45. His First Madness

"What did Justin say in front of your coworkers?" Hugo threw the question at Arleena as soon as he arrived in front of the woman. Arleena froze without being able to say anything as soon as she heard Hugo's question. Arleena didn't know how Hugo had found out about Justin's arrival at the meeting with her coworkers. Arleena had not told Hugo at all. "What did you say?" asked Arleena with a joking laugh. Her laughter also sounded a bit awkward, she was forced to lie so as not to provoke Hugo's greater concern. Hugo flinched for a split second with a very serious look at Arleena. Hugo deliberately did not say anything to be able to create an intimidating aura between the two of them. An hour before Arleena arrived, Hugo received news from Katherine that Justin came and told him about the baby they were both taking care of. But unfortunately Justin said about the baby as a child born outside of marriage. Hugo knew everything. But Hugo wanted to hear the explanation directly from Arleena. "Answer me honestly, Arleena. I know everything," Hugo replied, his tone sounding very serious. His eyes looked directly into Arleena's eyes, as if to warn her that he was being very serious. "I just want to hear your honest explanation to me. If you still want to cover up what happened to you just moments ago, I have valid information." Arleena's goosebumps instantly bristled when she heard Hugo speak so seriously. Arleena didn't want Hugo to know about Justin's arrival. In all the years they had known each other as best friends since childhood, Arleena knew that if the look in Hugo's eyes was serious, it meant that Hugo was giving a warning. Arleena became awkward and indecisive at the same time. She didn't want to tell him about what Justin had said during the meeting with his coworkers. But she knew that Hugo really knew about everything that happened. So, it was useless if Arleena wanted to lie. "Hugo, don't be too serious," Arleena replied in a low tone. The expression on her face was a little shrunken from dealing with Hugo who was giving his seriousness to Arleena. "I can't answer if I see your expression like that." Hugo let out a long sigh as he averted his eyes. His hands were placed on his waist. For a split second, Hugo tried to calm his annoyance without looking at Arleena. Actually, he was not upset with Arleena. He was upset at the thought of Justin, that bastard, humiliating Arleena in front of everyone. "I'm fine, Hugo. There's nothing to worry about," Arleena replied, waving her hands and laughing awkwardly. She tried to keep Hugo from acting too uptight. Hugo's gaze turned back to Arleena. Hugo didn't say anything for a few seconds as he tried to fade away the intimidating aura he gave Arleena. "I don't know why you won't tell me the truth," Hugo replied, already sounding calmer than before. Arleena looked around, noticing that the lobby of Hugo's company was bustling with people. Arleena was a little worried if any of those people were privy to their conversation. Since last night, Arleena had not come to Hugo's apartment and brought the baby she was caring for to Gabriel's apartment. Arleena deliberately wanted to separate herself from Hugo first after the dinner meeting with her coworkers. Luckily, Hugo was busy working overtime last night when Arleena took the baby they were caring for at Arleena's parents' place. Hugo didn't know that Arleena deliberately went to Gabriel's apartment so he searched all night for her. Hugo just got word from Arleena that she was coming to his company building. Arleena deliberately took time off work so she could meet Hugo earlier. "There are employees of your company. Don't talk about it here," Arleena replied. "Wouldn't it be better if we talked in your office? Let's go there now." Arleena's words made Hugo look around. Hugo abandoned his intention to listen to Arleena's explanation in more detail. Because he didn't want Arleena to feel uncomfortable, Hugo finally complied with the woman's request. Hugo took Arleena's hand as he led her towards the company's CEO-only lane. The two of them walked hand in hand to the company's CEO-only elevator. While in the elevator, Hugo tried to calm himself down. Because there was no one in this elevator, the atmosphere between Arleena and Hugo had become awkward for a moment. Arleena was a bit clumsy so she glanced at Hugo several times who was still silent with his eyes straight ahead. Arleena didn't know what to say, even though at that moment her hand was still held by Hugo. At that moment Arleena felt that the moment was right so she could throw her question to Hugo. But on the other hand, Arleena's tongue seemed to be paralyzed to make a sound. Every time Arleena wanted to open her mouth to speak, her mouth closed again. This went on for five times, before Arleena finally snorted in annoyance. The sound of Arleena's snort was heard in Hugo's ears. With an expression that radiated confusion, Hugo looked at Arleena who looked irritated. Hugo knew that Arleena felt awkward about the situation between the two of them. Finally Hugo returned his gaze to the front and cleared his throat so that the silent atmosphere in the middle of them subsided. "Do you have something to say?" asked Hugo. Arleena looked at Hugo with a surprised look. Arleena did not expect Hugo to reprimand her. "Huh?" Arleena was confused for a moment. "What did I want to say? Nothing." Hugo frowned with his gaze shifting to Arleena. "Are you serious? But your face and gestures look like you want to say something," Hugo retorted. Arleena flinched with her eyes blinking repeatedly. Arleena didn't expect Hugo to be able to read her gestures. Even though when Arleena wanted to say something to Hugo, she saw Hugo not looking at her at all. So how did Hugo find out about Arleena's awkwardness? "I don't want to ask you anything at all. Why do you say you understand me so well?" asked Arleena in a manner that was still somewhat awkward. Even though Arleena was trying to