Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 64: Am I missing him? [2]

Chapter 64: Am I missing him? [2]

Before he drowned in those pools of shimmering crystal-colored eyes, Knox quickly averted his gaze. Some people walking the streets were already staring at them with curiosity. Knox cleared his throat and changed the topic, "What are you doing here anyway?"

Playing with Knox’s fingers on his cheek, Azrael answered, "I came here to meet someone when I saw you falling asleep while standing in the middle of the sidewalk," the tip of his brow twitched as though he remembered something irritating. At the same time, Knox just rolled his eyes at his exaggeration.

Azrael’s fingers then moved on his wrist. The slow and simple touch made Knox feel fuzzy inside. He involuntarily pulled back his hand, but Azrael gripped it tightly. He clicked his tongue and spouted, "Why don’t you quit your job and apply to my company instead? I’m offering you the same position."

Knox pulled his hand away and the alpha finally let him go. He casually replied, "You already got Sir Luis, don’t you?"

Azrael, "I’m thinking of promoting him to a deputy director. If you decline, then he won’t get the promotion."

Stifling a burst of laughter at the silliness of his companion, Knox ended up snorting as he responded with a shaky voice, "What the heck’s wrong with you? Why are you threatening me with that? I don’t care."

Azrael, "Tsk. Luis will get hurt if hears you. If he got no promotion, I’ll tell him it was because of you. So, hurry and quit that exhausting job and just wait for me."

Shaking his head, Knox replied, "Damn you. You’re looking for a manservant, not a secretary."

Chuckling, Azrael tucked the loose strands of his light-brown hair on his ear, "Why do I feel like you’re more comfortable cursing me now? You don’t shy away or flinch with my touch now. I’m not scaring you anymore?"

Knox, "Now...you’re scaring me. I’m starting to think you’re some alien wearing Mr. Del Valle’s skin. Tear it off, please," he brushed his hand away and took a step back. As his eyes glided over the glass panes of the convenience store, he saw his reflection and was stunned for a moment. His gaunt face looked burdened by many problems yet his eyes were somewhat curved gently. Suddenly, it hit him – the truth that he was enjoying his conversation with Azrael, and somehow making him forget of his worries.

A cool, deep voice hurled him back to the present, "Mean."

Knox gazed at the man, masking his inner turmoil with a scrunched face. He didn’t answer and simply yawned while thinking, ’The audacity to call me ’mean’.’

"Come on, I’ll take you home. But what are you doing here anyway? Your apartment building is on the opposite way," Azrael added, eyes narrowing at the omega who kept yawning before him. His eyes watered and a single blink dropped a tear on the side of his cheek, resembling a morning dew slipping on a verdant leaf in a fascinating display. Unconsciously, Azrael lifted his hand and caught that escaping tear with the length of his index finger.

Knox pretended like he didn’t hear anything. How would he answer that? If the guy insists on sending him home, then Knoa might have fallen asleep with Franz already once he returns. And when morning comes, his cute, sulky face will wake him up with salivated kisses pranking him it was his pee.

"Azi!"

Knox and Azrael turned their heads at the man waving from the distance. He ran and crossed the road, then slapped Azrael on the back after he reached them. Azrael grunted and growled at the man. But the guy wiggled his eyebrows and gave him a meaningful look, as his eyes shifted to the omega standing before his friend.

Knox arched his brows. Azrael cleared his throat and pushed Sandro away. The latter then pretended he knew nothing and grinned widely. He teased and whispered at Azrael, "Man~ did you already make him cry?"

Azrael, "Shut up."

The two male alphas bickered. While slowly and silently, Knox walked away, escaping from Azrael’s attention. Sandro raised his brow when he noticed the omega slipping away in a hurry, but instead of pointing his fingers at him, he even cupped Azrael’s face and shook him while he spouted nonsense.

Azrael punched him afterward. When he looked back and didn’t find Knox at the same spot, his eyes turned as sharp as daggers, and hastily turned toward his college friend, but the guy was already walking away, laughing while swaying his hands inside his jacket’s pockets.

