Clearing

Warning: Strong Words

After the action-packed show in the evening, all of us went to Robbie's office. This was my second time being here, but this time I was not alone. His strict-looking assistant Jane, Miss Sarah, and Joshua (the same chef who was proudly showing my picture with Twen to the entire kitchen staff) were all standing beside me. I had no idea that he was Miss Sarah's personal assistant as well. He had a very ugly expression on his face while Miss Sarah looked lost. Robbie was sitting with his back towards us, reading the details Jane submitted to him. Robbie turned around in his chair to face us. He had donned a very serious expression, and there was fury in his eyes,

"Since when were you working for Miss Sarah Olsen?" he asked Joshua leaning back on his high-backed office chair.

Joshua remained silent. Robbie intertwined his fingers on the table and placed his chin over it. He spoke casually, but there was something quite threatening in his tone,

"Mr. Joshua, whether you answer me or not, you are going to be fired from here anyway! So, why don't you just answer me?"

"Since I am going to be fired, it is fine if I keep shut, isn't it?" he growled.

"The crime of stalking, taking secret pictures, collecting personal information, and invading privacy is a serious offense! Did you not know that? If Tony decides to press charges, your job isn't the only thing you would lose."

Joshua looked unaffected. He gave a casual gaze towards Sarah before speaking monotonously, "What proof do you have that I have done any of the said offenses? Those could have been done by someone else, and I might have just seen the pictures on the employee site and showed it to staff. Before you report me, you have got to have some solid evidence."

This guy was clever. He did not budge at all. Robbie told me when we were heading towards his office that Joshua's confession of crime was necessary since he was too clever and he left no clues that could lead to him. Most of the clues lead to his girlfriend. It was obvious this guy was not going to admit his crimes. I looked at Robbie, who did not have any change in expression, and spoke with a shrug,

"Yeah, you are right. The evidence points to Miss Emily. Since that's the case, I guess we have to ask cops to question Miss Emily. I'm sure she will be delighted to learn that her boyfriend cheated her, persecuted her, and abandoned her to be tortured for confession." Robbie said with a sharp gaze at Joshua.

I saw Joshua's eye twitch. He balled his fist and tried hard to remain expressionless but failed. His tightened jaw and quiver in his eyes were clearly showing that he was not completely devoid of emotions towards his girlfriend.

"Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention that my dad has the footage of you bribing the waiter to add sedatives in my wine during the last board meeting. I guess it is the end of you and Miss Emily!" Robbie continued ruthlessly.

"You should know that you cannot keep me behind bars," he said with a raised eyebrow.

"And who will help you out? Miss Sarah? Or did you expect Mr. Olsen to remember your favor? You do not seem to know Mr. Olsen very well, I guess," Robbie smirked.

"I think it is you who does not know him well," he smirked back, refusing to say anymore.

Robbie looked at his stubborn face and understood that it is useless trying to get anything out of his mouth. He simply looked at Jane, who quickly made a call. Two men with frightening looks entered the room and grabbed each of Joshua's arms. Jane signaled them, and all four of them left the room. Robbie looked at Sarah, who still had a lost look on her face.

He sighed heavily, shaking his head, before asking her in the same serious tone, "Sarah, how did you know Tony's sub-gender? As far as I know, except one, there is basically no one who knows in the company."

Sarah slowly turned to look at Robbie. Her face did not have any color. She asked in a hollow tone, "I had loved you so much all these years. How could you just-"

"Who told you Tony's true identity?" Robbie interfered with some impatience.

I saw the color in Sarah's face turn that of spoiled milk before she suddenly looked back at me fiercely, "Riding on Robbie's back so that you can have such a good position. Do you whores know anything other than taking advantage of-"

"I met Robbie again a month ago," I directly cut her off, "I came to this resort after being promoted. How is Robbie even involved with my position?"

I am sick of people assuming that I simply got the position through riding on someone's back. I worked hard for it, and I won't let someone look down on it. Like always, my second gender was what all people could see. They automatically assume I have used underhanded means to achieve what I have achieved. No one ever gives me the benefit of doubt. No one ever thinks that I could have put forward my efforts. If it is an Omega in high ranks, then they have definitely gone around sleeping with the higher-ups to get a good position and if we are toiling in the lower ranks, then they would say, well, what else can you expect from an Omega?!!

