The waiter leads us to a big, dashing table covered by a silk white cloth, and a set of gorgeously decorated crockery. A man with a shuddering presence sits in one of the red velvet armchairs. His attention is set on his phone in a charismatic and poised manner. He looks elegant and intimidating in his visibly custom-tailored grey suit, his blonde hair is perfectly coiffed, and his stance radiates with confidence to the point it’s unsettling.
Aoi and that man can’t look more different. Aoi’s a gentle man, his aura is soothing and mature whereas that man looks like a spoiled rich king, ready to conquer a neighboring kingdom.
Either way, I don’t like him. I don’t have to know much about him or even speak to him to be able to tell that everything about this man screams danger.
His eyes wander around the room until he finally finds us. More like he catches a glimpse ofAoiand thus he stands up with a subtle smile that sends shudders down my spine.
He dangerously slides his hand over Aoi’s lower back and kisses his cheek.What the hell. They’re close, that’s undoubtedly a fact but what kind of uncle basically gropes his nephew? Aoi smiles casually at him and seems to relax for a split second until the man’s hand leaves the hollow of his back.
“Aoi, you look ravishing as usual,” he purrs, a predator’s flicker in his hazel eyes.
His voice is a seductive treat for the ears but that makes him look further ominous. One glance at him and anyone can tell that he’s skilled with words. I look between them and warily observe Aoi’s face as he brushes the devilish man’s compliment away.
“No need for flattery Jason,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“Mind you, I’m simply telling the truth.”
“Yeah, yeah. Thank you.”
“Did you not sleep again? The fatigue is evident in your complexion. I told you to come see me if you couldn’t sleep.”
“Goodness, Jason, that’s not it. Please, just stop worrying for a second. I’m fine.”
“If you say so.” Suddenly, his gaze shifts from Aoi to me, and coldness creeps under that polite smile as he asks, “And who is this little one?”
He glares down at me, but his question is meant for the embodiment of kindness in human flesh standing next to me, our hands still intertwined. Jason’s gaze skims from my stone-faced expression to the thumb caressing the back of my hand.
Something akin to annoyance flashes through those hazel irises. His expression doesn’t shift from his polite smile, only his eyes convey such an uncanny bolt of emotion. Aoi motions for me to sit down so I obey.
He takes the seat next to me and says, “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Oh? Don’t tell me he’s yours,” he almost spits, plastering on a fake smile and narrowing his eyes at me in disdain.
“Of course not! When the hell would I have had time to plop out a child?”
“Right. I wouldn’t have missed such an important detail if it had been the case.” His voice is as lethal as venom and from that moment on, he disregards me completely.
I tug on Aoi’s sleeve, and he looks down at me. “Ah, yes. Visha, this is Jason, my uncle. Jason, this is Visha, a child I found last night.”
Jason’s lips halt before his wine glass when he scoffs. He scans me up and down with an arrogant and condescending hold that Aoi doesn’t seem to notice. If he has, he doesn’t let it on.
“Since when do you do charity?” Jason smirks, not bothering to hide his contempt.
“It’s not charity,” he replies sternly before exhaling loudly, regaining his composure. “It was all really unexpected, and I didn’t want to leave him out alone in the cold, so I took him home.”
I have no idea how I could possibly interact with that snake, better let Aoi do the talking. The restaurant is busy with chatting guests and harmonic classical music playing in the background. My attention momentarily fixates on the embroidery in the seats, and I almost reach to touch it.
“He slept at the apartment?” he asks as he lowers his wine glass down, setting it on the table.
“Yes,” Aoi retorts as he takes my napkin and spreads it out over my thighs, his focus on Jason.
“In your bed I presume?”
“Obviously.”
My benefactor ruffles my hair and at that a flex in Jason’s jaw snatches my attention away from Aoi. His gaze is unwavering and the consideration Aoi shows me right in front of him seems to put him on edge.
I glare at him.
