IN THE CAGE

92. MINOR CONFLICT

...FAWN...

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I opened my eyes with an incredible ear. A strong demon lodged in my hip as I moved awake. Damn, what happened to me the other day has made it difficult for me to get up and stand up.

My eyes monitor the wall clock which still shows at 6 am, maybe sleeping longer is no problem. After all, Miss Indira has a lot of bodyguards in this house. He's not going anywhere either.

I pulled my back and stared at the ceiling. Because of all the pain that screamed in my body, I thought back to Ace and the crazy activities we did all night. In that blue room, I first became a human being whom I did not recognize. Damn, do I have such a big side or did Ace create that black figure?

I was ashamed of myself, I could bury myself when I remembered the words I had confused that day.

Ah, embarrassing. I'm gonna die.

I stared at my flannel shirt draped on the wooden bench. That shirt was the one I wore when I met Ace, the one that had watched my side of the wreck. The shirt that feels how Ace touches me. Feel the warm man.

"I love you, Fawnia. I won't give up on taking you to my side." Ace said that when we split up. He wanted me to turn away from Anggara's boss and just be his. That feels really thrilling, but. Why am I so ashamed!

No, this can't be. I'm still indebted to Anggara's boss. But I'll think about the offer. At least, for a while I would act like I was still reluctant to accept it. Hehehe.

I'm glad to see Ace trying to knock me out. Although he was not as romantic as a romeo who would climb my window with a ladder and throw stones at my room, he showed his seriousness in his own way. A way I can't even consider romantic. Bawdy, actually, more precise. But I'd rather her be like that than her be romantic. Ace is not romantic.

While I lay down and pensive in my mind, a crowd sounded from outside. At least, I've heard a few pacing steps in front of my room. Hasty move.

Unable to calm down with the fanfare outside, I inevitably got back up. I stood up carrying my tired body, dragged my feet into the wooden closet and put on a black training jacket and training pants that were in the same color as my jacket. I had no intention of going to work this morning, I just wanted to check the situation outside before returning to the room and getting ready.

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The giant wall clock displayed in the living room of the Caspian family at that time showed at 7 am. I who planned that morning to check the situation outside ended up going too far to this place.

My eyes scanned the activity of the bodyguards already on standby there, they did not care much about me and were busy looking up to the second floor. To a room I knew was Evan Caspian's office.

Evan Caspian's voice sounded out.

"I WOULDN'T DO THAT IF YOU DIDN'T ACT, INDIRA!!!"

"YOU THINK IT'S WRONG WHO AM I ACTING?!"

"YOU BLAME ME? I'VE WARNED YOU SO MANY TIMES TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT BASTARD!!!"

"OH, NOW YOU WANT TO CONTROL WHO MY FRIENDS ARE TOO? I'M NOT YOUR DOLL, EVAN!!!"

"YOU.., INDEED! MY DOLL! MINE! INDIRA!"

I was stunned at the sound of their humble cries. What else is going on now?

"Fawn?" Joseph came-the bastard came and surprised me with a strong clap of his hand. Shit, doesn't he know how fragile I am right now. My muscles scream pain at the trail of his punch.

"Are you not ready?" Blind to the impact of his actions, Joseph spoke again.

"I just woke up" I said. My breathing was long, eyes looking back at the tense situation that was atmospheric in this silent room.

"Joe, what's going on here?" I whispered lowly to Joseph. My colleague smiled stiffly.

"Something," he answered.

"Don't be ambiguous," I said.

"Let's go back to your room, we'll talk there." Joseph this time spoke to me with a rather stiff gesture. He stepped first into my room and I followed him with my legs dragged tired. Damn it, Ace..., he really did not forgive my body!

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

"So..," In my room, in a rather low voice, Joseph spoke as he rolled up his sleeve. "Bos Indira had a fight with Mr. Evan."

"Uh, huh?" Did something happen during my vacation?

"No."

"What?"

"You must be wondering if this problem happened yesterday, right? The answer is no."

I'm gobsmacked. "Do you read my mind?"

Joseph pulled a shoulder. He who was sitting on my bed looked at me who was now sitting on a wooden bench. My hands hugged my dirty flannel shirt. Every now and then, I sniffed the scent that was lingering there. Sniffing the scent of parfume that created butterflies flying in my stomach.

"You may not know because you have a side job, but.., after the marriage with Mr. Evan, Indira's boss never lived a harmonious life here. They don't fight, of course. Not until today, but..., the emotions that Indira's boss harbored have been around for a long time."

