Saving the Villain

"Are you calm now?" Maxen inquired after ten minutes on the road and still got no answer from Conrad.

"Yes, thank you." Cosette nodded, a bit calmer now.

"Good." His eyes fell on her hand that was holding his finger, but she tightened her grip even more.

"Just for today," she whispered as he raised his eyes to her. "I\'m really scared."

Maxen rocked his head in understanding but said nothing. He then pulled the phone away from his ear, only to redial Conrad\'s number once again. Seeing his action, Cosette could not help but heaved a sigh of relief.

If not for Maxen, Cosette probably lost it already. She was under too much stress and couldn\'t think straight. But because of Maxen\'s patience and company, she managed to keep herself together. Still, she wanted to hold on to him, afraid she would go anywhere if she couldn\'t take the wait anymore.

\'Maxen is right. I can just fly to Sharie tomorrow,\' she thought to calm her still racing heart. \'It\'s not like Papa will die — of course, he will not!\'

She nodded in determination as she told herself to not think about it too much. Cosette continued to give herself some time to think of plans.

"Still no answer?" she inquired to Maxen after five minutes. The latter frowned and shook his head sideways. But she didn\'t panic anymore. Cosette simply let out a deep sigh.

\'I hope he will be fine,\' she thought, gazing at the window only to see the towering building of her company from the highway. \'No, he will be fine for sure. If my memory serves, the chaos in Sharie will break out on Papa\'s third day. I have time, that\'s right. I have time.\'

Maxen still tried to reach Conrad\'s phone, even though they were already approaching the building of the BLK Corporation. He would glance at her from time to time and sigh in relief seeing her calm. His eyes once again fell on her grip around his finger. Warmth filled his heart at the sense of need he felt from her, even though she was gripping it until her hand turned white.

"Ah!" Maxen flinched when Cosette suddenly let his finger go and exclaimed. When he raised his gaze to her, Cosette was slapping the window rapidly but lightly.

It took her seconds before she remembered to press the button to roll down the window. "Papa!" she yelled as their car stopped in front of the building.

Conrad halted and straightened his back, standing in front of the back passenger seat. He twisted his neck when a car parked just right in front of his ride and in front of the entrance. His brows furrowed the second he saw his daughter, wearing nothing but her pajamas, running to him.

"Cozie?" he tilted his head and before he could ask, he froze. Cosette jumped to him and embraced him tightly.

"Cozie, what…" he frowned upon feeling the vibration of her body against him, planting his hand on her back.

"Please don\'t go to Sharie, Dad!" she begged with a shaking voice. "If you are going, then let me come too!"

"Cozie —"

pAn,Da-n0v e1,c "Please!" Cosette let him go and held his hand with both her hands, eyes fixed on him. "Just this once, Papa. Just this one; listen to me."

Conrad furrowed his brows, studying the desperation plastered across her face. Even if she didn\'t beg him, her eyes already told him she wanted to be heard. He glanced to his right, where his assistant was standing. The latter smiled and bowed slightly.

"Cozie." Conrad set his eyes back to Cosette and his eyes softened. "I\'m afraid you are late."

"What?"

"I already sent another person to go to Sharie," explained Conrad while she blinked twice as if that would help her register his statements faster.

Warren, Conrad\'s assistant chuckled. "Young Miss, apparently, His Majesty changed his mind at the last minute. He said he was a little worried about leaving you behind when you asked him to stay. Thus, this humble servant here can only send other people to Sharie while we stay in touch with them."

"Really?" Cosette looked back at Conrad with twinkling eyes. "Really?"

Conrad nodded. "You heard Warren correctly. Although he made a fuss about it."

"Papa…" with the relieved emotion in her heart, Cosette jumped and embraced her father. "Thank you."

"Anything for you." He chuckled and patted her back. Now, he could confidently say he regrets nothing. Matter of fact, he was relieved he changed his mind because her upset mood during dinner bothered him. Losing millions was better than losing his daughter. After all, he had worked hard all his life, and it was time to prioritize her.

