183 – Andrei’s Act of Repentance
Scarlett wore a pleased expression as she exchanged banter with them. After spending so much time alone in the attic, Isaac needed a friend.
Seemingly reading her mind, Andrei and Isaac took turns speaking.
“Boss, are you hoping that the Earl and I will become friends now?”
“You couldn’t take care of me, so now you’re trying to make your friends do so, Scarlett?”
Scarlett burst into laughter at their words.
“Why not? You two seem like you’d get along well.”
“Making friends isn’t like negotiating, Boss. Anyway, I’m off to rest. Taking care of a boss who causes accidents is usually tiring work.”
Andrei said as he headed to the end room. Scarlett gestured for Isaac to come closer and called him. Entering the room, Isaac sat on the bed, and Scarlett pulled out a watch from her belongings.
“I brought a gift for you while I was at it.”
“Wow.”
Isaac’s eyes widened.
Scarlett playfully tapped Isaac’s sleeve with her fingers and showed him the cufflinks.
“I got these cufflinks even before buying the watch for you. They match the watch so well that I had to get them.”
Scarlett placed the silver watch on Isaac’s left wrist, a watch she hadn’t been able to give him until now. Isaac looked at the simple yet elegant timepiece and grinned.
“Actually, I always thought you would give me a watch someday.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I wondered how I would wear it since I can’t read the time when I have one. I even thought about asking people on the street for the time. But then I thought, who might steal it.”
Scarlett burst into cheerful laughter at Isaac’s words. He examined the watch on his wrist from different angles.
“So, I was thinking of asking a passer-by for a time like this. But I got scared that someone might steal it.”
Scarlett couldn’t hold back her laughter again. Isaac had been looking at the watch with great interest.
♔♔♔
The next day, when Scarlett returned to the watch shop, it was in disarray. As Scarlett gazed at the shop, Andrei spoke.
“Boss, either step inside or come out. We need to break all of this glass to replace it.”
“Oh, yeah.”
When Scarlett stepped aside, Andrei used a hammer; he had to shatter the remaining glass. As Scarlett surveyed the chaotic shop while Andrei worked, he asked her:
“You won’t be staying here for a while, will you, Boss?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll keep an eye on the shop.”
In response, Scarlett said, “It feels right to go together.”
“But then, who will watch the shop?”
“It’s voluntary work.”
“I’ve already accepted that.”
The words Andrei spoke showed his willingness to support Scarlett in this time of need.
“What if you stay here and the Royal Police come to kill Andrei?”
“Why would they? Of course, they would come to do that.”
“That’s why I’m saying, don’t stay here. Come with me. If you don’t like that, how about seeking refuge with the Pitt family?”
“Oh, absolutely not. That’s out of the question. They know I left the Royal Police, and my older brother is hell-bent on killing me. He sees it as a stain on the family name.”
“…Andrei, you’ve faced quite a lot of threats, haven’t you?”
“That’s how it turned out.”
As Andrei spoke, he finished breaking the glass and cleaned up the frame. Then he spoke to Scarlett on the other side of the door.
“Actually, it’s all because of you, Boss.”
“Me? Why?”
“If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t have quit the Royal Police. Because of your influence, things ended up like this.”
As he spoke, he noticed Scarlett’s apologetic expression and smiled.
“That’s that. But what I did to you, I don’t think I’ll ever be forgiven for.”
“What did you do?”
“It’s a secret.”
“Did you use violence?”
“No, I didn’t lay a hand on them.”
“Then what?”
“…Well.”
Seeing Andrei not willing to talk, Scarlett gave up on getting an answer and sat on the stairs to sort out her feelings about the once-difficult shop that was now in shambles.
Andrei finally spoke again.
“So, as an act of repentance, I’ll restore the shop. Maybe if your memory returns, you’ll take it into account before you fire me.”
“We’ll see.”
Scarlett replied, stood up, brushed her skirt with her hands, and extended her hand for a handshake to Andrei.
“Take care of the shop for me.”
“Of course, Boss.”
They shook hands like that, and Scarlett left the shop.
♔♔♔
It was a clear day, perfect for taking a train ride. Scarlett was on her way to a Southern air force base. With only a few belongings in tow, she boarded the train.
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