IN THE CAGE

IN THE CAGE
98. INVALIDATED



...FAWN...


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


After Mr. Callum's birthday party, it's the first time I've met Anggara's boss. The man in the dark brown coat was standing alone in front of the Caspian family fish pond. The shadow of a lush, large tree near the pond fell on top of Anggara's boss, protecting it from the rising sun.


"Good morning, boss Angga." I faced him alone. Aidan-guard Miss Indira watched us from the back porch. I thought he was curious, but there was no way he would dare to approach.


Right now, in this place there is only me and Angga's boss still standing behind me. When Angga's boss heard my greeting, he turned his head for a while and looked back at his reflection in the pond.


"I heard Angga's boss calling me. Uh, so..., is there something Angga's boss wants?" I stood behind Angga's boss with a bit of anxiety. Is he going to scold me for not taking good care of his sister? I mean, I'm the only bodyguard Miss Indira who agrees on whatever it is Miss Indira's choice.


"I actually came to check on Indira," Anggara's boss finally turned his body towards me. "My father was very anxious to hear the information circulating about him."


When I looked at Anggara's boss, looking at his face that had a trace of a faint punch on his cheek and temple, I knew Callum Rashid was acting again. The man who was the leader of the Rashid family earlier was a hard man who led his children with violence.


Seeing the condition of Anggara's boss now, I was stunned in sadness and concern. Though he was the leader in Spades now, but he still could not escape the power of his father.


"I'm sorry, Angga boss. This is all my fault." I looked down deep. "I'm sorry that I couldn't stop Miss Indira."


"Don't blame yourself." Anggara's boss's words didn't calm me down at all, instead, I felt more sinful.


"Indira from the beginning is not someone who can be controlled. Either by me, or just an ordinary bodyguard like you."


"Wa-even so..." I did not make any effort to prevent it. At least I should have tried.


"We're not going anywhere with this topic, Fawn." Boss Angga interrupted my words. "Right now, I'm just worried about Indira. Is he okay with all this silence?"


"I..., I think they're at peace?" It's impossible to do that to someone you hate, isn't it? I mean..., Miss Indira and Mr. Evan did that?


I don't know, I'm a moron.


"Indira is a girl who is difficult to control" said Angga boss and I agree, strongly agree. "Especially if he's angry."


"Oh, that's right." Shit, I'm voicing my head. "Sorry."


"Fawn, man,"


"Yes, Angga's boss."


"As the head of Indira's bodyguard before, you are the only person I can count on. You know this, don't you?"


"E-eh, huh?" Why suddenly?


"I don't want to say it here because I think we're being observed, but.." Angga's boss hung up his words and stared at Aidan who was still monitoring us at the porch door. "Indira is not safe here."


"Ah," I again remembered the orders of Angga's boss who asked me to bring Miss Indira to run when at any time a commotion occurred.


"I'm counting on you, Fawn. You know what to do, don't you?"


"Okay, Angga's boss."


"For now, you know the situation at the Clubs and the Spades, right?"


"I read the news." Oh, and I remember seeing one night Evan Caspian smash stuff in his study. I remember Rishan running down the stairs with a bloody head. "The situation is very bad. Is Angga's boss going to be okay?"


"I don't know about either, but I won't keep quiet." Angga's boss chimed in on me while taking one step forward. "Spades is my responsibility, no matter what happens between Evan and Ace, I won't let them desecrate my house."


But, boss Anggara.., the problem is you're one of Ace's targets as well. As long as you cooperate with Evan, you will always be an enemy in Ace's eyes.


Really, this situation is making my head dizzy. What should I do to keep Anggara's boss, the man I have great respect for.., and Ace, the man I love, from chasing each other's throats?


Is there a chance for them to reconcile?


"Fawn," Angga's boss called out to me once more.


"Do you know Vera?"


"Huh?"


"I saw you that night in Leviathan, drinking with him."


SHIT, SHIT, SHIT? WAITA MINUTE? IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT ANGGA BOSS SAW ME CLOSE TO ACE AS WELL?


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


Meeting at Leviathan was a mistake. I don't know if that place is a place that Anggara bosses often visit, no. Where would Angga's boss be able to establish a relationship with Vera if not because they often meet in that sacred place? Miss Margot's been there a lot, right?


Shit, shit, shit!


