Chapter 257: He’s Going To Be Fine, Right?
"So you’re telling me... Haji came with you because Vito told him to keep an eye on you?" Silo clarified, his steps slowing to a stop before the lift. Facing Lola, his mouth curved down. "You knew this and let him be?"
Lola nodded. "How else would I not know? Haji is Vito’s loyal dog."
"Does that mean Haji isn’t a friend?!" he gasped, recalling all the things he’d shared with Haji. "That traitor—"
"Silo, save it," she clicked her tongue. "It’s not like what you think."
"What do you mean?! You just said—" He trailed off, finally noticing the calm look on her face. As his brows knit, Lola’s lips curled faintly.
"Don’t tell me... he turned his back on him?"
"Not exactly. But the fact that Vito plans to make a sudden visit to Novera means Haji hasn’t been keeping him up to date," she shrugged. "Or maybe Vito realized it long ago and just didn’t have the time until now."
She bit her lip, crossing her arms. "I’m more worried about Amala. If she found out, that explains why she put this conversation on hold."
"Lola, shouldn’t you call Amala and tell her the situation?" Silo muttered. "Knowing her, her blood’s surely boiling. She hates traitors, and she trusted Haji to watch over you while she was gone. I can understand why she’s furious."
He paused, then leaned closer. "She’s going to beat him to death."
Lola blinked, staring at Silo’s twisted expression. Worry was clear in his eyes, which didn’t surprise her.
"It’s fine." She pressed the button on the lift which they hadn’t yet. "Amala’s not stupid, Silo. She’s not the emotional type. If anything, I’m sure she’s working with him. That’s why she feels confident keeping Vito from me for now."
"Or maybe," Lola hissed, narrowing her eyes, "she’ll strangle you for telling me before her. Goodness, Silo. She didn’t even tell me because she probably wants to deal with Vito first—and you just ran your mouth."
Silo pursed his lips and leaned back. "I was just worried. Besides, that stalker is obsessed with you. You should’ve gone out with him when he asked. Now he’s more persistent because you didn’t give him a chance. The what-ifs are eating him alive."
DING!
She snapped her gaze at the lift, then looked back at him.
"Silo, don’t concern yourself with that." She hummed, placing her hands on his shoulders and pushing him inside. "Just take a day off before Cedrick’s screen taping."
Once Silo was in, she stepped back, smiled, and waved. "Take care!"
"Tsk. Look at you," he clicked his tongue. "You should tell your boyfriend about this psycho stalker!"
"Uh huh..."
"Set the record straight and—"
The doors slid shut, cutting off his nagging. Silo almost bit his tongue in frustration.
"Goodness," he huffed. "Will she tell Atlas about that psycho?"
His mouth curved down as he thought about it. After a second, he shrugged.
"Well, I was worried at first about her lover... but if it’s Atlas Bennet..." He trailed off, considering the situation. "He’ll be fine. I don’t think Vito would dare touch someone like him. That’d be problematic considering his family."
Reassured by Lola’s choice of lover, he stopped worrying and carried on.
*****
Meanwhile...
"Set the record straight and—"
A low chuckle slipped from Lola as she shook her head, staring at the closed doors. Glancing at the changing numbers above the lift, she huffed and turned on her heel. But then she froze mid-step.
Fishing out her phone, she dialed Haji’s number.
Ring... ring...
"What?" came Haji’s irritated voice. "Something happened?"
She smiled faintly. "Just checking if you’re still alive."
Silence followed, as if he were considering her words. When he finally spoke, his chuckles came first.
"That Silo told you, didn’t he?" he scoffed. "That loudmouth. Amala’s gonna kill him."
Lola didn’t dwell on his remark. "If Vito comes for you... no, just tell him where to find me."
"Huh? Why would I do that?"
"Because he won’t kill me. But he will end you without a second thought." She dawdled on her steps. "Just tell Amala what I said. She’ll stop breathing down your neck if you settle this... or do I have to?"
"Have you lost your mind? Hah! Are you trying to protect me?" he scowled. "Hey, Lola, you’d need to eat more and train more before you could shield me. What do you think of me? A wimp who needs protection from a little girl? Don’t worry about me and Amala. Just do your job and stop concerning yourself with ours."
"How can I not, when it is my concern?" She said, stopping in front of the penthouse. "Haji, I’m not saying this because I want to protect you. Why would I hire you as my bodyguard if I didn’t want you to do your job? I’m saying this as your boss—your boss. The one who signs your paycheck."
"Fine, fine!" he muttered indifferently. "Stop nagging me already."
She shook her head. "Just remember—"
"I know! Geez! Did Silo possess you? How are you nagging like him tonight?"
"Goodness, this guy. Not worth worrying about you at all, isn’t it?" she hissed. "Whatever. You’re such a headache. Just... be careful, alright?"
With that, Lola hung up, glaring at her phone. "Useless to even care about that guy. Well, he’s old enough. He can protect himself." She reached for the door, but then stopped as she gazed at her phone. "He’s going to be fine, right?"
*****
At the same time...
"Whatever. You’re such a headache. Just... be careful, alright?"
Haji let out a weak laugh as he pulled the phone from his ear. Clicking his tongue, he muttered, "That worrywart. No wonder she’s friends with that bigger worrywart Silo."
Exhaling deeply, he shoved his phone into his jacket pocket and looked up.
A group of men stood before him, surrounding him right outside his apartment complex.
"At ease," he mused, smirking smugly. "I could’ve taken you all down while talking to her, but I didn’t."
He jerked his chin toward the car parked a few meters away. "I’m coming with you. No need to get tense."