The Gray Autumn's

Inattendu

Fleur smiled sweetly welcoming the presence of the father there. Benjamin looked much fresher, though not as neat as usual. "Come here, Papa," asked Fleur, "I want you to sit on the couch" he continued.

Without saying much, Benjamin immediately approached his daughter and complied. He then sat on the sofa as Fleur moved the wheelchair in front of him. Not long after, Fleur opened the sky blue wallet that had been on his lap and did not contain anything in it. Benjamin only found out when Fleur took out a comb from there.

"What are you gonna do?" asked the gray-eyed man with a face that looked much more relaxed.

"I don't like to see your messy hair, Papa. Your good looks are reduced because of it," said Fleur while sharing a small smile.

"Since when have you been able to distinguish a handsome man?" benjamin asked with a smile that looked so calm.

Fleur just giggled amusedly. He then told Benjamin to come closer to him. The thirty-five-year-old man half bent so that he could get closer to the princess, then Fleur began to comb his hair neatly.

While Fleur was doing just that, Benjamin just fell silent while paying attention to the mere princess of the puppet. A smile again appeared adorning his handsome face.

"Do you know? Mrs Hillaire told me to visit there often. He told me he was going to teach me how to make cakes. He also gave me a box of eclair. It tastes so good. Mrs Hilaire said that while she was still living in Indonesia, she ran a pastry shop owned by her late mother. That means Grandma Elle is also good at making cakes. Them ...."

"Indonesia?" repeat Benjamin while linking his eyebrows.

"Why have you been there?" ask Fleur who has finished combing his father's hair.

"No" replied Benjamin quietly. His eyes looked doubtful. He also seemed to be thinking about something. A moment later, his attention returned to the princess who was still staring at him in surprise. "Is this over, Fleur?" tanyakanya. Benjamin looked much more excited.

Fleur nodded slowly. The little girl smiled again with sparkling eyes. "Is Papa going to the office now?" tanyakanya. "A little while my pianoku teacher will come" said the little girl, re-inserting her comb into the make-up purse on her lap. He took out a small mirror, then thrust it at Benjamin.

Benjamin immediately accepted the mirror. He checked his daughter's work. The copper brown hair that he had just combed carelessly, now looked much neater. "remarkable. You are very talented in everything. I love you, Fleur," the adulation ended with a warm kiss on the little girl's forehead. Benjamin then stood up while tidying up the shirt he was wearing.

"Why are you leaving now?" tanya Fleur continued to watch the father who looked ready.

"Yes. I won't be long. See you later, Fleur," said Benjamin as he walked out of his study. He stepped gallantly towards the car that was already parked in the courtyard. Not to forget, the man put on his coat first.

While on the way, Benjamin's mind was fixed on his conversation with Fleur earlier. "Indonesia," he murmured. The initial intention that was about to go to the office, Benjamin paused. He shifted his goal elsewhere. The gray-eyed man drove the car he was driving quite fast, until he arrived at the Hilaire family residence.

"Master hasn't returned yet. He was going to the airport" the waiter replied politely.

"To airport? Is Mr Hillaire going?" ask Benjamin again full of investigation. He looks so curious.

"No. The master only escorted the madam and also the young master. They will go to Indonesia to visit Miss Autumn," the maid explained, making a pair of gray eyes belonging to Benjamin immediately sparkle. The servant did not know the relationship between Benjamin and Autumn. He only knew the gray-eyed man as a colleague of his employer.

"Indonesian? Does Mr Hillaire have any relatives there?" lure Benjamin again. This was a golden opportunity for him to extract a lot of information from the servant who had long worked at the Edgar residence.

"Yes, Sir. Mrs Hillaire is from Indonesia. Sometimes her brother named Mr. Keanu came here," explained the middle-aged woman again.

"Keanu?" repeat Benjamin while linking his eyebrows.

"Yes, Sir. I know he is the owner of a luxury resort called Surya Alam Winata. Back when Miss Autumn was a toddler, I was invited there. It's really a comfortable place" the waiter said again without realizing that he had given Benjamin valuable information.

With a satisfied smile growing on his face, Benjamin immediately said goodbye from there. The information he had obtained was far more than enough. He rushed back to his residence with the intention to take care and prepare for his departure to Indonesia. While waiting for the immigration paperwork to be completed, Benjamin found out about the resort mentioned by the waiter at the Edgar residence. From there too, he found a profile about Keanu.

It was his intention to come to Indonesia. The man was really impatient to want to leave immediately.

"Why are you sure you're going to Indonesia?" fleur asked after knowing his father's intentions.

"Yes" replied Benjamin confidently. He knelt before the princess, "but I'm sorry I couldn't bring you and Aamber. Your condition now does not allow you to board a plane" Benjamin said with regret.

"Are you gonna be there long, Papa?" ask Fleur slowly.

"I don't think so. I just wanted to make sure if Elle was really in Indonesia or if it was just Mr. Hillaire's wits to hide Elle from me" Benjamin explained. He hoped Fleur could understand it.

"Why does Elle have to hide from you, Papa? Is he really away because of me?" ask Fleur with a look that looks sad.

"No, of course not because of that. We adults often do that. Elle stayed away from me not because of you, but because she wanted to strengthen her heart. Elle is young. He wanted to reflect a little so as not to be wrong in making a decision. I really appreciate that. He had to prepare himself before continuing our marriage plans. However, in reality I cannot," Benjamin smiled bitterly. "I need it so much. Just like you, I don't want to be far from him either" Benjamin said softly and deeply.