Chapter 4 - Docile Pet

Cronous, busy as he is, is constantly thinking of Zaria. While inside his office, he keeps dozing off onto the distance outside his office window. “Sir?” his company secretary uttered for the fifth time and Cronous’ head snapped back. He sighed deeply and nodded his head. 

“Keep an eye on him, report any suspicious activities he may commit.” His voice stern, cold. 

His secretary scrunched up his nose and inhaled sharply. His serious face slowly faded and was replaced with a playful smirk. “Is it odd to say that you're acting weird today?” he muttered before sharply inhaling. 

Cronous raised an eyebrow and glared at him. “Your point is?” he asked with annoyance. 

“Come on, I'm your friend! Tell me what's new!” he answered in anticipation. The secretary, a man with brown hair and eyes, has been by Cronous’ side since college. 

“Fuck off, Luca.” Cronous sat on his chair and started checking reports piled up on his desk. 

Luca ran his fingers in his hair and walked closer. “Come on, just tell me!” Cronous shifted his eyes towards him and sighed. 

“I have a… pet,” he answered and Luca stared in disbelief. 

“A pet?” he repeated. 

Cronous nodded slowly and pursed his lips. “Yes…” he answered, sounding more like a question. 

“Why would you ever own a pet?” he questioned, again baffled with what Cronous said. 

“It's cute and docile. So far, frightened and shy but that's bound to change soon, right? Actually, it's kind of feisty too,” he answered before pushing his desk and standing up. Luca backed away, thinking he was about to reprimand him. 

“I'm leaving today,” Cronous added and his secretary’s eyes widened. With all the tasks today, he can't afford to go. 

“I'm going to tend to my cute and docile pet.” 

He grabbed his coat and rushed outside his office. “Wait–” Luca tried to argue but he was already gone. He went on the floor and screamed in annoyance. “Fuck you, Cronous!” he shouted as he laid on the office floor. 

When Cronous reached the elevator, he suddenly saw the man he despised, Clyde, along with other employees. He stepped inside and there was cold air between the two of them. Like a snake and a lion, predators are in an uncomfortable position. 

“The meeting's over, why are you still at my building?” he muttered in annoyance. 

“I'm about to leave. Why are you leaving YOUR building early?” Clyde hissed back. 

“A pet.” The elevator door opened. “A cute and docile one,” he added before stepping out. He looked back at the people in the elevator and they all looked confused, including Clyde. 

He flashed a playful smirk before walking away. 

ZARIA, staring at the television mindlessly watching a movie, was interrupted by Sebastian. “Refreshments?” He handed her a drink and she nodded her head. 

“It seemed you've been working here for a long time,” she suddenly said to spark conversation. 

“It's not that I'm calling you old—” she realized how her words sounded, and the man chuckled. 

“I've been working for the Fauler family since his father hired me. I was his father's secretary, and now his.” He looked at a far distance as if he was recalling something. 

“Well, I'm more useless now since he already hired a younger and stronger kid as the company secretary,” he said with a chuckle. 

“So you've seen him as a child?” He nodded his head. 

“Ms. Zaria, he may look like a foul beast but his heart is also frail. Remember that,” he said with a faint smile and she nodded her head slowly, acting like she actually understood. 

They both heard footsteps coming from behind. “Stop chatting with her and do what you usually do around the house.” Cronous unbuttoned his suit and tossed it to Sebastian. The man bowed and left the room. 

He walked towards the woman sitting on the sofa whom he had waited to come back to and patted her head. “I've missed you,” he uttered with raw emotions in his voice and she didn't know what to say. 

He sat down on the couch next to her and relaxed his body. “‘Cronous…” she whispered while hesitating. 

He turned towards her with both his eyebrows raised. Like a puppy ready to listen to a command. “They might start looking for me, they don't know where I am,” she said with a sigh. 

“You don't have to mind any of them, you're with me now,” he answered in a stern tone. 

She sighed again and stayed silent for a moment. “Clyde might start looking for me,” she muttered and his jaw tightened. 

Clyde. 

Clyde. 

Clyde. 

That irritating name makes his blood boil just from her saying it. Yet, he kept his composure.

“Have you met him?” she asked with mixed emotions in her eyes, her eyebrows twitching ever so slightly. 

He looked at her with his jaw clenched, his eyes staring deeply in her eyes. He smiled gently and shook his head. 

“No,” he lied. 

Zaria took his answer to heart and nodded her head. He placed his hand on hers and gently stroked it. 

They sat there in silence. 

Both of them had thoughts they wanted to say but couldn't. 

“No man, woman, or thing in this world would ever hurt you as long as you're with me.” Zaria gazed upon Cronous who was staring at her with longing eyes. She wants to answer, to reciprocate, yet no words came out of her mouth. 

She moved her hands away from him and crossed her arms together. “Thank you,” she simply replied. 

Cronous sighed, knowing her hesitance towards him. He's irritated and impatient yet he cannot force her to accept him again. “I called a doctor and dietician to nurse you back to health. Be a darling and get better,” he requested as he tucked her hair behind her ear. 

“You don't mind me watching the show with you, right?” Zaria completely forgot that the television was on and playing a movie. She nodded her head and they both sat there in close proximity, their bodies barely touching while Zaria’s head rested on his shoulder, slowly falling asleep as the movie progressed.