>>Matthew
How was it that his legs looked so smooth? Without a hair in sight, they looked squishy enough that I had to grit my teeth to stop myself from putting my hands on it. I wanted to feel his skin, to slide my fingers over it, to see his reaction.
I gulped
Clio sat beside me reaching out for the salad I ordered just in case he didn't feel like eating anything else
My gaze was intense and unwavering as it traced every contour of his skin. The soft curve of his neck, the gentle slope of his shoulder, the delicate lines of his collarbone—all of it beckoned to me like a siren's call to romance
My wolf was impatient, just like me, and I felt my heart waver, its rhythm echoing the cadence of desire and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't tear my eyes away, captivated by the sheer beauty of his skin that I longed to explore, to leave a trail of tender kisses
I gulped and then gritted my teeth.
This was a mistake, I shouldn't have asked him to just take off those pants, because now I want to tear off that shirt too. I took a deep breath, I should go and get him something to wear that isn't falling off of him. I need it for my own health.
Yeah, that's what I should do but instead, I moved closer, my fingers reaching him with anticipation, yearning to caress the silky texture of his skin
"Are you doing fine?" Clio suddenly turned to me and I had to act fast, putting my hand down in a hurry, I looked at him while he looked at my face with a soft expression.
"About what?" I asked
"Rameen"
My heart sank, and I looked away. All of the thoughts I was having until a moment ago disappeared with the mention of that name and I let out a sigh.
"Rameen," And I was reminded again of that head bleeding out without a body, "I've been wanting not to think about it…"
"It's understandable." He placed the salad bowl on his lap, "What happened was," I saw his eyebrows furrowed together, "Painful…" His gaze wandered off for a while.
"..."
Hmm
I wonder how painful it was for the kid?
Clio looked back at me, "Sir," He seemed nervous, "I have a question." And his gaze met mine.
"Hmm?" In his eyes, I saw curiosity.
"Wasn't she living with you?" My eyelid twitched at his words, "Wouldn't that make you the last person who saw her alive?"
Ah~
Right, he is also here to get me in trouble. He's the little spy from NLN.
"Did she tell you that?" I asked
He shook his head, "No, I just assumed that since you both came to my apartment together when I was sick…"
I tapped my finger on the couch's arm. Right, we did go there together and although Clio didn't mention it, I did send Rameen to return the key to him too. I only took his original key so he wouldn't get suspicious about how we got into his apartment.
It's a logical deduction to think the kid was staying with me.
What would be better to say here though? Should I lie about it?
No…
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at the smaller person.
That might land me in trouble, especially if this cute little mate of mine is looking for trouble.
>>Clio
My question made Matthew's mood turn foul and he didn't answer me immediately. He let out a sigh and then nodded, "That's right. She was staying with me after she ran away from home."
So, I was right. But if she was staying with him, why didn't he tell Chris about it? The whole time Chris looked delirious. Every time I looked into her eyes during those days, I noticed a weird insecurity in them, like something was eating her up.
"Why didn't you tell Chris that?" I chose to ask him, "If you had told her, she wouldn't be that disturbed." I turned my body towards him and folded my legs.
"..." His gaze fell to my legs and I immediately got self-conscious
!!!
I tugged the shirt down, making sure it covered me more and I especially made sure my undies weren't showing.
God damnit!! I can't believe we're on such a horrifying topic while the embarrassing things keep happening!
"Rameen didn't want me to," He answered and I wanted to say something to him when his gaze came up to my face and he spoke again, "Oddly," He didn't let me say anything, "I've always complied with things the kid has asked of me."
"Didn't you think it was bad?" I did my best to study his face, "A mother is bound to be more worried. Didn't that bother you? I'm sure you saw what Chris looked like."
No matter how much I think about it, this one part is odd. Why would Matthew not tell Chris?
"I had my reasons," He answered and I frowned. He had his reasons? What reasons could there be?
"Can I ask what?"
"That's between me and Rameen." He passed me a subtle smile, "Rameen and I shared some things between us, we were like siblings… oftentimes I even thought she was like my daughter." He let out a soft internal sigh, "I did think about telling Chris but it wasn't the first time Rameen had run away from home."
!!?!?
"It wasn't?"
"No," He leaned back while facing me, he rested the side of his head on the folded knuckles of his hands while his elbow leaned on the headrest, "And every time she ran away she came to me, so I assume that Chris already had an idea that she was with me."
"..." This was new information, "I see," I nodded. "So," I picked the fork up, scooping some salad with it, "So, do you know why Rameen looked troubled?" I put the food in my mouth.
"Troubled?" He asked, "Why would you say that?" He stopped, his gaze wandered and a slight frown took over his face that lasted a second, "She might have been," He looked back at me, "But she didn't say anything. Why? Did she mention something to you?" His eyes focused on me.
"Come to think of it," I folded my arms, "There was something she wanted to tell me."
"There was?" He raised his brow at me, "What?"
I shook my head, "I never found out…" I lowered my gaze, "We were supposed to meet over the weekend but…"
"I see,"
"Sir," I looked at him again, "When was the last time you saw Rameen?"
"..." I saw the corner of his lips curl up, "Are you trying to investigate me, Clio?" There was this evil smile that remained on his face subtly that made my heart skip a beat, "Do you think I killed her or something?" The darkness in his eyes seemed endless at that moment, "Because she was staying with me?"
"Oh!" I didn't realize it, but since I've been doing this as a job, the investigative side just came out on its own, "No sir," I shook my head, "I was just curious!" I looked at him and saw his pitch-black eyes staring back into mine, "I don't suspect you…" I gulped, "I was just," I slowly shrugged, "Saying…"
Matthew kept his eyes on me, "Clio?"
"Y-yes?"
"Do you have any idea what Rameen was going to say to you?" I shook my head at him, "Okay, do you have any idea who she might have been with when she got killed?"
!!??
That was a strange question to ask
"No," I answered, "She wasn't with you?"
He let out a snicker, "Your words make it seem like I'm the prime suspect."
!!!
"Uh! No! I didn't mean that!"
I mean, I don't think it's him, I just said it for no reason, "No," He answered, "She wasn't home when I went back on Friday."
OH? She wasn't home?
"So," I paused, "Wait," A memory clicked in my mind, "Chris said Rameen was coming home so she might be going back home." His phone began to ring, "Wouldn't that mean she was alone?"
"Chris said she was coming home?" He seemed to ponder on that statement and I looked at his phone that was on the glass table.
The name, 'Sales Director Nadeem,' was displayed on the screen
"Hello Mr, Naddem!" Matthew picked up the call, "How was your meeting today?" I couldn't exactly hear what the other party was saying.
"Yes, Dave has always been our representative when visiting City D."
Right, Dave wasn't in the office today because he went to City D for a meeting…
"Hmmm? There was a woman last time?" Matthew's eyebrows furrowed, "Dave has always been the one to go to the meetings."
Hmmm? I know eavesdropping isn't good, but he was sitting right next to me, and listening to him got me thinking.
The meeting with the client in City D was today and Dave wasn't even there at the Friday night get-together… That's probably when Rameen was killed.
My heart skipped a beat,
No way
I shook my head
What am I thinking? They haven't yet found the body so the time can't be calculated exactly. I heard the head was moved on purpose, so unless the forensic team says something, the best time of death would come from seeing where she was killed and analyzing the CCTVs.
"Oh, you mean Lily?" Hearing that name made my brain jolt, "Yes, Lily tends to accompany Dave a lot. She might be the one you're referring to."
But…
My heart started pounding
Dave was in City D the day the girl from the convenience store, Lily, died, wasn't he?