62 Chapter 13 (1/2)

Eric blinked, he even rubbed his eyes before he arranged his gla.s.ses parked on his nose. Yet, the image of a lazy, elegant man, appearing at his home, standing in front of his door still dominated his entire view.

The man was lean and had a posture of a true n.o.ble with his vest and tie underneath that silvery blue cashmere coat.

”Can I help you?” Eric was surprised to see Alvaro this close so early in the morning at his front door. Though his face remained impa.s.sive as ever while his tone didn't give anything away.

Alvaro didn't answer. He lazily brought out his ash container, casually putting out his cigarette before shoving back that small cla.s.sy container inside the pocket of his coat.

”Do you have a minute? I have something important to tell you.” Alvaro asked after a while. His face was welcoming and friendly.

While on the other hand, Eric was on alert. He didn't know why his guard was always in full gear whenever he was facing this man.

He had a rough guess what the subject was all about and the only thought in his mind was Evangeline since she was the only one linking him and the stranger.

”Alright,” he said simply. He was wholly dress even in the early hours of six in the morning since he had to go to work early on a weekend. Thus, he and Alvaro left right then and there.

”Mind if we take my car?” Álvaro asked, all gentlemanly.

Eric's face remained stoic as he answered almost robotically. ”It's fine,” he replied while eyeing that striking, drool-worthy ashen blue Lamborghini.

Álvaro smiled yet Eric could feel that the mirth in the man's eyes were not real.

”Let's got then.”

----

Eric kept on stirring his tea while cold sweat trickled his back. He had an ominous feeling the moment the man stopped in front of Snow Café. He thought that Alvaro would ask him to stay away from Evangeline or threaten him like the way Asher had been doing to him.

However, Alvaro Cole was nothing like Asher Cole who used brute force to get his way. The man in front of him was level headed. A man that was showing neither his true intentions nor give anything away from his calm and kind face. A man that Eric didn't want to make an enemy off.

It was already ten minutes since they had made themselves comfortable in the second floor of the café, yet they remained stagnant. Every pa.s.sing minute felt like the temperature dropped making it hard to breathe.

Eric opened his mouth, wanting to break that thick, impenetrable barrier of ice between him and Alvaro, but the latter had beaten him to it.

”What do you think about this café?”

”…..”

The sweat that was about to freeze on Eric's forehead gradually thawed, masking the surging threat he felt with indifference and innocence.

”It's okay.” Eric simply answered, pushing back that uncomfortable feeling with a gulped from his tea.

While Alvaro chuckled as he watched the boy sitting opposite him pretending to be unaffected. He slowly stirred his tea, took a sip before putting down his cup. He continued to play with his teacup, appearing lost in thought as if his eyes were mesmerized by that dancing liquid inside his cup. His legs crossed, his back leaned on that soft cushioned seat looking very comfortable, and at the same time, elegant. Even the modest interior of the café turned majestic in his presence that Eric's brows slightly twitched.

”You know…” Álvaro started. ”I seemed to have tasted this kind of flavor before. In my country, in BlackPine. This man… I think his name is Dimitri... a nice young man. Orphaned at young, took his journey from rags to riches and became a tyc.o.o.n in the agricultural industry. An interesting story, really. Then I came to visit him this one time for a partnership since I heard he was a fanatic in producing the best tea and coffee in the world. This man loves coffees and teas you see. And you know that Evangeline also loves teas, so I wanted to have a share of his produce. Offered him double, triple the market price…”

Álvaro remained looking at his tea while he leisurely spoke as if he was telling a bedtime story so nonchalantly. Then his soft, somewhat droopy eyes narrowed while his piercing gaze gradually halted towards the man sitting opposite him.

”And do you know what happened next?”

Eric didn't answer. He was busy fighting the emotions that were gradually destroying his composure.

While Alvaro chuckled as he continued, somewhat disappointed that Eric could still maintain his façade.

”He rejected my offer. Saying that the tea and coffee he produced were for his leisure only and didn't have any plans of selling it to anyone nor anybody.”