Part 22

Antony is not a picky eater. Korean, Japanese, Italian or any other type of food, he can consume well. But this time. It wasn't the food that he couldn't enjoy, but the atmosphere.

Seeing Claire and Uncle G giving each other attention made his appetite disappear. All the food that his daughter and her best friend ate with gusto just tasted bland in Antony's mouth.

But without Antony realizing it, there were two pairs of eyes that had been watching his movements and trying to hold back his smile. Yes, those gazes came from Abigail and her uncle.

"I've known Flavia for quite some time." Gladwin began to open his voice. "But this is the first time I've met Flavia's father." He continued in a friendly tone. But Antony chuckled inwardly. The man seemed to be trying to be friendly to him.

"Yes, I've been living in Manhattan all this time." Antony answered as he was. 'Uncle G' nodded slowly.

"No wonder then." He said again. "You work in Manhattan?" he asked flatly.

"Sir Antony is my boss." Claire replied casually. The 'Uncle G' again nodded.

But unlike Claire who responded casually. Antony actually felt uncomfortable hearing it.

Boss? Yes, Antony was a boss, but could Antony ask for more than just a boss? Can his status be changed?

Antony was silent. What position did he want? What status does he deserve? His nephew's father? Or a neighbor in the same complex?

Antony was annoyed with himself. He felt he couldn't control himself as usual. My God, what was happening to him? Was he going through a second puberty?

"I leave Claire with you, Sir." Uncle G said again.

Leave her with Antony? What is Antony's daycare center? She snorted to herself.

"He may seem like an unserious person, but I'm sure he's a very reliable person when it comes to work. We're not half-assed when it comes to work." She continued.

What did the man mean by saying 'we'. Antony asked silently. Why not 'me and him'? My God, is Antony now a language teacher too?

"I don't directly supervise Claire." Antony replied with as flat an intonation as possible. "But I can confirm that Claire's performance has been good." Antony's praise was sincere.

Yes, as long as Claire's superiors didn't complain about Claire, the girl's performance was good, right?

"Oh," muttered 'Uncle G'. "Is your position in the company equivalent to Altezza's?" Asked 'Uncle G' again.

Altezza? Suddenly Antony frowned in confusion. That man also knew Altezza? So why didn't his cousin tell him that Claire was seeing someone when his cousin knew the purpose of him being in Kansas?

Damn! Was Altezza playing a trick on him or was his cousin playing dumb?

"Sir Antony is a Big Boss, G." Claire's reply was heard. Which made Antony even more annoyed. Not because Claire told 'Uncle G' about his position as a big boss. Rather, it was hearing the girl call 'Uncle G' in a tone that sounded spoiled to Antony's ears.

Antony looked at both of them. Even if he didn't want Claire, he was sure that he and this 'Uncle G' could be good friends. Because like it or not, this 'Uncle G' seemed really polite and friendly.

"Waaahhh..." The man's eyes widened at Claire's answer. "Does that mean he's a richer man than Altezza?" That remark brought Antony back to the original conversation. "Why didn't you say that earlier?" He asked Claire. "But, is it okay for a Big Boss to visit a subordinate's house? Your position in the office is not that of a big boss, right?" Uncle G asked again with a curious look. Claire shook her head. Then Uncle G's sharp gaze turned to her. "What's going on between you guys? Perhaps..." the dangling sentence was clearly suspicious.

"What could it be, G? No need to overreact, please." Claire rolled her eyes.

Antony frowned again. What was this? Why was the conversation between the two of them so ambiguous. Antony looked at the two teenagers sitting on the other side of the table. They didn't seem to be paying attention to the adults' conversation, as they seemed to be engrossed in their own subject matter.

"Who knew there was an office romance between you two." Uncle G said again. Antony turned his attention back to 'Uncle G'.

The man was accusing Claire of having an office romance? With whom? With Antony? Of course he would love it if it really happened. But why didn't the man's face show the slightest hint of jealousy? Was Antony not mistaken that the man's expression was now amused or mocking?

Shouldn't he be angry? Shouldn't he feel cheated?

"Sorry, I'm not the type of girl to have a secret relationship with a co-worker." Claire replied flatly. The girl even looked completely carefree.

'Uncle G' frowned. He looked at Antony curiously. "Is it not allowed in your office to have a relationship with a coworker? Some kind of company policy, like that?" Asked 'Uncle G' again as he spooned the cooked piece of meat into his mouth.

"Forbidden or not, I've made it clear to myself that office romances are inappropriate." Claire replied firmly. "It's not really inappropriate, I'm just afraid of the side effects." She added. "I'm not the kind of person who, if a girl says she likes you, you immediately make her your girlfriend and after the breakup, she always seeks attention or gets angry. In the hospital where you work, there should be a ban on romance among employees." 'Uncle G' ruffled Claire's hair.

What the heck is this? Why are these two discussing office romance? Hospital? What does that guy do for a living? Nurse? A doctor?

"Does Uncle G have a girlfriend at the hospital?" Abigail asked with her mouth full. "Who? Is he a doctor? Or a nurse? Is she pretty?"

Uncle G shrugged. "I'm a handsome and good-looking man, there must be many who like me. But sorry, I'm also the picky type. It's just your aunty who likes to make random accusations."

