William slammed his door as he stepped into the house. Charles, who was opening the report he had just received from Elaine, gasped and turned his attention to William.
"Slow down, Dude!" Charles shouted.
William snorted as he looked at Charles. He walked past him and went straight to his room. Charles frowned. "Isn't he usually like that? Is it because he's been out of touch with women for a few days? Then he becomes like that?"
Charles then shouted again at William. "Would you like some fresh air? I can accompany you."
"No need," William said from inside the room.
"You want a woman to accompany you?" Charles shouted at William again.
This time William opened the door to his room. "If I want, I can find it myself."
William then went back into his room.
With a soft snort, Charles tossed the pen in his hand towards William's bedroom door. After that, Charles turned his attention back to his laptop screen. He returned to reading Elaine's report regarding the William family's hotel chain in Manhattan.
It was only a short time after William entered his room. He came back out and went straight to Charles. "What are you reading?"
"Elaine just sent a report," Charles replied.
"Give it to me. I need something to read," William said.
Charles directly gave his laptop to William. Presently William's face turned serious as soon as he read the report sent by Elaine, the hotel manager of Chasseur Hotel, the William family-owned hotel chain in Manhattan.
"Are you sure nothing happened?" asked Charles, noticing the look on William's face.
William nodded.
"But you look upset," said Charles.
"No," said William without taking his eyes off Charles' laptop screen.
"You sure?"
"Definitely."
Charles did not just believe in William's answer. He had known William since they were at Columbia University. The two became good friends after William joined the university's debate club. Charles looked back at William.
"You look like you want to hit someone, Will. You forgot we've been friends for a long time. I know you perfectly well, William Hunter," Charles said.
William chuckled. "You don't know me yet, Charl."
"I even know your underwear size, Willy," said Charles.
William slowly glanced at Charles. He hissed. "You perverted man."
"Just tell me. What's bothering you? You know, your secret is safe with me," Charles said.
William took a deep breath as he closed Charles' laptop. "You're making it hard for me to concentrate."
Charles chuckled. "You don't want to go to a club? There are lots of interesting clubs around here."
William muttered while thinking about the offer Charles had given him. He then turned to Charles and smiled widely. "That doesn't seem like a bad idea."
"Then what are you waiting for?" Charles stood up from his seat. He walked to his room to get his coat.
So did William. He took his coat and scarf. As William walked out of his room, he wrapped a dark brown scarf around his neck. Then he and Charles walked out of their house together.
----
"Aren't you tired, Esmee?" asked Pierre.
Esmee shook her head. "Not really. I've got to do another job to defend my restaurant."
As usual, Esmee fills the last shift at the club and helps Pierre as Assistant Cook. Pierre watched Esmee. "Don't push yourself. If you're tired, you can rest."
Esmee turned her attention away from the piece of asparagus she was chopping and looked at Pierre. "Thanks for worrying about me."
Pierre nodded. "I saw that your workload in the kitchen was hefty. Now you are working part-time. You must pay attention to your health."
Esmee nodded her head. "I'll remember it."
Pierre then patted Esmee on the shoulder. "If you're tired, you can tell me straight away. I can send you home early."
"No need. Besides, you also helped me at the restaurant. Your help is enough to make my job a little easier," said Esmee.
Pierre chuckled. "It's nothing. You are a wonderful woman."
Esmee laughed softly. "What is a compliment?"
"You're the most extraordinary woman I've ever met. And, yes. That's a compliment to you," replied Pierre.
Esmee turned to Pierre and smiled again. "Your words make me even more excited."
Pierre once again tapped Esmee on the shoulder. "Then do well. We still have much to serve."
Esmee nodded her head. She returned to chop the pieces of asparagus used as raw material for making soup. Meanwhile, Pierre was busy checking on the rest of his men. Occasionally, Pierre glanced at Esmee with a small smile.
----
William took a sip of the cognac the bartender had just poured into his glass. While enjoying his drink, William noticed the atmosphere in the club he was in right now. Charles said the club they went to was where Esmee worked after the restaurant closed.
"Leave the bottle," William said to the bartender, who was about to bring the bottle of cognac he had just poured.
The bartender nodded. He left a bottle of cognac for William. After that, he served the other guests. Several women glanced at William, and he directly responded by raising his drinking glass. The woman sheepishly smiled as William resumed his drink.
One of the women walked up to William and sat next to him. "Do you mind if I sit here?"
William smiled. "Please."
The woman smiled back. She was about to take William's bottle of cognac before William's hand held it. "Sorry, I'm not ready to share a drink tonight."
Talking to some people in the club, Charles saw what William had just done while frowning. He then approached William. The woman who came to William smiled wryly and left him.
"You just rejected the girl?" asked Charles in disbelief.
William shrugged. "I don't want to be bothered by women."
Charles's brow furrowed even more profoundly. "Scary."
"Do what you want to do. I want a drink here," William said.
"Don't make trouble," said Charles before he left William.
William nodded slowly, and Charles returned to mingle with the other club visitors. While William was enjoying his drink, he continued to look at his watch with a long sigh.
----
Esmee massaged her neck after finishing all her work in the club kitchen. Pierre, who saw Esmee massaging her neck, approached her. Without further ado, Pierre rubbed Esmee's shoulders.
Esmee gasped and took a step forward reflexively when Pierre's hand touched her shoulder. She then turned and looked at Pierre.
"Oh, sorry. I think I made you uncomfortable. I just meant to help you," said Pierre.
Esmee smiled awkwardly at Pierre. "Looks like I have to go home now."
Pierre nodded. "Be careful on the way."
"Bye." Esmee then walked to her locker in a rush. She hastily took out his coat and walked away from the club kitchen.
Pierre couldn't help but take a deep breath when he saw Esmee rushing out of the kitchen.
----
"So you also work here?"
Esmee gasped at someone talking to her while picking up her bicycle. She turned around and was surprised to see William already standing behind her. "William?"
Esmee covered the kitchen uniform she was wearing with her coat when William looked at her. "What are you doing here?"
William shrugged. "I don't know. I just wanted a drink. But I didn't think I'd find you here. You work here too?"
Esmee looked down while biting her lip. She did not expect to be caught by William. "I—"
William took a deep breath and approached Esmee. He didn't say much and stood before Esmee, looking at her. William suddenly took off his scarf and put it on Esmee's neck. "It's winter soon. You must take care of your health."
Esmee froze after William put the scarf around hers. She couldn't even lift her head to look at William. She could only look at William when he walked away.
Esmee looked at William's back which was away from her while holding William's scarf. After a while, she switched back to his bike and quickly left the club.
****
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