Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 224 - 10: Random call at past midnight

Chapter 224: Chapter 10: Random call at past midnight

The ride was quiet, aside from Emily’s occasional mumbles. When they reached her apartment, Killian helped her out of the car and escorted her inside. He’d done this countless times before, so the routine felt almost natural. He settled her on the couch, leaving a glass of water on the table beside her.

"Get some sleep, Emi," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. Her words were still fresh in his head, but Killian couldn’t just distance himself. What if she meant different? What if she’s drunk, that was why she said that.

Killian wanted to hope, as he realized the feeling that crept into his heart after hearing that confession. Fear. He knew he could never reciprocate those feelings...if they were true, and that to him, Emily was just like a sister.

And he feared that their relationship might change because of that. He fears he’ll lose the only family he has.

Emily murmured something in response, already half-asleep. With a final glance to make sure she was comfortable; Killian left her apartment and made his way home.

His address wasn’t that far from Emily’s. He was living in a low-rise apartment building, just a fifteen-minute walk from Emily’s house.

As he walked through the quiet streets, his mind returned to the conversation with his deputy director. It wasn’t just annoyance he had sensed in his boss’s voice—it was something deeper, something almost... possessiveness?

That thought made Killian pause in his steps.

Was he really mad because of what he said, or was he really...jealous? Killian wondered. The dormant butterflies in his stomach started rampaging his walls as the idea that the latter made much more sense came to him.

No...no way. Let’s not think about him again, Killian Arden! Move on! There’s no way he’s interested in some scentless omega like me...There was a pang in his chest, but Killian ignored it.

There was no need to be upset. It was the reality.

Killian shook his head, deciding it was best not to overthink it. Whatever Nathaniel’s problem was, it wasn’t Killian’s concern. He had done his job, both as a friend to Emily and as a respectful employee. If Nathaniel had an issue with that, he could take it up at work.

But even as Killian tried to push the thoughts away, a nagging feeling remained. Something told him that this wouldn’t be the last time Nathaniel’s strange behavior would come up.

Nathaniel, on the other hand, spent the rest of the night trying to focus on work in his study room because sleep had been eluding him, but his mind was elsewhere. The image of Emily laughing, her hand resting on Killian’s arm, kept flashing in his mind.

He slammed a hand down on his desk, frustrated with himself. Why was this bothering him so much?

He tried to rationalize it. Emily was a subordinate, and her behavior had been unprofessional—that’s what had irritated him.

That’s all it was. It had nothing to do with Killian.

Nothing to do with how casually Killian had dismissed him earlier, or how easily he had indulged Emily’s flirtations.

But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself, Nathaniel couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more personal than he cared to admit.

The idea seemed absurd at first. Nathaniel Horace had always maintained a strict professional demeanor. He was known for being cold and calculating, not for letting personal feelings interfere with work.

Even his marriage was purely beneficial.

But the way he had looked at Emily, the way his tone had shifted when talking about her clinging to Killian... it didn’t sit right. It wasn’t him.

Nathaniel swept his hair back, frustrated at his own self. He was always certain and decisive with everything, but when it came to Killian Arden, it was as though he was treading on a garden maze, uncertain of which way to go.

One wrong turn, and he might end up in a wrong finish line. However, mazes only had one exit, either he got to see the end of it, or he got stuck on a dead end—stuck on his feelings.

Knowing that the longer he wandered in that maze, the longer he would be lost, he was determined to see the end. Thus, Nathaniel took out his phone and took his first turn.

As Killian reached the entrance of his apartment building, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.

He glanced down at the caller ID, wondering who was the unregistered number flashing on the screen. It was late—much later than any reasonable call unless it was an emergency. But Killian had no family, so Emily was the first person that came to mind. However, Emily’s number was saved on his phone, so it couldn’t be her.

Still, without hesitation, Killian answered.

"Hello, who is this?"

There was a pause on the other end. Killian’s brows furrowed. Is it a prank call? In past midnight? Before Killian could add another word, a voice that sounded strangely casual yet almost forced came through.

