SPECIAL Pt.5: 30: Person Behind The Mask

"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day

When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May…"

At the Saison-Monsour residence, the very melodic voice of a man, filled with love and gratefulness, started echoing first thing in the morning. The kitchen filled with his musicality as he prepared a delicious full English breakfast that his wife loved with her black coffee.

"I guess you'll say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl (my girl, my girl)

Talking 'bout my girl (my girl)

I've got so much honey, the bees envy me

I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees…" Vincencio sang the song My Girl by Temptation as all the ingredients were set up and began doing his magic.

Vincencio moved around the kitchen like a true master chef. He easily cooked their breakfast; however, there was something different in how he moved. He moved flawlessly and danced to the beat, loving the song's rhythm, feeling it.

"I don't need no money, fortune, or fame, oh no

'Cause I got all the riches, baby

One man can claim

Well, I guess you say

What can make Stevie feel this way?

My girl (my girl, my girl)

Talking 'bout my girl…" He kept singing his heart out, dancing and cooking, when Vincencio sensed a pair of loving eyes fixated on how he moved in his kitchen. "Love what you see?"

"Pretty much," Skylar responded lovingly and pecked his lips.

"Hope you'll not be exhausted watching me dance in the kitchen." Vincencio winked while adding a little touch to his home-cooked meal.

"Me tired? Of this?" She scoffed, eyeing her husband from head to toe before grinning, "No way. I'd rather watch my husband cook for me lovingly."

"Sweet. Prepare the table. I'll be done in a few." He chuckled, ignoring the fact his chest was sending warmth throughout his body before asking, "What time will you be heading to the office?"

"Maybe after this. I've got a meeting at ten, and you better eat lunch with me today." She answered as she checked her phone for her schedule today.

"Sorry, wifey. I have to check Gregory's resort and…" He declined the invitation, making Skylar frown.

"No way. I'm coming." She decided firmly, making Vincencio fake his gasp.

"Did I hear you right?" he asked for assurance. Skylar glared at him this time.

"Yeah, you heard me. I'm coming. I don't want Monica's presence to lurk around you." Skylar answered firmly while glaring, making Vincencio chuckle. Then she added, "Well, rephrase that; any woman or man lurks around you more than a business deal."

"Well, what can I do? Your husband is quite a catch." He teased arrogantly, making Skylar throw her crumpled tissue at his face.

"And because of it, I have to be on guard and secure nobody dares to touch or look at you." With stern conviction, Skylar said before eating her warm breakfast, making Vincencio laugh amusingly.

"I love your possessive side," he admitted as he looked lovingly at her. To Vincencio, his wife was the only one for him after giving up searching for someone who would love him completely, nothing like his past. "I hope you'll still love me like this, Skylar, once you learn them."

"You know I do. So, you better be doing the same." She said, rolling her eyes like she was giving him a warning.

"Indeed I do." He chuckled, dismissing the topic, and enjoyed the rest of their warm breakfast.

***

The morning commitment went by in a rush as Vincencio spoke with Gregory about any adjustments as their project was ongoing. But during their chat, Vincencio noticed his wife's unreadable expression of possessive annoyance whenever Monica, Gregory's wife, gave him flirty comments, looks, or attempts to touch him. Skylar either slapped Monica's hand or yanked the woman entirely away from her husband. Vincencio found it amusing.

"Gregory, please save me from killing your wife on the spot if she won't stop fooling around with what's mine." With gritted teeth, Skylar groaned annoyingly, making the men chuckle in amusement.

"Oh please, like you didn't like being annoyed," Monica provoked, making Skylar grimly glare at her.

"Don't try me. I might forget whose wife you are." Skylar coldly refuted, making Vincencio kiss her head and giggle.

"Wifey, you're hot. So calm down, I might book a room here." Vincencio daringly whispered, making Skylar red, and the next thing he felt was a pinch on his side before giggling. "WIFEY!"

"Tease me more, or I'll do it myself." Skylar refuted challengingly, making Vincencio gulp since he was not ready to take her all in. Not with the heavy secret behind him.

"Oh! Wrong joke. Sorry." He skeptically apologized before quickly looking away and focusing on the subject matter.

"Thought so," Skylar whispered, and he heard them, making him smile.

Their chats and checking around the resort for a few updates and adjustments finally ended around the afternoon. It was a fun discussion due to Skylar's possessive side that kept Vincencio fascinated. However, on their way back, Vincencio's phone received a message.

Text Message:

MGHSec.: Sir, it's here.

"Who is it?" Skylar asked although her eyes were glued on her work tablet, making Vincencio tuck his phone back in his pocket.

"My friend. He informed me about a package from our boss before. He wanted me to check it out." Vincencio answered, hoping she would understand.

"Your boss from your previous work?" she wondered while reading a file on her work tablet, making him nod. Skylar glanced at him before asking, "Want me to drop you by?"

"Just around the SR Night Pub. If that's okay with you?" he answered shyly, making Skylar giggle and pinch his cheek slightly.

"Sure. What time will you be home?" Skylar wondered as she glanced over at Joey, making their drive head to the pub.

"Not sure since I'm his drinking buddy too." He shyly answered while looking away.

"Why shy? I'm not going to eat you, Hubby, unless you beg for it." Skylar chuckled teasingly, making him blush before leaving him a warning. "Don't drink too much. I don't want anyone taking advantage of what belongs to me."

