Amos Granger glanced over at Christopher Gellert. Harleyâs eyes gleamed in anticipation.
âWow Christopher, I thought youâd have settled down since youâve gotten married. What did you mean by that? Youâre not infatuated with Eudora, are you?â
Amosâ tone turned cold, âWatch it, Harley.â
Harleyâs neck shrunk at the tone, âDid I say something wrong?â
âEudora and I arenât like that. No matter what, she will always be my best friend,â Christopher said coldly.
Harley Louis burst into a bout of laughter.
His amusement died down as he slowly made his way to rest his arms on the poolâs edges.
âAmos, whatâs your take on this? Do you think that something is going on between them?â
Amos frowned, âWhat are you even talking about?â
âCome on, youâre not that oblivious, are you? Havenât you ever suspected if there was anything more than a platonic relationship between the two of them? Surely you must have!â
With that, a trigger was set off.
âHarley, are you accusing my wife of adultery?!â
Christopher, on the other hand, looked at Harley with a fierce glare, âOfficer Louis, please donât suggest such nonsense.â
âThis is just cruel. Iâm not even allowed to speak the truth now? Scr*w you guys, Iâm leaving for the barbecue,â he heaved. Harley got up and left, leaving the two men alone.
Once Harley left, Amos started to speak, âChristopher, I think we really need to have a proper conversation right now.â
âI donât have anything to talk with you,â Christopher replied. He started to move about as though he was about to leave the pool as well.
Seeing Christopherâs movements, Amos stopped him.
âChristopher, I think we should start off with a clean slate.â
Christopher was in disbelief as he processed what he had just heard. He could not believe his own ears.
âWhat did you say? A clean slate? Us?â
âWould that be a problem?â Amos asked with a smile, âYou now have the support of the Gellert family. However, you know as well as I do that as long as your brother remains, you will never be able to step out of his shadow. Surely youâve realized by now that Valiant East is a far better option than what your family offers. Weâre not that far off from each other. Donât you want to do something with yourself and bring some glory to appease your late mother?â
Christopher was quiet for a moment before letting out a bitter laugh.
âAmos, do you think youâre being generous right now?â
âNo, I donât,â Amos denied vehemently, âItâll only be slightly beneficial for me if you do take up my offer. I am extending my appreciation for your accompany for Euroda all these years.
Christopher smirked, âAmos, cut the cr*p. What does my accompany to Eudora have to do with you? Are you afraid that Iâll steal her from you? are you worried about that?â
Amos merely looked at him.
âListen, I donât want to discuss such nonsense with you. Please think about what Iâve just said more carefully, okay? As for Eudora and Juju, let me tell you this. They will ever only belong to me, and only me. So get that through your head!â
He then got up and wrapped himself in a robe. He walked out, leaving Christopher alone in the pool.
Christopher just sat there for a long while in a daze.
â¦
In the other side, however, it was much more decent and peaceful as compared to the tense atmosphere on the menâs side.
Jujuâs presence helped tremendously. She was cheerful and adorable. Tina Holt and Tina absolutely adored her.
Eudora and Tina had known each other for a long time, so there wasnât much need for conversation. The other woman, however, was a stranger to both of them.
Though, that did not matter to her much as she seemed to be a lively soul. She introduced herself merrily without being asked.
âEudora, Iâve heard so much about you. My name is Thea Stewart! Iâve mentioned before that I work as a mistress dispeller.â
Tina and Thea were about the same age, so her interest piqued at that, âA Mistress dispeller? That sounds like an interesting job!â
âItâs pretty cool, isnât it? The only downside of it is that people often misunderstand what I actually do. Itâs especially troubling when the police mistake it as a poor job!â
Just as she uttered those words, Harley let out a loud sneeze outside.
He tightened his robes and looked up at the sky, âIt doesnât look like itâs about to rain. Have I caught a cold?â
âYou know, Harleyâs not as horrible as you think. Heâs a pretty decent guy and he has a sense of humor too!â Eudora said with a smile directed at Thea.
âThatâs bullsh*t!â Thea exclaimed, rolling her eyes.
As the smell of charred meat wafted through their noses, Thea was first to act. âThat smells like a barbecue! Iâm going out to get some!â
As Juju watched Thea head towards the door, âI want to go too!â she yelled. She got up and followed after Thea hurriedly.
Once theyâve all left, Tina directed a small smile at Eudora, âOh Eudora, I really do envy you! You have so many people adoring you. Youâre kind and beautiful too.â
Eudora smiled brightly at her, âYou really like Christopher, donât you?â
Upon hearing this, Tina blushed.
âSo what? The only person that he will ever have in his heart isâ¦â
She stopped herself from finishing her sentence, âIâm sorry. I shouldnât have said something like that. You three are so happy together. Iâ¦â
Eudora shook her head, âYou probably donât know this but we three had been through a lot together. Weâve come a long way to get to where we are now.â
Tina didnât think that was possible, âWerenât you guys always happy together?â
âThat is so far from the truth,â Eudora sighed, recollecting everything that she and Amos had been through. The past to her now really seemed unreal.
âI think that a mutual understanding and tolerance between a couple is most important.â
âEudora, why donât you tell me what Christopher likes? You would know, right?â Tina asked.
Eudora smiled, âSure, of course!â
After speaking to each other for a while, Eudora told Tina everything she could.
A long while later, Juju still hadnât come back to her, making Eudora a bit anxious, âIâm going to go check on Juju. You should probably get out of the pool soon. Itâs not good to soak in the water for too long.â
Tina nodded as Eudora walked out the door.
Outside, there was a war at play with the barbecue. Harley and Thea would not let the other have any of the food. They looked as though they wanted to decimate the entire stall.
Thea took out some cash and chucked it at the stall owner, âHere, I want everything you are selling.â
Harley felt around his pockets, only to realize that he did not bring money out. In desperation, he ended up shoving his police ID at the stall owner, âIâm here for a hygiene inspection. Iâm sorry but Iâll have to collect all of the barbecued items now. For an inspection of course!â
The vendorâs face immediately darkened, âYou people are really something, arenât you? Iâll take down my stall now. I donât want any trouble.â
Eudora was rendered speechless by these two. She hurriedly walked over to persuade them away from disaster, âDonât do this to the stall owner. He doesnât deserve this!â
The vendor was almost moved to tears as he heard Eudoraâs words, âThank goodness thereâs someone here who sees reason!
âShut up!â Harley and Thea yelled at the store owner in unison.
This was the scene Amos was greeted with when he got close enough to hear. He walked over immediately and lifted Juju into his arms protectively, âWhat did you just say?â
Harley immediately lost all his bravado, âI just told the stall owner to shut up!â
Amos gave a loud huff of exasperation and reached out to take Eudoraâs hand, âLetâs just go. Let them battle to the death.â
âBut, the stallâ¦â Eudora felt that the stall owner was a little pitiful.
Amos burst into laughter, âItâll be alright. Harley knows where to draw the line.â
Pondering, Eudora thought Amos was probably right. Harley was a policeman after all, and of course, he would know not to cause trouble.
While she processed that information, there was a sudden loud exclamation coming from the womenâs hot spring room. Eudoraâs heart sank, âOh no, I think that is Tina!â