Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 142: An unusual janitress

Chapter 142: An unusual janitress

Athan sighed as he swirled the swivel chair in his office. He faced the city’s dazzling lights outside the glass panes, yet his eyes weren’t focused on them. His amber eyes, which he inherited from his mother, glowed vibrantly from those lights, unbothered by the glares.

He was lost in deep thought.

Looking back at his desk, he realized how long he’d been neglecting his work from the stack of documents organized above. He was swamped, yet he couldn’t stop himself from digging Chairman Del Valle’s dirt.

’If only there’s someone who could point me at where to start, or where to look at all, this whole ordeal wouldn’t be so difficult,’ he thought as he swept his hair back and looked at the ceiling instead.

He wasted time looking at the wrong places. Whenever he would find someone, he thought was involved with that devious old man, they’d vanish like bubbles popping into thin air or they would suddenly admit they were just mistaken and were aiming for the reward.

It was frustrating to gather evidence enough to drag down that old man in the mud. Another thing that kept bugging his mind...was the fact that Shawn seemed to be avoiding him.

’Why?’ Athan pondered. He sent him with Knox to have a vacation, after all the stress he accumulated from taking care of his sick father, then the kidnapping and the hacking case after that. ’He hasn’t been answering my phone lately. I’ve been calling him every night, but his phone was always busy...’

Doubt crept into his mind when an image of a specific individual flashed in his memory. A bitter taste settled in his mouth as his mind wandered on Shawn and Kayden. He never felt anything before, but now he could feel his chest tightening just thinking of the two of them calling each other every night.

He closed his eyes and sighed, erasing those illusions in his head. It didn’t help that his mother chose to stay in the mansion, trying to convince him and his father to choose a better option to marry.

Maybe back then, he would have considered it, but now, ’I don’t know. I...might have come to like Shawn more than I should...’

He stayed in that position, staring at the ceiling blankly until he dozed off from fatigue.

The next morning, Knox had sent Knoa to school and went to the office. Even when his father told him that working as Athan’s executive secretary wouldn’t be necessary, he still insisted on coming to avoid Geraldine who deliberately sought him to insult him.

Both he and Knoa were escorted by the two bodyguards who came with them to the orphanage. One stayed with Knoa in the daycare center, while the other one drove Knox to the company.

"Do you have to come with me inside?" Knox asked as he stepped out of the car. He noticed some people turning heads at him, but he ignored them and stoned his expression.

The bodyguard looked closed the door and asked back, "Should I? Won’t it make you uncomfortable, young master?"

"Calling me ’young master’ is what makes me uncomfortable, to be honest," Knox answered unhesitatingly. He also stopped Steve from calling him like that, but the old man was stubborn and too proper. "Well, if you don’t need to accompany me inside, then you don’t have to."

The bodyguard just bowed slightly and watched Knox until he entered the company. The busy lobby full of employees arriving all paused upon sighting Knox. They quickly moved out of his way as if just blocking him would result to them getting fired.

He shrugged his shoulders and walked straight ahead until he reached the lift. He stood behind two women waiting for the door to open. One noticed his presence and immediately gave way, displaying a confused look on her face.

Knox was intrigued by their expression. The other girl who looked back at him pointed at the VIP lift and asked innocently, "Is the lift not working, sir?"

He turned to the pointed direction and realized why the girl was baffled. It was surprising to see their treatment changed after the big reveal. Knox subtly smiled at the woman and answered casually, "Not sure."

Ding!

The lift opened and Knox got in immediately. He pressed the button on the president’s floor and waited for the other two girls to enter, but they just stayed on their spot. He gestured to the empty space, "You’re not getting in?"

Both of them shook their heads and smiled awkwardly. Knox was about to say something again when another man pitched in and pressed the closed button. Knox was startled for a second, but after smelling a familiar scent, he realized who it was. "Is the VIP lift not working?"

He asked the same question the girl threw him.