"What's the problem?" I don't get it. I think that even though their marriage was an arranged marriage, Miss Indira and Mr. Evan were best friends. Close friends who compromise on marriage and will try to love each other, right?

"There's a lot of trouble, Fawn. Mr. Evan not letting Indi's boss go free is one thing, but the man swears."

"Eh, uh, uh.., what is this?" My eyes are feeling doubt. Not usually Joseph gets carried away in the drama of his superior.

"I'm serious, so I'm asking you to talk here. If an outsider hears me talking bad about that fucking Evan, I could die."

"Just calm down, they must all be watching the commotion above."

"Say, what happened while I was away?"

"That doesn't happen more, actually." Joseph crossed his arms around his chest. "Mr Evan never sleeps in the same room as Miss Indira, I never see them like a loving and okay-, newlywed, I know you'd say the situation happened because they were betrothed, but seriously Fawn, her attempt to like Miss Indira was not there. Zero!"

"..."

"Building Indi's boss is also not helpful at all. Did you know she went with another woman to the party? He did not think about the feelings of boss Indi, seriously. For God's sake, I'd be happier if Indi's boss were to marry Ace's master alone. At least, I think they'll-"

UHUKKKK!!!

I coughed big until Joseph stopped his chatter. He looked at me with great confusion.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm good." I said. Even though I understand Miss Indira's suffering, it doesn't mean that I'm going to marry Ace. Don't just talk, Joseph!

"Uhm," I cleared my throat of whatever it was. While still clutching my flannel shirt, I leaned my chest against the back of the wooden bench I sat on upside down.

"So, putting aside the problems that had happened before, this time what else was their problem?"

"Arcelio Hunter," Ace's name is loose from Joseph's lips. The name that made my heart race and shit, the trace of that man's touch on my body was back to heat up, like it was new.

"What's up with Ace?" muttered.

"Didn't you read a magazine? Ace is rumored to be the third man in the house of the Indi boss. A reporter out of nowhere shared a photo of the secret meeting of Indira boss and Mr. Ace on social media. They said something about the affair and well, Indira's boss was furious."

"I'll be angry too" I said. Who wants to be rumored like that?

"The problem is, Fawn, Indira's boss is angry that the person who spread the rumor is Mr. Evan's person."

"HUH?"

"I don't know what the purpose of doing that is, but I guess..., to humiliate Mr. Ace, maybe?"

"He'll be ashamed himself, Joe. Miss Indi is his wife." Only a fool would humiliate his own wife in order to make her enemy hated. Mr. Evan is someone who has many vices, but a moron is not one of them.

"Or maybe he's trying to create a diversion." Joseph returned to voice. "You know the Caspian family is being heavily highlighted by the media these days, right? The problems at the Clubs and the large number of employee reductions on their side led many workers to protest about the case."

"I don't think it is." For that reason it is as foolish as the first reason. I don't know what's going on between Miss Indira and Mr. Evan, but I do believe there's something more there. Something personal.

"Talking about the situation at the Clubs, have you thought about what you're going to do, Fawn?"

"What do you mean?" I put my focus back on Joseph.

"Clubs are so messy right now, I even heard their stocks are down drastically. This situation is because of Mr Ace, isn't it? A war between families may happen in the future. Are you sure you want to devote your life really to this job?"

"Do you have any doubts?" Joseph is young. He must have had the anxiety of losing his life to protect his superiors. I understand that, not everyone is able to prove his loyalty to the afterlife.

"I still have goals, you know." Joseph took a breath. "I'm just not sure I want to die. Should we both run away?"

I laughed for a moment. That's a ridiculous offer. "Among everyone, you want to run away with me? Crazyhead..."

"Well, what's the problem? I like being with you, so..." As Joseph spoke, a mobile phone vibration interrupted him. He reached into his pocket and chimed in with a serious voice.

"All right, Indi boss. I'll be there soon."

"What's wrong?" ask me after their phone call was cut off.

"Bos Indira took me out."

"But he can't get out yet." I remember Evan still forbidding him from wandering around.

"Because of that, you have to get ready as well. Boss Indira seems to be very angry."

"Ugh, okay."

What really happened between the couple?

"One more, Fawn." Joseph who was about to step out, retreated and turned his head towards me.

"What's wrong?" tanyaku later.

"Use the turtle neck for today" Joseph said. "You don't want to make people curious about your holiday activities, do you?"

Oh?

Oho!

Right too, my neck. Damn, Ace, damn it!

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