Unexpected encounters

"I've warned you many times, Abi. Stop consuming alcohol. You know it has unpredictable interactions with medications. Your vitamins will be waiting if you don't show up on time."

Roger always had a reason to lecture him with all kinds of sentences that unfolded at times like this. The special check-up schedule, which unfortunately could not be rearranged, despite Abihirt's serious attempts to avoid the doctor and most intimate cousin. He gave Roger a half squint after the man slid a bottle of vitamin capsules and circled the schedule for a blood transfusion.

"Come back here next week. Got it, Abi-oh stop playing with my expensive collection!"

Roger immediately got up-not that he was going to let Abihirt run his fingertips over his expensive robot series. He quickly slid the glass cabinet shut-carefully-then pocketed the key into his coat pocket. There were various kinds of patients, and they did not dare to just glance, but this one was an exception.

"Let me remind you again, do not consume alcohol. I hope last night was the last time."

I don't know how many times it took for Roger to stop talking. Abihirt massaged his temples in frustration, finally stepping over to Roger's desk. He picked up the vitamin bottle as he inhaled roughly while thinking of the best response to Roger's ramblings.

"I won't drink for no reason, you know that. Roki forced me to come to the club under the pretext of celebrating my wedding day. I couldn't refuse."

Roger suddenly chuckled as if he thought Abihirt's statement was just self-defense. "You should have just ordered a glass of mineral water," the man added.

A suggestion that made Abihirt glower in sanction.

"You think I'm an onion child?"

Abihirt was only bound by the rules. Nothing more. However, Roger would always think differently. The man had a way of finding loopholes by asking other questions.

"So you actually came to the club to show who can handle alcohol better? What do you get if you win?"

The body of a young girl. But it was all pure accident. It was Barbara's fault for not wanting to introduce him to Moreau long ago, and Roki's actions were out of control. That bastard would have been content to keep a video recording of Abihirt carrying Moreau away towards the club's exit, and then threaten him with money.

"I got pleasure."

That was all that came to his mind to say. Before Roger could say anything more serious, Abihirt quickly took a step to leave the man's office. He had heard enough of the off-the-cuff advice. There was work left to be done. Barbara said she would ask the lady's secretary to send the contract letter of engagement.

Abihirt reached for his phone as he walked towards the car park. A text message from Barbara provoked a frown on his forehead.

[Sorry, Darling. I left our cooperation file in my private office at home. I called Moreau earlier to bring them to your office. She's probably already on her way. Are you there?"]

Abihirt just stared at his cell phone with a cold look in his eyes. Barbara's habit was often to rush and end up like this. Perhaps Moreau would arrive soon. She needed to travel faster to the office.

***

"Moreau?"

The call from a familiar voice gave Moreau an indication that something was about to make her feel uncomfortable. She froze-hoping the thought wasn't true, hoping that wasn't what was going to happen right now, which left a great urgency, and Moreau needed to fight for the sake of making a big decision.

Right now, the need to turn away could not be prevented. Moreau took a long breath, turned half of the body and turned ....

The choked air soon followed.

Meeting Froy somewhere unwanted was a most unpleasant experience. Something that also felt odd when she found the man in her stepfather's office. What was Froy doing?

"Why are you here?"

In fact, instead of Moreau being able to ask a question. Froy had first piqued the man's curiosity. Not much had changed, but Moreau was never going to pay attention to her former lover again. Let Froy go about life as usual. Moreau also had her own busy life.

"Important business."

She only answered briefly. Maybe that would make it clear to Froy; there was no need for much conversation here. Moreau wanted to leave. Already intending to walk away. However, Froy's touch on her wrist left a rude impression.

"This is a big company. What important business brings you here?"

Moreau's bright blue irises glared. The man asked as if she was nothing. If only Froy knew, but Moreau would not feel proud. Abihirt owned this large company with their relationship status only being that of stepfather and stepdaugther. Nothing more. At the very least... it was necessary to add a date to the total overnight.

However, whatever it was. Moreau didn't want to bring it up again. She was only charged with the business of handing over an important file after Barbara contacted her for help. Thinking this would be over in a minute, then she could take the training session in stride.

"I have to go, Froy. Let go of my hand."

Without revealing more. Moreau dismissed Froy's grip on her hand. The man should know that their relationship had been over since last week. Indeed, there was still a great deal of curiosity about the most plausible reason why Froy had made such a unilateral decision. Sadly, at the moment the man refused to speak. Moreau would never insist on what Froy was hiding from her. It was useless. Suspecting that the man wanted a successful life. Achieving his goals, being forced to give up their relationship, was enough to make Moreau feel better.

"Honey, who are you talking to?"

A fashionably dressed woman appeared. Moreau knew now. What a fool. She snorted instinctively. Almost laughing, the irony, it sounded like clucking. Faint. Even so... Moreau's actions very likely made Froy stare anxiously in his direction.

"Who is this?"

The question from the same woman was only met with a faint smile. Moreau thought she needed to help Froy reveal something by lying. The man didn't seem to want his new girlfriend-who had only taken a week to find a replacement-to think of Moreau as a threat.

"I'm Froy's schoolmate."

Nice improvisation, but Moreau was a little surprised when Froy prevented his new lover's hand from slowly extending. The man smiled nervously while glancing around.

"You'd better get back to the car, Lewi. Moreau and I will talk for a while."

"Lewi? So she's your old college friend?"

Moreau asked the question right after Lewi left the two of them in the office parking lot. The knowledge at the top of her head grew clearer. She gave Froy a bitter look. Swatting away the man's hand roughly as another near-touch ended at the wrist.

"So it turns out you betrayed me long ago. No wonder, all this time until the day of your graduation, you always had no time."

"You must not misunderstand."

Moreau's eyebrows raised high to detect Froy was about to continue. "Lewi is pregnant. I brought her here because we just got back from the gynecologist, but I also had some business with my uncle. So tell me what are you doing here?"

"Pregnant?"

Instead of answering Froy's question directly. Moreau marked the most shocking statement. Froy dissolved their relationship because he betrayed, and even impregnated, another woman.

That's how it should be. The corners of Moreau's lips curled bitterly while avoiding eye contact with Froy. Her intention was still the same, to leave this man. However, for whatever reason Froy continued to block Moreau's decision to take a step away from their conversation here.

"Moreau?"

Abihirt's deep, hoarse voice had recently become the most familiar thing in Moreau's mind. She immediately turned her face, somewhere between relieved and frozen to find the man in the dark blue suit, so handsome... towering-slowly approaching them.

It was a good thing Froy didn't make any threatening moves at the same time, or Moreau would have called the man equally surprised to find Abihirt already an inch away engulfed in a heavy dose of masculine scent.

"Uncle, do you know her?"

The shock behind Froy's voice gave away something, which Moreau seemed to have missed. She scanned Abihirt and Froy's faces alternately. Not necessarily by resemblance, but why had Froy never told her about his uncle in Madrid?

"Moreau is here to see me. You'd better let her go."

When Froy said nothing more than to argue. Moreau understood the man was not brave enough to face his uncle. Perhaps Abihirt had the power, which Froy knew would be hopeless if and when he made a scene here. There wasn't even another word as Abihirt suddenly grasped Moreau's hand to walk away.