After three rings, the call was finally connected. A soft voice spoke at the end of the phone. "Why are you calling me? Do you miss me, hubby?"
Ren instinctively smiled. His gaze landed on the full moon outside the windows. The bright light made him thought of the little woman at home. "I do miss you, sweetheart. And I want to hear your voice before you go to sleep. It is okay?"
Her chuckle could be heard after he finished talking. The sound brought peace to him, as if he wasn't in a room full of people chatting and shouting over games. Ren put his free hand in his pocket. He was enjoying the sound of her laughter.
"Aren't you having fun with your friends right now? Your wife is alone at home." Tsubaki asked a bit whiny. There was a sound of fabric rustling around her. She might already be on the bed, adjusting the comforter over her.
Ren lowered his voice. His deep baritone carried a hint of teasing. "Is my dear wife being jealous? My thoughts have already been filled with you. There's no one else."
"Mr. Fuse, I know you could be corny without feeling any shame but please spare me sometimes, could you? My sleep might be affected. It's so cringy," Tsubaki commented before her husband started whispering his usual words of love.
It was a bad idea picking up his call at this time. They were only separated for a few hours yet she missed him so much already.
"If you can't sleep, why don't you stay up for a bit and wait for me to come home?" Ren wasn't offended with her reply. It made him wanting to keep teasing her. "We could enjoy doing certain things together. What do you say, Mrs. Fuse?"
"Who's going to wait for you? Good night!"
Ren was amused when Tsubaki suddenly hung up his call. He looked at the wallpaper on the screen. It was the picture of both of them when they went out for a date yesterday. They were standing in front of a beautiful flower bed. It was one of the photos taken by a stranger whom they asked for help.
In this photo, they didn't look at the camera lens. It was taken candidly when he suddenly joked and Tsubaki chuckled once she heard him. Their eyes met right at the time the kind stranger took this photo.
Her beautiful smile once again captured his heart.
Ren had just turned around when another message popped up on the screen. He read the message silently before a hint of malice flashed across his face. He glanced towards the chess playing group. A slight smirk appeared on his cold face.
"Making a call, Mr. Fuse?" Aimei didn't let go of the opportunity to speak to Ren again once the man returned from the corner.
She couldn't hear what the man was talking on the phone but it was clear that the cold aura emanated from this imposing man dissipated. But, when she just thought it was a good opportunity to even suck up to him, once again she was facing his cold gaze.
What's happening? Could it be...
"Mr. Fuse." Aimei regained her composure. She wouldn't let this chance go to waste! She just needed to be thick-skinned for a bit longer!
Ren crossed his long leg on another. He rested his arms on the armrests. Turning around to the woman in red, he finally looked at her with a bored face. "Aren't you boring talking by yourself?"
Aimei was speechless!
When she saw him turning to her direction, she thought she had managed to catch his attention. Who knew he would rebuke her like that? She shivered all of a sudden, as if she was splashed with cold water.
"I didn't mean to disturb you." Aimei quickly masked her embarrassment. She smiled gracefully like a dignified socialite she should be. "It's just that, it's hard to meet President Fuse so I should grab this opportunity. It's it good rather than sit idly by?"
When her eyes met his dark ones, she froze for a moment. Those eyes were like black pools of water, attempting to drown her in its darkness until she could no longer breath.
How terrifying!
Ren tapped his right index finger on the armrest in unhurried manner. He turned his gaze away from her face, landing on his almost empty glass of wine. Aimei saw it too. Her eyes slightly fluttered in shock.
Did he know?
"I'll refill your wine, Mr. Fuse." Aimei added before the fear could be seen on her face. "Where's the wine bottle?"
As she was searching for the already opened wine bottle, Ren's cold hard gaze shifted to her.
The wine bottle had been emptied by them who were playing chess. Aimei called for the waiter to send in another bottle of wine. Although she was kind of agitated, she couldn't deny the giddiness she felt in her heart. Once the waiter uncorked the bottle, she quickly took the bottle and adjusted her sitting position to face the man.
"Please receive this as me showing my gratitude."
Aimei smiled shyly, deliberately fluttering her long eyelashes. She poured the wine in the tall glass in front of Ren. The deep red colour of the wine looked striking under the lights of the expensive chandelier in the room.
Under the gaze of the remarkable man in front of her, her struggle to conceal her true feelings was unbearable. But, she won't give up this game so easily!
Just a bit more!
"Enjoy your wine, Mr. Fuse," Aimei placed the bottle on the table after she poured herself a glass of wine. She elegantly raised the glass, wanting to clink it against his.
Ren leaned forward to pick up the wine glass from the table. He swirled the glass, admiring the deep colour of the wine. He didn't move his glass to clink it against anticipated Aimei's who was waiting with anticipation. He brought the rim of the glass near his thin lips. Seeing him took a sip of the wine, Aimei quickly drank hers. She almost couldn't help herself from screaming in joy.
He drank the wine!
Ren didn't finish the whole glass. He placed it back on the table before he slowly stood up. Aimei watched him in silence. She didn't plan to interfere his actions now.
It should kick in soon!
Ren walked to the group at the center of the room. One of them was playing chess against Toshiro while the others shifted to dart game with Akashi. As Aimei watched his steady steps, her brows furrowed.
What happened? It should be...
"Ergh!"
All of a sudden, her body started feeling hot.