The corner of Zoey's lips twitched as she heard imaginary guns cocking in the air. She let out a sigh because now, she had saved the world from the brewing world war three.
"Hahaha! What a funny guy!" Nikolai chuckled loudly, clapping his hands along as the grin on his lips grew wider.
"Too bad, though. There wouldn't be a cleaning job to do."
Nikolai added, smacking his lips as he shook his head sideways. By the grin on his lips, Zoey could tell he was taunting Matthew.
'My darling will not get provoked by Niko's pettiness. Heck! My Darling is a matured, level-headed, and…'
Just as Zoey was convincing herself that her darling was better than this, Matthew's words made nearly choke on her internal thoughts.
"I'm afraid they have already started sweeping the garbage outside." Matthew shrugged nonchalantly as his eyes glinted upon seeing the slight change in that pair of hazel eyes staring back at him.
Slowly, Matthew strode towards Zoey. After taking four steps, he wrapped his arms around Zoey's waist and pulled her closer to him.
"Hey there, love." Matthew whispered under his breath, his cold tone gradually sounded gentle as he left a soft peck on Zoey's forehead.
Zoey blinked her eyes in bafflement. Deep down, she knew that Matthew was really a loving person. However, was he really this sweet and clingy?
She glanced up, blinking her eyes as she saw Matthew beaming her a smile before leaning closer. "Wait, wait!"
Upon discerning that Matthew was trying to show off their relationship by kissing her in front of NIkolai, Zoey stopped him by placing her hand on his chest.
"Darling, I have a…" Zoey paused, glancing in Niko's direction who was looking at them menacingly.
'Why is it that these two can't like each other right from the beginning? They don't even know each other but they seem like they are willing to kill each other already!' Zoey complained internally, thinking that Matthew and Nikolai were probably arch enemies in their previous life.
Ironic, though. This lifetime was already their second chance in life!
"Hmm?" Confused, Matthew furrowed his brows as he tilted his head to the side.
"He is a client." Zoey whispered, leaning closer to his ear.
On normal days, Zoey would be the first to initiate intimacy with Matthew. However, she didn't want to trigger Nikolai as she didn't want to deal with his crazy whims.
With the problems regarding Angelo, Ivan, that 'psychotic' Inigo, Zachery, Mommy Xi, and the Z Image Group, Zoey's hands were full at the moment. The least she wanted right now was having Nikolai's craziness to add to her problems.
"A client?" As soon as Matthew heard her, he arched his right brow. He knew Nikolai definitely wasn't a client. So, why was she lying to him?
"Yes. He may be a bit weird and sketchy, but he is. I will send him away politely, though." Zoey nodded, giving him a determined look.
Skeptical, Matthew still nodded slightly. Zoey surely had her reasons, although deep down, Matthew was displeased at the fact that she was lying.
When Zoey saw him barely believing her, she slowly turned and faced Nikolai. Just as her lips parted, Nikolai raised his sharp eyes.
"Didn't you say you want to have lunch with me, Zia?" Unlike his lazy tone before Matthew's arrival, Nikolai's tone now sounded more like a royal decree!
It was as if Nikolai would bury her alive if she refused! Zoey gasped as her face distorted in disbelief.
'This man…' Zoey secretly clenched her teeth, grinding them as she breathed in and out to calm her nerves.
"Oh? A business lunch with your client?" Before Zoey could speak, Matthew was quick to relay his thoughts aloud stressing the word' business'. "You should've told me, baby."
Matthew's hand held Zoey's waist closer, turning his head towards Zoey. Slowly, a subtle smile resurfaced on Matthew's lips.
'Ah, gosh… he figured out, didn't he?' Zoey sighed heavily, guessing that Matthew saw through her white lies.
'For Pete's sake! This woman here was trying to avoid the brewing problem that might occur.' Zoey thought.
However, why must they provoke each other and act like cats and dogs, which shouldn't cross paths, ever?
"Alright, darling." Defeated, Zoey had given up. "He is not a client, but someone I knew from the past. He is a bit… weird, but he is a good person."
Zoey nearly cringed at her description of Nikolai. Obviously, he wasn't just weird. He was a psycho! And definitely, not as good as what he appeared to be. Nevertheless, Nikolai was her friend and someone who didn't really harm her back then until now.
Matthew was unfazed despite that Zoey came clean sooner than expected. In his mind, Zoey still believed that Nikolai was on her side. But Matthew was well-aware of the depth of Nikolai's craziness.
"Niko, this is my boyfriend. We had planned to have lunch together. So, if you don't want to leave and stay here, suit yourself. We're going." Still bearing her defeated tone, Zoey had no energy to argue with Nikolai anymore.
If a scandal occurs, she has Matthew to save the day. Although using Matthew's connection was the last thing that Zoey wanted to do, asking for his help wouldn't hurt. If anything, she would only feel a little sting in her pride.
"Let's go," Zoey glanced at Matthew unenthusiastically. She lightly held onto his arms and moved it away from her waist.
'I'm done trying to save the world. Let it burn for all I care.' Zoey dissed internally.
After all, she only wanted to spend her free time with Matthew. Why must Nikolai come? The story of her past was still fresh in Matthew's memory. That's why Zoey still understood Matthew's hostility as he had keen senses around dangerous people.
That's his special talent!
"Zia," Just as Zoey took a step forward, she stopped upon hearing Nikolai calling out to her coldly.
Zoey could not help but curl her hands into a fist. Nikolai still believed that he had a hold on her and she would submit with just a word from him.
"You're not going anywhere."
Nikolai added, causing Zoey's patience to run thin. On the other hand, Matthew shifted his gaze back to Nikolai and gave him a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Niko, is it? Please watch your tone. My patience is not as long as my girlfriend's patience."
"Huh, now that's interesting. I'm short-tempered as well.. I wonder what would happen if I push a little further?" Unfazed by Matthew's warning, Nikolai smirked as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his leg.