An awkward silence filled the car, as Truce drove Cliff after a hectic business meeting, to Long Island. Chen had complained how Cliff bombarded his phone, almost every morning and night, after the shooting and kidnapping incident. Truce decided to make him see for himself, that his pretty little sister's faring well.
Truce gave him a bored side eye, at his uneasiness in his seat. "All these charade is unnecessary."
"Mmm, I'll believe it when I see for myself." Cliff replied curtly, looking out the window.
The sky was a brilliant blue, with few wispy clouds drifting lazily across it. The sea stretched out in shimmering shades of blue and green, meeting the horizon at a distant point, and carrying with it, the scent of saltwater.
Cliff didn't know if his uneasiness was caused by the sea or that he couldn't wait to see Anna. When she didn't come back that night, he thought they were having a bit of alone time, not until he saw the picture of the car in the news the next evening on his way to the studio, then he began panicking. He worried to the moon, calling Chen's phone number so many times.
When he found out Chen was hospitalized, he had to calm himself down, knowing Truce would do something. He was depressed at how much of a bad job he was doing at taking care of her.
They arrived at a beautiful estate gate, which opened on its accord and they drove down a private driveway, winding to the estate's entrance as it stood gloriously, bathed in candor, glass and lights.
"Mmm," was all Cliff could say. He didn't want to admit how impressed he was at Truce's taste in properties, in front of him. Truce knew what he was thinking and shrugged.
As they came down from the car, Truce saw Anna and Charlotte, sitting by the infinity pool before the house, laughing at some joke. Anna was dressed in white and her hair cascaded down her back. He loved the sound of her laughter, and admitted she looked awesome in white.
When Anna saw Cliff from the side of her eyes, she yelled out his name and dashed from where she sat. Cliff's uneasiness soon faded away the moment he saw her grinning from ear to ear, and running towards him.
He lifted her up in his arms and kissed her cheek. Jealous sparked like naked wires in Truce's eyes as he watched their drama. Great, she didn't even notice me. He started thinking of ways to get rid of Cliff.
"You silly girl, you had me worried sick." Cliff said smiling her.
"I'm sorry, how did you know I was here?"
"I called Chen and found out he was in the hospital and...."
"Oh my God, Chen!" She interrupted him abruptly, glancing at Truce, who looked so handsome in white sleeves and black pants, and his hair was perfectly messy, despite the tired look on his face.
"Hi," she said simply, forcing a smile. Thick clouds were gathering behind his eyes now. Hi? You laugh up at him and let him kiss you, and all I get is a hi?
It took a while before he answered coldly. "Chen's fine." Then he left them, moving to the house, with Charlotte following behind.
Anna couldn't tell if she did something wrong or he was simply exhausted. She watched him walk into the house.
"Is he always like that?" Cliff asked as they both stared at Truce's retreating figure.
"I don't know... Maybe he's tired, or annoyed," she said lifting both eyebrows at Cliff.
"You know, I haven't really talked to him since the incident... I gotta thank him for saving me at least."
"You did nothing wrong, and it's not your fault. Now don't get too worked up about that. Tell me what really happened?" He asked her as she escorted him to the spot she once sat.
Charlotte quietly entered Truce's office carrying his lunch, as he was engrossed in a phone call.
"Who's responsible?... I had my suspicions. Dig deeper into the case to be sure, and keep gathering evidences. Contact Ace Beamwood, tell him to set a meeting for the thirtieth."
There was a pause, before he added. "She's much better now. Eat healthy and heal yourself before the meeting."
He said and dropped the phone on his desk, not surprised to find Charlotte lingering.
"I suppose that was Chen, how's he holding up?" Charlotte asked Truce, with maternal concern. He answered a curt "Fine," as he methodically picked out pickles from his non-vegetarian sandwich.
"You have to go gentle on that child, Master Truce. He works tirelessly for you," a hint of warning, evident in her voice, and with that she turned and left.
Truce stopped, with his mouth full, his eyes on the door, as he realized she had meticulously spread pickles in every layer of the sandwich. A defeated smirk spread across his face as he slowly began chewing again,
A few hours later, Anna's hesitant knock on the door to his office, was followed by a pause. "Mister Truce?..."
"Come in," he said in a deep, cold voice.
Anna stepped inside, her fingertips were cold.
"Uh, I was hoping I could talk to you about–" but before she could finish, Truce cut her off.
"Has your boyfriend left already?" His words were sharp and pointed at her. A look of fear and confusion washed over her, her eyes widened at his question.
"What?"