“Yes, well… it’s rare around us, but they do exist.”
“Us?”
Joshua sharply raised his tone at the word that grouped him and the man together.
The man raised both hands in surrender, indicating he’d made a mistake.
Then, resting his crossed arms on the bar, he asked in an indifferent tone.
“But who on earth are you searching for so desperately? You’re not someone who would wander around looking for a person just because of their appearance. Are you trying to get revenge or something?”
Though he was asking as if in passing, Joshua knew well that there was no such thing as casual words from this man.
“Unnecessary curiosity hastens one’s demise.”
The paper airplane was complete.
Holding it with his fingertips and weighing where to fly it a couple of times, Joshua suddenly sent his creation flying.
“You just need to find that man as requested.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll do that.”
The airplane that flew off was blocked by the window and dropped with a thud onto the floor of the hall.
Reaching for his drink and bringing it to his lips, Joshua muttered as if to himself.
“Unless he deliberately evaporated to screw me over…”
Watching the raindrops forming and sliding down the window, Joshua repeated the words the man had said in his mouth.
Disappeared.
As if it was a fragrance, not a flower…
■
Elian, who had been going up 1st Avenue, turned right and entered 3rd Avenue. The further north he went, the less vehicle traffic there was, and the trees lining both sides of the road noticeably increased. It wasn’t a bad environment for enjoying the wind while riding a bicycle.
There was a time when he thought the Upper East Side would only have luxury supermarkets, restaurants, and boutiques of luxury brands lined up. Certainly, the ratio of such establishments was higher than in other districts. However, ordinary pizza places, affordable sushi bars, and accessible Mexican restaurants could also be found surprisingly easily. He had thought of Madison Avenue between 60th and 79th Streets as the entirety of the Upper East Side.
When he turned left toward East 86th Street, the street became even more secluded.
The Lockhart estate was located at the very end of this road where it met Central Park.
Feeling the cool air pleasantly brushing against his face, Elian recalled yesterday afternoon’s conversation with Margaret.
When he finished the counseling session with Lucas and left the room, she was waiting.
“Elian, do you have a moment?”
“Of course. Is there something you need to tell me…”
“There was something about life at the estate that I hadn’t properly informed you about.”
She was never someone who hesitated. She was a person who always knew precisely what to say and what to do, and had no hesitation in carrying it out. However, yesterday, there was a hint of hesitation on that flawless and neat face.
“Actually, outsiders are prohibited from entering the annex.”
“Ah… I see.”
“Even though Elian is working here for Lucas, you’re not an employee of the estate, so…”
“Yes, I understand. I’ll be careful from now on.”
Even after hearing Elian’s answer, Margaret’s expression didn’t improve much. It didn’t seem like she was conveying these words voluntarily because she wanted to.
Who had told her that Elian had entered the annex? Who had dropped hints to her to caution Elian? There was no need to even ask.
“It’s not that we’re trying to interfere with you socializing with others during your free time.”
“Yes, I understand what you mean. If that’s the rule, I should naturally follow it. Don’t worry about it.”
Elian reassured her with a smile.
But inwardly, he let out a hollow laugh at Lorenz Lockhart’s tactics.
When they were alone together in the study, he had clearly warned about the relationship between Noah and himself, saying that romance between employees was prohibited within the estate. If that was the case, he could have mentioned this matter directly at that time.
However, instead of pointing things out one by one himself, he chose to use another person’s mouth. His tendency to manipulate situations from behind the scenes without getting his own hands dirty was indeed befitting of a businessman.
“That’s why I said ‘just in case,’ didn’t I? It’s just for your reference.”
While at that moment, he showed a relaxed smile and pretended not to care anymore…
With this, Lorenz had blocked Elian from entering the annex and any possible romance with other employees that might occur. At least, the groundwork had been laid to hold Elian accountable.
However, if that was indeed the estate’s rule, he did have the right to demand it. Even if Elian felt somewhat wronged, the grounds for protest were weak.
Before he knew it, the estate had drawn considerably closer.
The old trees densely growing around it seemed to conceal the estate secretly. Thanks to its understated exterior finished in cream-colored marble, the estate didn’t stand out much despite its uncommon size in the area.
Elian got off his bicycle to enter through the side door on the annex side. He unbuckled and removed his helmet. It was a new helmet he’d purchased when he went out with Vincent on a holiday.
“……”
At that moment, a car slowed down and approached alongside Elian’s bicycle.
Elian, who had turned his head unconsciously, flinched the moment that car entered his view.
That car.
A Rolls-Royce Wraith in a color close to burgundy, like wine mixed with blood.
A car he could never forget.
Without realizing it, strong force entered his hand gripping the handlebars.
The window of the driver’s seat, not the back seat, rolled down, and Lorenz Lockhart’s face appeared.
“I see you on the road often.”
It was a statement whose meaning wasn’t clear, but Elian didn’t bother to ask. He simply nodded lightly as a greeting.
“Are you on your way back from the center?”
“Yes.”
Lorenz’s gaze, which had scanned Elian’s bicycle, lingered briefly on the helmet in his hand.
“You bought a new one.”
“…Yes.”
How did he know I bought a new helmet? That question crossed his mind, but he couldn’t think about it for long.
It was already unexpected that he had stopped his car in front of the house to greet him, but his next action was even more surprising.
Lorenz Lockhart got out of the car.
While refastening the jacket buttons he had left open while driving, he approached Elian’s bicycle.
“How about it? Shall we proceed with the interview again?”
“We should. But before that, please promise me one thing.”
“What promise should I make?”
“Please agree that Lucas’s recovery takes priority above all else.”
“My goal is also Lucas’s recovery.”
An unwavering answer.
Now, Elian could believe those words.
However, it was also true that this man had a problem with his way of expressing things.
“You had demanded that I make it so Lucas could enter Ashford without any problems.”
“That’s right. Being able to enter school without problems would mean the child has improved that much. Setting goals first and then moving forward is my way with anything.”
For this man, waiting and making efforts while vaguely hoping for the child to get better was an inefficient method. He set a visible and concrete goal of enrolling in school normally and used it as a standard to evaluate the results of achievement afterward. It was a businessman-like strategy. However, it couldn’t be said to be desirable as a child’s guardian.
Businessman, and guardian of a child.
It was clear he didn’t know how to separate and apply those two within himself.
Think of him as another child who needs counseling. ⎯ Elian intended to treat Lorenz that way.
“At least regarding Lucas’s issues, please focus on the process rather than the results.”
“……”
“It’s about opening and comforting a person’s heart. It’s never easy. We need to join forces for Lucas’s sake, not for the sake of a goal.”
Lorenz gazed quietly at Elian’s face, which looked both resolute and desperate. The current him could understand to some extent what Elian Bellotti was saying.
Margaret’s words that since he had hired him to receive a professional’s help, he should trust him for now, also made sense.
“It won’t be easy since it’s my innate nature, but I’ll try.”
“You’ll make an effort?”
“Yes.”
