Chapter 208 Don''t Bottle Everything Up
"Is that so?" Gerard asked, his eyebrows arching in surprise. Without his usual sses, his features softened, giving him a more congenial appearance.
Melvin maintained his usualposed demeanor. "Indeed."
"Fine," Gerard conceded with a slight nod. He added, his voice tinged with concern, "If you find yourself in a
bad moodter,e and talk to me. It''s important not to bottle everything up." "Understood," Melvin responded sinctly, his words as sparse as ever.
He didn''t stay much longer, swiftly grabbing his phone and exiting the hotel.
Gerard watched the door close behind Melvin, a knowing smile ying at the corners of his mouth.
Was Melvin under the impression he didn''t catch on to his little interrogation?
Choosing not to rise, Gerard massaged his temples, still clouded with sleepiness, and drew the nket up to
his chin, deciding to get some more rest. After all, Melvin had already taken care of his leave arrangements.
As he settled back against his pillows, his mind reyed the events of the previous night.
Though intoxicated, he wasn''t oblivious.
He distinctly remembered Melvin''s attempts to coax information from him. Normally, he would have mped up, divulging nothing.
But this was Melvin, a friend from his younger days.
Moreover, Gerard felt it wasn''t right to keep silent about Kristian and Freya''s issue. If Melvin inquired, he would share the details. Whether Melvin chose to inform Freya, however, was another matter entirely.
Kristian would have his objections, and if it came to that, Gerard was ready to face them head-on. With these worries brushed aside, he surrendered to a profound slumber.
By the time Melvin reached his office, the clock had struck eleven.
Freya had just finished her work when her eyesnded on him. "Weren''t you supposed to be off today?"
Her earlier morning had involved approving Melvin''s request for leave.
"It''s resolved now," Melvin said, his gaze locking with Freya''s,den with unspoken thoughts.
He wrestled with the thought of telling her the truth.
He might''ve made a drunken promise to Kristian not to tell Freya, but looking into her eyes now, the guilt
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made lying feel impossible.
"You seem off," Freya remarked, catching the shift in his demeanor. "If you''re still feeling the effects ofst night, perhaps you should head home and rest. You can always return tomorrow."
Melvin remained silent for a moment before addressing her formally. "Ms. Briggs." "Yes?" she responded, puzzled.
"Do you truly want to know what was discussed between Kristian and your grandpa?" Melvin asked, his expression unreadable.
"I am just curious." Freya confessed, her honesty unguarded. "Were you unable to learn anything from Gerard?"
Melvin remained tight-lipped.
Unfazed, Freya shrugged slightly. "You didn''t have to go through the trouble. I''ve been thinking, and it doesn''t
seem right to coax secrets out of Gerard just for my own curiosity."
Gerard had always shown her kindness and respect. If he''d let something slip while drunk, the me would fall squarely on him, and she couldn''t bear the thought of him suffering for something tied to her.
Melvin finally broke the silence, his voice low and conflicted. "I did get it out of him." There was no attempt to sugarcoat it-he couldn''t bring himself to lie to her face.
Freya blinked, brows lifting in mild shock. "You did?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied his face. "You seem... off. Is something bothering you?"
She couldn''t help but be curious.
Melvin, typically a paragon of efficiency and emotional control, seemed uncharacteristically hesitant now.
"After much thought, I know what Kristian discussed with your grandpa," Melvin finally said, his words. measured. "But I''ve decided not to tell you."
Normally, such a revtion might have irked Freya.
Why bring it up if he wasn''t going to share?
But this was Melvin, a steadfastpanion since the early days of Anita International Group, who had dedicated himself wholeheartedly to both thepany and her.
His sincerity was undeniable; if he chose to keep it from her, he likely had apelling reason.
"No need to, then." Freya''s voice was even, betraying no sign of agitation. "Share
it with me when you''re ready. However, if their discussion brings anyplications, I''m counting on you to help me navigate them."
"You aren''t upset with me?" Melvin''s voice wavered slightly, a rare break in his usuallyposed facade.
This marked a shift from his years of unwaveringpliance to her directives. He had braced himself for any fallout.
"Why would I be upset? You clearly have your reasons," Freya responded, her tone soothing. "And now that you''re in the know, should the need arise for me to be informed, you''ll tell me, right?"
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"Absolutely," Melvin affirmed with a nod.
He had resolved not to disclose anything until she expressed a genuine need to
know.
After all, Kristian''s actions were inconsequential, and sharing them would only burden her with needless worry
"That settles it then," Freya dered, her trust in Melvin palpable. "Take a short break before you dive back into
work."
"Will do," Melvin replied, though he had no real intention of resting
Once Freya turned her attention elsewhere, Melvin set about tackling a series of other, albeit minor, critical
tasks.
Just past midday, Melvin delivered the lunch he''d ordered for Freya.
As she was about to dig in, her phone rang. It was Gerard. She caught Melvin''s eye before she answered.
"Ms. Briggs."
"It''s me."
"Is Melvin back at the office?"
"Yes, he''s here."
A heavy silence followed her response.
Remembering that Melvin had deliberately gotten Gerard drunk to pry secrets
from him, she queried, "Is there something you need from him?"
As Melvin poured the water, his hand paused-surprise flickering across his face.
So it was Gerard on the line? "Kind of, yeah," Gerard finally replied after a moment''s hesitation.
As memories of the previous night slowly came together, Gerard suspected that Melvin had orchestrated the whole scenario to coax secrets out of him.
Yet, given Melvin''s sincere anguish over a supposed unrequited love, Gerard
found it hard to believe he had been acting.
The Melvin he knew was no skilled deceiver.
Freya observed Melvin''s sharp profile. "I''ll hand him the phone," she said, even as
a nagging thought crossed her mind about why Gerard hadn''t called Melvin directly. Could something have gone wrong between themst
night?
"No, no, it''s not him I''m searching for-it''s you, Ms. Briggs," Gerard hastily rified, chalking up his awkward blunder to the remnants ofst night''s alcohol.
Freya furrowed her brow, puzzled.
Before she could probe further, Gerard pressed on, "Might you consider easing Melvin''s workload for a bit? He''s been rather out of sortstely."
Freya''s confusion deepened. Her usual detachment wavered as she began to piece together the events of the
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previous evening What could have possibly transpired between Gerard and Melvin? Why was Gerard insinuating that Melvin was out of sorts? Could it be.....
A fleeting suspicion darted through her mind, but she shook it off just as fast. It seemed far-fetched that anything untoward could have urred between the two men over a few drinks.
"What exactly happened?" she inquired, unable to mask her concern.
"Well... he''s dealing with some love problems," Gerard admitted, struggling to
articte the precise nature of Melvin''s troubles. "If it''s possible, please lighten his workload. Should this affect his sry, I''m prepared to cover the shortfall myself. Just ensure he remains unaware of this arrangement, Gerard added, his tone
earnest.
She Took The House, The Car, And My Heart