Chapter 283: Two Against All
Lola didn’t idle long in Director Sarian’s office. She only came, knowing a visit would ease Ida’s worries. Not that she believed Director Sarian would drop the series. Director Sarian was a proud man and a petty one, and this was something that wouldn’t make him step back. If anything, he would take it on and prove his point.
As she stepped out of the small building, Lola pulled her phone out at the notification. Her brows rose as soon as she saw Cedrick’s message.
[From: Cedrick
Taz, Silo and I are already in the studio. I just want to say, thank you and have a good day.]
Reading the short and awkward message from her artist brought a smile to her face. A light chuckle escaped her as she shook her head.
"I don’t know if he’s just grateful, or he wants to ask me a favor," she muttered, shoving her phone in her pocket and jumping into her car.
* * *
It had been a while since Lola saw Cedrick, considering her schedule, and his had some conflict. It was a good thing Silo was a supportive friend and had been focusing on Cedrick. So, instead of going back to her office, she went to the studio just to check on Cedrick’s situation.
"Good! Nice shot! Look here!"
The photographer’s voice echoed in the studio, hyped up by Cedrick’s poses and visuals. Lola, on the other hand, stood in the dim corner and watched.
"Lola!" Suddenly, Silo whispered-yelled and rushed to her side. "What are you doing here?"
She cast him a sidelong glance before moving her eyes to Cedrick. "Just checking in on him. He looks..." she trailed off, studying the gleam in Cedrick’s eyes. "...he’s fine."
Compared with the time she came to Cedrick, the man looked happier. Well, this was what Cedrick was meant to do, anyway. This was where he belonged.
"Anyway, I just dropped by to check on him since I haven’t seen him for a while," she said, facing Silo with a smile. "I’m going back now, but I want you to post a photo—something like a teaser on his account."
"Ah..." Silo nodded, furrowing his brows as she walked away. "Wait, Lola. Aren’t you going to finish and talk to him?"
She paused and looked back. "Tell him I said hi."
With that, she resumed her steps and left the studio. Meanwhile, Silo just stared in the direction she went and shrugged. Silo continued to idle around while Cedrick was busy. When they took a short break, he rushed to Cedrick with a bottle of water.
"Good job!" Silo gave him a thumbs-up, grinning. "Cedrick, once these photos are released, you will be the talk of the town again."
Cedrick smiled awkwardly as he sipped some water.
"By the way, Lola said hi," Silo added, making Cedrick raise his brows in surprise.
"Taz is here?" Cedrick perked up and looked around. "Where is she?"
"She already left."
Cedrick’s lips curved down, facing him again. "Ahh... already?"
"Well, Lola’s a bit busy with the company now operational," Silo shrugged. "But she said you’re doing a good job. Keep it up."
"..." Cedrick pressed his mouth into a thin line and forced a smile.
* * *
Meanwhile, at a private resort...
Vito sat on the long couch, his legs resting over the other. His arm was sprawled over the backrest, shaking his head along with low chuckles.
"What an interesting thing," he muttered, cocking his head back as he stared at the ceiling. "Oh, Looney. I wonder what I should do now... now that there’s more reason for me to need you back."
The corners of his mouth hooked up into a smirk as he pushed himself up. Vito dragged himself to the entrance of this place. The second he opened the door and stepped out, he stopped. There, in the hallway leading to where he was, unconscious people were scattered on the path. All these people were his men.
Vito kicked the one nearest him, only to hear a grunt.
"Ugh..." the man on the floor groaned, opening his eyes.
"Wakey, wakey!" Vito yelled, making the other people on the floor start moving and groaning.
"None of them are dead," Vito nodded, clapping loudly to get everyone’s attention. "Hey, guys! I know you are hurt, but we need to move now. So, up, up! Rise and shine!"
Having said that, he indifferently walked over a few of them. By the time he had almost reached the end of the hallway, he saw Salvo rushing and stopping upon seeing him.
"Boss!" Salvo shouted, only for his breath to hitch as he saw some of their men rising behind Vito. His eyes dilated, darting between them and his boss.
"I am okay!" Vito intoned, hands raised. "But I’m leaving now. My whereabouts are exposed. No need to stay here."
Vito resumed his steps and paused beside Salvo, patting his shoulder. "Clean up the mess here."
Having said that, he clapped and shouted, "Men, let’s go!"
The few men with Salvo darted their eyes between Salvo and Vito before they followed the latter. As for Salvo, he just glanced at his boss and then at the men in the hallway in disbelief. He clenched his teeth in dismay, in disbelief at how all these guys were so damn useless!
"Hey!" Salvo shouted at one of them, marching back to them. Giving each of them a glare, he clenched his teeth. "What happened here?!"
Salvo was only gone because he had to visit someone: a small gang under their wing in Novera. Only to find out about this problem.
He reached for the guy nearest him, shouting, "Start talking now! Who was here?!"
"Boss, we don’t know!" one of the men grunted, leaning against the wall as he held his shoulder. "All we know is that there’s this massive thing — this giant man."
"Is he not a robot?" another one groaned.
"That motherfucker broke my arm," the other hissed, wincing as he tried to move his shoulder. "Broke my shoulder too."
"What the fuck are you all talking about?" Salvo roared. "Who are you talking about?! Just how many people went here that you all are almost dead?!"
No one answered, and they only stared at him. When someone finally answered, Salvo’s breath hitched.
"One," one of the men answered. "I mean, there were only two of them."
"Two?!" Salvo’s eyes burned. "There are only two of them against all of you?!"