"Hello?"
The faint sound of sobbing and commotion came from the other end. Greynard tightened his grip on his phone.
"What? Again? Okay, okay."
The call ended. Greynard slowly slipped his phone into his pocket. His eyes swept across the room.
"Today's meeting ends here." Greynard rose abruptly. With one swift motion, he straightened his suit.
"I have to return to Indonesia immediately. Carry out all my instructions. Don't contact me unless the results are perfect. Good morning."
Everyone in the room stood as well. Not a single person dared protest. Greynard turned and strode toward the door.
Greynard's footsteps echoed through the deserted hallway leading to the private elevator. Another pair of shoes pounded after him.
"You've lost your mind, Greynard!"
Greynard didn't look back. His only goal now was the elevator button at the end of the hall.
"There are still plenty of important points we need to go over. This meeting will determine our major tender. You can't just dismiss everyone on a whim!"
Leon caught up with his friend. His handsome face was twisted with annoyance. His gray suit hung open, a complete one-eighty from Greynard's perpetually stiff and immaculate style.
"There's something far more urgent. You handle the rest. That's an order from me."
"Oh, shit! Come on, Grey, we haven't even agreed on our final offer yet. And you want to fly to Indonesia right now? You're insane."
"If I couldn't rely on you in an emergency, I wouldn't employ you, Leon."
"Damn it. You really are the most annoying boss in the world!"
Their rough banter continued. To a stranger's ears, they might have sounded like bitter enemies. In reality, that was simply how the two friends communicated. Greynard knew exactly how capable Leon was. The single man was the only person who could translate Greynard's thoughts at the negotiating table.
The steel elevator doors opened. Greynard stepped inside.
"Who was that call from? You don't usually lose your head over a single phone call."
Leon's eyes fixed intently on Greynard. The corners of his lips curved into an irritating smirk.
"None of your business."
"Was Baby Kenzo throwing a fit because he wanted a new toy? Or is this about Miss Pretty?"
Greynard's hand stopped just before pressing the elevator button. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Leon's reflection in the elevator mirror.
"Stop calling her Miss Pretty."
Leon chuckled. His teasing had hit the mark.
"Why? Is Lord Greynard jealous? Oh my God, this is huge progress. Didn't you always say she was just your child's friend? Or your late wife's friend? Or your ex? Ah, your relationship status is seriously confusing."
"Shut up, Leon."
The elevator chimed and opened on the ground floor.
"Deon."
The personal secretary waiting in the lobby bowed respectfully.
"Prepare my private jet. We're leaving in an hour."
"Yes, sir."
"Hey! You still haven't answered my question. What did Caca do this time to make you panic like that?"
Leon's shout bounced off the lobby walls. Greynard kept walking through the crowd without the slightest intention of looking back. He had only one destination now: Jakarta. He had to make sure that foolish woman was all right.
The smell of disinfectant mixed with dust filled the room. Greynard rubbed his stiff neck. A flight of more than a dozen hours without any sleep had left his eyes slightly sore.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Dedy. I owe you a great deal this time."
Dedy smiled. His hand patted Greynard's broad shoulder lightly. The forty-seven-year-old chief detective looked exhausted, but his eyes radiated warmth.
"What Glenca did still violated the law. Punching a witness in a courthouse waiting room is an outright criminal act. Even if she meant to defend her client, the law still has to run its course."
"I understand. I'll make sure this never happens again."
They walked side by side down the dim, lengthy corridor. The sound of Greynard's dress shoes dominated the nighttime silence at the police station.
"This is the third time this year she's caused a disturbance in my jurisdiction. Glenca is a smart lawyer, but her young blood runs too hot."
"She really is hardheaded."
"Greynard!"
That piercing call brought their conversation to a halt. At the end of the hallway, behind dull iron bars, a woman stood leaning against them. Her tiny hands gripped a rusty bar. Her face was smeared with runny makeup around her eyes.
"Your savior has arrived. You must be happy, huh?"
Dedy pulled a brass key from his trouser pocket and unlocked the barred door.
"Of course I'm happy. Thank you so much, handsome Officer Dedy."
Glenca winked. A wide smile spread across her slightly pale lips. Dedy could only shake his head at the shameless woman in front of him. Glenca had her own way of breaking the tension.
Glenca stepped out. Her white silk blouse was wrinkled and dirty around the sleeves. Greynard looked her over from head to toe. His jaw clenched tightly as he held back the anger boiling in his chest.
"Glenca, if you cause a mess like this and end up in a cell again, I swear I'll never help you again."
Glenca rested her left shoulder against the damp wall. She folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes met Greynard's with their familiar defiant spark.
"Is that a threat? If my memory is still working properly, you've said that deadly line dozens of times. Yet you always show up to pay my bail and help me."
Greynard closed the distance between them. The scent of his masculine cologne mixed with mint overpowered the disinfectant in the hallway. His large hand rose slowly. Glenca shut her eyes, bracing herself for a hard flick to the forehead. But the touch never came. Instead, his big hand landed gently on the crown of her head. Greynard's fingers moved through her disheveled hair, smoothing it with the utmost care.
"That's because I can never stay calm when I leave you alone. Are you happy now?"
Greynard's voice sounded terribly hoarse. The sharpness in his eyes softened. They revealed his utter exhaustion.
Glenca chuckled softly. Her white teeth stood out against her grimy face. She tilted her head and let the large hand's stroking soothe the ache that had been throbbing in her head since noon.
"You two are so perfect for each other. Why don't you just get married and make your lives more peaceful?"
Dedy's comment shattered the silence between them. Glenca immediately pulled her head away. Her face whipped toward the wall.
Greynard's eyes didn't move an inch from the side of Glenca's face. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Caca still likes to play hard to get, Mr. Dedy. She still thinks I'm a stiff, boring man. But I promise I won't back down even one step when it comes to winning her heart back."