Evan watched Damian playing with Leo with an easygoing smile, and he couldn't help but think to himself, This isn't going to work. I need to come up with a reason to make him stop… Clearing his throat, he cautiously suggested, "Mr. Damian, perhaps we should let Leo down for a bit? A little exercise might help his recovery."
Damian looked up at him, a faint smile in his eyes. "Didn't you suggest I spend more time with him?"
Caught off guard, Evan found himself at a loss for words, practically regretting his own advice. Wasn't he just digging his own grave? Trying to keep his cool, he pressed on, "Or maybe Leo could walk around on his own. He seems to be improving already."
As soon as he finished speaking, Leo rolled comfortably onto his back on Damian's lap, looking perfectly content. Damian glanced down at Leo with a glimmer of admiration in his gaze and said softly, "You're quite the talented vet, Dr. Evan. Just a short while with Leo, and he's already feeling better." He paused, his tone growing a touch more earnest. "Though you mentioned not planning to stay here long-term, I do hope you'll visit often to check on him."
The words made Evan's heart skip a beat. Quick to respond, he said, "Actually, I wouldn't mind considering the live-in vet position—your pay is generous, and the accommodations are fantastic. It's only right I take my work seriously. I'd like to keep observing Leo's recovery… and, lately, Max seems to be showing signs of discomfort too. It might be a good idea to examine him closely and confirm that both of them are in top shape before I leave. I might need a little time to hand over my responsibilities at the clinic, though."
Internally, Evan reasoned with himself, Better to make sure this strange bond with Leo won't interfere with my daily life before going home… Imagine suddenly suffocating in the middle of the night because Leo's in trouble—or worse, if I ended up… "neutered" in spirit! Best to stick around and figure things out first.
Damian's smile deepened, and with a slight nod, he said, "I'd be glad to have you stay, Dr. Evan. As for the clinic, rest assured I'll send over a few of my veterinarians to cover your work, so nothing is left undone."
Evan blinked, feeling a bit taken aback. Hearing Damian's attentiveness, he couldn't help but think, He really is… quite considerate.
After a slight pause, Damian looked at him with an earnest expression. "So, Dr. Evan, you're saying you believe Max may have an issue? You're the first vet to suggest that. I've always suspected he wasn't quite himself, but other vets told me there was nothing wrong. You might just be a genius for noticing it." His words held genuine praise, his gaze softening as he looked at Evan.
Humbled, Evan took a moment to process Damian's words, appreciating the man's attentiveness. Then he responded thoughtfully, "Honestly, I can't say for sure. His routine exam didn't show any clear signs of illness, but… Max feels very perceptive to me. His eyes almost seem to be trying to tell me he's uncomfortable in some way." A warm smile crept onto his face as he continued, "So, I feel it's worth investigating further. With any luck, we'll pinpoint the source."
Damian nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It seems Max really does trust you, if he's giving you that level of cooperation."
Evan couldn't help but chuckle a little, feeling unexpectedly shy. He didn't entirely understand why, but he felt an unusual connection with Max, and part of him genuinely wanted to solve this mystery for him.
"Ah—" Suddenly, a tingling warmth flowed over him, catching him off guard. It dawned on him—Damian had turned Leo over, scratching his belly. Leo was purring blissfully, paws in the air, eyes half-closed, thoroughly relaxed. To Evan's chagrin, he felt himself being drawn into Leo's pleasure, as if each scratch was a gentle caress directly on his own skin.
"This… is too intense! If this keeps up, I'm really going to end up addicted to it. No!"
As Leo reveled in his blissful trance, Evan shot to his feet in a panic, his movement so sudden that the sofa creaked, startling both Damian and Leo. Leo quickly scrambled to his feet, leaping off the sofa and peering up innocently, his wide eyes full of surprise.
With Leo back on the floor, Evan felt his equilibrium return. Seeing Damian's curious expression, his face warmed slightly. Unsure of how to explain his sudden outburst, he hastily improvised, "Uh—I think it's best I examine Max right away! I need to get to the bottom of this discomfort he's feeling."
He had fully expected Damian to see through the flimsy excuse—surely, someone as perceptive as the richest man in town wouldn't be so easily fooled. But to Evan's surprise, Damian didn't question him. Instead, he looked slightly taken aback, then nodded, looking moved by Evan's dedication. After a brief pause, he instructed, "Alright, confirm Leo's state first, then check on Max. Lucas, prepare the exam room and equipment."
Damian's gaze softened, his voice gentle with trust. "I'll step out for now, but I look forward to hearing about Max's condition. I hope you'll find the answers you're looking for, Dr. Evan."
With that, Damian inclined his head slightly and, with Lucas in tow, left the pet room, leaving Evan standing there, slightly dazed, heart beating a little faster. As he watched Damian's retreating figure, he thought to himself, Wow… Damian really is… easy to mislead.