A sedan parked near the fountain in front of the lobby entrance in a luxurious mansion of Brajamohan after lunch hour passed. A chill wind blew past both Artemis and Ariel when they went out of the car. Ariel then looked up to the sky on his car side, and such the day turned so quickly from day to a dark cloud.
"It's going to be rain. Come on, let's get inside!" Ariel muttered to Artemis, who gazed up to him. He did not reply to him but walked behind to the house.
Once they got inside, it was so quiet until one of the maids came at them.
"Where's my Dad?" asked Artemis with his flat cold expression as always.
"Master is in his working chamber, Sir!" the male servant then took Artemis's jacket. Artemis and Ariel also walked inside to see Mr. Brajamohan in their office room. But when they arrived, he was hesitant once they were at the door.
"What?" asked Ariel when he saw Artemis hold the handle without twisting it. Artemis tilted his head to Ariel with his frown look.
"This isn't gonna work!" he muttered silently. Ariel scoffed in annoyance.
"You must be responsible for what you did. What did we talk for an hour in the car then, so we get for nothing!" Ariel blurted at Artemis, who seemed like a scaredy-cat to him.
"If you don't admit your acts, then I will say that to him!" Ariel warned him and ready to push the door, but Artemis held his hand.
"I'll do it!" Artemis took a deep breath before twisted the handle and pushed the door. Both of them were getting into the room.
Ajax Brajamohan seemed quite busy because he took some overload works home. When the door opened, he took a glimpse to see who was coming in. His cold expression greeted the boys as usual.
"Come on in; I'm expecting your coming today, Arte. So how was last night?" Ajax directly asked Artemis a question instead of asking how his son was.
"Uh, fine. I-I need to talk to you, Dad!" Artemis strengthened to his father about last night. But before it happened, Ajax didn't give him any chance.
"Me too. I'll do it first! We agreed on taking your relationship to the next level. So I'm still preparing for your engagement's part date is coming on …."
"Wait? What?? What do you mean, Dad?" Artemis could not cover his shocked face, and he even cut his words. Meanwhile, Ariel, who stood almost behind him, only stay quiet without saying anything yet.
"What do I mean? Didn't you meet Miraya Kato?" Artemis sighed and nodded.
"Yes, I met her, but …."
"She's pretty, isn't she?" Ajaz cut Artemis, so it even made it more complicated for him to explain.
"Yes, she is …."
"So, I think you'll just have to hasten your relationship to the next level!" Ajax ordered his son quickly. Ariel bowed and closed his eyes when Ajax could be straightforward to take Artemis's life.
"Dad … I don't want to take to the engagement plan anymore. I want you to decline it soon as possible!" Artemis took his risk by opposing his stern father. Ajax stared at Artemis and stood up from his chair without letting him off. He moved out from his chair and slowly walked towards Artemis.
"What did you say?" Artemis swallowed up his saliva for the tension on his father's aura. As if the room's temperature lower than 16 degrees, he got chills to his bones.
"I-I mean … I want you to decline it. I can't do the matchmaking!" Artemis was still trying to explain. Now he turned his gaze to another side. There was Ariel, who also felt the same goosebumps on his nape.
"Is this part of your plan?" Ajax accused Ariel directly without any sign. At the same time, Ariel widened his eyes and abruptly shook his head. But Ajax smirked at him wickedly. Ariel knew that Ajax never liked him. Nevertheless, he never opposed Artemis's friendship with Ariel yet.
"Dad, he has nothing to do with this!" Artemis claimed his action and asked his father not to involving another party.
"I was discussing with Mr. Katto, and we bought to some agreements."
"What agreement?" Artemis asked anticipatively with his frown and severe cast.
"We will do the engagement's party before the end of this month. It means in short two weeks!" Ajax confirmed his decision that made Artemis blew his mind. He could not utter any words to his father nor Ariel, who froze in his position.
"Be ready. I will not be going to spare for your excuses this time!" Ajax continued more orders on Artemis. Meanwhile, Artemis could not resist his feeling anymore. He would blow up if he held his anger against his father's arrogance.
"I won't, and you can't have me!" said Artemis in a stern tone and clenched jaw. Ariel was shocked until he glanced at Artemis dumbfoundedly.
"What? Are you opposing me right now?"
"Yes!" Artemis straightly answers without a doubt. Ajax stepped closer at him and stood imperiously.
"Say that to me one more time!" Ajax repeated his question with a lower angry tone.
"I'm not your puppet, and I will never do what you want!" – PLAK, Ajax directly slapped Artemis on his cheek right after he finished with his statements.
"Sir … do not slap him!" Ariel turned his move by protecting Artemis. He stood bravely against raging Ajax, and that would make the situation even getting worse.
"You do not step on my business … Boy! Move!" Ajax snarled to Ariel with his clenched jaw and wrath.
"I won't … you hit my friend. I will never let you hurt him more!" Ariel was stubborn enough to stand in his way, and Artemis knew he could not make any more dangerous actions for his friend.
"It's okay," Artemis hummed at Ariel, who stood in front of him. But Ariel still felt unease with the situation. Artemis was still pledging with his eyes to Ariel so he'd move aside. And he succumbed eventually.
"You do what I want, or I'll be satisfied to tear all of your racing reputations apart. It is not a huge problem for me to do it." Ajax stared sharply at Artemis to warn him to stay on the line he made.
Neither Artemis could not say anything nor Ariel to Ajax at this moment. Ajax then fixed his suit and walked out through the door. Meanwhile, Artemis was clenched his fist with his blurry eyes. Ariel, who saw him, then embraced Artemis to calm him.
"It's okay, I'll be here for you!" he whispered.