Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 43: Another dinner date [2]

Chapter 43: Another dinner date [2]

"What happened?" Rikard’s thoughtful voice echoed in Knox’s ears, temporarily drowning the sounds of his drumming heart. He faked a smile and slightly turned his body away from the couple’s direction as if it would erase his presence and make Azrael forget seeing him.

He pushed Rikard’s hands away and replied shakily, "I’m fine. The food just...just went down the wrong pipe."

Rikard went back to his seat and said, "If you don’t like it, we can order something different."

Knox shook his head hastily, "No, no. This is good. This is fine."

Rikard furrowed his brows from witnessing Knox fiddling with his food and seemingly uncomfortable. He couldn’t help but think, ’He looked fine just earlier. I wonder what happened?’

He cleared his throat and opened another conversation, "I hope you won’t mind me asking, but I heard that you already had a child. Is that right?"

For a moment, Knox forgot his nervousness from Azrael’s presence because of that question. His hands stopped fumbling and they clenched. It seemed that he already knew where the conversation would go.

"Yes. A three-year-old boy," Knox answered without averting his eyes.

Perhaps, the man discerned his wariness, so he waved his hand and cleared the misunderstanding, "Oh, please don’t think otherwise, Mr. Arden. I asked because I, too, already had a child. So, I was thinking that we can talk about our children to make you comfortable at least."

Knox’s eyes widened in surprise, "You already has one too? I didn’t know! Here I was thinking how am I going to bring it up to you, hah..."

Rikard chuckled. He fondly gazed at Knox and responded, "It seems that you’re not interested in me enough to learn something about me before coming here. I’m kind of hurt," a goofy grin formed on his lips after witnessing Knox panicked and tried to refute him, but he added, "I asked about you around, so you can say I already know plenty of things about you. That’s why you don’t have to feel uncomfortable towards me. I’m hoping we can be friends if you don’t like moving fast. But I do hope that you know I like you, Mr. Arden."

Knox was stunned. To receive a heartfelt confession all of a sudden from a man he had never met before, was a shock to him. Befuddlement was etched on his face, and he tried his best to recall if he ever met Rikard, for the man to like him that much.

Knox tilted his head and uncertainly uttered, "I...don’t think we’ve met before. So, I wonder how can you say you like me that easily..."

Rikard’s face flushed. His eyes lowered and he covered his face with his hand briefly, before sighing and looking back at him, "That...well, uhm, you’ll probably think it’s weird and creepy...but when I saw your profile, I...instantly fell for you. Ehem!"

The alpha’s face reddened even more it could rival the color of the cherry tomatoes on their plates. Knox giggled at that thought. When he looked up and saw Rikard’s pouting face, he cleared his throat and suppressed his grin, "I see. So, you were attracted to my face. Then, we can start being friends, since you might dislike my personality after all."

Rikard, "I don’t think I will. Your presence is calming and you sounded kind as well. I’m glad I came," he stopped and seemed hesitating about something. Knox gave him a quizzical look and Rikard continued, "But...just checking, you’re an omega, right?"

Knox’s eyebrows knitted. ’Why would he ask the obvious?’ he asked himself. Rikard sounded serious so Knox nodded to confirm his question. However, he was confused to see doubt in the alpha’s eyes.

He parted his lips to inquire, but he was interrupted by the waiter serving the last course of their meals.

Rikard looked away while the waiter was arranging their table. His eyes lingered around the place and they went wide after recognizing some familiar faces. Rikard abruptly stood which surprised Knox a bit. The alpha’s face brightened and he exclaimed, "Mr. Del Valle! I didn’t expect to see you here. What a coincidence!"

After hearing that, Knox’s pale face became paler. He swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to avoid looking in the direction where his date was facing. But that direction was just a few meters away from him and was directly across their table.

Unwantedly, his eyes met those grey eyes that gave him shivers. Rikard moved to another table and rudely intercepted the couple’s date. He acted friendly and closer towards the two as if the three knew each other already.

Azrael swung his wineglass and answered cooly, "What a coincidence indeed."

His enigmatic eyes moved past Rikard and settled on Knox. The latter lowered his gaze immediately and pretended like he was busy counting the leaves on his salad.

He heard Rikard greet the woman, and the woman kindly returned his greeting and looked back to their table, noticing his companion. Diva frowned after seeing Knox look like an abandoned puppy in his place, "It’s rude to leave your date so suddenly, Mr. Meyers."

Rikard’s face flushed with embarrassment, "Right. Can I introduce him?"

Diva, "Hm, is he your boyfriend?"

Azrael scoffed and chipped in, "There’s no way."

He started tapping his index finger on the table, which made Diva’s brows arched. She was aware that when her fiancée was finding something annoying and unpleasant, he would tap that particular finger in a rhythm that made the listener nervous.

