Chapter 35：A Male Lead

Will went back and forth a lot for work but the office he spent the most time in was the real estate office. He rented buildings he owned to various other businesses, including some of his own.

Inside the gallery was a room specifically filled with Hazel's art. Every piece she ever sold was inside because he couldn't bear the thought of something she created belonging to someone else. He set up an alert on his phone so he would know every time she posted a new listing on her Etsy page.

Other people could enjoy her art—he knew she would prefer it that way—but they weren't allowed to buy. There was a plaque next to the door of the room mentioning that all pieces in that room were the owner's private collection and were not for sale.

Was he possessive? A bit. But he didn't really care.

His phone rang. The one with the L.A. area code number that used to belong to Alfonzo and was still registered in his name. Something must be going on in L.A. that required his attention. He didn't get calls to this phone terribly often.

"What is it?" Will asked impatiently.

"Mr. Gold, we've got a bit of a problem. Rico and Johnny both got arrested and we got twenty pounds of cocaine confiscated by the police," his subordinate, Lenny, said in a nervous tone.

He was clearly worried they were coming for him next. Rico and Johnny had both been particular buddies of his. Will didn't have time for this. The cocaine was an unfortunate loss but these things did happen.

It was better to have a small part of his business cut off than to get caught. He had seen what happens when people get caught and he never wanted to experience it for himself. Leaving Hazel behind was not an option.

"Leave it. If you look into it any further the police will inevitably link it back to you. Cut ties with that supplier completely. There shouldn't be any records left to trace but have Ray delete anything leftover to be safe," Will ordered.

"What about the drugs?"

"Forget about the drugs," he said tiredly. "We have so many things being smuggled in now that it honestly won't affect our profits that much. Focus on the next shipment of antique furniture instead."

"What about the people?" Lenny squeaked out.

He slammed his fist on the desk. "What people? I told you we do not deal in human trafficking! That was Alfonzo's business but I don't work that way. Do you understand? Send those children back to their parents RIGHT. NOW."

"But why, boss? There are so many rich people wanting to adopt a cute little kid right now—"

"What did you just call me?" he asked in a deadly calm tone.

"Uh, boss."

"That's right. I'm your boss so I'm in charge of what we do. Dealing with people is dangerous. They see things. They remember. Every guy I've ever heard of that deals with people gets caught," Will explained as if he were talking to a two-year-old. "Send those children back after getting Artie to do his little trick that confuses people's memories. Hopefully the police won't ask them too many questions."

"Yes, boss," Lenny said mutinously.

Will rubbed his forehead in agitation as he hung up. Lenny was troublesome. It honestly might be better to get rid of him. He sent his right hand man down in L.A. a text message asking him to see that Lenny did what he was told in a timely manner. If he didn't, kill him.

He got a text back that was simply a thumbs up emoji and felt relieved enough to go back to work. Honestly, dealing with these idiots was exhausting.

At this point Will probably had enough money from his legal businesses to give Hazel a good life. Should he quit while he was ahead? He had been in this business for sixteen years now, having started as an eleven-year-old fresh out of the mental ward. Retirement sounded better and better all the time.

The one problem with quitting was that he promised Hazel they would travel. She had always possessed a curious mind; she wanted to see everything. Seeing everything required a lot of money.

Will was already a multimillionaire but how long would that last between constant trips and art supplies? That stuff was expensive and Hazel burned through it so quickly…what was she up to anyway? He hadn't heard from her all morning.

He decided to shoot her a text. 'What is my beautiful wife up to today?'

===

Hazel and Muffincake had gotten sidetracked from the storyboarding they were supposed to be doing because they got into a debate about which kind of male protagonist was best. Muffincake advocated for tsunderes—the type that looked cold but was secretly warm on the inside. Hazel preferred a more straightforward male lead.

She had always valued honesty. All of the countless misunderstandings that went on in popular comics and online novels drove her crazy. If you care about someone just tell them!

'But wouldn't it be amazing if there was this cold, heartless person who only loved you? That seems so romantic! I would feel so special if it ever happened to me' Muffincake argued.

Hazel rolled her eyes. Being special to someone is one thing but having to deal with a twisted personality because you're special to them is another.

'I think I would rather have someone who is sincere in telling me about his feelings' she responded.

At that moment her phone buzzed and she thought that Muffincake replied to that awfully quickly before realizing it was a text, not a notification from Discord.

'What is my beautiful wife up to today?'

She nearly snorted. Of the two categories of men they were discussing, Will was much closer to the second one. Sometimes he was alarmingly straightforward, like right now. He wasn't afraid to compliment her or ask her for cuddles (even when she refused).

He still hadn't outright told her he liked her but she thought it was fairly obvious from the way he treated her. At the very least, he wasn't some cold guy who hid his true feelings for her under ten layers of disdain.

'Arguing with Muffincake, as usual. You?' she sent back.