"Third Brother, why did you lie?"
Slater’s steps halted. Even without context, he sohow knew what Benjamin was talking about. Slowly, he looked back at Benjamin, his expression stern.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," said Slater, in a frail attempt to dodge this.
Benjamin frowned. "You know what I’m talking about, Third Brother. That ti I saw you in Holand Security. That ti, you told Miss Penny asked you to run her an errand. However, if that’s the case, doesn’t that an my cousin and Miss Penny already knew each other before eting today?"
"She’s probably ssing with you again."
"I asked her," he returned without a second hesitation. "And I can tell she has no idea. So, I’m curious, Third Brother. Why did you lie?"
"..." Slater briefly held his breath, eyes on Benjamin. His fist balled slightly as he asked quietly, "You told Penny?"
"No, why would I?" Benjamin pouted, not knowing his answer was akin to a thorn being plucked out of Slater’s throat. "I just asked her sothing, but I didn’t tell her that you used her as an excuse. I’m not that dumb not to know telling her might end in her scolding you."
Benjamin clicked his tongue a bit. "I’m not that heartless, you know?"
Even though Benjamin couldn’t safely say he liked Slater because Slater felt like a rival to him, he also wouldn’t purposely put Slater in trouble. That wasn’t how Benjamin worked, and that wasn’t how he would play.
That was plainly dirty.
anwhile, Slater breathed out and rocked his head. However, the relief he felt was short-lived because now, he needed a more believable lie. Now, he didn’t need to lie about the reason he was in the Holand Security branch office, but also why he lied.
’This is probably what I felt when I bumped into this guy,’ Slater thought, pinching the bridge of his nose briefly. ’I thought he already forgot about it after testing him and observing him.’
Slater was almost tense since this trip, knowing Benjamin could just run his mouth. However, even when they t with Mint and Benjamin found out about the "date," the guy didn’t bring up the fact that they bumped into each other on the Holand Security grounds.
Slater was almost complacent.
"Third Brother?" Benjamin called, tilting his head a little to the side. "Are you still there?"
Slater looked up at him and nodded. "Ah, right. What were you saying again?"
"I’m asking why you need to lie." Benjamin narrowed his eyes at him suspiciously. "Third Brother, you’re hiding sothing, aren’t you?"
"Hiding — what are you saying? What am I going to hide?" Slater retorted, feeling a little cornered at this questioning. "Benjamin, can you just stop asking?"
"Hmmm..."
"Just let it go, alright?" Slater ruffled his hair, his mind blank as he tried to think of any logical excuse. "I’ll treat you to so chocolates!"
"Chocolates?"
"The ones I gave you last ti!"
"Oh, that one’s nice!"
"I’ll treat you to so," Slater persuaded, forcing a smile. "Okay?"
"Okay!" Benjamin smiled.
"Goo—"
"Third Brother, do you think I’m that easily bribed?!" Before Slater could even heave a sigh of relief, Benjamin scrunched up his nose in dismay. "I’m not that easy, you know!"
"..." Slater opened and closed his mouth, and all he could say was, "How about I give you two chocolates?"
Benjamin crossed his arms underneath his chest. "How about five?"
"Five? Are you insane—" Slater almost choked as he caught himself getting riled up for being exploited. He drew a deep breath and cleared his throat, rocking his head. "Three bars; that’s it. I can’t give more."
"But didn’t you say you have unlimited access?!"
"I do, but at the sa ti, I was granted that access card because of Grandma Pierson. I have a sense of sha and don’t want to put her in a strange situation! Just what would they think of Grandma if they thought she carelessly gave an access card to a glutton? Besides, those chocolates are special, and you only eat them if you feel like it’s necessary! Don’t ruin their purpose by eating all of them in one go!"
"Well..." Benjamin frowned, puffing his cheek. "That actually makes sense."
"Benjamin, don’t be greedy. When soone gives you a cake, you don’t take their hands as well! That’s a sin!"
"..." A heavy sigh escaped Benjamin, his shoulders drooping as he felt a bit sad. "Three bars, then! But you have to answer my question first!"
"Why is it so important?"
"Because I’ll keep thinking about it!" he gasped in distress. "The more I think about it, the more curious I’ll get! Don’t you know why there are so many inventions and knowledge in the world? That is because of curiosity!"
"Gah!" Slater ruffled his hair in irritation. He had just lost his remaining supply of his favorite chocolates but still had to answer Benjamin. When he snapped his eyes to Benjamin, ready to give the latter whatever sorry excuse he had, he saw the latter squinting at him.
"What?!" Slater leaned back a bit, gulping as Benjamin walked toward him. "What — why are you suddenly looking at like that?"
Benjamin continued, stopping just a step from Slater. He sniffed hard, keeping his squinting eyes on Slater, hands behind his back.
"What?!" Flustered and a bit panicky that Benjamin had caught on, Slater jumped back a little. "Why are you sniffing at like that? Are you a pervert?"
"Third Brother, I think... I just found out what you were hiding."
"You — you did?"
Benjamin nodded, arms crossed underneath his chest. "Of course! I am Benjamin Vitt, the executive assistant of Pierson Corporation’s CEO! I am smart!"
"..." Slater gulped, not really doubtful of Benjamin’s claim. After all, Benjamin wouldn’t last this long around Zoren if Benjamin wasn’t effective in the office. "Ben, can you just... not tell anyone? Especially not my siblings?"
"Hee!" Benjamin smirked deviously. "I knew it. Behind that act... that mask..."
Slater held his breath as Benjamin trailed off, adding more suspense and distress in his heart.
Benjamin suddenly pointed at him and exclaid, "... you are actually a pretty decent guy!"
"Huh?"
"Haha! I knew it!" Benjamin laughed. "You went there to apologize to Mint, didn’t you? Well, after being rude to her, you probably realized she has so good position in Holand Security! Don’t worry! I won’t tell anyone that behind that brave front, you also apologize when you’re wrong!"
"..." Slater almost felt his heart stop, his knees shaking, eyes on Benjamin. ’I think I’m going to faint.’
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