Chapter 81

GIULIA

"Forgive you for what?" I blinked, tilting my head to the side as I watched him. "Did you sack him because he helped me?"

"No, not that." He shook his head, peering down at his feet before he glanced back up. He seemed reluctant to tell me what it was he needed forgiveness for.

Seeing him like that made me knit my brows. He looked very cute when embarrassed. If only he would learn to shed his bad boy persona, which he always showed to me, and adopt this new look.

However cute he looked, I needed him to tell me what happened to Kenzo.

"What is it, Mark?" My voice was stern. I folded my arms, scowling, to let him know I wasn't ready to let it slide until he told me what he did to Kenzo.

I felt bad, though. Recalling my best friend after weeks of not doing so made me feel like a sham.

"We fought."

"You engaged in combat????!" I yelled out before I could stop myself, my eyes wide in shock.

"Well, that was what happened." He lowered his head again. "I-"

"You guys fought or you thrashed him?" I demanded, knowing the answer to the question even before he gave it to me.

"I hit him."

I knew he did. Kenzo was loyal to a fault. Even if he could beat Mark, he wouldn't lift his fist to do that. He adored the ground Mark fucking walks on. To him, Mark was like a god. Kenzo was nothing but a follower, adhering to the principles of a god who didn't care about him.

I got to my feet, the news difficult to swallow. Knowing what Mark was capable of doing before he voiced it out didn't make things better at all.

"Lia." He reached out to me, but I stepped back. Not because I was pissed at him. Okay, I was. However, that wasn't why I drew a step back. I was afraid of forgiving him easily if he touched me.

I was still a sucker for him, like I had been months ago. Despite my resolve not to have anything to do with him, my heart still yearns for those days in Spain.

It was mad thinking that way since I had no happy moments with him, but I couldn't help the way I felt for him. The cupid that released my arrow must have been high on drugs when she did it because that was how I felt. Drunk in love with Mark.

"Do you want me to call him?" His question filtered into my thoughts. Blinking, I peered up at him, stunned when I noticed he was standing in front of me. I must have been so lost in thoughts that I didn't notice him rising from his seat.

I squinted, taking a step back as I nervously tucked some strands of hair behind my right ear. Gulping, I nodded before adding, "That's if he would answer your calls."

"Don't worry about that." He flashed a smile at me before sitting down. "Kenzo would always scramble to answer each time I called."

"Really?" I folded my arms, watching the smug man. His ego was so high up, it was almost touching the sky. To think he was right.

From the little I knew about them, Kenzo would always run back to him like a dog, wagging his tail whenever Mark blew the whistle.

However, the call went through, but no one answered.

"Huh?" Mark and I exchanged glances, stunned at that.

"He's probably not with his phone," Mark mumbled, staring hard at his phone. Though he sought not to show it, I could see the worry in his gaze as he dialled the number once more, but it went unanswered.

"Strange." He got to his feet.

"What's so odd about it?" I sat down in the space he vacated. "Your loyal dog is fed up with you." I pursed my lips, amused.

"No, he's not." He tried to sound certain, but his voice wavered.

I knew he was thinking about my words, and the probability of it being true.

"Why don't you try someone else's number? You can call the house to check if he's at home," I suggested.

"Fuck! Why didn't I think of that? You are a genius, Lia!" He leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead. "I wouldn't have thought of this without you!" He sat next to me as he dialled his house.

"That's why you need me with you always."

"I sure do."

The phone rang once before someone picked it up. "Hello, you are-"

"Is Kenzo at home?" Mark demanded, cutting the man's words shut.

"He-Who are you?" The person on the other end inquired, sounding puzzled. He must be wondering why a stranger would sound so authoritative like he owned the entire place.

"Can't you recognize your boss's tone?!" Mark clenched his fist.

"Boss? Sorry about that!" The man hastily apologized.

"You better be," Mark fumed. "Where is Kenzo?"

"He's here boss. Should I hand over the phone?" The man asked, eager to please. He was trying to make up for his mistakes earlier, to avoid calling his boss' wrath down on himself.

"Give him the phone," Mark ordered, leaning back on the chair. He crossed his legs and placed his right hand on the small of my back.

There were shuffles on the other end before the man spoke. "… He…he's… He's…uhm…"

"What's wrong?" Mark removed his hand from my waist and sat up, uncrossing his legs. "Didn't I ask you to give Kenzo the phone? Why are you the one speaking?"

From the way he clenched his fists tight, I could tell he was furious. Had he been in Spain at the moment, there was no telling what he would have done to the man who answered the phone.

Well, let's not think about that.

"He said he's bu.. bu… busy," the guy spoke out, stammering at the end.

"Busy? Doing what?"

While Mark looked like he was about to combust in anger-red cheeks and all-I was barely holding back my laughter. Oh, my darling, Kenzo has finally grown up.

"I don't know, boss!"

"OK. No problem." Mark disconnected, tossing the phone next to him as he muttered, "Kenzo, oh, Kenzo. You will regret doing this when I get my hands on you."

And that was all it took for me to finally let the laughter out. Not even his dark glares could stifle my amusement.