look relaxed. Hugo immediately recognized that Arleena was still very awkward towards him. Hugo then chuckled, deliberately so that he could neutralize the atmosphere. "Do you think of me as someone who just got to know you?" asked Hugo with a serious look but a playful smile curving his face. "I can understand if you're awkward or not. Just say what you want to say." Arleena sighed heavily after hearing Hugo's words. Arleena turned to Hugo and seemed to be in serious thought for a few moments. "I'm actually curious. How did you find out about Justin's arrival?" Arleena finally asked the question that had been on her mind. Hugo raised both eyebrows and looked at Arleena confused for a few seconds. "Do I have to tell you?" asked Hugo with an ignorant expression. The curve of his joking smile had already begun to appear on his face. Arleena, who was originally wearing a clumsy expression, immediately looked annoyed at Hugo. Her expression immediately turned flat as if she wanted to pounce on Hugo who had been acting annoying. "I don't know why you're so annoying, Hugo. You were acting so serious a moment ago, but now you're laughing at me without any guilt," Arleena replied with an exasperated expression. Hugo couldn't help but laugh at the look on Arleena's face. Just then, the elevator doors opened. Hugo and Arleena's attention simultaneously shifted. "Well, the elevator has arrived. Let's talk about it in my office." Hugo said with a smile that implied mockery. He deliberately provoked Arleena's annoyance more. Arleena sneered at Hugo for asking her to leave when she wanted to talk about something serious. "Damn. You're so annoying. Let go of my hand," Arleena said as she jerked her hand so that Hugo's hand grip was released. Hugo still gave a warm smile without guilt. He even strengthened his grip without hurting Arleena's hand. Unwilling to let their grip slip away. "I won't let go of your hand. Why are you so sensitive?" asked Hugo as he laughed amusedly. Arleena looked at Hugo annoyed and finally no longer tried to release the grip of their hands together. Arleena immediately knew that Hugo deliberately wanted to annoy her. On the other hand, Arleena was relieved that Hugo was no longer as serious as before. Arleena steps away with Hugo who doesn't stop giving her a teasing smile. Soon Arleena and Hugo arrived at Hugo's private study. They both entered the study and walked to Hugo's desk. Arleena immediately sat on Hugo's desk chair with a sweet smile. "So, you have to answer my question," Arleena replied with a challenging expression. She looked impatient to hear the answer to Hugo's question. "I need to know first where you got the information about Justin's arrival." Hugo immediately sighed heavily with an expression that was made up of annoyance at Arleena. He also rolled his eyes as he stepped into the chair behind his desk. "I asked you the question first, Arleena. Why are you forcing me to answer my questions?" Hugo asked Arleena with a cynical look. Then he sat down on the chair behind his desk, throwing his back against it. "Alright. I got the information about Justin's arrival from Katherine, your coworker. Katherine was upset that Justin was giving bad rumors about the baby we're taking care of in front of your colleagues," Hugo continued. Arleena was surprised to hear the answer to who gave information to Hugo. On the other hand, Arleena wondered when Katherine had told Hugo about Justin's arrival. Was it after she returned from the restaurant? "Ah... Katherine," Arleena said in a low tone as she let out a long breath as her shoulders relaxed. "I don't know why Justin came there either. Maybe he was following my movements. But unfortunately, I didn't realize Justin's movements until he showed up at the dinner." Hugo who heard Arleena's explanation finally let out a long breath. He stroked his temples because he felt annoyed at the thought of Justin coming and spreading rumors to Arleena's colleagues. "I also don't understand why Justin would spread such rumors. If he was angry that you suddenly married me, he shouldn't have cheated on me in the first place," Hugo replied before sighing heavily and watching Arleena through pitying eyes. "She also mentioned my marriage to you. It seems like she still can't accept that I was able to replace her position as fiancé so quickly," Arleena replied while rubbing her own temples. Hugo nodded his head. "I agree, it seems like she resents not being able to be your partner. She shouldn't have behaved like that," he retorted. "But how do you feel now? You didn't even come home to my apartment last night." Arleena placed one hand on her body for support, then replied casually, "I'm fine. How am I supposed to act? Cry over Justin's words?" Hugo raised both eyebrows at Arleena's words. He wondered why Arleena didn't seem to be affected by Justin's behavior and words. At that moment Hugo immediately recalled the moment when Arleena discovered the fact that Justin had cheated on her on the day of Arleena and Justin's family gathering. Arleena didn't look sad at all. But that didn't make Hugo feel relieved, Hugo was just worried if Arleena preferred to suppress her feelings so that she felt pain alone. "Don't worry about me," Arleena said, shaking her hand and chuckling. "I'm fine. You know I'm a strong woman, right? I won't lose to a guy like Justin." "Oh my..." Hugo looked at Arleena in disgust. "You're acting so strong, do you think that makes you look cool?" Arleena furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?" "If you're sad, act sad. You don't have to try so hard to cover it up. You're not cool at all," Hugo replied in a joking tone. Intentionally to make the atmosphere between them less tense. Arleena was silent with an intense look at Hugo. The more she looked at Hugo, the more Arleena felt touched by the way Hugo treated her. On the other hand, Arleena still couldn't show her sad expression to Hugo. After all, Hugo would not be allowed to notice her sadness.