Part 75

Antony went to the address Richard had sent him, a cafe not too far from Claire's residence.

A waitress on reception duty greeted him as he stepped into the café. "How many people is it for?" She asked kindly.

"I have an appointment with someone. Is the table reserved in the name of Richard Hampton?" She asked the waitress.

For a moment, the young girl looked at the screen in front of her and then still with a friendly smile mentioned the table number and location. Not wanting to waste much time, Antony walked towards the place the waitress had mentioned.

A young man whose age Antony guessed was not far from Gladwin and Claire was sitting with a cup of coffee in front of him. Without further ado, Antony immediately sat down in front of him.

"Mr. Hampton?" Asked the man with a frown on his forehead. Perhaps he was thinking to himself 'why does the figure of Richard in front of me bear no facial resemblance to Harry.' At least that's what Antony thought.

"Antony." Antony replied without the slightest desire to extend his hand.

"Antony?" The young man repeated. Antony nodded his head. "Who are you? Did Harry ask you to come here?" he asked again in confusion.

Antony shook his head. "No." he replied shortly. "I asked Richard, to ask Harry to make an appointment with you here." He replied matter-of-factly. "So, you're the one who's going to be set up with Claire Hampton?" Antony asked straight to the point. The man nodded his head. "I won't say much. I'll just say, cancel the match."

The young man seemed to frown at Antony's order that was clearly filled with arrogance.

"Why? I mean, why should I cancel the arranged marriage?"

Antony shrugged. "It's simple. Because you don't like each other."

Again the young man frowned. "Who said that?" he asked incredulously.

"I am." Antony replied briefly. A grin was painted on his face. "Didn't that statement just come out of my mouth? And you're going to represent me saying that to your family as well as the Hampton family later."

The young man shook his head. "That's not possible. I like Claire." The man replied firmly.

Antony grinned. It was clear that his face looked even more sinister than before. And he could see the different expression of the young man before him.

Casually, Antony leaned his back against the back of the chair. He folded his arms across his chest and looked directly at the young man.

"How old are you, young man?" he asked pretentiously.

"Twenty-eight years old." The man replied again.

Antony nodded his head. "You're the same age as my cousin, then." He muttered softly. "Have you ever watched an Indian movie?" Antony asked again.

The young man in front of him frowned deeply. Of course Antony knew that the young man was now confused by the meaning of Antony's question. 'What does this match cancellation have to do with an Indian movie?' was what Antony guessed was on the young man's mind.

"Someone suggested I do a heroic act like the ones in Indian movies. Either I act as Shah Rukh Khan who arrives unexpectedly at the wedding. Or I'm acting as some other character who will ruin your engagement party. Either way, since I'm not a fan of Indian movies, I don't want either of those to happen. I don't want any engagement, proposal or wedding between you and Claire."

"Bu-but why?" Asked the man still confused.

"Because I want Claire for myself. So does Claire. She only wants to be my wife, not another man."

The man was still looking at Antony with an uncomprehending gaze. "If you still don't want to decide on this matchmaking plan, I will act as a big boss who threatens to bankrupt your business and your family so that you will back off." Antony replied in a flat but threatening tone.

"Who are you exactly?" Asked the man again still with confusion on his face.

"Didn't I say that my name is Antony?" Antony said his name again.

"I know. I heard it earlier, and I'm not a senile person who easily forgets someone's name."

"Thank goodness for that." Antony replied curtly.

"I mean, who are you to do something like this. Ordering me to cancel my arranged marriage and even threatening to bankrupt my family business. Who the hell are you?"

Antony tilted his head. "Is your father here now?" He asked again. The young man before him frowned again. "Call him, and ask him who Antony Quirino is."

"Quirino?" The man asked again. Antony nodded his head.

"Please ask him who I am and tell him about what I just said. If he still says he will continue this arranged marriage, then I will also continue my threat." Whether the young man was afraid or needed to convince himself, he reached for the cell phone in his pants pocket and dialed someone.

Antony didn't pay much attention to him as he was more preoccupied with choosing the food he wanted to eat that night. To be honest, he was really hungry. But his desire to finish Claire's business took precedence.

"Si-Sir?" The young man in front of him said stammeringly. Antony, who was still looking at the menu in his hand, looked up at the young man. "My father wants to talk to you." He said in a more formal language.

Antony extended his hand after giving final instructions to the waitress who took down his menu. "Good Evening Mr. Grint?" He greeted whoever was on the other side.

"Si-Sir. Is this really Sir Quirino."

"That's right, sir. It's me. How are you? Healthy?" Antony asked pleasantly.

"I-I am well, sir."

"Thank goodness then. And how, did you hear what your son said?" Antony asked the middle-aged man who was nowhere to be seen, but he was sure to be in a state of agitation at the moment.