Shouting from the distance, Sandro looked back, "Hurry, Mr. Creep! I’ve got no time! Let’s do business already!"

Azrael glanced back once more. He silently cussed Sandro, but soon followed anyway. In the first place, he was in that neighborhood, where Sandro’s office was, to meet with him. He reluctantly turned his back and left.

Meanwhile, Knox sighed in relief after seeing Azrael finally leave. He was hiding at the corner of the vending machine a few meters away. With the red bottle in his hand, he whirled away and went to his destination.

As expected, Knoa was already sleeping when he arrived at Franz’s. He took the child and waved goodbye after hearing Franz’s boyfriend, Alex, remarked, "You can leave him here for tomorrow as well. Until Shawn gets back, I can take care of him."

"I’m really sorry about this, but I’ll take you up on that offer," Knox apologetically replied and bowed. He then added, "I’m also thinking of hiring a new babysitter. Shawn has a lot on his plate right now."

Franz appeared and chipped in, "I’ll help you find a reliable and trustworthy one then."

Mumbling his thanks, he left after. Knoa squirmed in his arms, and he slightly rocked him as he walked. He stopped using Athan’s car as some of the employees were suspecting, and he felt bad borrowing Franz’s every time. So, he just hailed a taxi.

’I should really buy a car,’ Knox thought as he looked out the window, patting Knoa’s back in gentle rhythm. ’Come to think of it, I have one...’

A small smile broke on his lips after recalling his encounter with Azrael that night. Gradually, he was beginning to think that it wouldn’t be so bad working for him instead.

The next morning, he went to work in a good mood. After dropping Knoa at the daycare center, he heard from Azrael that he wasn’t in his mansion, thus he was freed from his morning duties. However, he hadn’t even stepped out of the elevator when the commotion on his floor reached his ears already.

Everything was in disarray and the people from the different departments were also present. At the center of it all, stood Athan with clenched jaw and darkened face. He looked really pissed as he hunched over someone’s head, pointing at the screen and speaking in a commanding and intimidating voice.

"What’s happening?" Knox asked the nearest employee to him. The male employee frowned at him and walked away. It made him confused. Was he that hated in that place?

Athan’s eyes went past the crowd and noticed him. Knox muttered hesitatingly, "Sir..."

Everyone in the room turned their heads at Knox. The noise died down as soon as he walked in. He ignored the patronizing looks and insulting whispers as he passed by, and solely focused on Athan, giving him a questioning look.

Athan ran his hand over his face, swept his hair back, and sighed heavily. He looked troubled. He pressed his lips before parting them to speak, "Mr. Arden...follow me."

With that, the president bolted out of the commotion and went to his office. Knox dared not glance around, certain that the rest of the employees were criticizing him for something he did not know of yet.

A foreboding feeling grew inside him. He couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer, so he asked immediately as soon as the door slammed shut behind him. "Sir, what’s happening?"

Leaning at the edge of his desk and folding his arms on his chest, Athan sighed exasperatedly and replied, "Check the Fabri’s official website."

Knox quickly obliged. He searched the website on his working tablet, wondering why Athan would ask him to check their rival fashion clothing brand. His question was answered as soon as the screen flashed a portfolio of one of their designers, and on the uppermost was a familiar design. One of the main women’s attires in their summer collection.

He looked at Athan with wide eyes, "This...they copied it?!"

The president pinched his bridge, "That’s the case. That was the only one, but it was one of our main outfits. They post it on their official website followed by celebrities and high personalities. If we launch it together with the other clothes, HZ will be branded as copycats."

"But we can sue them for this..."

Athan nodded weakly, "The legal team is already organizing and investigating this incident. But..." he stopped.

Hesitation was etched clearly on his face. He averted his gaze from Knox and looked up, obviously frustrated by the ongoing events. Knox felt impatient, so he probed, "But what, Sir Athan?"

Sitting properly on his desk, Athan propped his elbows above and clasped his hands. "They’re claiming someone intentionally leaked the design," he stared at Knox seriously, "And they said it was you."