James look annoyed. Feeling invisible in their presence.
Laurice and Eduard casted him a glance thereafter and then paused. Both were apparently looking uninterested about him and what he has to say.
"I-i ..."
As if tongue-tied, James couldn't utter a word. It feels as though he was being surrounded by dark heavy clouds and couldn't do anything about it. What is this sense of oppression? He has this ominous feeling that if he ever spout anymore nonsensical stuffs then he would be in trouble since both the man and the woman before him were gawking at him with a mischievous glare. Their behavior and personalities were totally in sync, it's uncanny.
"I'm off."
Laurice suddenly alighted from her seat and said without warning not minding the circumstances she's currently in. It's getting late already, she better leave asap and take the rest she needed at home.
Eduard retrieved his gaze from his dumbfounded cousin and stared instead at his other cousin.
"You're leaving?"
He asked in a subtle manner as if he wasn't surprise with her intentions at all but still curious nonetheless.
Laurice replied immediately with a yes and was really about to leave when Eduard spoke again.
"Were you not wondering why we turned down Schnell?"
Eduard carefully stated. Not only his beguiling voice captured Laurice's interest but talking about that issue, she was rendered completely speechless for a moment.
Knitting her brows in astonishment, Laurice casted him a sideglance.
What was he talking about?
Ah, she remembered she did mention about that matter just awhileago and he was able to give her a brief but satisfactory comment regarding it in return. What else is there to talk about, anyway? She wondered.
Eduard looked back at her intently in silence.
"Not interested."
After a long pause, Laurice muttered in dismissal thinking she could not be bothered by the groups's matters and that it has nothing to do with her either.
As if reading her thoughts, Eduard thought to himself,
'Oh, yes you do, dear. I know you do.'
Eduard believed he has something that might be of use to his cousin, Laurice. Materials that may cost her a fortune accumulating but he would be more than willing enough to hand it over to her for free himself, if only ...
His eyes narrowed and glinted slightly and responded with a taunting question.
"Are you sure?"
Laurice halted in her steps.
What was the man insinuating?
Does Eduard know something?
Well ofcourse, she was interested, no doubt about it.
It was somehow related to her. Not because she was an executive herself in SWIMC (Suma Wealth and Investment's Management Corp.) although retired, but she was rather interested to Schnell's profile in a more personal level. It was one of her dream accounts.
She glanced back at him and cautiously replied in a strict manner.
"Let's not talk business."
Not here, at the very least.
She wishes to add but did not want to sound earnest.
"Hmm."
Eduard mumbled in understanding and then rise.
He threaded the same direction with hers and have his assistant whom he called out himself to open the front door for them. This action put Laurice in a perplexed state.
Laurice: " ... ? "
Damn.
How many more presence is there lurking around, really?
And why didn't she notice any of them herself?
"I'll walk you out."
Eduard interceded her thoughts. Seemingly unaffected by her now deathly glares.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Laurice couldn't decide whether to scream out in frustration or keep her mouth shut.
Now, why was this man opening up in her stead? And allowing her to do whatever she pleases? Leaving at such an hour, too. Unlike that other person sitting by himself somewhere growing mushrooms.
"Aren't you leaving?"
Eduard said, not insinuating anything in specific.
Laurice shot him another glare in return as if throwing tantrums with her now pouty lips.
'Can't wait to throw me out now, aren't you?'
Laurice looked pissed and confused altogether while Eduard could only sigh in resignation.
Oh dear, it appears his cousin must have been spoiled too much in the past that she's developed a habit of being overly sensitive even towards insignificant matters. Eduard thought he would give her some pointers in the future himself to help her grow more mature enough to not be easily discouraged nor influenced in whomever's presence.
"Come now, Laurice. I'll drive for you. It's already this late."
If they idle much longer than necessary, the others might be woken up so suddenly without them noticing.
Eduard did not mind the consequences. He could not be bothered for his own sake, unfraid of any implications his behavior might cause him but he was worried about Laurice.
He does not want her to leave to be honest, but he did not have the heart to stop her from doing what she wants either.
Who's pampering who, now?
Eduard felt constricted by his own principles.
"Hmp. You're unbelievable."
Laurice harrumphed as she shook her head in disbelief.
'Why isn't he stoping me?' She wondered.
Unbelievable, indeed.
"Why are you complaining? I'm helping you out here. Please cooperate quietly." Quick-witted, Eduard replied unabashedly and warned her subtly.
Clicking her tongue, Laurice dashed out of the old residence immediately right after Eduard spoke. The sound of her heavy footsteps resonated across the hall.
Eduard: " ... "
'Quietly, i said.'
Laurice indeed have the temper, too. And he can only blame it on genetics.
...
Laurice darted towards the parking lot and spotted her car immediately.
'Finally, im out of here. Well, almost.'
She have already inserted the key when Eduard interrupted.
"Let me drive." He said.
His assistant was also beside him then.
Laurice was stunned that he actually followed her from behind.
"Go back. I can fend for myself."
Laurice refused and then entered her car as soon as it opened. But Eduard was quick on his feet and stopped her from igniting the engine.
"I said, i'm driving."
Eduard muttered putting emphasis on his words. His voice and gaze were sharp.
Laurice: " ... !!! "
The wind is picking up at dusk but Laurice felt that the chill was coming from her cousin himself. His aura was quite formidable. Afraid that she might anger him, she relented.
"Alright, alright. Suit yourself."
Moving aside to the passenger seat without getting off the car, Laurice finally gave up the driver seat.
Soon, they were off the road sharing a rather stifling and awkward silence together.
...
Laurice slumped on her chair silently. Her gaze transfixed outside of her window ignoring a certain man's presence completely when she noticed the road they were threading was quite unfamiliar to her. She couldn't quite recognize the landmarks from when she were driving to the old residence herself.
"Where are you taking me?"
Laurice asked her cousin in a haste.
Eduard simply replied with, "Home."
'Home, where?'
She furrowed her brows deeply and retorted back, "This isn't the way back to my house."
They were leaving the suburbs and were already near the toll gate as they enter the north expressway opposite to that of City B.
"Well, you didn't tell me, so i assume you just wanted me to drive you along. But it's a sunday so i needed to go back home myself and rest."
'Heading towards his home to rest?
Then why the h*ll is he driving my car, instead?
Weren't he going to send me back, to my own home?
Wait, wasn't the old residence his home?'
"I live separately."
As if answering the question muddling her head, Eduard added abruptly.
Laurice washes her face off with her palms in frustration.
"Don't sweat it, Laurice. I'm doing this for your own good. I can't leave you by yourself this late at night. Rest at my place first."
'Since you did not want to stay at the old residence, might as well take you back with me.'
He was actually planning to leave beforehand, to his suprise he caught Laurice in the act but then he can't bare to leave her be so.
...
Night, he said.
'Well, good morning to you too!'
Laurice responded in her head and stifled a cry.
She's doomed. She made a promise, alright.
What's gonna happen to her now?