Chapter 68 - Lunch Is Important

“She came all the way here just to give you that?” Keith sneered. His sarcastic tone sounded as if he were asking, ‘for someone like you?’

I felt both offended and challenged, so I sneered back, “It might be difficult for you to understand, but there are quite a few women who like me.”

‘Though they like me in a different sense,’ I added internally.

Just then, Keith said something completely unexpected. “Seems like it.”

I doubted my ears. I slowly blinked my eyes, but that wasn’t going to make Keith repeat what he had said. I belatedly realized that he wasn’t being sarcastic at all. He was just trying to check. I was just too twisted that I had ended up misinterpreting his words. Realizing this made me ashamed. 

Just as I was about to hurriedly change the subject, Keith spoke up first. “You weren’t able to eat lunch all this time?”

I was taken aback by his unexpected choice of topic. “Oh… Well, it’s fine. I eat a lot of breakfast, so even if I skip lunch—”

“So,” Keith interrupted, “you’ve been skipping lunch?”

I struggled to form a response for a moment. “Not always… Sometimes Charles packs me a sandwich.”

Keith creased his brow and squinted as if he were trying to hunt me down. “What if Charles doesn’t pack anything?”

I couldn’t answer. Keith let out a clogged sort of sigh.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he said.

I lowered my gaze in embarrassment. “I’m already imposing on you, so I didn’t want to tell you something like that. That was just a part of Charles’ thoughtfulness and I shouldn’t be taking it for granted. Skipping one meal isn’t a big deal, anyway.”

Keith didn’t say anything in response to my excuse. The silence that took over was uncomfortable. I knew I should be saying something, but nothing came to mind. As I merely waited for Keith to leave, he made a sudden movement.

Was he going to leave?

Just as I tried to recall what his lunch schedule was for today, Keith suddenly took a large stride toward me. I widened my eyes in surprise. He reached out his arm.

Before I could even expect anything, Keith picked up the sandwich from my desk. Then, he tossed it straight into the trash can.

“W-What are you doing?” I stuttered in surprise. 

However, Keith’s attitude remained unchanging. In fact, he lazily swept back his hair and commanded, “Come outside.”

Keith began to walk away first. Before I could do anything else, he was already holding open the door. He frowned as if to ask what I was doing.

Puzzled, I asked, “Where are we going? You have plans for lunch.”

“Just come,” snapped Keith. I was left with no choice but to leave the office with him. Was there something that he wanted me to do? Even as I rushed out of the office, I made sure to shove my tablet into my briefcase. I followed after him, curious as to what it may be, despite also being flabbergasted. How could he just throw away what was given to me? Emma had taken the time to make it herself.

Although I was annoyed by it, I couldn’t protest or show any irritation to Keith. Feeling guilty toward Emma, I hurried after him into the car.

*

*

Without any explanation, the car drove toward the scheduled location. Thinking back, this man never once told me anything properly. I always had to assume, predict, deduce, and somehow make sense of what this man wanted.

This time too, this man must want something from me. I frantically worked my brain to think what in the world it could be.

Could it be that his arm hurt?

It looked fine on the outside, but it must be uncomfortable. It also seemed like Charles helped Keith whenever he needed to change unlike before. My thoughts trailed off as I wondered, ‘Now that I think about it, he has to go take out his stitches soon. Did he have anything that day? I should make sure that his schedule is empty…’

“Welcome,” the manager, who had recognized Keith at the entrance, greeted him politely and showed us to our table. Today, Keith was scheduled to have lunch with the lawyer to talk about the acquisition of another production company that was currently underway.

‘Maybe they need me to take notes,’ I assumed. As soon as I sat down, I opened my briefcase and took out my phone and my tablet. Just as I was preparing myself to do whatever I needed to do once the instructions came, something slid into my sight.

When I perked up my head in surprise, I saw Keith holding the menu toward me. I blinked for a few seconds before quickly accepting it.

Was he asking me to choose?

I examined the menu thoughtfully. I tried to recall the lawyer’s tastes, but nothing came to mind. If I were told instead to pick Keith’s menu for him, I could have done it confidently.

Left with no other choice, I looked up and asked, “Should I call the lawyer and ask?”

“Ask what?” Keith, who was also looking at the menu, looked up and stared at me from across the table.

Unable to hide the awkwardness in my face, I carefully added, “I’m not sure what the lawyer might like… Weren’t you asking me to order for her?”

I jolted. Keith was staring intently at my face. I had never seen him make such a face. Had I said something strange?