Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 65: The truth unfolds [2]

Chapter 65: The truth unfolds [2]

"That’s absurd," Knox immediately answered, giving Athan a funny look. "Do you believe that?"

Athan replied in a beat, "Of course not. I, as well, was utterly astonished at the turn of events. The investigation is still ongoing. I specifically asked them to track when and where the design was leaked. The security is reviewing who had access at the time of the breach."

"The only ones who have access to the designs are the design department, the product development dept., the marketing department, and the styling department. How could they suspect me when I rarely open the files let alone bother checking them if not ordered?" Knox explained. The hatred directed towards him in that place ran so deep that he almost commended whoever put his name on the most suspected list.

Athan, "They wanted to question all those who were present here at the time. It happened yesterday. Though I have to put the questioning on hold because we can’t cancel the launch because of this."

Knox could hear the gear in his head working and connecting the points. If it happened yesterday, then he was, indeed, had a reason to be suspected. He was in the company until seven in the evening, and he was working with the marketing department, helping them construct strategies and concept boards to advertise the products. They also had access to the approved design files.

His head throbbed. Lately, he had been experiencing a series of sudden headaches. "How about the design? Should I file a case?"

Athan barely shook his head as he responded, "Knox, we can’t claim this theft as plagiarism. Design Theft is not recognized in that form. The designer who posted it can simply claim that he was inspired by his existing works while creating their own and that the similarities are probably just coincidence, given that they were both inspired by the same works."

"The designs are way too similar to just be ignored!"

"I know. Still, it will only be our loss. If we stake on it and lose, then the brand will not only lose credibility but also originality. This will affect us. The directors are suggesting to just sweep this under the rug, and only punish whoever dared to betray us," Athan stood. "I already halted all production on that particular design. Miss Dalia is already supervising the design teams to come up with another main theme to replace that one. For now, let’s discuss things with the styling department about the changes."

Knox nodded and quickly followed his boss to the lower floor where the mentioned department was. The whole day, the two of them were so busy that they both forgot to eat lunch and take a break. If the creative director hadn’t brought sandwiches to them, they would continue to work without even looking away from the monitor.

"I’m sorry you have to bring us food, Miss Dalia. It’s my job yet I forgot," Knox slightly bowed to the older alpha woman.

Dalia sighed. She patted Knox on the shoulder and stated, "I’m sure on top of working with this, you’re also bothered by the accusations, Mr. Arden. You looked pale. You should take a break even for a few minutes."

"Yes, I will. Thank you, Miss Dalia."

Contrary to his words, after the older woman left, he continued with his work and only took a bite from the sandwich Athan shared with him. His phone rang and he instinctively answered it without looking at the caller, "Yes, hello?"

"Is this Mr. Knox Arden?" a timid voice echoed through the phone.

Knox slightly tilted the phone and looked at the caller. He anxiously answered after seeing the name on the screen, "Yes, I am. Did something happen to Knoa?"

He waited for the answer with bated breath, gripping the mouse too tightly. The teacher promptly replied, "Oh, no, no, Mr. Arden. I called because it was time to go home now. There’s an alpha guy who wants to pick your son up, but I don’t know him so I called to ask for your confirmation."

Knox abruptly stood. From the half-opened blinds to his side, he could see Athan working. His chest tightened out of panic and he began picking up his bag to bolt out, until the daycare teacher continued, "The name is Steve Williams, I checked his license. Do you know him, Mr. Arden? Should I let Knoa come with him?"

Knox froze. The bag he held slipped in his hand and the sound it created as it hit the floor made him jolt. He parted his lips and responded with a slightly shaky voice, "May I...talk to him...?"

"Oh, sure, give me a sec," Knox heard the sound of a chair scraping the floor followed by footsteps. The door opened and a distant voice came from the phone, "He said he wanted to talk to you, sir."

Soon after, the secretary’s voice was clearly heard, "Shawn was stressing about who was taking care of the kid, so I volunteered."

Steve could hear the loud sigh of relief from the other side. He glanced at the three-year-old kid playing with his classmates from beyond the glass partition. It seemed that Knox had mistaken him for someone. Before he could think of anyone who could make the father act so panicky like that, the omega’s voice reached his ear already.

