Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 39: A dinner date

Chapter 39: A dinner date

His head only throbbed even harder after Athan called for another meeting. This time, it was a bigger conference attending all representatives from design, production, and marketing departments for the launch of the HZ Clothing Brand summer collection.

It went on for hours, stopping at lunch break and continuing at noon until it was finally finished at the afternoon break. He had to compile many things, answer calls, and send emails while receiving disapproving looks from his colleagues.

Rona must have run her mouth already, Knox thought to himself. It was obvious that she liked Athan, so she was picking on him out of envy and jealousy. He wanted to explain, but that would only escalate things further, and might even attract the media if he let the truth slip.

Knox had a hectic day, and the only relief and consolation that enlivened his dreary mood was the video call he had with Knoa during lunch. Knoa was only three years old, but he was already enrolled in a daycare center, as Franz suggested since they both observed that Knoa is quite smart among kids his age.

Aside from that, it was also to help Knox somehow. With his work and problems, he couldn’t take care of Knoa properly, and having him surrounded by other kids in a safe place instead of playing alone in their home was putting Knox at ease.

Today was Knoa’s first day, and Knox made sure to remind Shawn to pick up Knoa before lunch since his schedule was only a half day. Shawn was also the one who dropped him off, which greatly dismayed Knox about himself.

"I couldn’t even drop or pick him off...this is frustrating," he murmured to himself as he dumped his head between his knees while sitting on a bench in the sky garden of the company building. The trellises that only gave shade on his spot were allowing the midday sunlight to pass through, yet Knox didn’t even bother to move and hide.

He wallowed in that silence and took time to rest until someone came and deprived him of his much-needed peace.

"What’s frustrating?"

Knox heard a familiar voice. He lifted his head without straightening his bent body supported by his arms pressed on his thighs and frowned towards the man whose visage he couldn’t recognize yet, since he stood against the light.

The man moved and faced the sunlight, allowing Knox to see his appearance. Upon recognizing the person’s face, Knox quickly stood straight.

Eyes full of confusion, he asked away, "Sir Steve...why have you come here?"

He’s Horizon’s chairman’s executive secretary and Shawn’s uncle. He casually walked to Knox with his stony face and replied, "I delivered some confidential documents to the young master, and I’m here to deliver a message to you as well."

Knox felt a foreboding feeling. He couldn’t contain the anxiety he felt from leaking, so the older man patted his shoulder and assured him, "It wasn’t a summon, sir Knox. Although the chairman asked you to do him a favor."

Knox looked at him, baffled, "...a favor?"

Steve nodded, "He wants you to meet someone. I will forward you the time and location. He’s expecting you to be there. That’s all. And don’t worry, it’s not the chairman, so you can relax. It’s the second son of the Meyers Construction."

Knox’s body stiffened. His eyes stuck on the ground, staring at it blankly. If it’s the second son of the Meyers, then it must be an alpha, since the Meyers family was also known as an all-alpha family.

He already had an idea why the chairman wanted him to meet that person. Unable to refuse, Knox only nodded his head to answer. The secretary left after that.

He didn’t even have time to ponder about it more after his phone beep. A message was received. And the unknown caller that disturbed him in his sleep once in the night registered on the screen. He opened the message with curiosity.

It read, ’Dinner at X Hotel. 8 pm.’

Knox’s brows furrowed. He wondered – ’Is this the secretary’s number?"

He replied to be certain since it didn’t make sense that the man would text him when he could just tell him personally before leaving. His curt reply, ’Sir Steve?’

The number sent another one as fast as he expected, ’Who the f*ck is Steve?’

Knox was now even more confused. He typed to return a message, but his phone rang before he could finish. He hesitatingly answered the phone and grimaced after recognizing the voice.

"Who is it?" A deep and manly voice echoed from the phone.

Knox pursed his lips after knowing who it was. He scratched his temple and asked, "Sir Azrael?"

"Yes. Who do you think it is?" He answered, sounding dismayed. He clicked his tongue and added, "Nevermind. Just tell me who that person is?"

To end the call faster, Knox obliged without retorts, "Someone’s secretary."

Azrael, "Who?"

Knox, "...Athan’s father."

Silence answered Knox. Azrael, on the other side, started tapping his finger on his desk while holding the phone against his ear. He’s brows knitted, wondering why the secretary of Chairman Horace knew Knox.

Knox cleared his throat and added, "He just came by to deliver some papers, then we bumped and just greeted each other. Why am I explaining things to you anyway? I thought you wanted me to cook your dinner? If you’re just going to eat out, ask someone instead."

Azrael ignored him and firmly ordered, "Be there. I’ll be waiting."

"Wait—

Clack. The sound of the call ending snapped Knox’s patience. He breathed out loudly and held his waist with both of his hands. Would he have been this stressed if he just let him sue him? Knox pondered.

Another notification popped into his phone and he looked at it with gritted teeth.

"What now?" He asked as he swiped the screen to unlock, thinking it was another infuriating message from Azrael, but the numbers registered were different.

He clicked on the message. It was from the chairman’s secretary, containing the details of the dinner reservation, at the same time and place Azrael told him, but only on a different date.

The man who calls himself his father was trying to find him a suitable husband. Knox smiled bitterly.

Four years ago, he met the man abroad during his pretend business trip to hide his existence from his family.

At first, Knox couldn’t understand why the chairman looked for him when he seemed so devoted to his family. He could have ignored his existence, the way he ignored Killian after impregnating him.

’I didn’t know I got your father pregnant. If I had known, I have supported him in raising you.’

Those were the chairman’s words, as he looked out the window, staring blankly at the nightscape beyond those glasses he wore. Knox wanted to ask him as he stood before his desk – why did he harbor feelings for his father when he was already married and even had three kids?

But those words were caught in his throat after the man turned around. He met those same green eyes that he often saw in the mirror. The man briefly glanced at him, before looking away. His face was unreadable, but there was a sad glint that settled in his eyes.

Knox Arden was a complete copy of his omega father, excepting those expressive green eyes. Even so, it wasn’t enough for the chairman to easily believe that Knox was his child, so he had him followed, before doing a paternity test.

He felt complicated after seeing the results. A living mistake that happened to be his son, was living a life crueler than a rat. He couldn’t ignore him, so he finally acted like a parent even for the tiniest bit.

He paid all his debt, provided him with shelter and food, and supported his studies.

Because of him, Knox was able to live a better life, albeit receiving cold treatment from the chairman and his wife who soon found out about him, and harassment from Athan’s two older brothers.

He endured their insults and innuendos and even kept pushing away Athan and his older sister’s hands. He was doubtful of their kindness and convinced himself that he didn’t deserve their affection because he was the one at fault. He was an illegitimate child who pierced a nail in their parents’ relationship and made it crack.

So, when he gave birth to Knoa, he left their house and the chairman didn’t stop him. Since then, Knox hasn’t met nor seen him again.

His phone vibrated and sounded. Another message from Azrael brought Knox back into the present.

Azrael – ’Don’t be late. I’m warning you.’

He sighed, pocketed his phone, and walked back inside. A part of him was thinking that, maybe, just maybe, Azrael would be a different father to Knoa than the chairman to him, if he ever knew. Yet, even with that thought, Knox was still terrified that in the end, he and Knoa would only be treated the same.