When There Is Nothing Left But Love

He seemed to be smiling approvingly when he replied, “I thought you were going to reject me again. Great, I’ll send you the address after this. Don’t be late, or I’ll be sad.”

After hanging up the call, I tried Ashton’s number again. Finally, he answered the phone and there were some traffic noises from his end.

“Ashton, is everything okay over there?”

“I’m stuck in traffic.” Ashton sounded a little flustered. “But don’t you worry; I’ve managed to make contact with Mr. Moore. He promised that he won’t be making the trip to A City for now.”

I heaved a sigh of relief. “That’s great. Can you please take him to the hospital later? I’ll call Mom right now to let her know.”

I gave Cameron a quick update on the phone before receiving a text message with the address where I was supposed to meet Armond.

The address was not far from where I was so I decided to take a cab there.

I arrived at the address to find a cafe bistro that actually resembled more of a private residence. I almost missed the entrance until a waiter greeted me and led me inside.

Armond was already waiting for me in a private room. Dressed in a casual blue sweater, his jacket was draped over a chair next to him as the heater was turned on in the room. Upon my arrival, his lips curled up in a faint smile as he spoke, “Have a seat. Try some of the Earl Grey tea here.”

Biting my lips, I took a seat across from him as he slowly poured hot water into his tea pot. After which, he slid a tea cup in front of me and said gracefully, “Smell the aroma from the tea leaves.”

whiff. It did smell fresh and earthy. I put down

kept smiling.

relaxed manner in tea making was in direct contrast to the anxiousness I was feeling all day. Sensing he was in no hurry at all to disclose his real intention, I finally broke the silence,

life in pursuit of enjoying the quality of the finer things. If you think that I’m wasting your time, the exit is that way,” the man

not leave just yet, not before I got

the tea cup and downed the drink in one big gulp. His condescending voice rang in front of me as I did so, “You ought to savour good tea in small sips, not downing

up in the

the man poured another cup of tea from his pot and

the tea between big gulps and small

finally satisfied with the show I put on.

heaved a sigh of relief and

the last of his tea elegantly

a

rage in my chest. “You already know that I’m a married woman. I can offer you money if that’s what

let out an unsettling chortle as he replied, “This bargaining chip is quite attractive indeed. However, that

that I had come all the way here for