 I don't know how many times I've been pacing around in my room. I was coldly hot thinking that just a little, almost, Anggara's boss knew of my relationship with Ace. That can't be. I don't want people to know that Ace and I have a connection, especially when Ace is an enemy of Mr. Evan. They can help me out.


No, they might be able to do worse than just kill me!


I don't want to risk any harm either to Ace or to me.


Once again, I stared at the screen of my phone that was on. Looked at Vera's message there.


Should I go?


Should I go see Ace when the situation is this important?


Oh, goddamn.


I better not go.


[I'm sorry, Vera.]


[I will not come.]


[You better not wait for me. Goodbye.]


After sending the message, I blocked Vera's number from my phone. Whatever it is, I won't leave a trace on our conversation. I won't let myself off guard anymore.


This is the best choice. I've made the best choice. Good, Fawnia. You've made a wise choice. Don't just follow your heart, you can't make the situation worse than it is now!


I can't put Ace in danger!


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


The sky out there has changed color to orange.


When I got out of the gym with Joseph, I was struck by the sight of the servants moving some of Miss Indira's belongings out of her room. Joseph and I immediately stopped one of the servants.


"What's going on?" Joseph preceded me. He held the arm of a servant carrying Miss Indira's clothes.


"We're moving Miss Indira's stuff."


"Ke?"


"Evan's room."


"Huh?" I'm appalled. I mean, wow..., they're really reconciled, right? Very fast and oh, isn't this too fast? Should I expect the birth of Miss Indira's first baby next week? The relationship between the two bloomed like lightning!


"Where is Indira's boss now?" Joseph asked again.


"O-oh, that's.., he's in Mr. Evan's room." the waiter's face kind of met when he responded to Joseph's question. As if something was wrong there? Did something bad happen to Miss Indira?


"I'll be there" I said. I say this not only to the servant, but also to Joseph. "I'll let you know later." I'm proceeding.


Afterwards, me and the lady-servant sauntered together towards Mr. Evan's room. The place was not far away, but it was quite isolated from the crowd. Being at the very end of the room with close supervision. When me and the waiter got there, Theo greeted me without a word. The man who was the bodyguard of Mr. Evan showed displeasure at my visit.


"Sorry, can I meet Miss Indira?" Think of this as politeness, yeah, shit. I shouldn't have asked your permission!


"May I know what you need for Miss Indira?"


"Do I need to report my business to you?"


"This is the order of Mr. Evan. From today, every activity of Miss Indira, who she meets will be monitored closely by us."


"We are..., you?"


"Yes." Yeah."


"Then what do we, Miss Indira's bodyguards do when our duties are now part of your responsibility as well, Theo?" forget politeness. The monotony of this man pisses me off. Does he think he's cool with those sharp nosediving eyes? Just so you know, yeah, motherfucker, you look like an eagle!


"You can go back to Rashid's house if you don't have a job here."


"Huh?" Did he throw me out? "How about you go back to your job? Taking care of Miss Indira is my duty!"


"Did you dispute Mr. Evan's orders?"


"My master is Miss Indira, Theo. I was sent from Rashid's residence to escort Miss Indira." And yes, my pay still comes from the Rashid family. Just because I eat and drink here doesn't mean you have power over me, you fools!


"If you have any objections, you'd better tell me directly, Fawn." Mr. Evan's voice interrupted my and Theo's fight. As fast as lightning, I turned my head towards mister Evan who was already standing beside me.


The man looked relaxed in his black shirt. Her elongated curly mane, rolled on her forehead like noodles.


"Good afternoon, Mr. Evan." I said hello before returning to speak, "May I understand what's really going on here?"


"Should I explain my relationship with Indira..., to you?"


"I am the eater"


"And I'm her husband, Fawn. I believe there's an inequality far enough from our position. Who do you think is more entitled to Indira now? You, or me?"


Damn, it's worth it that he has a bodyguard like a bastard, he himself is more like a demon.


I can't deny it, I can't be kicked out of this house. I have a special mission to protect Miss Indira. "At least, tell me, is Miss Indira okay?"


"You insulted me if you thought I'd hurt her."


"Then can I meet him?"


Evan grinned faintly, and when he opened his mouth, I knew the man's answer would make me hate him even more. Damn, I want to strangle him!


"No."


What happened to Miss Indira now, damn it?


Oh, the people in this house know exactly how to make me ride black!


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