Robbie suddenly started laughing. Sarah and I looked at him with incredulous eyes,

"I understand now, Tony. I finally see why you did not put your original second gender. Whether you work your ass off or not, people just never care." He chuckled, but there was a sort of melancholic undertone to it. He looked at Sarah and said blandly, "Sarah, I did not ask your opinion on how Tony reached where he did. I am asking about who told you his true gender?"

Sarah's tear-stained face suddenly cracked into a wicked smile. She spoke in a whisper, barely audible, "You will know."

Without waiting for Robbie to ask any further, she turned around and left, stomping the floor on the way out. Robbie looked at her retreating back with slight apprehension. Within a few minutes of her departure, Jane came walking in. She was still holding a cell phone in her ear and giving out instructions. Once she was done, she looked at Robbie, who spoke seriously,

"Get someone to find out who Sarah has been contacting in the last few weeks. I want every detail."

Jane blinked in slight surprise but did not say anything. Nodding, she turned and walked out, fervently dialing a number on her cell phone.

When she was out of sight, Robbie got up and closed the office door. His entire demeanor changed once the door was shut. He gave a gentle nod to me and gestured me to sit on the couch. I subconsciously sat down. After a long pause, Robbie pulled out two pristine glass cups and filled them with coffee from the coffee maker. He handed one to me and leaned on his office desk with the other cup in his hand.

"How are you doing?" he asked, softly.

I was not sure how to answer. So many things happened in a matter of 2 hours. I was still reeling under shock and desperation. I wondered about the news that spread and remembered the conversations of the parents I heard in Twen's school. Taking a few sips of the coffee, I tried to compose myself before responding.

"The news about you bein-"

"It will be removed completely. I can't have my dad on to it. If he gets wind of it, it will be very troublesome. I have informed mom to get rid of the news everywhere, and I used my own sources to remove every trace of it."

"It is already-"

"I know what you are worried about. The moment it appeared; I immediately got my people to remove it. As for the employee website, I will shut it down and open a new one. It will be strictly professional and no more such gossip. As for people talking, it will die down slowly."

I sighed. Robbie really did what he could do. I can't blame him for it. I was still worried about Mr. Walker finding out. My only hope is that he doesn't discover it. I looked up to see Robbie staring at me. Feeling a little nervous, I looked away. Without a word, Robbie walked to the small shelf at the corner of his room and brought a first aid box. He took out an ointment and walked over to me and sat on his knees, facing me. He was looking at my face intently before speaking slowly,

"I am sorry, I was too late. Sarah behaving like a shrew was not something I counted on." Robbie spoke apologetically while taking some ointment on his finger.

He slowly rubbed it on my cheek. I felt his cold fingers on my cheek and unconsciously felt hot. I wanted to stop him but ended up saying nothing. Once Robbie was done, he went back and said gently,

"Take a day off and rest. This has been hard on you. Also-" he tethered on the verge of saying something.

I looked up and saw him hesitating before turning towards his office desk, where a small fishbowl was kept. I saw a small beautiful golden fish swimming inside. He picked it up cautiously and spoke with a slight flush,

"This..-I-I wanted to g-gift it to Twen. I-I don't know what he likes. I thought that since he is generally home alone, then something to keep him company-"

Robbie's ear turned bright red. He was not good at expressing his care for someone. I stared at the fishbowl blankly. Robbie was not exactly the thoughtful type. He is a pampered rich master. Gifting someone with any thoughts was not his style. He had the attitude that as long as it is expensive, it will be liked. This was definitely a huge leap.

"You bought it for Twen?" I asked, blinking.

Robbie nodded, still very red. He handed it to me and said with slight apprehension, "I haven't met him and do not know what he likes or dislikes, so I bought him something to keep him company at home. I-I hope he likes it."

This was the first gift that Robbie bought for Twen as his father. I looked at the fishbowl in my hand and couldn't help smiling. I looked at Robbie, who was suddenly very taken in by the office floor. Though Robbie was 8 years too late, he was trying. I knew it was hard for Robbie. After all, he had lived 25 years of life without knowing how to care for others. It was a small step but a step, nonetheless. I got up to leave. Robbie did not stop me. Before I opened the door, I said softly,

"Thank you for everything and... I hope Twen likes it too."