After a moment had passed when our gaze met, I was first to withdraw and walked to the corner. I did not reply to his query but kept my silence. More likely, I snubbed him.
But Mr. Elevator Guy seemed to sign up for the Gossip column in an Entertainment magazine as he queried me this—
"Is he bothering you?"
I turned my head in his direction and skimmed him up and down, studying his features.
I could make out that Mr. Elevator is about the same height as Rowan and Crazy George. And if I compare him to My George, it is strange that they were the same build too.
Or it is just my guess.
My late fiance George wears t-shirts and jackets most of the time, opposite to Mr. Elevator, who wears a tailored suit, like the business attire Crazy George wears daily.
'I wonder what kind of business he is running.' I had this question in my head based on Rowan's reaction earlier.
Rowan seemed agitated after he recognized the man in the elevator. He always appeared with a smile, but in my quick observation, it distressed him upon seeing these men in the elevator.
Not only that, he was using a panic tone when he ordered me to stop from entering the lift.
"Gawking enough?" Mr. Elevator teased me, and his hoarse voice was pleasant to the ears. It caused my cheeks to blush instantly after he caught me red-handed. Now I could deny it, but explain myself.
True that I was sizing up this man and studying his physical qualities. I also put some effort into figuring out what kind of people his company is.
It is obvious since my gaze was shifting between him and his four companions, as they also suited up well. In fact, it is easy to spot that one of them was his assistant, and the rest were his bodyguards.
I could think of this setup as it is what I noticed with Crazy George's security details. Several bodyguards had been tailing us earlier, so I presumed Mr. Elevator was also a big shot.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you, so I am not replying." In the meantime, since he caught me red-handed. I could only give a valid excuse.
On the one hand, this was our first meeting, and it felt strange how I wanted to explain it to him.
"Right. You must have thought how weird I am to mind others' personal matters," he replied.
The guy chuckled, and I didn't know whether I should be happy for him being a straightforward person.
But one thing surprised me. He spoke my native language when I talked to him in English unless he figured it out through my accent. 'It must be the case.'
"Thank you for your concern," I uttered this, then pursed my lips shyly and met his gaze as I went on. "The guy earlier—we just had a small misunderstanding. So it's nothing to worry about."
I found myself explaining to a stranger I had named Mr. Elevator since our first encounter was in the elevator. Supposedly, the first thing I should do in this foreign country is to stay away from any men. How many women have been a victim of human trafficking?
Even these big shots could bring trouble to me. Therefore, I must be cautious. Besides, I have enough pain in the a** dealing with Crazy George, who is entitled that he is now my boss, even though I don't sign a work contract with him.
"Krishna!"
Suddenly, I heard Crazy George's voice echoing in the lobby when I exited the elevator.
Finally, I arrived on the ground floor. But it shocked me to see a guy bathing in sweat running toward me.
"What happened to you?" I queried. I noticed how big the beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
"Are you alright?" Instead of replying to my query, Crazy George returned a question with panic. I didn't understand, but he seemed genuinely worried, and I didn't want to assume it was for me.
Similarly, why would he be concerned about me?
"I'm fine, but why are you suddenly concerned?"
It was unbelievable that this man would care for me when he wanted to kill me with his dagger look.
Crazy George did not reply. Instead, he scanned my body from head down to my stiletto momentarily. I grew impatient because he was holding me in both arms, and his grasp tightened as time passed.
'What is his problem?' It filled my head with questions. Then someone spoke behind me.
"Hello, Mr. Graham. It's a pleasure to see you here."
"Hah. Unfortunately, I feel the opposite, Mr. Green." George did not mask his displeasure with the guy.
Upon listening to the bickering, I peeked over my shoulder to confirm if my guess was correct.
Indeed. It was Mr. Elevator greeting Crazy George, who was now laughing heartily.
However, George had this grim expression all over his face, as if he was ready to swallow someone at this very moment.
In this scene, I am dying to know what kind of relationship they have. I could tell by the tension between them. The way they spoke to each other with sarcasm, there must be a long history already written in the book.
'Is it a business rival? Or a rival in love?' It's the only possibility.
I am a mere peasant standing in the middle of these rich men. Whatever issues they have with each other have nothing to do with me, nor should I be concerned.
However, Mr. Elevator loved to gossip. He asked,
"Mr. Graham, is she your girlfriend?"
George curled his lips and retorted, "You don't have the privilege of asking me any question. So it's none of your business."
Mr. Elevator chuckled, and I thought it was sexy. At the same time, it startled me when he sounded so much to my late fiance George. All of a sudden, my heart was beating strangely. I felt such loneliness as I longed for him to see him again, which was impossible.
I turned around and looked at the guy with such interest. I didn't know he was staring at me as well.
"Let's go." I heard George pulling me toward him, but Mr. Elevator stopped him.
"Come on, Mr. Graham. I'm just curious because no other woman is standing by your side except for Stella. What happened?"
The man mentioned Stella, which made Crazy George irate. I know it because I feel George's hand tightening on my body, and there is something wrong where his hand rests.
I just realized that Crazy George was no longer holding me in my arms. His hand is now hooking around my waist, which I overlooked when he did it.
"Let go, Mr. Graham," I whispered after I realized how intimate we were.
Our bodies are brushing each other, making me uncomfortable at how close we were in this way. However, Crazy George only ignored my plea.
Instead, the corner of his mouth lifted as he delivered his reply to Mr. Elevator with a family named Mr. Green.
"The last time I checked, I could be with any woman as I am single. Unlike you, a married guy, you should not covet someone's woman. Am I right?"
Someone's woman…
'Is Crazy George referring to me as Florian's mistress? Or is he telling Mr. Green that I am his woman instead?'
But wait… George mocked the guy for being married, yet he still checks out another girl. Has he forgotten something?
He is ridiculing someone sinning when his cousin is doing the same. Is it a family scandal when it leaks out?
However, Crazy George's mocking is effective. Indeed, he hit the nail on as Mr. Green shot a dagger toward us.
Quietly, I only observed the two men clashing gazes. Mr. Green's men stepped forward, but he stopped them.
It's all because Crazy George's bodyguards had arrived; they quickly surrounded us, protecting us against Mr. Greene's men.
"Let's go," said George. He was still gripping my waist. I attempted to get free, but he only reprimanded me. "Stop struggling."
"Then let me go now!" To no avail, Crazy George did not listen to me, but he kept dragging me toward the exit door.
Outside, the cars were already waiting for us. Crazy George opened the car door in the back seat and ordered me to get in. After me, the crazy guy followed through.
"What was that all about?" I shot a question the moment the driver started the car. He didn't reply, so I teased him. "I thought you didn't want me to ride your car?"
My lips curled into a grin but then disappeared almost instantly after George glared and said,
"Just shut up! You better listen to me. Next time you cross paths with that man, stay away from him!"
My left brow raised upward. I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "How bossy. You should pay me if so..."
"What did you say?"
"Duh. It's nothing." I mouthed that annoyed him.