The question came out as if on its own, but with no going back, Tyler bit the bullet and kept his expression expectant but cool.
But Kim showed no particular reaction. Her gaze remained on the damage she was assessing as she scolded Tyler:
"You didn't even think about calling Alex, did you?"
Tyler paused, then his expression awkwardly shifted into one of embarrassment. He stole a glance at Kim, but he couldn't say that the opportunity Alex had landed on his lap had made focus all his attention on his destination and on her who he had been eagerly anticipating the meeting with, could he?
Kim shook her head, and walked to the other side of the car. Seeing her ignoring him, Tyler smiled wryly:
"You are right, I should have called Alex. I will do that later, but for now you have yet to answer my question."
Kim didn't even raise her eyes to look at him when she retorted:
"Are you ready to face your mother?"
Tyler immediately quieted down. All other emotions but defeat were wiped off his mind. His expression stagnated, and his smile faded. No answer managed to leave his mouth, even though his lips moved a few times.
"..."
"I thought so too. I'm not interested in a relationship without a future. Let's talk again when you have found the courage to be decisive and you have made your choice."
Kim showed none of the surprise that should have been expected of her. She simple nodded, and redirected the tiny bit of focus she had diverted back onto the issue at hand
Tyler lowered his head, then exhaled. When he looked up again, his face was calm, with an appearance of only looking at Kim from afar without being able to get close.
Kim pushed back a strand of her two inches hair that was bothering her, and ordered out loud:
"Conns, get me a scan of the car, and do a detailed assessment of the internal damages."
Conns glanced at the red Alfa Romeo, then at the car hanging above he was fiddling with, before he looked at Kim with uncertainty:
"What about this car, boss? I can finish repairing it by the end of the day and let the client pick it up tomorrow morning. He has already been informed."
Kim frowned, then dismissed Conns' concern with a wave of her hand:
"Have the others take over. This car is Alex's, so we will make it a priority."
Conns raised his eyebrows in surprise and came over:
"Ah, the big boss!?"
Kim rolled her eyes in frustration:
"He is not the big boss, he is an investor."
"Yeah, yeah, the angel who will help us open a chain."
Kim slapped the back of Conns' head to wipe the grin off his face, and glared at him with her fists on her hips:
"He invested in me since I was nineteen, and it has been five years already! Do you think I don't want him to be the big boss? Now shut up and do your work!"
Conns stepped away from Kim in defeat, ignoring the laughter from the others behind him. Seeing Kim still glaring at him, he pointed at the red car and changed the subject:
"Our main investor might want to keep his car the way it is as a memento. Maybe you should ask him."
Kim raised an eyebrow:
"Do you know something?"
Conns exhaled in relief, seeing the situation getting defused, and continued:
"It is no wonder I felt it was familiar when it was brought in. Yesterday, Mr Lenner saved a little girl by taking in her place a few tons of weight moving at high speed. I'm surprised you didn't know, boss. Fortunately, he didn't get any injuries from the accident."
Kim didn't care about Conns' surprise. She took a moment to internalize the situation. She glanced at the wide-eyed Tyler, then waved her hand after letting out an exhale:
"We will come up with a plan first, then let Alex decide."
"Okay, boss!"
The grin Conns replied with made Kim glare at him for one last time, before she returned deeper inside the workshop the way she came from.
A sigh came from behind her, obviously directed at Tyler by Conns:
"Sigh, buddy, you gave the wrong answer again today."
She could imagine him shaking his head, while Tyler smiled wryly with a hint of shame, and looked at her disappearing back.
_ _ _
_ _ _
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
"Hello?"
Alex's voice rang, with the call picked up, and Kim immediately threw a question at him:
"You had an accident yesterday?"
"I suppose Tyler brought my car to you."
A casual deflection with a casual smile, and that did not make Kim happy:
"Alex, stop joking."
"Already, I won't joke anymore. But you shouldn't worry. It was just a small accident."
That was what he said, but there was still a smile that could be felt in his voice.
"I saw the video online."
"So you know that nothing serious happened. Enough of that, did Tyler disappoint you again."
This time, the change in subject worked, as knowing him, Kim was sure she would not manage to get anything from him, not even a simple show of remorse for putting himself in danger. So her answer came after a moment:
"Mm."
"Actually… Nevermind, it is between you two. Just, make sure neither of you ends up with any regret now, or later. Thanks for worrying about me. See you later."
"Hey! Wait! You car–"
*Beep*
"You!"
Alex was startled when he put his phone away and turned around. He patted his chest as he looked at Leyna quietly smiling at him from the entrance of the veranda where she had been with Grace some time ago. He glared at her:
"Do you want me to die young? Why are you being so quiet?"
Leyna's smile widened, and she nodded toward the phone Alex had put away:
"That was Kim Yoon, wasn't it? She must have been worried about the accident you didn't tell anyone about yesterday."
The corner of Alex's left eye twitched, and he asked a with a casual smile:
"That small accident? I did tell you about it this morning, didn't I? It was nothing serious."
"Is that so?"
Leyna's smile was genuine, but too much so, making it even less credible than if she had been simply glaring at him.
Really, nothing about a woman, especially a mature one, should be trusted.
Alex's lips twitched as he complained in his mind, and he hurried past the black-haired woman:
"Come, sis, let's go in and eat. I'm famished, and mom must be hungry too. Mom! Let's eat!"
Leyna turned to look at him, then with a smile, followed behind him.