“Is this the baby?” Joseph poked the newborn lightly.
Unlike any other babies he had ever seen, the baby was not wrinkly or ugly. Rather, he was cute and plump, not looking as if he had only been born the previous day.
“Mystery, what did you name him?”
“Enigma.”
“Enigma? That’s a cool name.” Joseph nodded, feeling that the name was really good. “Hm?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Somehow,” The boy placed a hand on his chin, as if thinking, “Mystery and Enigma, huh. It kinda matches, doesn’t it?” The boy laughed. “The meaning, I mean.”
“Oh, you’re right.” Mystery laughed, noticing the similar meanings of the names. “I didn’t realise.”
“Hm? What are you two laughing about?” Fergus who had just finished his work entered the room.
“Nothing.” The two exchanged glances, giggling.
“Fine, don’t tell me, then.” Fergus looked at them strangely. “Young master, are you really covering our activities here? I think people are getting suspicious…”
“Are you looking down on my skills? I specially asked Father to gift the whole floor to me, so everything that happens here, only the three of us know.” Joseph smirked smugly, flaunting his abuse of authority.
‘Won’t they get more suspicious because of that?!’ he thought. Fergus remembered a certain gossip regarding his relationship to the young master that he had overheard some of the female staffs said behind his back. Something about them having a ‘bent’ relationship or another… He shivered just from the thought.
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“By the way, have you named the baby yet?”
Mystery smiled after hearing the same question. “Enigma.”
“Enigma Pandora, huh? It’s a nice name. Rhymes, even.”
“Ah?” At the sound of Enigma’s name paired with his surname, Joseph was startled. “Why add my surname?”
“Isn’t it obvious? The sperm came from you, young master, so technically, Enigma is your son, is he not?” Fergus tilted his head quizzically.
The teen-aged boy’s face reddened. He had totally forgotten the part where he had donated his sperm… he glanced at the white-haired girl, his face redder than a tomato. The thought that Enigma was the child of him and Mystery made him completely flustered.
Mystery laughed at their antics, “don’t tease him too much, Fer. The poor boy!”
“Sorry, young master,” Fergus unapologetically apologised. His face carried a slight smirk, clearly showing that he intentionally reiterated the fact just to poke fun at the boy.
“Fergus, you—!”
The three laughed.
Suddenly, a ringtone could be heard from Joseph’s bracelet.
“Oh shit!” Joseph cursed.
His father had made a video call to him, and he needed to answer quickly. However, Mystery and Enigma’s existence was kept a secret from the man who owned the company, and he did not know what his father might do if he ever found out.
Joseph ran outside of the lab room before accepting the call.
“Father,” Joseph greeted with a stiff smile.
“Joseph. I’m currently on the 50th floor.” Mr. Pandora succinctly said. He did not inform his son about his visit until the lift stop at the 50th floor so that his son wouldn’t have any time to stash away the project that he had been concealing from his father.
Joseph paled. “Oh, uh… Father, what brings you here?” He faked a laugh, his nervousness in plain sight.
“I’d like to see just what it is that you’re being so elusive and secretive about. Son, I’ve let you play around for long enough. The 50th floor can’t be reserved just for you forever. I have a business to run and this pastime of yours is not very lucrative for me,” Mr. Pandora coldly said, his eyes gleaming intimidatingly. Even through the impersonal communication device, Joseph could still feel his father’s threatening aura.
“Father…!” Joseph did not have the time to do anything, as he could already see his father walking towards him from afar.