"And the reason is?"
"Have you ever been a part of an army?" None of the gentlemen sitting in front of him had black hair on their heads, but the question was asked looking straight into their eyes. Some frowned, some looked into disdain, other than the bald man none of the seven answered.
"I had." The bald man said in a proud voice.
"And Sir, you will still say you don't know the reason?"
The bald man gave a thundering laugh, "It's not like I don't know, it's them who don't want to understand."
"You…" some cursed in silence and some spit it out, but the bald man couldn't care less.
"Boy, I know, you are asking the right questions, but those who had spent their whole life behind a desk, won't understand the meaning of your questions."
Aree could only sigh, "I am not expecting them to understand, I am just asking them to let me go."
"These old ghosts around me are not worried about you, but what is painful to them that you have taken away two more with you."
*Boom*
The man in the middle slammed his hand on the table, silencing the whole room. His eyes were red as he looked at the bald one, before turning to Aree.
"What are you doing is not right."
"Same to you, sending your best man in the field short-handed is nothing but suicide."
"But you are alive." He growled his words out.
"Yes, I am unlucky enough to survive just to listen to your shits"
"MAJOR." This was another person but from the vibe, he was sure this one from the army too, "Don't you know how to respect your superior?"
"I know, but it is unfortunate that you people don't worth it." Aree was in no mood to kiss up to these people. He had decided to cut all the ties.
"You… Do you know we can revoke your citizenship?"
"Do YOU know I already have offers from three countries?"
The room plunged into silence. None talked, none moved, only the hands of the clock continued to make a sound.
"I don't understand why I have been summoned. It was written in my contract that I will be eligible to resign whenever I want, no questions asked. I have not received any money for the mission so have nothing to return." Aree stopped to take a look around, "listen, if you want to send me to jail against a false report, you can try. But it will be better if let me be. I am not interested in your work anymore."
Without waiting for a response, he opened the door about to leave only turn back, "You should be more worried about, how two wanted mercenaries entered the country, kidnapped a scion of the world's leading company and… You will get the heat of it."
The door closed behind him, and the bald man broke into another thundering laughter. The man fuming a moment ago was shocked. It was not something that a simple civilian should know.
"Could it be that he was a part of a heist too." The question from the central one turned some heads and the bald man looked at him as if he was an idiot.
"I don't know what you are planning, but you shouldn't put the blame on him. Chances are he was the one who had saved her, and…" He couldn't help but shook his head. 'You have no idea what you have just lost.' He had no intention to say it out loud. He was very sure that this power-hungry man will never listen to him.
*****************
"Wow, I had no idea that you are the son of Michelin 3 star chef, Dan." Liya didn't try to hide her surprise. In the last eight years, Dan was able to obtain his last star, but what was a career-changing moment for him that he had hosted two shows on cooking and judged at one of the shows of an international franchise.
"Does it matter so much?"
"Of course."She looked at him with big eyes, "You are a son of a celebrity, your father is a world-class chef. If it was my father then I would have boasted to others." She couldn't control her excitement only to choke on the milkshake.
"You are cute." Only when the teary eyes gave him a shocked look, Aree understood that he had spoken his thoughts out loud. The tinge of red appeared of her cheek, as she averted her eyes.
"Cheap." She scolded under the breath.
"Why? Is complimenting someone, wrong?"
"That's flirting. You are just like the son of other celebrities, you, playboy."
"Come on, I just called you cute, how is it wrong? It's true."
She looked at him with big eyes, not knowing how to refute. She sucked the milkshake in one gulp.
"Don't you talk to your father?"
"Why won't I?"
"Then why do you wasted so many years to join the university?"
He sighed in a smile, "I was in the army."
"Why?" It was hard for her to believe what she had just heard.
"Because I wanted to."
"Didn't your parents stopped you?"
"Why should they?"
"But you… It's dangerous."
"So what? Somebody has to do it."
'Why each of his answers is so odd?' She couldn't find a suitable reason to refute. "But just like that? Isn't it too odd? The top student went to join the military just like that?"
"Would you believe me if I say I loved a girl but she didn't. So I was heartbroken and went to join the army."
His face was all smiles, but she couldn't confirm whether he was telling the truth or not.
"I understand that you don't want to say the truth. But at least make your story more believing. Do you think this cliché story will work on me?"
Looking at the serious face Aree could help but put up a smile and lightly rubbed her head. Shocked by the sudden show of affection all she could do was look down and accept it.
"I don't understand you." The voice is so low, most would have missed it. "You are such a player."
"Can you stop calling me a charmer. I can prove it to you that this is my first date, in this life."
"What?" She was happy inside but still didn't dare to believe it, "Do you think such a white lie would work on me?"
'Did I offend him?' Looking at Aree who jumped up on his feet, Liya became a little fearful. But contradictory to her fear, he came close and grabbed her hand.
A spark ran through her body. Her body felt warmer but her feet went limp, her heart was beating fast and thoughts were in chaos. All she could do was follow Aree to the kitchen.
'Where is he taking me?' Her mind was curious but the mouth was weak.
"Chef!" Aree called. The restaurant was new and there weren't many customers. The chefs were lazing around, all but one.
The head chef, who was doing his work in diligence, turned.
"What the hell? Why is he here?" The excitement of holding his hand had gone in a moment, her excitement was overflowing, "It is chef Dan. Really? It is my lucky day"
When she was trying her best to find a paper to get his autograph, Dan turned to Aree for an answer, "We are on a date. She doesn't believe me it is my first date."
A smile and frown appeared on his face at the same time. He was happy that Aree had finally socializing again, but which type of idiot took his partner to his parents on the first date. And on the other hand, the behaviour of the girl was more confusing.
"Chef, can you give me your autograph please?" Her eyes were shining.
'She must be twenty at most.' He took a closer look to confirm that the signs of teenage years hadn't vanished from her face yet, before signing the papers.
"I am the father of your partner, should you act like this before me?"
It took her a moment to understand the meaning of it. She raised her head from the paper, shocked she had no idea about how to react. 'If only there is a hole I could hide into.'
Looking at the girl who just turned beet red in shame, Dan couldn't help but put up a smile before patting her head, "I like her."
'uuk' Whether it was in excitement or in fear she started having hiccups. Neither Liya who was ravaged by wild hiccups nor Dan who was looking for remedy, had noticed that Aree was at the side, receiving a call.
"Hello" Looking at the 'Unknown Number', Aree wasn't sure whether it was from the strategic department or from Mishu.
"Wrath?"
"Yes, who is it?"
"How should I introduce myself? Well, I am the bald man in the meeting yesterday. Call me Vall."
"Sir, how can I help you?" It was like he was disrespectful to everyone. He knew how to return the respect that is shown to him.
"It is not about the department, but can we meet?"
"Sir!!"
"Actually, it is one of my old friends who want to meet you, if you don't mind will you spare some of your time?"
"Sure sir."
"Well then, meet me at the 'Birdcage' at 7."
"Sure sir, I will meet you there."