Carris watched as Harris settled into the chair, his lips pursed tightly in thought.
"I’m all ears," Harris muttered while placing one hand on the table.
"I’ve been watching you since you ca in," Carris started calmly.
The words instantly irritated Harris.
What exactly did he an by that? Was he indirectly mocking everything that had happened tonight?
"Speak," he said, already growing impatient. "I have things I need to do as soon as possible."
Carris’ gaze sharpened before he spoke again. "You’re Adrian Vale’s assistant?"
Harris’ expression imdiately turned colder.
There it is. So it really was about Boss after all.
"That depends," he replied, picking his words carefully. "Are you asking as Carris Riole... or as Miss Veyne’s very suspicious friend?"
Carris did not answer imdiately. Instead, he tapped his finger against the side of the glass sitting on the table. Then he opened his mouth again.
"What exactly is Adrian Vale trying to do?"
"With what?" Harris asked quickly, his brows furrowing in displeasure.
"With Elara," he replied.
"With Miss Veyne," Harris corrected with a sarcastic smile playing faintly on his lips.
"Yes," Carris answered calmly, not even batting an eye despite Harris’ very obvious frustration.
"I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Please be more specific," Harris muttered.
"You know what I an," Carris said firmly while Harris let out a cold snort.
"I know many things. That doesn’t an I’m going to confirm them for you." He said.
Carris’ gaze sharpened as their eyes locked across the table. Harris pursed his lips, then he finally sighed realizing that he had almost lost control of himself.
"Let ask you sothing instead." He mummured, leaning back in his chair. "If you want to know what my boss thinks, what he does, or what he intends to do... why not ask him directly?"
"Because he won’t answer," Carris replied smoothly.
"Correct," Harris muttered, gently hitting his palm against the tabletop. "He won’t. And neither will I."
He glanced down briefly at his watch before speaking again. "I’m sorry, but please if there’s nothing else, I’m leaving."
He hadn’t even had enough ti to replay the disaster of this evening inside his own head, yet this singer was here asking questions that did not concern him in any way.
Poking his nose into matters that weren’t his business.
Whatever existed between Boss and Miss Veyne was private. Who did he think he was? Just because he had shared a song with Miss Veyne suddenly ant he understood her?
If Carris knew even half the things he had to do just to keep Miss Veyne safe... and keep Boss satisfied... he would not be sitting here saying all this so calmly.
"I’m curious about sothing though," Carris suddenly spoke again.
Harris let out another tired sigh as he checked the ti on his watch again. "I’m listening," he still muttered anyway.
"From what I’m seeing, your boss really wants sothing from her." Carris’ voice stayed calm, his expression casual as if he were just talking about the weather. "I don’t care what it is. What I’m saying is that she’s finally standing on her own now. And whatever Adrian Vale intends... if he cos back..."
"Stop."
Harris’ voice turned cold enough to cut through the dim restaurant noise around them.
Carris imdiately went silent while Harris looked directly at him.
"I understand why you’re saying all this," he said quietly. "But you should be very careful about the conclusions you’re drawing about a person you barely know." His expression darkened a little. "You don’t know what’s underneath it."
"Then let know," Carris said staring at him with a daring gaze.
"I can’t," Harris quickly cut in. "It’s not my place to tell you."
"Then how am I supposed to..."
"You’re not supposed to know," Harris interrupted again as he stood up from his seat. "What I need to tell you is that Miss Veyne... doesn’t need anyone protecting her from Boss."
Then he stepped away from the table and gave a small bow. "Goodnight, Mr. Riole."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Carris remained seated staring unblinkingly at the glass of wine in front of him.
You’re not supposed to know.
The words sounded almost like a joke to him now.
Was it really his place not to know?
Definitely not.
A colder expression settled on his face. He picked up the glass and took another gulp from it.
He had co here hoping to find a little peace. Maybe the quiet atmosphere would help clear his thoughts. Instead, he had run into Adrian Vale’s right hand who was in such a pathetic state. And sohow the conversation had ended with Elara and Adrian Vale.
After a long while of simply drinking and watching the dim restaurant around him, Carris finally brought out his phone and dialed a number.
The mont the call connected, he lifted it to his ear. "Hello Mom," he whispered, his gaze drifting toward the window beside him.
"Carris. So you can still call after disappearing for half a century." An elegant voice ca from the other end. "When are you finally coming back?"
He took another sip from his wine before sighing softly. "I don’t really know yet."
"You’ve been saying that for months now." She paused for a small minute. "Or should I assu you’ve finally found soone there in Aurelia?"
A dry laugh escaped Carris’ throat as he looked away from the window and waved for the waiter to co over. "You sound hopeful."
"Well excuse for wanting my son to experience romance before he turns into decorative furniture."
Carris shook his head gently, a warm smile on his lips.
"But are you sure there’s no one?" she continued. "Who’s he? Is it soone I know?"
Another soft chuckle left his lips as he paid the bill and picked up his coat from the backrest of the chair. "No, Mom. It’s a girl."
He walked out of the restaurant entrance and toward his car parked in the lot outside.
"A girl?" the voice repeated in surprise.
"No not like that," he replied while opening the car door. He placed the phone on the console beside the gear shift before starting the engine. "She’s actually a singer. We work together and..."
His voice wavered a little. His jaw tightened. Then he shook his head and started the car properly. "Never mind."
The call went quiet for the next few minutes as Carris drove out of the restaurant premises and onto the road. Then the voice suddenly ca again.
"Guess who your brother dragged ho last week."
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