62 – Cypress Mosaic

“Is ​the ​information ​reliable?”

[It ​is information obtained ​from ​our ​source ​planted ​in Albany. You can ​consider ​it certain.]

Only then ​did a faint ​smile ​appear ​on ​Lorenz’s ​lips.

Clara ​Han, the Lieutenant ​Governor ​of ​New York State—she ​was known to be ​quite favorable ​toward eco-friendly ​businesses, both ​politically and ​personally. ​If ​she were to ​become the ​general manager in charge ​of New York State’s ​energy and economic development ​policies, it ​would ​work in Project Tempest’s favor. There ​was a high probability ​that ​the ​entire ​process, ​from business permits ​and government ​subsidies ​to grid connection ​approvals, ​would proceed without a hitch.

[Shall ​I contact ​Clara ​Han?]

Nathan sought his ​superior’s ​permission.

“Do ​so. ​However, ​you must ​move ​cautiously.”

[Of course, ​Mr. Lorenz.]

In the meantime, the car had ​completely left the ​Financial District and ​was driving north along ​the FDR ​Drive. The view ​of ​the East River ​unfolding to the ​right felt ​particularly ​refreshing today. ​His ​headache persisted, ​but ​he could ​endure ​it ​with the hope ​that ​it would ​improve ​soon ​upon ​arriving at the mansion.

Everything was going smoothly.

The path was open to expedite Project Tempest just as he wanted. God must be helping him. If the marriage to Adriana was successfully arranged as well, no one would dare oppose his becoming the successor. No one…

“Mr. Lorenz.”

The driver, who had been speaking in a low voice on the phone to avoid disturbing the young master, cautiously caught Lorenz’s attention.

“Go ahead.”

“I am told there is a guest at the mansion.”

“A guest? I don’t recall making any appointments.”

Hesitation was evident in the driver’s expression as he glanced at the backseat through the [visit our site]rearview mirror. [stolen content]It was clear Read on Read BL Novelsthat this was not a welcome guest.

If a guest barges in suddenly without an appointment, nine times out of ten, they are an unwelcome intruder.

The driver, gauging Lorenz’s reaction, spoke with difficulty.

“Um… Mr. Joshua has visited.”

“……”

The knuckles of the hand gripping the armrest turned white. The corners of his mouth, which had maintained a blank expression, twisted subtly.

A wave of unpleasantness washed over him, as if a rude intruder had entered his home. It felt as though that intruder had stepped deep into his bedroom with dirty boots and was about to touch the treasures inside the safe.

The face of Elian Bellotti, which he had tried so hard to push out of his mind, reclaimed that space all too easily.

Those two must not meet. That was his only thought. No, rather than a thought, it was an instinct.

“Hurry. As fast as possible.”

Following the urgent command, Lorenz immediately attempted to call Margaret.

For a moment, he completely forgot about his headache.

■

Tea and refreshments were prepared in the downstairs living room.

While the employee set the table, an uncomfortable silence created a taut sense of tension.

Joshua, sitting loosely and half-reclined, sunk into the backrest of the sofa, staring only at Elian opposite him. With a face full of dissatisfaction, he spoke to Margaret, his gaze still fixed on Elian.

“I’m not in the mood to elegantly drink black tea. Margaret, give me alcohol.”

Margaret, who had been waiting by the sofa set, signaled the employee to withdraw. She then lifted the teapot and poured tea into the cup with a polite motion.

“You drove here yourself, Mr. Joshua. Please have some black tea. These are high-quality unauthorized copytea stolen contentleaves brought from the Assam region, so the flavor is very deep.”

“Pretending to be refined while drinking this stuff is my grandmother’s taste.”

“You must not speak of Ms. Evelyn in such a manner. And your posture is quite poor. Now, please sit up straight.”

Joshua, who sighed while rolling his eyes toward the ceiling, looked like a teenage boy tired of his parents’ nagging. He merely shifted as if pretending to correct his posture, but in reality, he maintained almost the same position. Margaret lowered her eyes and shook her head slightly.

Finally, Joshua threw a question toward Elian.

“Why are you here?”

“Didn’t you come knowing everything? That I am Lucas’s counselor.”

“That’s why I’m asking. Why Lucas of all people, and why this house of all places? Is yours the only counselor in Manhattan?”

Joshua laid bare his discomfort.

“I was offered a job, had an interview, was hired, and am simply working.”

“It’s my brother, isn’t it?”

