IN THE CAGE

56. REQUESTS

...ACE pov's...

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The velvet sofa that was displayed near the window had become a favorite place for Fawn to stay silent. When he opened his eyes and finished cleaning himself, he would stay on that sofa for some time. Lately, her favorite position has been to hug her knees while contemplating looking out the window.

I don't know what Fawn's thinking or feeling right now, and given what happened to us last time - I don't want to know anymore. I'm afraid my curiosity will bring our relationship worse than it is today.

Ignorance is blessing, I guess. Knowing how much he hated being by my side only made me hurt. I just wanted to believe that he would be by my side forever. It was more relieving and soothing, even for a lie.

Her honesty is too scary.

"Excuse me," Felix knocked on the open door carrying a tray of pudding, biscuits and milk. I let Felix in and watched in silence how the two arch-enemies met again. Fawn never liked Felix - why, and Felix was the same.

"Miss Fawn, I brought you a snack." Felix said to Fawn as he put his tray on the table. "If you want something you can-"

"Nothing," Fawn said. His voice was flat, as flat as his expression when he saw a plate of food that often made him flowery. Noticing Fawn's reaction right then and there, I again felt a heavy weight fall on my chest. What could make her come back cheerful, I don't know. I don't know Fawn that well.

"If you want to order something later-" Felix insisted on finishing his remark, and it made Fawn look at him with annoyance.

"I said no!!!"

"Felix, just leave him." In the end, I raised my voice. While Felix was retreating from before me, I stepped closer to the sofa where Fawn was now. He looked at me with his pair of eyes. The hatred and anger buried in the chocolate bead was very obvious. I used to love the fire burning in her eyes, but now, the sight was painful and exhausting. I'd rather he smiled.

"Are you not starving?" I asked Fawn to speak and sat down in front of her. My eyes glared at the food tray before rising to his pair of alert-sparkling oreo eyes. "You didn't finish your meal this afternoon either."

Pause for some time before Fawn answers me. He was just pondering there, his face looking at me like he was staring at an extraterrestrial. "I'm not starving." he said as a whisper.

"Are you sure?"

"Why am I not sure of my own answer?"

"Fawn...., I just want you to eat, okay? You know who's gonna lose you getting sick, don't you?"

"What, who else would you kill to get me to obey you?"

Looks like Fawn misinterpreted my intentions. Of course, there was a rule between us that in case he attempted suicide or hurt himself, the three most important people in his life would be eliminated. But.., but that's not what I meant just now. I just wanted to remind her that she's sick, she's gonna feel the pain herself. Hurting himself by not eating will not help him at all to be able to soften me and get out of here! I'm just worried about him.

"You know that's not what I meant..."

"That's what you mean, I know."

"Fawnia..."

Geck! Geck! Geck!

The knock comes and interrupts. I took a deep breath, suppressed my emotions and sauntered towards the door. I opened the door and saw Carcel standing in front of the room. "Boss, Joseph's coming."

Bastard, what else does Indira want now?!

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"Good afternoon, Mr. Ace."

Joseph stood up to greet me in the discussion room. Disappointed with hands that are still clenched. I've seen this guy a lot lately, thanks to his boss who started playing around with fire and wanted to burn his own house down.

"How are you, Joseph?" I approached the man who, damn it, was one of the most important people in Fawn's life. The fact that this mediocre bodyguard had such a high value in Fawn's life made me cringe every time I saw her face.

"I'm good, sir." 

I want to put a bullet hole in his head, to be honest.

"I've come to bring Indira's boss's message" Joseph said. His voice was firm and straightforward. "Because the situation at the Caspian residence made Indira's boss unable to go anywhere, he requested that Mr. Ace should visit the Caspian residence."

"Did he forget that Evan Caspian and I were mortal enemies?" I'm totally fed up with Indira's madness. What's in that woman's nut brain, actually?

"It's urgent, sir."

"Joseph's problem, it's important in Indira's eyes, it doesn't mean anything to me."

Urgen for me is death. I don't consider a light showdown between Evan and Indira, and trying to get Evan to be jealous of me is important! Indira must stop expecting love from the husband who bought her on behalf of the business. I've said this over and over again, for God's sake!

"Bos Indira had expected this," Joseph sighed. "So, let me give you a final offer..."

Especially now?

"Bos Indira invited you to the Caspian residence to discuss this." Joseph handed me a picture. A file photo I know should be privacy between the police and the Hunter family.

"Where did you get this?!"

Somebody-no, is that Indira or even Evan? What are they doing playing around with my parents' death reports?

"Bos Indira did some research," Joseph pulled his phone back from in front of me. His actions also brought me back to the real world. I felt adrenaline rush through my veins, making the heat burn my body. "So, how do you answer, Mr Ace?"

"I'll come." I couldn't possibly not have come if the bait was such an important matter.

"That's great, we'll be happy to welcome you this week."

Seeing Joseph's smile happy, I thought back to Fawn. Although Indira was the boss, Fawn placed pure loyalty only to Anggara. He therefore willingly carries out Anggara's orders to protect Indira - even without Indira's knowledge. Unlike Fawn, Joseph showed that his loyalty was fixed at the feet of Indira. He willingly acted behind the Caspian and Rashid families.

Damn it, where did Rashid's family find these people with high loyalty? I'm a little envious.

Since I thought my business with Joseph was done, I was about to turn around. But, a few steps after I passed the man, Joseph came back to rescue me.

"Master Ace," he called nervously. "What about the demand of Indira boss time? Is..., has Master Ace found any clues about Fawn's whereabouts?"

Huuh! I forgot I made that stupid deal!

"I haven't found anything, but..." I turned and looked at Joseph in the face. "Rashid's family seems to be doing something suspicious to Fawn."

"What does that mean?"

"If you don't know, Fawn's mom is in the hospital right now. Anggara.., and Anggara.., intervened in monitoring the development of Fawn's mother's condition. For a head of the family, taking care of the mother of your pawns is something-absurd, isn't it?"

I'm just saying this to make Indira more and more fixated on her brother and husband. The more he suspected the two, the more strongly he gave me information about the situation between the Spades and the Clubs.

As of right now, I wonder which one of Anggara and Evan is investigating my parents' deaths. What does he want to know?

"I thought, Fawn might never come back to you again."

"That's impossible..." Joseph was terrified. I know what he's thinking, and it makes me happy.

"Tell Indira, does she still want to know the continuation of information about Fawn if it means finding that her beloved bodyguard has died..."

"Mr Ace," Joseph interrupted with forced decisiveness. I know that mask is very fragile. He too, must have harbored the same fears as his boss.

"I'm just saying honesty, Joseph. Just consider what I said..." I patted the man's shoulder twice before leaving.

A feeling of victory after making Joseph scared made me smile happily. They had to stop looking for Fawn, just that way.

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