"Where's your scarf?" asked Charles when he saw William return without his scarf.
"It fell on the ground, and I'm too lazy to pick it up again," William replied. He then got on Charles's motorbike.
Charles didn't ask much and started the engine. After that, they left the club.
During the trip, William was silent while he thought about what he had done to Esmee. Everything just happened when he saw Esmee come out of the club kitchen.
"What are you doing, idiot?" said the voice inside William's head.
"She could be misunderstood for what I'm doing."
"Don't forget your purposes before coming to that place."
The voices inside William's head made him take a deep breath. He couldn't be sure what he was focusing on right now. Of course, he had remembered the wills issue, which forced him to come to Riquewihr.
William suddenly tapped Charles on the shoulder. "Stop the bike, Charl."
"What's wrong? We'll be home in a minute?" said Charles.
"I'd like to take a short walk," William replied.
Charles finally pulled the bike over and let William get off. "Are you sure you want to walk?"
William nodded. "It's not that far. I'd like to take a little walk."
"All right then. See you," said Charles. He then returned to his motorbike and left William.
William sighed after Charles left him on the side of the road. Then he continued his journey on foot.
----
Esmee sat on the edge of her bed as soon as she reached her room. She was still thinking about meeting with William behind his work club. Esmee swallowed her saliva and then took out her cell phone.
Then Esmee typed the message she wanted to send to William. "Please don't tell anyone I work part-time at the club."
Esmee put down her cell phone after she finished texting William. She then removed William's scarf around her neck.
Esmee's hand touched William's scarf, which felt very soft. Esmee traced every inch of the scarf with a small smile.
While Esmee was looking at William's scarf, her cell phone vibrated, and Esmee took it. A message came on her cell phone. Esmee opened the note and read it.
"I won't tell anyone. But you have to pay attention to your health," William replied.
Esmee smiled as she typed in reply to William. "I'll take care of my health. You don't have to worry. I'll return your scarf later."
A few moments after Esmee sent a reply message, William returned to reply. "Keep it. I still have plenty of scarves like that."
Esmee softly and sent another reply. "Thank you. In exchange, I'll make you breakfast."
Esmee smiled as she waited for William to return her message. A few minutes passed, and William had not answered her letter. Esmee finally took a deep breath and returned her phone to the nightstand.
Holding on to William's scarf, Esmee lay down on her bed. Esmee brought the scarf to her nose and inhaled the scent inside William's scarf. She then put down the scarf and smiled as she closed her eyes.
----
William was standing not far from D'Amelie's restaurant. He stared at the restaurant while noticing the buildings around the restaurant, which were already part of his family's property company.
William's eyes then caught the light from Esmee's room that had just turned off. "Finally, she's asleep."
The voices in his mind were still fighting over William's choice to continue his quest to destroy Esmee's restaurant or negotiate with his father and keep the restaurant standing.
"The old man will not let anyone ruin his plans. I also don't want to lose my legacy because of a small restaurant," William said. He then turned around and walked back to his residence.
----
The following day, William was again waiting for Esmee on the road to the grocery store. This time Esmee appeared faster than before. William saw Esmee smiling as she walked toward him from a distance.
"What are you made of, Esmee? You just got home from the club at 02.00 AM, and now you've done your grocery shopping," William said as Esmee approached.
Esmee smirked as she shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I'm also confused as to why I can be this strong."
"Tomorrow, let me do the grocery shopping. You need more rest," William said.
Esmee nodded slowly. She and William then walked together toward Anne's grocery store.
"Why are you taking a part-time job?" asked William suddenly.
"I need to make some extra money. You know how the restaurant going was when you first came," Esmee replied.
"Are you looking for extra money for your life? Or to support the restaurant?" William again asked Esmee.
"Both of them."
William frowned as he looked at Esmee. "You want to pay employees with your sweat working at the club?"
Esmee looked back at William. "If it's necessary, I'll do it."
"If you can't manage the restaurant anymore, you should follow the shopkeepers around you. You have to–"
"I won't sell my restaurant forever. I've already told you the reason," snapped Esmee.
"But seeing what you're doing right now, it's better than ruining your health," William said.
"I don't care about my health. As long as I can keep running the restaurant," said Esmee.
"You are an idiot, Esmee."
Esmee nodded her head after hearing William's words. "I'm a fool. I'm a stupid woman who would do anything to continue my family's restaurant."
Esmee snorted in annoyance, then quickened her pace.
Meanwhile, William took a deep breath after realizing what he had just said to Esmee.
"Stupid. What are you saying?" William thought. He then ran and chased Esmee.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."
Esmee was silent and did not respond to William's words. She kept walking, looking straight ahead. It was as if she didn't notice William beside him.
"Esmee, I'm sorry," William persuaded.
"Hey! Can you hear me?" William grabbed Esmee's hand and made her stop walking.
Esmee slowly turned her head and looked at William. "What should I hear?"
William swallowed his saliva. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you with my words."
"Your words hit me, Will. I don't know what to say after you called me an idiot. I'm aware of my stupidity. But if I don't do that, Marie, Sven, and the others will also be in trouble," explained Esmee.
Esmee glared at William as she continued her words. "I'm lucky they didn't resign like the others. They stayed by my side even though they knew I was struggling. I know them all well, and I know what I have to do for them."
William slowly released his grip on Esmee. He looked at Esmee in disbelief. "Hopefully, you realize you're putting yourself in danger."
"I don't care. Don't tell Marie or Sven I had a part-time job," said Esmee.
William took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I told you last night. I won't tell the others."
Esmee looked at William with a small smile. "Thank you."
Esmee then continued on her way, and William soon followed her.
"Do you forgive me?" William asked as he walked.
Esmee nodded her head. "There's nothing wrong with what you said. You always manage to slap me with reality, and it makes me a little annoyed."
"Then forget about our conversation this morning. I'll treat you to breakfast. How?" William slightly lowered his head to see the expression on Esmee's face.
Esmee chuckled. "Okay. I'll also forget what I said last night about making you breakfast. You pissed me off, and now I'm hungry."
William nudged Esmee's arm while laughing softly. "What do you want to eat?"
"Anything as long as it takes me to forget that you annoy me," Esmee replied.
William chuckled after hearing Esmee's words. "You choose what you want to eat. I'll pay for everything."
"I'll make you regret saying that, Will."
"Oh, just try me."
William and Esmee then laughed together and resumed their walk. William kept throwing jokes at Esmee so she could forget the little tension between them. William's jokes made Esmee not stop laughing until they finally arrived at Anne's shop.
****
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