"Yes, ma'am." He grinned like a kid until their car stopped. Vincencio kissed her cheek before leaving. "See you later, I love you."

***

The noises from seagulls, cargo ships, and transferring containers echoed throughout the port and began fading when the black-tainted sedan entered a certain warehouse. The enormous warehouse was used for security measures for the huge packages from the MG clients, and Night Hound emerged from the car. He waltzed with authority and checked the newly arrived package at the isolated spot in the same warehouse.

"Hm, it smelled of medicine, but it contained blood. Interesting," Night Hound thought as he carefully inspected the package like a hunting hound before commanding his men. "Prepare for a clear inspection and secure a spot on Friday's shipment. It's a red cargo. So, please be careful with it."

"Yes, boss." His men answered, carefully transferring the new package for further inspection and securing it to its well-secured container.

"Good, I'll be in my office." He coldly excused himself but left a reminder. "I'll be watching."

Inside his plain office, Night Hound grabbed his sweetened frappe coffee from the fridge and looked at the port's view. He was relaxing when he heard footsteps coming to his office, and a knock happened, revealing Lesley.

"Boss, the same client on the red line," Lesley informed him. Night Hound looked at the red blinking button on his telephone before sipping his frappe.

"Okay, I'll take it from here." Night Hound responded and picked up the call, making Lesley leave. "Good evening, this is Midnight Guardians, Night Hound. What can I do for you, Sir Master?"

'I wonder if my cargo is on your list for tonight's shipment?'

"It isn't, Sir Master. Your cargo has arrived, and we're evaluating the cargo for safety and to ensure the item inside is fully secured and not imitated or stolen. Don't worry, sir, your shipment is on schedule for this Friday's shipment. But changing the queuing time is impossible if this is the meaning of your call, sir." The MG Boss, the Night Hound, answered the person on the other line firmly with his eyes sternly watching everything in his port like a hawk.

'I didn't call for a change of queuing time, but I like your update. I called because I want to make sure my cargo will arrive at its destination on time. It can't be a delay, Night Hound.'

"It won't happen. I already assigned two of my trusted men to join the security, but off the record," he responded, but his curiosity about the special cargo, he asked. "…can I know how serious this cargo is since you asked for tight security?"

'As an old friend, it's about a special medical blood from Ciel Nocturne, and you know how serious it will be when it goes into the wrong hands.'

"I understand now. Is she taking it?" he sighed knowingly at how serious their cargo was.

'She demanded it.'

"Then, it means something serious occurred in Singarti for her to demand it from her cousins." He guessed coldly, to which the man on the other line agreed.

'Exactly, so don't fail this shipment. She needed it in pronto.'

"I always hold on my end." He grinned grimly until the man reminded him about something that seriously mattered.

'Good. But aren't you supposed to be home at this hour? It's late in case you didn't notice.'

"HOLY SHIT!" He exclaimed as soon as his eyes landed on the wall clock of his office, making the man laugh on the other line.

'Good luck facing her temper.'

"DON'T REMIND ME!" He roared as he hurried out of the office port and quickly drove his car.

***

The ruthless boss of the Midnight Guardian acted differently as soon as he saw the clock. He is supposed to be the intimidating, firm, and fearsome boss, but now, he's different. He was horrified over something. He drove his car over his speed limit while praying.

"Please, let me make it on time." He prayed under his gritted teeth while driving recklessly until he reached their block.

With a loud screeching sound from his car, he parked in the driveway, not even caring if it was parked correctly or not. However, his hurried pace suddenly came to a halt when he noticed his attire and his mask.

"Dammit, I almost forgot it." He clicked his tongue and removed his attire from his coat, vest, and mask. He even messed his hair again and got out of the car, revealing the project design manager and the house husband of the CEO, Vincencio.

Vincencio hurried inside the house, not caring about his erratic heartbeat, drumming hard against his chest, but inside the house, he was luckily greeted by silence. Carefully, he put his car keys on the side table in the foyer and removed his shoes before opening the lights in the living area. He cautiously checked, and it was clear, making him sigh in relief. He confirmed that he was alone in the house.

"Thanks, I made it on time," Vincencio mumbled gratefully while putting his slippers on when a presence suddenly appeared behind him.

"What are you doing?"

Vincencio almost jumped upon hearing a questioning voice behind him, and it was too late to realize who it was. With his defensive reflex released, Vincencio's back punch landed perfectly on Skylar, who managed to block it easily.

"HOLY SHIT! WIFEY!" Vincencio exclaimed surprisingly when he realized it was his wife.

"You've got reflexes," Skylar commented amusingly.

"Are you alright? Did I hurt you?" He asked worriedly while checking her face, making Skylar peck his lips and smile.

"I'm okay, and I see you came home late too." She responded while checking him openly from head to toe, making Vincencio panic internally before coming up with something.

"Well, my friend asked the boys for a night out, so yeah…" He made up an excuse while scratching his nape shyly.

"I see…" Skylar nodded and walked past him, making Vincencio feel relieved until Skylar followed up with a question. "Did you smoke?"

"A little." Vincencio stiffened a little and admitted shyly, making Skylar nod.

"That's new," she commented as she walked further into the house and wondered. "So, what should we eat for dinner?"

"I'll prepare something, so go ahead and clean up." He responded quickly and stole a kiss before heading to the kitchen. He avoided the potential interrogation his wife might unleash if he stayed there. "That was a close call."

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