Elle was surprised after hearing the explanation of Erick. She was thinking of the possible reasons why the emergency signal of her missing necklace was found in Arison Holdings and Mining Corporation Head Office.
Thinking back all the incident that transpired before she came into a realization. She had her assumption in her mind. After much thought and careful consideration, she spoke her mind to Erick.
"Hmm, I think someone who is working at that building found my necklace. Again, I am sorry for my carelessness. It is something you'd given me but I lost it. Do we need to retrieve it?" There was a hint of frustration in her voice as she apologized to Erick.
'I have a bad feeling about this. I think there will be trouble if Erick will insist to have the necklace back. D*mn, I am in a mess. Please don't say yes.' Elle was silently wishing in her mind.
Erick paused for a moment as he was thinking about what to do with the missing necklace. He fixed his gaze on Elle who was anticipating his answer. He could see the worry in her face. But why? Was it because she felt really guilty for losing the necklace.
After a few seconds, Erick finally responded to her.
"Hmm... no need to apologize, besides I am not mad and not blaming you. Let's forget about that necklace. I think no need to look for the person who found it. The important thing is you are safe and you are not in danger. I was scared to death when I thought you are in trouble."
Erick smiled at her with his gentle gaze. He patted her head like she was a child who needed to be consoled for losing some important thing to her.
Seeing that she cared for and valued the things that he gave her was enough to make Erick happy. He was very touched to know that.
Elle's mood brightened up the moment Erick said that. Her lips curled up into a smile as she gave him a grateful look.
She heaved a sigh of relief before she softly mumbled to him "Hmm, Thank you."
Seconds later, they heard Bryan calling them inside the house.
"Hey, why are you two still standing there? I thought we will gonna eat our lunch now. I am so hungry. Come here already. Let's take our lunch while the foods are still warm."
Then Erick and Elle followed Bryan at the dining room as the three of them took their fill.
After taking their meals, Erick and Bryan went back to the living room and continued their work while Elle cleaned up and washed the dishes. She did not come back to Falcon Cafe that afternoon instead she stayed home.
After a while, she joined Bryan and Erick in the living room. It looked like the two of them were very focused on what they were doing.
She knew they were working on Catseye's case but she did not join them for the reason of spying, she just wanted to sit with them because she was bored.
"Ahem... do you mind if I join you here? I know you are working with a confidential case. Can you stop working for a while?"Elle asked the both of them.
"I felt bored. If I know that you will be busy like this I should have gone back to Falcon Cafe," she added.
"Yeah, I think we should rest for now. My head is aching just thinking about how Catseye is thinking. It's so hard to read what's on her mind." Bryan lamented as he complained to them.
Erick just chuckled at his complaints. He put down the doc.u.ment he was holding and he stood up to approach Elle.
"Yeah, I think I need some kind of motivation and inspiration," Erick said while staring intently at Elle. A sweet and gentle smile appeared on his face as he opened his arms asking for Elle's hug. Elle gladly complied as she gave him a hug.
"Hey, the two of you are doing this again. Can you just stop acting so intimate in front of me." Bryan said as he shot the couple a glare.
"Just close your eyes." Erick simply said to him.
"Erick, I did not know that you are too clingy!" Bryan said before he burst into laughter.
"Yes, you are right. His true color is showing nowadays. He is becoming more shameless." Elle also joined Bryan in teasing Erick.
Erick frowned and pouted at her. "Hey, I am your boyfriend here, why are you joining forces with him? Hmmph."
"Well, because I like to tease you. You look so cute and adorable when pouting like this." Elle said as she cupped his face and gave him a peck on his cheek.
Erick gave her a satisfied look as he grinned at her. Bryan just shook his head watching the couple.
"You can stay here. We are done discussing the case." Erick said to her as he pulled her towards the couch.
While Bryan was arranging the doc.u.ments, Elle saw the picture of Jefferson Gong. Elle halted as her gaze fell on the picture. A hint of hostility and hatred flashed through her eyes.
Erick noticed her change in expression but it only lasted for a few seconds before it returned to normal as she was able to conceal her emotions. Erick was puzzled but he did not dwell on it.
After Bryan arranged the doc.u.ment, he put it back on the black briefcase as he wrapped up everything. Then the three of them started to watch a movie. This time, it was Bryan who went out to buy their snacks and drinks.
"It had been a long time since the last time we did this. I came to realize that the movie marathon we planned out before just turned into a drinking session." Bryan said to them feeling nostalgic.
Erick could not help but smile as he remembered that night. He realized that maybe he was in a bad mood that night and decided to get drunk because he was jealous after witnessing the scene between Elle and Bryan.
"Hey, why are you smiling like a fool right now?" Elle whispered to Erick as she leaned on him.
"Nothing. I just remembered that our first kiss happened after our drinking session." Erick whispered back to her, his eyes expressing delight. His statement brought a blush to her cheeks.
He leaned into her again, as he said something to her that made her fl.u.s.tered even more.
"But I also like the kisses we shared when you were drunk. I think you should drink more when I am with you. I love seeing you drunk, talking and giggling non-stop. You are also quite bold and demanding if you are drunk." he mumbled with his deep husky voice.
Elle gave him a stern glare that made him grin widely. "You are still cute even when you are annoyed," Erick said to her as he let out a soft chuckle after. Elle rolled her eyes at him as she pinched him on his side.
Erick was busy teasing Elle when Bryan suddenly spoke up.
"I am still thinking about what you said to me this morning Erick. You know, Catseye's motive in killing Jefferson Gong." Bryan said to them out of the blue.
"I am still confused, she killed him brutally and at the same time, she provided us the evidence of Gong's illegal activities. What is she trying to say or prove by doing that?" Bryan added as he shared his thought to them.
"Don't overthink too much. I think she is just simply showing and telling you how evil that person is and that he deserves it."
This time it was Elle who spoke up. She said it nonchalantly but there still a hint of disdain and hatred in her voice.
There was a moment of silence after Elle said that. The two men did not expect her to share her thoughts about that.
"Hehe... that's right. You have a point there." Bryan said to her. He smiled awkwardly at Elle as he saw her serious face.
'Why is it I feel like Elle is frightening right now.' Bryan thought to himself.
Erick also noticed the changes in Elle's mood after Bryan brought the topic about Catseye or maybe not because it looked like it was Jefferson Gong who affected her mood. Erick just remained silent on his seat as he was thinking about something.
"I think Erick is right. Maybe Catseye held a grudge against him." Bryan could not stop himself from bringing up and talking about this topic.
Erick gave him a warning look. Bryan bit his lips and he smiled apologetically at Erick. He nodded as he understood what Erick meant.
So Bryan just fixed his gaze to the television screen as he made a mental note 'I should stop spouting nonsense before Erick will force me to leave.'
As he decided to stop talking about Catseye and enjoy the movie, however, Elle spoke up again.
"Revenge... that is her true motive," Elle mumbled, there was a hint of certainty in her words.
Bryan and Erick were rendered speechless. The two men averted their gaze to Elle after hearing her statement. Elle smiled at them, her dark eyes held a glint of her emotion buried inside her heart.
Erick did not know why but he thought that he saw something with Elle's smile as if he felt that there was something more and a deeper meaning hidden behind that smile.