63.

VINCENT'S POV. "How will you look after Asleena, Benny? Are you sure she'll be safe with you, huh?" Robert asked the question with a dismissive laugh. Hearing Robert's question made Benny feel irritated. Actually, Benny didn't really want to continue this phone conversation with Robert. But since Robert had been belittling him, Benny felt very curious. What did Robert want to tell him? "I don't know why you're asking me something like that. But I'm warning you once again, I can make sure that Asleena is safe with me. It's better than Asleena having to be with you," Benny said, implying firmness in his words. Robert let out a long sigh. His voice sounded like someone who was disgusted and fed up with Benny's words. He deliberately showed Benny that he didn't take his word for it. "Benny, maybe now you feel you can make sure Asleena is safe with you. You feel you can take care of her. But what happened in the case of your former lover who was exposed as committing an act of invasion of privacy? Did you protect Asleena during that time?" Robert offended Benny once again. "I did not manage to fully protect Asleena before my ex-lover committed his act. Luckily, my ex-lover's actions were exposed because of my efforts with Asleena who worked so hard to find evidence. So what about you, where were you every time Asleena got into trouble?" The mocking smile on Robert's face aimed at Benny gradually faded. Hearing Benny's question instantly made his mouth seem locked for a moment. Robert couldn't answer because his memory replayed all his mistakes to Asleena, including when he left her. Robert knew Asleena must have gone through so much hardship after he left her. But Robert couldn't help, not even by Asleena's side during that time. All Robert did was pursue his work career. "Why are you suddenly silent?" Benny asked, snapping Robert out of his reverie. Robert was somewhat jolted out of his own reverie. On the other hand Robert felt that his pride was somewhat scratched because of Benny's question. "I did make a mistake, but those days are behind me. I also didn't leave Asleena because I had an affair or got engaged to another woman. During that time, I improved my work career so that I could come back to Asleena with a new me," Robert replied. Benny secretly smiled with amusement at Robert's words. He held back his laughter so he wouldn't hear Robert, and he tried to remain calm. "All right. I don't really care why you left Asleena. All I'm saying is, if you feel that Asleena is safer with you, I suggest you remember those moments where you always let Asleena get into trouble because you left her," Benny warned. "You say that because you haven't faced any problems yet, Benny. What if you end up facing a bigger problem than the last one? I'm not sure you can still protect Asleena." The smile that curved Benny's face gradually faded after hearing Robert's words. Benny felt something was off when Robert said that. Benny was sure that Robert had implied something unknown but important in his words earlier. "Are you saying that because you've made plans to do something about me and Asleena?" Benny asked matter-of-factly, feeling a strong need to know. "Jesus, Benny," Robert replied in a tone of shock. "I didn't expect you to accuse me of that. I was trying to make a good faith effort to remind you that we don't know what will happen in the future." "Ah, I'm so sick of the innocence of your words," Benny retorted. "Don't try to mess with me, Robert. Even though we've only met twice, I can read your character that you'll do anything to get what you want." Robert arched an interested smile after Benny said that. Robert did not feel offended at all when Benny said that about his character. He nodded his head with a dismissive expression on his face. "Let's just say it's true, Benny. I don't want to argue too much because you are the character of someone who doesn't want to be outdone," Robert replied, including a small, mocking chuckle at the end of his sentence. "If you weren't someone Asleena cared about, I might be able to do more than you think," Robert continued. Benny let out a long sigh as his shoulders slumped limply. Robert's words did nothing to intimidate him. Benny remained calm in his seat. "Don't try to threaten me either, Robert. I can't be sure what the future holds, but I can be sure that Asleena will be safe with me," Benny replied. "Because I will go above and beyond to protect Asleena. If something happens, no matter what, I'll still put out my best effort for Asleena," Benny continued in a confident tone. Benny's words certainly caught Robert's attention. Just from his tone of voice, Robert could tell there was a strong determination in Benny. Robert curved a smile wider and wider as his adrenaline rush against Benny grew. "Interesting," Robert commented with a chuckle. "Are you a born protector of Asleena?" "You've been saying about me not being able to protect Asleena, do you want to do-" "Of course not. Are you accusing me of doing harm to Asleena? I wouldn't have the heart," Robert retorted, cutting Benny off. "Maybe I'll just make you realize that you can't protect Asleena completely. You do have power, Benny, because you're the CEO of the biggest company. But there are things that are beyond your reach, beyond your ability." Benny was increasingly convinced that Robert was secretly planning something. As Robert said those last words, Benny felt increasingly uncomfortable. Benny's gut suddenly twisted all the worst possibilities that could happen. Benny stayed still for a long time while tapping his index finger repeatedly. Benny was instantly worried that something would happen to Asleena. He couldn't think of what would happen if Asleena had to face something as tough as what happened a while ago. "If I hadn't told you this, maybe you wouldn't have been so wary and thought everything was safe," Robert said amidst the silence between the two of them. "You're wrong. I'm still wary of something, and it's you, Robert." Benny emphasized the end of his sentence. "If you're telling me how I'm going to protect Asleena, maybe one of them is watching you, Robert. I know you're up to something." Robert smiled wryly, then his smile broke into a sly grin. He felt even more challenged by Benny's words. "Try to find out, Benny," Robert replied. Before Benny could say anything, Robert switched off the call. That left Benny who was a bit surprised as he heard the disconnected tone of the call. Benny moved the phone screen away from his ear and looked at the phone screen. It had changed to the phone's home screen. As he looked at his phone screen, Benny thought back to everything Robert had said when they were talking earlier. He put the phone down on the table with his mind still imagining the worst possibilities of what Robert had said. "I don't understand the meaning of Robert's last sentence," Benny said in the middle of trying to think. For Benny, who was used to dealing with various human characters, he felt there was an implied meaning in Robert's last words. During his silence, Benny tried to think of what he should find out. Also, why did Robert tell him to find out something he didn't know? "What's wrong with Robert?" Benny asked himself. Benny let out a rough sigh while shaking his head. Thinking about Robert who had never been clear made Benny uneasy. His head was dizzy now. Benny had just straightened his sitting position and wanted to continue working. But his eyes accidentally saw a pop up notification of a message appearing from the top of his cell phone. Benny's eyebrows furrowed when he read the same phone number as Robert's. Benny read the message displayed on the phone screen. [Do you want to meet me?] Let's talk alone. I'll send you the address of a cafe you can go to] "What is this?" Benny asked himself, feeling confused. "Why is she suddenly asking me to meet?" Robert's message was ambiguous. Benny didn't understand what Robert meant by asking him to meet face-to-face and talk. Soon Benny read another message sent by Robert. There was an address sent to his cell phone. This made Benny lean his sitting position closer to the cell phone. Benny looked at the address for a few seconds with a look of surprise and wonder. "Wait. He really wants to meet me?" Benny asked with a dumbfounded expression and tone of voice. Benny straightened his seat again, still with his brow furrowed in confusion. In his brain were all the possible reasons why Robert wanted to meet and talk to him. "I have a very uncomfortable feeling about this," Benny said in a low voice.