"Aww…" Warren wiped the invisible tears from the corner of his eyes. "This is so touching."

Meanwhile, Maxen, who was standing outside the open car door, smiled in relief.

"I\'m glad she\'s fine now," he whispered after listening to Conrad\'s explanation. \'Her father sets the bar too high… it somehow makes me feel reassured that stupid brat will stand no chance even if he is the son of the president of the country.\'

With all that said and done, Conrad let his daughter go. As he did, he glanced in Maxen\'s direction before setting his eyes back to her.

"Did you come here in your pajamas to stop me?" he asked, raising his brows.

"Uh… right…" Cosette looked down and only realized what she was wearing before she laughed awkwardly. "Hehe… yes."

"Cozie." Conrad sighed, chuckling. "Let\'s go home, then."

"Mhm…" she nodded before she perked up. "Max is with me!"

The second Cosette turned her head back to the car she rode, she frowned as it already sped away

"He\'s someone who can read the mood." Conrad ruffled her hair. "We had the same destination, anyway. Let\'s go."

Cosette smiled as she nodded. "Yes!"

With that being said, Cosette and Conrad hitched the ride and the car immediately sped away. Warren, who was standing in the same spot, smiled.

"What a lovely duo they had become." Warren hummed as his heart was moved to tears, seeing how Conrad\'s relationship with his daughter improved significantly. However, his smile soon cracked when he realized he was the only person standing outside the building in the middle of the night.

*******

Inside the car where Cosette and Conrad were…

"Anyway, Cozie, if you do not mind me asking. Why are you strongly against this trip?" asked Conrad when they both settled in. This time, Cosette froze because she barely had a plan for this.

The side of her lips curled up as she giggled awkwardly, returning his gaze. "Heh…" Seeing his brows raise while waiting for an answer patiently, Cosette had no choice but to choose the most believable lie she could come up with.

\'Please God. Don\'t punish me for lying!\' she mentally crossed her fingers.

"I\'ve been… taking tabs on the situation in the company," she lied. She knew nothing about the current situation of the company. "I\'ve taken an interest in our Sharie branch because I thought it\'s a good place to start and was planning to move there. That\'s why I am aware of the current state of affairs. I\'m simply afraid something will happen while you were there, while the tension in Sharie continuously increases."

"You were planning to study abroad?" he asked, stuck in that claim, which was what she planned.

"Yes." Cosette lowered her head, unable to look him in the eye while lying. It was not like she was completely lying. The real Cosette had been interested in this particular branch and did an extensive presentation to make it the best branch among all the subsidiaries they had.

"I was planning to study abroad and help in a smaller branch first. But I changed my mind because I don\'t really want to stay away from you." This time, she mustered enough courage to raise her head and smile. "That\'s the time I suggested transferring school. I thought instead of working in the company, I should work on myself first. It was worth it."

His eyes softened while his lips curled up subtly. Conrad planted his hand over her head and patted it gently.

"You never cease to amaze me," he muttered. "Thank you, Cozie."

"Papa…"

"And I\'m sorry if I worried you. I\'ll try to become better."

"You\'re already the best." She giggled before jumping near him, hugging his arms as if it was a teddy bear. Cosette leaned her side against him, lips curled up with a sweet smile.

"Papa, you\'re the best father I can ever ask for. Let\'s always stay happy together and put all those wasted years in the past where they belong." Her eyes softened as her heart now felt at ease, yawning as it was rather late. But before Cosette could succumb to a peaceful sleep, she whispered.

"I just want you to be happy and healthy, so you stay with me for a long time. I love you, Papa."

Conrad froze for minutes before he gazed down at her. His lips curled up, seeing she had fallen asleep just like that.

"I don\'t know when was the last time we said such words." He patted her knuckles that were around his arm. "You mean the world to me, Cosette. Thank you for being born."

— End of Volume 1 —