Chapter 16

"You..." Gerry cupped both my cheeks with one hand.

I looked at Johan and the waiters.

They were staring at me with unnerved looks, even Johan was getting ready to restrain Gerry because he seemed to be afraid that Gerry would hurt me.

"Haha."

"Huh?"

I was surprised, not only me, but the others as well, when I saw Gerry's reaction just now. Gerry let out a short laugh and instead looked like someone who was tickled.

I didn't understand why, but what happened next was that he removed his hand from my face and smiled to himself for no apparent reason.

"Since I'm in a good mood today, I forgive you," Gerry said.

I don't know what was bothering him, but we were grateful that his strangeness saved us from Gerry's unpredictable anger.

After confirming that Gerry had left my room, they all stood up and immediately approached me like soccer fans following their favorite soccer player. They were excited and dramatic.

"Mr. Zharies, are you okay? Did Mr. Gerry's hand hurt your face?" asked Johan insistently.

I shook my head and smiled warmly. "It's not what you're worried about, I'm fine now. And please don't overreact, because I'm a little amused by your overreaction."

They all immediately heaved a sigh of relief and uttered words of gratitude. Then they corrected their positions and stood in front of me, bowing their heads.

"We apologize for giving you a hard time, Mr. Zharies. We also thank you for the defense you just gave us. If it wasn't for you, we would have been in a lot of trouble," Johan said on behalf of the other servants.

I crossed my legs and leaned confidently on my bed, then put them down with a confident look.

"Oh, of course, it's because I rescued you. I hope you'll bring some sweet treats to this boarding house as a token of your gratitude," I replied. "Haha, I'm kidding. There's no need to overdo it, because I'm just doing what I can. But I don't think you need to go overboard with the thanks, if I may know what Gerry's attitude is usually like when he's mad at you?"

I didn't understand why they jumped so much when they heard my question. They even looked at the door to make sure they weren't there to listen to our conversation.

They were probably as afraid of being overheard as I was.

"Huh? Please tell me now how Gerry behaved before I knew him."

"We can't tell you the details because it would probably be very long, but certainly Mr. Gerry's attitude back then was nothing like it is now. He was as ruthless as his father, who showed no mercy to anyone he thought had done wrong. There's no persuasion that can make him melt or show pity, so there were actually many servants and guards who worked with him who quit their jobs here because of his very harsh treatment".

I understood annoyingly. I held my chin as I thought, is it possible that what just happened was just luck? Considering Gerry's demeanor that they told me about and the one I just saw was so different.

But who knows if he was really in a good mood like he said? I don't really understand it either, and I don't want to be presumptuous about what's in Gerry, because I also want to limit my feelings for Gerry to just being a partner in our profitable arrangement.

"It could be that he's undergoing a change in attitude as a result of his character development as he goes about his business activities with newfound people," I commented. "You should be happy about this. It'll be a good start for them in the future."

You looked doubtful after I just said that.

"Huh? What's wrong?" I asked for confirmation.

"But we're not sure if it's just that. In the world of cartels or the mafia, everything is solved with violence or money. When it's not money, it's guns. Mr. Gerry has been in trouble because of a murder case that I know about as one of his personal assistants, I'm sorry to tell you that although this is a very crucial matter, but if it's just a matter of getting to know new people it doesn't seem to affect Mr. Gerry's attitude".

I nodded in understanding. I also didn't feel entitled to contradict Johan's words, because I was sure that he was the one who knew better how to behave, since he had known himself longer than I had.

But this made me wonder, why were they still trying so hard to get this out of me? What did it have to do with me if Gerry changed his attitude towards them?

Just a moment ago, I was thinking, and now I've found these people in front of me staring at me with meaningful looks, and their smiles look different from normal smiles as well.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something wrong with my appearance?" I asked unhappily.

"Hehe, it's okay Mr. Zharies. Actually, we want to tell you something, but we are hesitant. And we are also afraid that you might take offense if we say it," Johan said.

"Hm? What is it? Just say it. I accept all wishes as long as they are not insults or confrontations without a clear purpose," I said casually.

Those who were there elbowed each other, following each other as if they were pushing each other to get one of them to reveal their thoughts to me.

"If you don't want to tell me, I'm not forcing you, why are you forcing yourself to say things that I'm not even asking you?" I asked.

Actually, my temperament is not as good as other people's, even if compared to Gerry's, my temperament is not much different from his. It's just that I don't like to choose the way of violence to solve everything.

"Sorry, Mr. Zharies. I didn't mean it that way, we were just confused because we couldn't find the right words. Ah! But the point is that we feel that..."

At this rate, I'm going to die of curiosity the longer they hang on to their words.

"If what?" I asked.

"If.... If Mr. Gerry is really interested in you," Johan said.

What the hell? Didn't I hear that wrong? I think I need to have my ears checked by a doctor.

Actually, there was nothing wrong with what Johan said to me, but the man's expression and gesture, like a girl expressing her first love in junior high school, made me almost vomit at that moment.

"What's with your expression? Wait, what do you mean? Do you mean that Gerry is interested in being friends with me?" I asked, trying to think positively. "I don't want to be overconfident because he and I are not in the same social class, so being called his friend would make me less confident."

"Ah! It's not like that, Mr. Zharies. I mean that.... You and Mr. Gerry make a....."

Johan glanced at me again and looked down, holding back a shy smile.

"You make a good couple."