Abigail looked at 'Uncle G' with the corner of her eye. There was a flash of disbelief there. "I'm not sure what you're saying." She scoffed. "I'll take a peek at you in the hospital sometime." She threatened.

"Sure?" challenged 'Uncle G' with one eyebrow raised. "There's a lot of blood in the hospital." He teased. Abigail shuddered in horror. Yes, Abigail did not like the color and smell of blood.

"Later, I'll go to the hospital when you're clean." She said innocently. 'Uncle G' just laughed.

"You are still a child. You should take school seriously and not bother about my life." The 'uncle G' said again. Their conversation was momentarily interrupted when a cell phone rang.

Antony reached for his phone and saw Altezza's name on it. He stood up and excused himself to pick up the phone. A moment away from the strangeness he had been trying to digest.

"Yes!" She replied with annoyance. Not just at the situation, but he was also annoyed at Altezza who seemed to be hiding the truth.

"Cousin, where are you?" Altezza asked on the other side.

"Why?" He asked still in an irritated tone. He walked to the area outside Claire's house. Choosing to light a cigarette there.

"You don't want to know what happened here?" Altezza asked curiously.

"No, I don't. I'm not curious either." He replied still bluntly.

"What's wrong with you, are you pre-menstrual?" Altezza taunted. "Where are you, Cousin?" He asked again. Antony lit the lighter with one hand and took a puff of his cigarette then blew out the smoke slowly.

"I'm at Claire's. Flavia asked me to buy her some food." He said honestly. Altezza did not comment.

"Why don't you take her out to eat? Dinner at a star hotel restaurant so you can show off to Claire." Altezza said again.

"Will that impress her?" Antony snorted. Then suddenly a name came to his mind. "Al," he said hesitantly.

"Hmm?"

"Why didn't you tell me if Claire had a boyfriend?" Antony asked without further ado.

"Boyfriend?" There was a moment of pause before Altezza answered Antony's question. "As far as I know, Claire doesn't have a boyfriend." Altezza sounded confused.

"Don't lie, Al. Or are you intentionally trying to trick me?" asked Antony dislikingly.

Altezza fell silent again. "Who's there? Men?" he asked back.

"Hmm..." Antony replied quietly, but his cousin could still hear him clearly.

"Handsome, tall, white, black hair?" Altezza asked again. Antony unconsciously nodded. He was annoyed that his cousin was more heard praising his rival. "Aren't you guys acquainted?" Asked his cousin again.

"No, I didn't. I didn't have time or I didn't want to be introduced. He seems to be close to Flavia and Abigail." Antony replied in an annoyed tone.

He heard Altezza choking in the distance. Either his cousin was choking or was holding back his mocking laughter. "Of course they're close. So close and tight like mouse glue." Altezza replied again. "You really haven't gotten to know him, Cousin? You didn't feel strange when you saw that man and Claire? You didn't notice anything?" Altezza gave him a barrage of questions.

Strange? Antony asked inwardly. Strange was not the right word to describe his feelings. It was jealousy. Upset. Angry. It was a word that suited him better at the moment.

Antony took another drag on his cigarette and blew out the smoke slowly.

Never mind, he was already confused by the questions in his own head and the feeling of resentment in his chest. Why was his cousin adding to his confusion.

"Al," Antony massaged his temples with two fingers tucked into the cigarette. "Just answer my question." He said irritably.

"Are you jealous of that guy?" Instead of answering, Altezza asked again.

"Altezza Quirino!" Antony growled in annoyance.

There was a soft cough. Well, his cousin was obviously disguising a laugh on the other side. "Okay okay, Cousin. Relax." Altezza said in a coaxing tone. "That man's name is Gladwin. He just graduated from medical school. If I'm not mistaken, he's currently a resident at a well-known hospital in Kansas." Antony nodded slowly.

Gladwin. Okay, he finally knew the name of 'Uncle G'. "So?" Antony asked again.

"So what?" Altezza asked back confused.

Antony gritted his teeth in annoyance. "So when did they hook up?" He growled in annoyance. Why did his cousin keep beating around the bush.

"Since infancy, I think." Altezza replied, again with a coughing sound that Antony knew was the laughter his cousin was trying to stifle.

"Answer me properly, Altezza!" Antony ordered irritably.

Altezza ended up laughing loudly on the other side. "Come on, Cousin. Are you really that oblivious? You really weren't paying attention?" His cousin asked again. There was no answer from Antony. "The boy's surname is Hampton. He is Claire's twin." Altezza finally replied with a chuckle.

Antony put his cell phone away. He looked suspiciously at the flat object in his hand. Had it been a video call, he would have known whether his cousin was joking or not. But it was obviously a normal phone call. So Antony couldn't see his cousin's expression.

Did he hear wrong? He asked himself, bringing the phone back to his ear. "Don't joke, Al. They look intimate." He said irritably.

"Antony. Maybe that's the beauty of brotherly relations. Or is that how brothers get along?" Altezza asked back unsure.

Both Antony and Altezza were only children, so they didn't know what a brother-sister relationship should be like. Because her relationship with Altezza, although close, would certainly not be as close as that of a sibling.

"Shit!" Antony said softly. Altezza could no longer contain his laughter in the end. Reluctant to respond, Antony chose to hang up. Threw away the cigarette butt and stomped on it roughly.