CHAPTER 65: EMOTIONAL DAMAGE

Derek slumped irritably in a chair in the private dining room, glaring at the staff serving them after the little "incident." David, the manager, stood beside the table.

"I’m sorry this happened on our premises," David said. "Even though it was a misunderstanding, the restaurant would like to offer you some wine to enjoy with your meal."

"Tch." Derek clicked his tongue and glared at David. "Wine isn’t enough. You should kick that guy out of this place."

"..." David kept his mouth shut, his head slightly bowed.

David wouldn’t even be here if not for Atlas. Compared to Derek and his group, the other two had more importance in the establishment. But when David was about to assist Lola and Atlas, the latter cast him a warning look and jerked his chin toward the Lancasters.

Hence, David was here.

"Derek, come on, dude," Justin sighed heavily before looking up at David. "Mr. David, thank you. Don’t worry about him. He’ll be fine in a bit."

David glanced at Justin and quietly excused himself. Once the manager was out of sight, Justin cocked his head at Derek.

"Derek, what the hell?"

Hearing that was like pouring fuel on a fire. Derek fumed. "What do you mean, ’what the hell?’ I should be the one saying that! What the hell were you doing while that guy assaulted me?!"

"Bro, chill!" Justin raised a hand, seeing that Derek was ready to vent his frustration on him. He leaned forward onto the table.

"Like I said, the chairman already warned you not to cause trouble! Have you forgotten the reason we have access to this place is because of him?" He continued in a knowing tone. "If that had escalated further, he would’ve heard about it from Caullen even before we got home. I’m just looking out for you!"

Derek’s frown deepened, but he didn’t argue. Meanwhile, Justin huffed, sensing Derek backing down.

"Remember, you’re leading the project with the Summit Partners," Justin added. "All eyes are on you now, especially those jerks from the first branch. If you slip up once, Travis will eat you alive and take this project. He’ll get all the credit, and if that happens, what’s going to happen to us?"

"Tch!" Derek hissed through clenched teeth, considering his cousin’s words.

Hate it or not, Justin was telling the truth. Everyone wanted this project with the Summit Partners, and if he gave them even the smallest opening, they would kick him out of it.

"Those jerks," he grumbled, then snapped his eyes at Justin. "Once I become a part of the board, it’s going to be over for all of them."

"See? There’s more to this than just that guy!" Justin intoned, but curiosity still lingered in his eyes. "By the way, why were you even arguing with him? Do you know him? I’ve never seen him before."

Derek arched a brow at him, then glanced up as he thought of Atlas’s infuriating face and the beauty he had stolen from him. The corners of his mouth deepened into a frown as he recalled what the beauty had called the man.

Studying his reaction, Justin narrowed his eyes. "It’s because of that woman, isn’t it?"

"..."

"Derek." Justin leaned his arms on the table and sighed. "You’re already engaged to Melissa. Don’t you like her?"

"This has nothing to do with Melissa, alright? I’m engaged to her, but not married yet," Derek rolled his eyes. "Can’t I have a bit of fun until I tie the knot? Besides, didn’t you see her?"

"Well, she is really pretty," Justin mumbled, not having the leisure to recall Lola’s face. "More beautiful than Melissa."

"See?" Derek shrugged.

"Still, you already made Lola break off your engagement. If you end up breaking off your engagement with Melissa, it’s going to be horrible."

"Like I said, I’m just looking for a good time."

Justin didn’t answer anymore, studying the look on Derek’s face. "Well, she’s married, and if they’re here, it means they come from a good family."

"Heh." Derek sneered, causing Justin to frown.

"Derek, whatever you’re thinking, don’t do it," Justin warned. "Just don’t."

But Derek’s smirk only stretched wider. Under different circumstances, he would take a step back, hands off. But her husband had humiliated him, and Derek was not the type to let things go so easily.

"He’d better not let her out of his sight," he muttered maliciously. "If he doesn’t want another man snagging his beloved wife."

****

Meanwhile, Lola dragged Atlas away from the situation. Justin had also pulled Derek aside with the staff. For some reason, Manager David went with them, which was fine. After all, calming down that breathing disaster named Derek was better than doing it themselves.

"Gosh..." she breathed out, now standing in front of the lift to the rooftop.

Thinking about what had happened, she shook her head.

"Are you alright?" she asked as soon as she turned her head to face him.

"..." For some reason, Atlas didn’t answer immediately. "Mhm."

Lola let out a shallow breath. "Sorry about that." She clicked her tongue, looking back to where they had come from. "That guy’s just a real piece of work."

"Why does he bother you?"

"Hmm?" she looked back at him, blinking. "Ah... heh. Well, he does bother me with this face."

Her answer made him tilt his head a bit. So, she clarified, "I mean, he doesn’t recognize me without my heavy makeup. Quite crazy, huh?"

"He must be blind," he replied, nodding in understanding, convinced of the thought he had in mind. "You don’t look that much different."

She froze, her face stiff, eyes a bit wide. She didn’t look that different with her heavy makeup and her normal face?

For some reason, she just heard "emotional damage" ringing in her ears.

****

[Penthouse]

The twins, quietly idling in the family room, suddenly froze. Their father’s assistant was with them to watch them.

Seeing the twins suddenly jolt, Allen furrowed his brows. "What happened?"

Slowly, the twins turned their heads in Allen’s direction.

"Uncle, I just felt like my mommy’s in danger," Chacha muttered worriedly.

"Heh..." Allen chuckled awkwardly, getting more and more intrigued by the person who managed to catch the twins’ eyes. "I don’t think so. Your father is with her."

"Uncle, that’s why we’re worried now," Second mused. "Father Sir is Danger himself."

"..." This time, Allen couldn’t refute that. He darted his eyes between the twins. After a second, he leaned forward and asked quietly, "Twins, did you give her the earplugs?"

The twins: "..."

Allen: "..."

Allen then cleared his throat. "Well, I guess she’s gonna be fine... with a little bit of emotional damage, right?"