“Don’t tell me you believe I did something to the meal?”

Cecil’s thoughts were very easy to read as they were always written all over his face.

Just as Cecil was going to deny Silas’ words, the other continued, “I mean, how was I supposed to know that you would come by today and we would meet?”

Opposite him, Cecil nodded alongside Silas’ explanation.

“Although it was very predictable that you would come today.”

Cecil’s face turned sour again.

“But that would be silly, right?”

“Yes, of course,” Cecil answered through gritted teeth.

“So then, why don’t you try?”

Silas pushed the box in front of him and handed him cutlery.

Cecil took the cutlery, filled it with food, closed his eyes, and put it into his mouth. If one didn’t know that he was only trying food, one would think he had to eat the worst smelling medicine in the world.

Suddenly a moan escaped his mouth and he shoveled more food in. His hands only slowed down when more than half of the box had been emptied.

Noticing the almost empty box, Cecil’s face became dripping red. Clearing his throat and turning his head away, he apologized, “Sorry, I forgot to eat breakfast today because I was too excited to pick up the flowers. And then I missed breakfast while waiting for Louis—I’ll go buy you a new one.”

“Don’t bother. There will be a lunch later with a business client, so I wouldn’t have been able to eat it anyway. If you truly want to pay me back then finish the meal and don’t let it go to waste.”

Lowering his red head, Cecil continued to eat his meal.

Looking at Cecil, the young master who should never go hungry, eating his lunch with such a hurry one could think he had starved for days, Silas felt angry.

If Louis didn’t want Cecil’s love, why did he not say anything?

“Cecil.”

The other glanced up confused.

“Maybe you should give up on Louis.”

A look of shock appeared on Cecil’s delicate face.

“Ha! You are only saying this to get rid of me as your love rival and have Louis all to yourself. But I won’t fall for this!”

Furrowing his brows, Silas objected to Cecil’s accusation.

“I’m not saying this because I want Louis all to myself, it’s quite the opposite actually. I’m just wondering… Don’t you feel tired chasing after somebody who obviously doesn’t like you and is just using you for your money?”

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Cecil’s eyes dilated and he shook his head in denial. Trying to cover up his hurt feelings, he laughed.

“Ha, you know what? Right now you sound exactly like my family.”

“Maybe they have already seen through Louis’ true intentions and want to protect your feelings from getting hurt any longer.”

Cecil choked and tears welled up in his eyes.

“No, what you are saying is not true. Louis was always there for me and he would never not like me—”

Seeing Cecil’s vehement denial, Silas felt confused.

Was it normal for someone in love to be so against the truth or was there something more to the story?

“Okay, I was wrong, Cecil. Please calm down—”

But his words were interrupted by a knock on the door and its subsequent opening.

“Silas, are you ready to leave—”

“Louis! There you are!”

Cecil sprang up from his seat.

“I was waiting for a long time for you, Louis,” he took the bouquet without lifting his head and meeting the other’s eyes, “here. I bought them for you. But now I have to go. Bye.”

“What—,” Louis was confused.

But after he finished his words, Cecil practically ran out of the office, giving no one time to react.

Silas clenched his hand. Maybe he had been too rash without understanding the situation and hurt Cecil’s feelings.

He truly regretted saying these words.

“What was that?” Louis asked, while standing at the door with the bouquet in his hands. “I mean, he has always been unpredictable, but this is on another level, even for him.”

Beside him, Silas shook his head indicating that he did not know.

“Are you finished with your meeting?” Silas tried to change the topic.

“Yes, I was just coming to you if you were ready to leave to meet with the client. But now—,” he shook the bouquet, “I have to take care of these first.”

Silas took a look at the flowers and asked, “What are you going to do with these?”

Sighing, Louis shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe take it apart and give it to the employees? It’s far too big to put on the desk.”

Without a second thought, Silas opened his mouth.

“Give it to me, I’ll take care of it and you can go get ready for the lunch.”

Louis thanked Silas with a big smile.

“Thank you, Silas. I really can always rely on you.”

Pushing his glasses up his nose, Silas simply nodded.

But instead of returning to his office, Louis took a step closer towards Silas. Taking the other’s hand, he said, “To be honest, lately you seemed rather distant, so I was wondering if I have done something wrong.”

Shaking off Louis’ hand, it took Silas all his self-control to not punch the man in his annoying face.

This man really had no shame.

On one hand he was flirting with him and on the other he accepted all kinds of gifts from another man who clearly had feelings for him.

But since he still had to work with this shameless mosquito, he restrained himself from saying this.

“I’ll be honest with you, Mr. Nott. I’m not interested in developing any kind of relationship besides boss and employee. So please stop touching me unnecessarily in the future.”

With this, he took the bouquet out of Louis’ hands and closed his office door in front of the other’s nose.

Thinking about Cecil’s dirty fingertips, Silas felt his heart hurt.

The young master plucked flowers by himself to gift to his loved one, only for the other to not want them at all.

Bitterness welled up in him.

Why do some people have everything others could ever want and don’t even cherish it?

Shaking his head, he sighed.

Getting worked up about it also wouldn’t change a thing.

So he turned around and cleaned up the almost empty lunch box.

***

‘Louis is only using you for your money.’ - my ape!

Walking up to a fancy hotel, Cecil felt like all his worries had been for nothing.

Just when he had been plagued by Silas’ words and was asking himself if there could be a pinch of truth in his words, Louis’ message arrived.

He had invited him to a fancy hotel and told him to dress well - if this didn’t scream date then Cecil did not know what else would.

So he had put on his best suit and made sure everything about his appearance was perfect while humming his favorite tune, even now he was still humming out of joy.

In his good mood, Cecil even decided to forgive Silas for his slander.

Silas himself did not look like someone who had much experience in love matters, so it was inevitable to make mistakes.

Maybe he could even help the other and teach him a few tricks.

Soon he arrived at the hotel and was stunned by the many cars that were parked in front of it. It almost seemed like a big party was taking place.

Cecil really hoped to not catch sight of any acquaintances, since they would only remind him of his father and then his good mood would be gone.

A bit lost in thought, Cecil made his way to the entrance where a waiter stood, helping the guests find their way.

After he greeted the waiter and stated who invited him, Cecil was led to a fancy door on the ground floor.

Suddenly a bad feeling overcame Cecil as the waiter opened the door and the light from inside dazzled him.

Soon a room, or rather giant banquet hall, appeared in his sight with many people inside.

Cecil was frozen in place.

“Ah, Cecil Althan! There you are!” a voice shouted, attracting the attention of everyone inside the banquet hall.

Mechanically, Cecil turned his head towards the origin of the voice.

There stood Louis, waving at him with a bright smile.

A murmur broke out in the hall, as the crowd was wondering if it was really an Althan who was attending this party.

But Cecil ignored the whispering around him—no, he could not even hear it, as only Silas’ voice kept ringing in his head.

“Louis is only using you for your money.”

Maybe he was the one who had no clue about love after all, and not Silas.