CHAPTER 229: BUSINESS

"It’s a good thing that Zaque does not come back to the butcher shop every ten minutes or something." Coco sighed out, pushing the Magia Pierre’s door open.

"Yeah! I agree!" The garden fairy voiced out her opinion, letting Coco know that she’s on her side.

Before Renaldo could question why she was frozen in her place earlier, she immediately booked it out of the butcher shop and left the scarred mediator alone.

She can’t let anyone know why she was avoiding Zaque and the other three husbands again, especially when she can’t face the red haired mediator herself because she can’t return the same feelings the mediators had for her.

Coco gently set down the basket on the floor, her movements careful and deliberate.

The basket was overflowing with an assortment of colourful fruits, the vibrant colours of the fruits standing out due to the dark colored floor of the back of the Magia Pierre.

Coco let out a sigh as she watched the fruits inside the basket jiggled slightly as it hit the ground, the sound muted by the soft material of the basket, each fruit were neatly stacked, each one carefully arranged to prevent any bruising or damage to the soft, delicate flesh.

She stepped back, eyeing the basket of fruit with satisfaction, her expression softening as she took in the sight.

She had always picked them herself so she could sell everything to the merchant, each fruit fresh and ripe, their colors bright and their aroma sweet— a quality that makes it popular in their village and other villages.

Although, she doesn’t know where Mrs. Tani distributes the fruits, she still can tell that the fruits sell well with the money she receives from the merchant.

She had a feeling of satisfaction, knowing that the fruits would be enjoyed by those who would eat them once again.

"Alright." Coco hummed out as she turned in her heels, "Time to head to the village hall, I need to get that permit as soon as possible."

As Coco turned around to exit the room, her heart leapt in her chest when she suddenly spotted a familiar handsome stranger standing in the doorway.

Her eyes widened in surprise, her body freezing in place as her mind raced to process the sudden appearance of the man, her heart racing in her chest, to find herself face to face with a stranger.

His purple colored eyes seemed to pierce through her, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that made her eyebrows furrow despite the shock of his sudden appearance.

Coco felt a jolt of recognition as she looked at the man’s expression, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that was all too familiar, the way his eyes narrowed and his lips curled into a slight sneer.

She knows that look all too well.

She had seen that look before, the look of someone who thought they were better than her— a look of someone who didn’t think she was worthy, who believed she was beneath him.

She had seen that look all too many times, and it always left a bad taste in her mouth, but she was already used to that look, all because she already received that intensity so many times ever since she became Coco Hughes.

So, all she could do is brace herself, her body tensing as she prepared for the condescension as she let a polite smile creep to her face.

"When did you start working with my sister?" The man asked, his eyes narrowing even more as he shifted his weight on his other foot, his red locks falling on to his forehead, framing his face perfectly.

"I don’t know if I can answer that." Coco smiled, the same smile she had given to the merchant when she first met her.

"Why not?" Drishti’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he crossed his arms, "It’s not like you signed a contract, right? This kind of information shouldn’t be forbidden to share."

"Hmm.. Yes, you’re right." Coco hummed out with a nod of her head, "I didn’t sign any contract, but I respect her and our relationship. I don’t want a stranger butting his nose into other people’s business, even if that person is her brother."

The audacity of this woman!

Coco could practically read what was in the red head’s mind the moment she said those words.

Drishti’s expression darkened, his eyebrow furrowing further and his mouth setting in a tight line, making it obvious that her words affected him.

He could sense the hostility in her words despite having a friendly smile on her face, the words she had uttered giving his ego a subtle jab, bruising his already bruised ego.

He felt a flash of anger, his pride wounded by Coco’s audacity.

How could she? Drishti thought while he clenched his fists with his jaw clenched tightly as he locked eyes with her, his gaze hard and unamused clashing against Coco’s amused and playful gaze.

"Now, please excuse me and move out of the way." Coco said as her smile got wider, "I have to go. I have way more important matters to attend to."

Coco was about to leave the room when Drishti appeared out of nowhere so they were both standing by the doorway.

However, Drishti himself had been standing just outside the room, unnoticed until he spoke, and had been blocking Coco’s path, his eyes locked on hers in a staring contest.

"Hey! Are you deaf?! Coco said she has more important business to go to!" Lala exclaimed, smacking and kicking Drishti’s cheek in hopes of making him move out of Coco’s path.

To no avail, the man continued to stand there, oblivious to the assault the fairy was doing to him.

"Please move out of the way while I’m still asking nicely." Coco said, the smile on her face melting away as she stared blankly at Drishti.

The stare alone made Drishti flinch and forced him to walk out of her way.

"Thank you."