And as expected, Rikard stopped babbling and straightened his body, then he bowed and excused himself. However, before he could turn back, Azrael stopped him and spoke, "You said you’re going to introduce him. I’m waiting."

Rikard felt an unexplainable pressure. He obliged and went over to call his date. Knox was reluctant and almost looked like he was constipated. But he couldn’t refuse the man and tagged along.

Rikard cheerfully introduced him to the two sitting on their chair like a king and queen, "This is Mr. Knox Arden. He’s the youngest—

"It’s nice meeting you here, Mr. Del Valle and Ms. Diva," Knox cut Rikard’s words off. The latter looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Rikard asked Knox, "You know both of them?"

Knox answered, his eyes only focused on Diva, "W-Who wouldn’t? Ms. Diva is a famous model and Mr. Del Valle is a renowned business tycoon. I’m also working in the business industry, so I know them..."

Azrael smirked, though his eyes remained as serious, "Right. Mr. Arden was working in HZ Clothing Brand," he turned to his fiancée and asked, "Didn’t you say you were offered a modeling stint by them?"

Diva’s face brightened. She turned to Knox, "You’re working there?! Are you part of the fashion design department?"

Azrael, "No. He’s the president’s executive secretary."

Diva, "What? Really? I didn’t know Mr. Horace had such a pretty secretary. But why are you answering for him anyway? Are you his spokesperson?"

Azrael ignored Diva’s taunts and kept staring at Knox. Rikard noticed Knox’s pale complexion so he whispered, "Are you okay?"

He felt guilty dragging Knox into a group of alphas, so he turned to the other two and spoke, "I think we’re intruding on your date too much now, so we’ll excuse ourselves. I’m really hoping that Mr. Del Valle will consider the proposal my father made. Well, then..."

Knox and Rikard went back to their table. While Diva leaned her head closer to Azrael and whispered, "Proposal?"

Azrael answered without lowering his voice and shifting his gaze away from Knox, "Hm. They’re asking me to invest in their newly developed technology. I was considering it before, but now I don’t feel like it."

He purposely increased the volume of his voice in the latter part, which made Rikard Meyers’s body freeze midway in his seat. He abruptly looked back and straightened his body, preparing to debate Azrael, but Knox grabbed his arm.

Knox whispered, "I’m going to the restroom."

Rikard, "Go ahead."

With that, Knox stood and left. Azrael raised his eyebrows. He prepared to leave, but Rikard came over and explained his father’s proposal in detail in an attempt to change Azrael’s mind. The latter’s face distorted. He shoved Rikard away and declared, "I’ll think about it if you convince her first."

Diva, "What? Why me?"

Rikard had a realization. He thought, ’Of course, Ms. Diva will be his wife. It’s only natural to share and discuss their decisions with each other.’ So, he eagerly engaged the woman in his business talks while Azrael slipped to the restroom.

With quick strides, he arrived at the restroom where six signs were attached to the upper part of the wall. He passed the alpha’s restroom and headed to the male omega’s. Fortunately, there was no one inside. Even Knox was nowhere in sight.

Azrael walked inside and leaned on the lavatory’s edge with his arms folded. His eyes scanned the lower part of the four cubicles that were lined opposite the sink before they moved to the locks to see which wasn’t vacant.

The lock on the farthest cubicle turned red, while the rest was green. Azrael straightened his body and walked, stopping before the closed door. He sniffed the air and his nostrils flared from displeasure.

"Come out, Knox Arden. I can basically smell that disgusting scent in you. I know you’re inside," seconds passed and the door didn’t open. Azrael’s eyebrows twitched, "If you don’t open this door, I’ll tear it—

Before he could finish his words, a small and shaky voice came from behind the door, "Mr. Del Valle, don’t. I having a hard time right now..."

Azrael, "What?"

Knox, "My stomach’s grumbling. I think something’s coming out!"

Azrael, "..."

Knox, "Stay away. You’re going to hear it plop!"

Azrael, "...don’t kid me."

Knox grunted and huffed, "I’m not kidding. It’s your fault for glaring at me all the time I was eating. Now, I’m having an upset stomach, and uh...move away, will you? This is embarrassing..."

Azrael went speechless. He sighed exasperatedly and nodded his head as if Knox could see him. Then, he spun around and walked to the door, saying, "Fine. I’m leaving. Damn, it stinks."

He grabbed the doorknob and opened it, then slammed it back as loud as possible. Inside the cubicle, Knox sighed in relief after hearing Azrael leave. He calmed his raging nerves first, before reaching the door and turning it open.

He wiped his sweaty forehead with his handkerchief as he walked out, only to be buried frozen in his spot when his eyes caught sight of a figure through the mirror.

Azrael was standing by the door, arms on his waist, and lips curved in a sinister grin.