Why are you so confident?"

"I'm just..., you know.., doesn't matter?"

That's bullshit, Vera knows that the boss' interlocutor is talking nonsense. Listening to the two talking with all the drab falsehoods, Vera let out a tired sigh. Again, this job made him ask, why is he here? Did this?

"Vera, someone's approaching behind you." The report came in Vera's ears, from the bodyguard in charge of watching from the second floor.

Vera turned around and instantly widened her eyes as the extremely familiar face in her eyes smiled widely and caught her shoulders.

"Veras?"

Damn it, while he was working!!! Why?!!

...----------------...