13

Chapter 13

The shop was already eye catching from the outside with dozens of mouthwatering bread and desserts displayed on the window. Damien led me to their baking area behind the counter where we passed a group of people staring at the glass cases where more baked goods are arranged.

There were two other people inside the baking area but they were too busy preparing for the next batch to even notice that we have entered the room.

"For someone who just started last month, I think you're doing well." I complimented Damian.

"Thank you. I still haven't achieved my ROI but I'm glad it will be quicker than I anticipated. Anyway, this is what I wanted to show you." he lead me further inside and the two bakers finally noticed our presence. Damien just greeted them casually and they continued their work. We entered another room and it appears to be his office.

He opened a box of bread packaging revealing a delectable batch of pastry.

"Come on. Have a taste!" He urged.

I took one and had a bite on probably the most flavorful bread that I have ever tasted.

"Wow! This is great!" I exclaimed. "What is this?"

"Just something I've been experimenting on. It's inspired by the different pastries I've seen and eaten in Japan."

He handed me another set of box and implored me to judge it.

Before taking a bite, I asked him another question. "By the way, you're hometown's on the other side of the country. How'd you get here?"

"It's not my choice really." he mumbled. "I've been assigned here by my previous employer and over time, I got sick from all the corporate bullshit."

He looked at me like I must've relate to what he said so I just nodded my head in agreement even though I haven't got a clue on what he's talking about.

"I really don't want to experience the hassle of moving out again since I just settled here. You know? Ending your lease agreement, packing and unpacking your stuff, looking for a reliable movers..." he continued. "So I just said, 'fuck it! I'm gonna be a small business owner.' and that's what happened."

"From the looks of it, you're thriving. Kudos to you."

"So how was it?" he asked me.

"I preferred the first one you gave me. This one taste weird."

He smiled and took the box from my hand "For improvement it is." he muttered. "How about you? What did you do after college?"

"Well... I told you that I worked for a rich family right?"

"Right." he agreed.

"Their majordomo retired after my graduation and I took over as their butler." I shrugged. "I know, others might say that I'm just wasting my degree but I'm actually satisfied with my current employment. Right now, I was assigned to become the executive assistant of probably the future CEO of their company."

"Richard." Damien mentioned when he remembered the name I introduced a while ago.

"Correct. Their family actually owns the Preston-Astor Group-"

"Holy shit dude!" I almost jumped from his sudden outburst. "That's awesome!"

I'm confused. "What?"

"Your network must be insane! Not to mention the things you might have witnessed."

"It's mostly mundane things anyway. Besides, they made me sign a non-disclosure agreement so I can't legally spill anything about their business or personal life even if I am no longer employed with them."

Damien and I continued to catch up and talk about any topics that came across our conversation. It was so engaging that we never even noticed the time until one of his employees notified us that it's closing time. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was already past six in the evening.

"Shoot! I have to go." I announced and thanked him for the coffee and pastries.

"Wait!" he called out before I even got out of the door. "Let me take you home. It's the least I can do for you."

"No. It's fine. I'll just take a cab-"

"Don't worry about it." he insisted. "I'll meet you out front."

It seems like he just gave me an ultimatum and so I nodded and said, "Okay."

One of his employees accompanied me outside before securing the locks on the door. I stood near the sidewalk just as he instructed and moments later I saw Damien approaching me.

You've got to be kidding me.

I was expecting for a car but here he is in front of me, riding on his big bike.

"Are you sure that's safe?" I asked. I haven't really had an experience riding a motorcycle before so I guess I'm a little bit hesitant.

"I will not be talking to you if it isn't." he gave me a helmet and I had no choice but to put it on and sit on the space behind him. "Are you already settled? Watch out for the exhaust pipe. It might burn your leg."

"Yeah. I think so." I arranged my seating position and held on the designated handle. Damien alerted me one more time before stepping on the gas.

I was so nervous for the first minute of the trip that my palms were cramping from holding on too much on the handle. However, once I got used to the motion, I started to relax myself and enjoy the ride. It helps that Damien was being gentle and made sure that he wasn't going too fast on the highway. The ride went smoothly and we reached the manor without having any troubles on the road.

"You can drop me off by the gates." I advised Damien as we approaches the Preston's property.

"The house looks far from the gate. Do you have to walk that far?" asked Damien. He was pertaining to the long driveway starting from the gate towards the main house which is common for lavish mansions that were designed during the old days.

"I don't mind." I replied.

"Can I drop you off near the door? It looks tiring to walk through all that pathway."

I thought about his offer for a moment.

"Fine. I'll tell them to open the gate."

I gestured the guard to open the gateway and he nodded when he saw my identity. Damien then drove inside the manor and stopped the motor in front of the porte-cochére before helping me get off his bike.

"Thanks." I said "It was nice seeing you."

"Before you go, I wanted to give you something."

He opened the trunk of his bike and obtained two small packages which looks like a box of pastries. "I noticed you liked my cheesecake cookies the most so this one's for you." he gave me the smaller box.

"And this one, you can give it to your boss. It's a collection of samplers so if ever he's interested in ordering from one of these, he can give me a call." he gave me the other box with his calling card taped to the lid. "I would also like you to give me a call sometimes."

"Oh I don't-" I was about to tell him that I don't have a phone but suddenly the front door opened and came out is Richard who's face is contorted from obvious rage.

"I have to go. Thanks again for the ride." I said and climbed up the stairs and stood beside Richard. Damien waved to both of us goodbye. I waved back but Richard kept his arms crossed with indifference the same way he treated Ashley before.

When Damien left, Richard turned to me and there was this ominous aura that surrounds him which is honestly a little bit frightening.

"Where have you been?" he demanded like a parent scolding his child.

"Out?" I responded stating the obvious. "Here, have some treats. It looks like you needed one." I tried giving him his share of pastries but he kept his arms closed as he glared at me.

"Does it look like I'm kidding? You know I almost called the police to find you."

I scanned my memory if there was something that I did wrong but my searchbar shows me that no results were found.

"What? Why would you do that?"

He let out an exasperated sigh.

"Ugh. Seriously? You went missing with a stranger for the whole day and you never even bothered to notify me. I mean for fucks sake you could have sent me a message but for some unknown reason I was informed that you don't have a phone so I don't have the means to contact you."

I gave him a blank stare for his unbelievable logic.

"Firstly, it's my day off. So whatever magical fantasy land that I decided to go is none of your business. If I remembered it correctly, you're the one who left me without even saying a word. Lastly, Damien is not a stranger.  As I told you, he's an old friend of mine."

"If you were not too busy conversing with your old 'roommate' you might have noticed that they were already sending the car away. If you could just waited for a little bit, I m have picked you up after I made a U-turn."

"What's with the air quotes? I've known Damien for a long time. Of course I trust him."

He raised his hand in surrender. "I'm sorry if worrying about you is against the law now." he apologized sarcastically and entered the house.

The nerve of this person to put the blame on me.

I opened my box of goodies and followed him inside. "Okay dad. Thank you very much for your care. Do you want a cookie? Here, take it."

He ignored me and went upstairs to his room and he really made sure to close the door loudly. I calmed myself in between breaths. I let that kid get into my nerves again.

I feel a slight guilt as I weigh whether he really means well or not. In the end, I refuse to be gaslighted by an adult tantrum because I know very well that I didn't do anything wrong. Besides, we're both men. We can beat each other up today and bury the hatchet the next day but we will never ever say the word sorry. If he wants to reconcile by tomorrow, the choice is up to him.

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