"I’m surprised to learn that you don’t even bother to save my number."

Killian stopped in his tracks. He gaped at the phone for a few seconds, his mind registering who owned the voice.

After his pause, Nathaniel frowned on the other line. "Mr. Arden? Is everything alright there?"

Killian blinked. He cleared his throat and answered, "Yeah, everything’s fine, sir. I, uh... I was just wondering why you suddenly called...is there something wrong?"

Nathaniel leaned on his chair and replied, "I’d like to know if you happen to finish reviewing the report I sent you. Also, if you finish writing the narrative I told you to do..."

Killian raised an eyebrow. Nathaniel never called for something as mundane as a report this late. There was something off, and it wasn’t like his boss to beat around the bush. Still, he played along.

"Yes, sir, I finished it before I left the office and headed to the restaurant. I already emailed it to you, you can just check it," Killian replied lightly, his tone patient.

"I see. I’ll...do that," Nathaniel tapped his finger on the desk, next to his laptop, as he read with his eyes the letters on Killian’s email. Again.

In fact, he already finished checking it.

There was another pause. So, Killian continued walking upstairs. He didn’t care about what really was the reason behind the alpha’s call, all he knew was that he did not want the conversation to end.

So, despite the long pause, Killian did not break the silence for fear that the guy would end their call.

After a while, Nathaniel spoke again, to Killian’s relief, "And, uh... did you get home safe...by the way? Or...are you with anyone?"

Killian blinked in confusion. "With anyone? No, sir, I’m alone. Why do you ask?"

"I think I heard some noise..." Nathaniel immediately answered, and it was a lie.

Killian’s eyes widened. He stopped on the landing and glanced around, up and down. The bulb lights on the staircase were dimmed, and since it was past midnight already, the space was...eerily quiet.

On top of that, his mind suddenly recalled the horror movies he watched where ghosts appear on the stairs, crawling on the steps with their twisted bodies dragging their long hair, and scratching the floor with their grimy nails.

Killian gulped. His grip on the phone tightened as he carefully continued walking as if avoiding making any sound at all. He whispered in a shaky voice, "S...Sir...you’re joking, right? H...How could you hear something when I’m...I’m the only one outside at this time..."

Nathaniel paused to ponder. A few seconds later, a wide grin appeared on his face. He cupped his lower face as if it would help hide his amused grin, and then he responded as seriously as ever, "I certainly heard someone say ’come here’ in the background. Are you walking alone? Where are you, Mr. Arden?"

Nathaniel succeeded in asking what he had been trying to do. Killian said he was alone, but what if it meant he was alone in the balcony of Emily’s house, or alone in Emily’s room? Nathaniel couldn’t just stay still and sleep in peace if he didn’t confirm it.

Killian’s voice became animated yet still hushed. It was as if he was trying to pull his thoughts away from that horror movie he watched before he sang a gospel song that could wake up his neighbors.

"I’m back home, sir. I’m currently walking on the stairs to my unit. I live on the fourth floor, and now, I regret why I chose to rent that one. I should have chosen the one on the second floor, it’s more convenient and I won’t be sweating buckets when I go to work and...and..." Killian’s voice trailed off when he realized he was muttering nonsense to his superior.

Nathaniel’s grin grew wider. He leaned his head on the headrest of his swivel chair. "And what, Mr. Arden? Go on, I’m listening. I’ll keep you company until you reach your door, so you won’t hear that voice I’m hearing."

Killian flinched. "Sir...not funny."

Nathaniel chuckled. He insisted. "No, I’m telling the truth. Someone kept saying ’come here’, ’come to me’, to you. Try looking around, maybe you’ll notice someone."

Killian stopped. He was already at his door. He went silent because he was reminded of what Emily told him—to notice her. He didn’t know what came to him, or maybe his mouth moved on his own, but before he could stop himself, he already muttered, "Is it just you? Willing me to come..."