“……”

Unable to discern the intent of the question, Elian gazed at him in silence.

“Knowing that I was looking for you. My brother deliberately approached you, didn’t he?”

He didn’t even seem to be expecting an answer from Elian.

“Yeah, I bet. That must be it.”

Muttering in a fed-up tone, Joshua added while nodding to himself.

“He’s the kind of person who would do anything if it meant screwing me over.”

Having reached a conclusion on his own, Joshua [visit our site]began to bite [Read on Read BL Novels]his nails irritably. The scenario he was [unauthorized copy]inventing became increasingly detailed.

“He probably started with a background check. Then he found out you’re a counselor. He probably sat alone in that weird soundproof room, smiling slyly. He must have thought, ‘What a windfall.’ He used Lucas as an excuse to systematically approach you. He found you before I did and locked you up here.”

“Mr. Joshua.”

Unable to listen any longer, Margaret intervened.

“Elian is a counselor who was first recommended to us by Dr. Morgan of the Child Psychology Counseling Center. Speculation is not helpful.”

Joshua looked up at Margaret crookedly and replied provocatively.

“But why has Margaret been here this whole time? I don’t feel great, feeling like I’m being watched.”

“I apologize. It is Mr. Lorenz’s instruction.”

It meant that since she had no choice, he should give up on the matter.

Joshua muttered a curse and messily ruffled his hair. His deep green [unauthorized copy]eyes turned toward Elian once again. It wasn’t unauthorized copyjust Read on Read BL Novelshis hair that was a mess; his gaze was also fiercely disordered.

“Don’t psychological counselors make hundreds of dollars an hour? Why were you working at that bar?”

“Not all counselors can receive hundreds of dollars per hour. That’s especially true if they aren’t yet a certified counselor. And high consultation fees aren’t the goal for every counselor.”

“Why didn’t you contact me?”

“Things were decided so hurriedly regarding working here that I was overwhelmed.”

“You promised with your own mouth. That you would contact me.”

Joshua’s voice was becoming increasingly hostile.

“I only said that if you gave me your business card, I would contact you from my end. I never made a promise as to when I would contact you.”

After answering calmly, Elian reached for the teacup, appearing perfectly composed on the outside. However, internally, he was quite flustered.

To think that Joshua Lockhart would barge into the mansion so suddenly. Moreover, it was unexpected for him to [unauthorized copy]be this furiously angry. More than a month had passed since the day [Read on Read BL Novels]they first met. He thought that by now, Joshua’s interest in him would have completely faded…

Elian forced himself to swallow a few sips of tea. Due to his dulled sense of smell, he couldn’t feel the deep flavor Margaret mentioned at all, but he mechanically swallowed the liquid. However, even that warm temperature provided no comfort this time.

After remaining silent for a moment, Joshua posed a question to Elian. It was closer to a reprimand than a question.

“I guess you thought that since you caught my brother, someone like me isn’t necessary anymore?”

“……”

“That compared to him, I’m just B-grade?”

It didn’t seem like something said simply to be emotionally sarcastic.

Joshua was actually viewing this entire situation in connection with Lorenz.

That Lorenz hired Elian was to spite him.

That Elian didn’t contact him [Read on Read BL Novels]was [stolen content]because he chose Lorenz after weighing him against Lorenz. ⎯ He seemed to truly believe that.

Elian could guess to some extent the nature of the resentment Joshua held toward his brother. What was most apparent was a blatant inferiority complex.

He had no intention of defending Lorenz or being considerate of Joshua’s complex, but the reason he hadn’t contacted him had nothing to do with Lorenz. Joshua was clearly misunderstanding.

Just as Elian was about to respond, a cold, hardened voice was heard from the direction of the living room entrance.

“What is this.”

Joshua’s gaze shifted above Elian’s head. His lips curled, forming a sneering smile.

“Oh? Brother, you’re here?”

His voice sounded as if he were welcoming someone he was glad to see.

“I asked what this is.”

“What do you mean ‘what’? Don’t you know me? Should I introduce myself?”

“I’m asking for your purpose in coming here.”

Lorenz Lockhart approached the sofa. As Elian stood up out of politeness, Lorenz’s gaze briefly landed on him. It was the same expressionless, indifferent face as usual. But something was different.

Facing the expression he now wore while dealing with Joshua, Elian felt he understood. When spending time in Lucas’s room, Lorenz had been in a state where he had let his guard down considerably. Even if it was the same blank expression, the current of emotion flowing beneath it was entirely different.