Athan dropped his gaze on him, shrugged his shoulders, and then locked him in a big hug. "I miss my younger brother," he said dramatically.

He pulled away after and asked with a pout, "I heard from Steve you’re looking for an apartment again. I told you to just stay in mine. I haven’t bought the unit next to mine yet, I couldn’t get hold of the owner, that’s why. Maybe next week—

"Athan, I already found a place. It’s in an apartment complex within the Highland District. The security is very strict and reliable, and the environment is kid-friendly and very pleasing. Although the price is a bit expensive than my old apartment, I can assure you it’s safe. You can check it if you want," Knox explained.

He wanted to pick their own home, for another reason.

The Highland District is next to the CBD or the central business district, so it is packed with residential complex buildings that are mostly occupied by working adults. A highly developed area that provides utmost security, wellness, and accessibility to all its dwellers.

Athan’s apartment was inside the CBD, so it was closer to work and Knoa’s daycare center. However, Knox was thinking of sending Knoa to a preschool closer to their new home, so he insisted, convincing Athan to approve his choice.

Athan sighed, "Why are you worrying about the cost? You’re officially in the family registry now, so you can use your assets however you want. Dad is also thinking of giving you complete ownership and authority in one of the subsidiaries of Horizon—

Knox cut him off, frantically waving his hands between them, "I don’t think I’m already capable of handling an entire company, Athan! Please, convince him to reconsider! Besides...I’m content with having a regular job like this. I’m already busy just working as your secretary, what’s more running a company? Also, I’d like to focus on raising Knoa."

The lift opened and they both stepped out. The clamor in the design department’s staff working area died down as they arrived.

Dalia walked to them and greeted them with ’Good morning’. Soon, the other employees followed, and the air on the floor went back to normal.

After the day ended, Knox knocked on Athan’s office and peeked his head inside after receiving a reply. Before he could utter a word though, his older brother beat him to it, "You can go. I still have some things to do."

"You won’t need my help?" Knox asked, feeling a bit guilty after glancing at the pile of folders on his desk. Athan shook his head and shooed him away, telling him to go home already. Before Knox left, he informed the alpha, "I’m taking back my stuff from your unit."

Athan asked, surprised, "You’re moving already? I haven’t checked it!"

Knox, "You can check it online, brother. Anyway, I’d like to move as soon as possible."

"Did my mother say something insulting again?" Athan’s expression went serious. His face crumpled. Knox immediately shook his head. The last thing he wanted was to sow discord between his family, so he lied, staring directly at Athan to avoid suspicion.

Thankfully, the latter didn’t probe any further. Knox sighed in relief as he walked out of the office. He firmly commanded Knoa’s bodyguard to bring him to Franz’s face after school ended, so he went there to pick up his son.

After that, they stopped at Athan’s apartment and asked the bodyguards to load all their stuff in the cars.

Knox ended up in the passenger seat, with Knoa sitting on his lap, and the other car drove by the other guard filled with boxes followed them.

The little kid was playing with a racing vehicle toy car, using his father’s arms as the racetrack. Knox noticed it was new, so he asked the kid where it came from.

"The new lady in the school gave it to me! She was so kind, Papa. She gave all of us toys!" Knoa answered merrily, still full of energy even though it was already past seven. His phone beeped and a message displayed on the screen.

The message read - ’I cooked dinner. Hurry home!’

Knox lowered his hand to hide the phone.

The message came from an unregistered number, but he knew who it was. A small smile tugged on his lips. He simply sent a thumbs up and pocketed the phone again, afraid that the driver would suspect him.

"How nice of that lady indeed," Knox replied to his son. "Is she a new teacher?"

Knoa shook his head, "No. She cleans the school. Sometimes, she plays with us too. Her name is Mrs. Ana!"

Knox paused to ponder, ’A janitress giving toys to the kids? Judging from the racing car, it doesn’t look cheap at all.’ He furrowed his brows in wonder but he didn’t brood over it any deeper. He just wanted to get home quickly and eat dinner.