"I-I don't understand sir. How could you be there with my son? And what exactly does this have to do with my son's arranged marriage?"

Antony grinned again. Looking at the young man who was now no longer looking at him in the same disrespectful manner as before.

"Because the girl your son is going to marry is my future wife and the future mother of my children."

"Si-Sir?" said the voice on the other side nervously.

"Shall I repeat it, sir?" challenged Antony in his cold tone.

"N-no, sir. I understand. I understand." The man stammered again.

"It's good that you understand." He said again with emphasis. "And now, listen to my instructions." Said Antony who then gave some instructions to the man in the distance. "Do you understand?" Antony asked reassuringly.

"Of course, sir. I understand."

"Thank you, Mr. Grint. I'll return the cell phone to your son." He said and handed the phone back to the young man in front of him without bothering to hear the closing sentence of the man he did not know where he was.

Antony watched as the young man spoke in a low voice and made subtle nodding head movements. Before long, the phone call was ended.

"So?" asked Antony of the young man in front of him.

"We will do as you wish, sir." The young man replied nervously. Antony just nodded his head.

"I think that's enough. Thank you for understanding." She said with a smile on her face, which still looked like a terrifying grin.

The dinner he ordered finally arrived. It emitted such a tantalizing aroma that Antony could no longer hold back his hunger.

"Would you like to have dinner with me?" She offered to the young man. "I think we're both hungry." Antony continued casually. The young man shook his head quickly.

"No, sir. I happened to have dinner before coming here." He said quickly.

Antony just nodded his head in understanding. "Well then, what are you waiting for?" He asked the young man.

For a moment the young man looked back at Antony confused, before understanding what Antony meant.

"I-excuse me, sir." She said with a stammer.

Antony nodded again and waved his hand. "I'll pay for the coffee." He said flatly.

The young man just nodded his head and walked away quickly. Perhaps because of his nervousness, he almost bumped into the waitress who had just finished serving Antony's food.

While at Claire's residence.

"Are you and Flavia's father officially dating?" Abigail asked with a curious look that she didn't hide.

"What does that mean?" Claire asked her niece. The three of them were sitting on the bed with the television screen on. A Korean drama was being shown on it.

Abigail nudged Claire with her elbow. "Come on, Aunty. Don't pretend like you don't understand my question." She said in a teasing manner. Meanwhile, Flavia who was sitting to Claire's left looked at Claire expectantly.

"You're really officially dating my dad, right?" Asked the boy in a quieter voice.

"You too." Claire said to Flavia. "You kids, what do you know about dating?"

Abigail snorted. "Of course we understand Aunty. We're modern kids so no need to lie to us. Just answer honestly, you guys are officially dating right?" Claire did not answer her niece's question and chose to stare at the flat screen in front of her. "But, aunty. I clearly heard that you're going to be matched with uncle Harry's cousin-in-law." Claire's back now straightened at that question. "I happened to hear my mother talking to aunt Mary earlier. Aunty Mary's cousin is really handsome." Abigail said enthusiastically.

There was a snorting sound from Claire's left side. And she saw Flavia looking at Abigail with a frowning face.

"Abby." Rebuked the girl irritably.

"What? That's the truth. He's handsome and young too." Abigail said again. "That man is really handsome, like a Korean boy band member." She continued.

While Claire chuckled, Flavia looked sulky. "Abby, what you said is tantamount to breaking an agreement. You promised to help me make Aunty C my mom, why did you set her up with another man?" She complained irritably.

"Well, it all comes down to Aunty C's decision because she's the one getting married. If she doesn't want to marry your father, you can't force her." Abigail replied no less fiercely.

Flavia then looked at Claire with a sad face. "You really don't like my father?"

Now it was Abigail who spluttered. "That's why if you think too late, don't keep it. What type of processor does your brain use?" She said curtly.

Flavia gave Abigail a confused look. "What do you mean?" she asked again.

"If my aunt doesn't like your father, how could she want to be left alone with your father? A man and a woman together, what's the third?" Abigail asked her best friend.

"Demons?" Flavia answered hesitantly. Claire shook her head. "What then?"

"If there is a man and a woman together, the third one is date, Via." He replied with a laugh.

Flavia, who still didn't understand Abigail's words, could only remain silent while looking at Abigail uncomprehendingly. As a result, Abigail shut up on her own which made Claire chuckle.

Claire gently rubbed Flavia's head. "You're smart, Via." Claire praised. "Keep going like this, don't let your innocent brain get contaminated with Abigail's strange thoughts." She said softly and Flavia nodded.

"So, am I weird?" Abigail asked. Both Flavia and Claire nodded simultaneously. Abigail looked at her aunt with narrowed eyes. "You two are not self-aware." She said irritably which was answered with laughter by Claire and Flavia.