Chapter 3
“Matt… you’re… you’re looking at a woman?” Quentin sputtered in disbelief.
Matthew shot him a sidelong glance, then abruptly nudged him away with his foot. He’d always had an aversion to proximity due to his almost obsessive cleanliness.
“Hey! What was that for?” Quentin protested with a look of exaggerated grievance.
“Why are you here?” Matthew asked coldly.
Quentin rubbed his leg, flashing a mischievous grin. “Come on, at least tell me who she is.”
“It’s none of your concern.”
“We’re friends! Can’t I care about you?” Quentin pressed on.
“Get lost if you have nothing better to say,” said Matthew as he put down the file and got to work.
“Wow, Matt, never thought you had a thing for an age gap. Didn’t take you for a cradle-snatcher,” Quentin teased, recalling the photo he’d glimpsed in the file.
“Not everyone is as shameless as you,” Matthew retorted evenly.
Quentin scratched his nose awkwardly and said matter-of-factly, “That you don’t understand. As a man, what’s life without women?”
Matthew snorted. “Your heart’s as big as your ego.”
Quentin winced at the jab. “Can’t you play along nicely?”
“Go play with your women.”
“But I want to play with you.”
“I’m not free,” Matthew rejected without a second thought.
Quentin pursed his lips, feeling helpless.
“Why are you still here?”
Quentin was irked by Matthew’s continuous dismissal. He had come out of genuine concern, yet this was the attitude he got in return!
“Forget it. I came here on business,” he said solemnly.
Matthew set down his pen and finally looked up. “What is it?”
“Who attacked you last night? Any leads?”
“It was Black Hawk. They’re overestimating themselves,” Matthew answered with a cold chuckle. Though his golden mask obscured his expression, the bloodthirsty glint in his eyes was unmistakable.
“Black Hawk? They must be tired of living. Who gave them the nerve to cross you?” Quentin’s voice carried a simmering anger, and a terrifying scowl morphed on his face.
“They wanted the shipment. But their appetite doesn’t match their ambition.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“Anyone who dares to cross me will pay the price,” Matthew said fiercely. The mask on his face only heightened his air of sinister arrogance.
“Don’t worry, I’ll have someone take care of it,” Quentin assured him. Dealing with small fry like Black Hawk hardly required his personal involvement.
Matthew nodded, redirecting his attention back to work.
“You can leave now,” he said without looking up.
Quentin wondered how he’d ended up befriending someone as stoic and unfriendly as Matthew. He complained, “Use me, then toss me aside. Typical.”
“You came uninvited,” Matthew replied flatly.
“I…” Quentin was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Close the door on your way out,” Matthew added.
With a dramatic huff, Quentin turned to leave. “Fine, I’m going!”
But after taking just two steps forward, he paused and turned back with a teasing look. He asked curiously, “By the way, who was that… young lady you were looking at?”
He had wanted to say “woman”, but the person in the photo seemed too young.
“You seem free. I hear Andrew’s been stationed in Nuvelo for three months now. Perhaps it’s time someone joined him—”
“I forgot I’ve got pressing matters to attend to. See you later!” Quentin cut him off and bolted out the door.
How could he forget? Just because Andrew Blaire had misspoken once, Matthew had sent him straight to Nuvelo—a godforsaken place unfit for anyone, especially not Quentin.
Matthew watched him flee and shook his head before returning to his work.
…
Quentin rushed outside and immediately spotted Kai approaching, a stack of documents in his hands. Without a word, he grabbed Kai and pulled him close, his eyes locked onto him.
“Mr. Murphy, if you stare at me like that, I might think you have feelings for me,” Kai deadpanned.
“Piss off.” Quentin shoved him away, and Kai let out an amused laugh.
“Kai, I’ve discovered something interesting.” Quentin crossed his arms, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
“What is it?”
“I just caught Matt looking at a photo of a young lady, and he actually smiled. But… she’s way too young,” Quentin said, his tone dripping with intrigue.
“That’s Mr. Yorke’s private matter. I have no place to interfere,” Kai replied firmly.
Quentin smacked Kai on the head and chided, “You idiot. Your boss has been abstinent for 26 years. It’s about time he changed things up.”
Kai’s expression darkened instantly. He hated when people hit him on the head. His voice turned cold as he said, “Mr. Murphy, since you seem to have some free time, why don’t we spar a little?”
Quentin instantly backed away, shaking his head furiously. “No!”
He had never won against Kai in a fight and always ended up beaten into a pulp.
Although Kai was Matthew’s subordinate, the three of them had been through thick and thin together and had become close friends. Thus, they would often train and spar together.
Just then, Kai’s phone rang.
“Uh-oh,” he muttered, his face tightening as he answered the call. “Yes, Mr. Yorke.”
“Did you die on your way here?” Matthew’s sharp voice boomed.
“No, Mr. Murphy stopped me,” Kai answered honestly.
Quentin’s face fell.
“Kai, tell Mr. Murphy he’ll be taking over for Andrew tomorrow,” Matthew said curtly before hanging up.
Kai put his phone away and looked at Quentin with an unreadable smile.
Quentin felt a sense of foreboding creeping over him.
“Mr. Murphy,” Kai began, his voice brimming with glee, “Mr. Yorke has instructed that you’re to take over Andrew’s position starting tomorrow.”
Quentin felt like he’d been struck by lightning.
“I’m not going!” he shouted and moved to search for Matthew.
“If you don’t mind staying away for a year, then go right ahead and bother Mr. Yorke. You know how much he hates people wasting his time, and yet you’re still holding me up,” Kai said with a smirk.
