62.

VINCENT'S POV. "What exactly do you want to talk about?" Benny asked a straight to the point question. He couldn't help the possibilities and bad suggestions that suddenly swirled in his brain after hearing Robert's words. Robert, who was sitting in his chair, tapped his index finger repeatedly. On the other hand, Robert had deliberately given a long pause so that Benny could feel his frustration for a long time. "I just wanted to say hello to you, Benny. I don't know why I can't stop thinking about our meeting at the restaurant two days ago. I don't know how hard it is to forget our conversation back then," Robert said casually. Benny snorted and looked away. He was too lazy to remember the meeting between him, Robert, and Asleena at the restaurant a few days ago. Moreover, there was a conversation that took place between them. "What you're talking about is so unimportant, Robert. I don't have time if all I end up hearing is you saying you're going to take Asleena away from me," Benny said casually but he felt uneasy. Robert nodded his head even though Benny couldn't see his reaction. He was somewhat amused that Benny had given him a warning before he even said what he wanted to say. "No, I didn't. I didn't want to say that. You must have known what I wanted to do after I told you that I didn't stop approaching Asleena a few days ago. Right?" Benny didn't answer. He just stayed silent with a lazy expression on his face, waiting for what Robert really wanted to say. Benny hoped Robert didn't irritate him with this phone call. "I called you because I just wanted to say hello. I need to see how you're doing before you're about to face something you've never predicted before." Robert continued. Benny furrowed his brows. His uncomfortable feeling suddenly became even more uncomfortable after Robert's words. Benny didn't know why Robert said such a mysterious sentence. "What do you mean?" Benny asked in a firm tone. "Hey, Robert. If you intend to do something that makes me waste my time, you'd better postpone it." Robert immediately curled the corners of his lips down at Benny's words. Actually, Robert didn't mean to intimidate Benny too much with his words. But Benny seemed to feel a bit disturbed by Robert's presence. "Oh my. I didn't expect you to threaten me like that," Robert replied with a chuckle. "Take it easy, Benny. You don't want to threaten me like that. I didn't intend to upset you either." "Then what do you mean by saying I'm about to face something? As if I should be prepared," Benny said in exasperation. Robert sighed heavily. "What I mean is... I want to bring you together with someone who will be very interesting to you. Not interesting in the context of your feelings for him, but interesting in the context that you will be challenged after meeting you." Benny snorted and laughed sarcastically when he heard Robert's words. "What kind of person is that," Benny snapped in a mocking tone. "I didn't expect your words to sound so childish. Nothing catches my attention, unless it has to do with Asleena." "Too bad..." Robert sighed softly. "Asleena will face me instead when you meet this mysterious person." Benny who had been arching a sardonic smile suddenly faded his smile. Hearing Robert mention Asleena's name in such a sentence made Benny feel that something was wrong. Benny felt that Robert was planning something evil for Asleena. "If what you mean is that you're planning to do something to separate me and Asleena-" "Hey, that's not what I mean," Robert replied, cutting Benny off quickly. "You seem to be very defensive when it comes to Asleena, Benny." "I've already said I'm only interested if the thing in question is related to Asleena. Including if you intend to mess with Asleena, I also feel interested in using my abilities to prevent you," Benny said with emphasis. Robert furrowed his brow with an amused smile. The more Benny became defensive like that, the more Robert felt a sense of satisfaction. "No, Benny. I couldn't have done anything to Asleena. All I did was get Asleena's attention," Robert replied without feeling guilty. Benny clenched his hands involuntarily. He was both disgusted and irritated by Robert's words. "I won't let you do that either," Benny said. Robert didn't care what Benny said. Robert took a deep breath, then let it out. He raised his head and leaned back while slightly rocking the chair to the left and right. "I wonder why you feel so intimidated, Benny. You should be able to keep your cool if you believe Asleena won't change her feelings for me that easily," Robert replied with a short, small mocking laugh at the end of his sentence. "I don't feel intimidated by you, Robert. I just don't want to waste my and Asleena's time dealing with people like you again," Benny replied firmly. Robert immediately sounded surprised. "Face again?" Robert quoted Benny as saying. "Oh, my God. Did you ever face someone like me, who wanted to keep you away from Asleena, before I came along? Jesus, Benny. You should have told me." Benny who was already very upset finally didn't want to care about anything. The sound of his voice was quite loud as a sign that he was sick of replying to Robert's words. "Never mind, I'm not going to listen to anything you say," Benny said in a disgusted tone to Robert. "I think it's better if we turn off the phone call now-" "Wait a minute, Benny. Hey, I'm not done talking to you yet," Robert said, again restraining Benny's movement. "What I said earlier was just an introductory sentence. I haven't told you the gist of the conversation yet." Benny sighed heavily at those words. "What else did you want to say? I know you're stalling on purpose, Robert. Don't mess with me," Benny said for the umpteenth time. "I actually wanted to remind you of an incident that happened once," Robert said, starting the main conversation. "I just came across a news article about a woman who was exposed for an invasion of privacy. Do you still remember that incident?" Benny instantly faded his previously annoyed expression. For a split second his body tensed up with a stunned look ahead. When Robert mentioned the incident, his brain suddenly conjured up images of Bella. "Then, I wonder why you acted like that towards your ex-lover. Shouldn't you understand that she just wanted to settle things between the two of you?" Robert asked deliberately without feeling guilty. Benny laughed sarcastically as soon as Robert asked him that question. He didn't know where Robert had found the news article. Also, it was somehow ridiculous to Benny when Robert questioned something he didn't understand. "Hey, you don't understand anything," Benny retorted later amidst his cynical laughter. "I have no business being in a relationship with another woman. That's why I don't bother with things that aren't important." "Gosh, you're so cruel. It seems like you didn't listen to how she felt first. If you had, he might not have done something to harm you and Asleena," Robert retorted. "Why should I listen to his feelings?" "It's just so that you and Asleena don't get any unpleasant actions like that, Benny. I don't really care about your condition, but I can't bear for Asleena to be subjected to such unpleasant treatment," Robert said at length. Benny raised his eyebrows, sensing that Robert had an implied meaning behind his words. That's what made his curiosity suddenly arise. "I don't know why you're suddenly saying things about past events, as if you know what happened back then," Benny said. "Do you know the woman in the case very well?" "No, I don't. I don't know her. It was Asleena I was defending anyway. I don't want Asleena to be uncomfortable with you, Benny," Robert replied. "Do we have to check with Asleena directly, whether she is comfortable or not?" Benny asked, deliberately baiting Robert. Robert mumbled for a long moment. "No, no. I can already feel it. You should be able to realize it too, Benny. Are you really someone who loves her?" he asked, deliberately starting a provocation. "What?" Benny felt a little offended. "I mean, can you still guarantee Asleena's comfort while being with you? You know, you still have unfinished business with that woman. But since you're already in a relationship with Asleena, what if that woman comes back and keeps Asleena living in discomfort?" "What a silly question," Benny replied, laughing at Robert. "I will take care of Asleena. No matter what happens and no matter how things turn out."