"Sir Steve...please give me a heads up next time," Knox slumped back on his chair and calmed himself. The relief he felt after hearing who it was, was so immense, that he almost burst into tears. Who was he expecting anyway? That person would have never known.

Steve apologized, "I’m sorry about that. But I’ll take him with me in the meantime. Do give your permission to the teacher, Sir Knox."

Knox, "Where are you taking him? You can drop him in my friend’s café."

"I’ll...do that," Steve answered, hesitantly. After Knox talked with the kind teacher once more, Knoa was called. The little kid waddled to the door where Steve stood, patiently waiting for his short legs to reach him.

Knoa inclined his head, to the point that he almost fell backward, as he looked up at the old man. His height only reached past a bit of the old man’s knees, so he had a hard time sizing up the stranger. He scrunched his face after seeing that the guy had no intention to crouch.

Steve felt those small prickling eyes hitting his chin. So, he crouched, but his head was still inches above the kid. He cleared his throat and spoke as gently as he could, "My name...is Steve. I’m Shawn’s uncle. Shawn was in the hospital taking care of his father so I will be the one sending you home."

Knoa stared at Steve for a few minutes. The secretary broke into a sweat from that stare, unexplainably. It was as if he was being roasted by those bright green eyes. Then a thought dashed in his head, ’Ah, he has the same eyes as the chairman...makes sense.’

Steve continued explaining himself like a subordinate to his superior, "I know your father, and I also called him before. I’m a good man and we get along well. I also work for your grandfather so—

"Grampa?" the little guy blinked his wide eyes twice. He put his chubby fingers on his under his chin and looked up, thinking about something. Afterward, he pouted at Steve and added, "Grampa...underground? You, work for him? Do you talk to him? How Grampa look like?"

Steve was bewildered. He had an idea of what the kid was saying, but he couldn’t find the right words to explain. In the end, he just nodded his head and answered, "Y-Yes..."

Knoa’s face brightened. He hopped as he merrily screamed, "Knoa wants to meet him! Grampa!"

He looked at Steve with hopeful eyes, they sparkled enough to blind the old man and to twirl him on his tiny palms. Steve was stabbed by Knoa’s cuteness that before he realized it, he was already driving the car on the way to the Horace Mansion.

He snapped back into reality when the child sitting in the backseat giggled loudly. He was kneeling on the seat while looking out the window. The seatbelt was stretched and secured, but Steve still felt nervous. He peeked in the direction where the kid was looking, and then he slowed down and let the kid watch the big, white Samoyed dog roll in the green field at the mansion’s property. A man in a servant’s uniform was watching over it.

A small smile tugged on Steve’s lips. He asked gently, "Do you like dogs?"

Knoa beamed, "I do!"

"That’s a well-bred Samoyed dog. His name is Loki, he’s gentle though a bit naughty, he’s intelligent and loyal too. He’s friendly toward children as well," Steve parked the car at the front. He went out and unbuckled Knoa’s seatbelt, before carrying him in his arms along with his little school bag.

"I wanna play with him!" Knoa swayed his feet, wanting to get down, and ran to where the dog was.

"Later, Sir Knoa. You said you wanted to meet your grandpa," Steve reasoned as he quickly walked to the entrance of the left wing of the mansion where the chairman’s office was. Fortunately, Knoa did not insist any further. He silently sat on Steve’s arms and clung to his neck.

A few more minutes passed, and they finally reached the office. Steve knocked on the door and announced, "Chairman, I came back with Sir Knoa."

After he volunteered to pick up the child from the daycare center, he informed Chairman Horace and asked if he could be late for a few minutes. He explained Knox’s situation but assured him that after dropping the kid home, he’d go back immediately.

However, aside from allowing him, the chairman even suggested that he could take the kid back to his office. Steve didn’t give a definite answer, aware of how very reluctant Knox was to bring the child into that place. But when the kid suddenly asked to see his grandfather, Steve could no longer refuse.

The door was opened by the chairman himself, unexpectedly. His gaze went directly to the child in his secretary’s arms. Bright green eyes under those curly black hair stared back at him without fear at all but filled with innocence and anticipation. And for a moment, he selfishly thought, ’If only that child could look at me this way.’