Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 47

Though he never showed it, Karlyle was inwardly very nervous when working on tasks that involved his family’s expectations. He had trained his entire life to handle things calmly without being greatly stimulated by other matters, but this was because he feared disappointing his mother or father.

Karlyle’s usefulness was connected to that. More than anything else, he didn’t want to see his mother or father saddened because of him. Since Kyle was still unstable, he shouldn’t add to their worries. As the eldest son, Karlyle also had a duty not to tarnish the family’s honor until Kyle became the successor.

At such times, Karlyle suffered from insomnia and gastritis. These were stress-induced symptoms that only appeared during such periods and disappeared afterward, so others didn’t know. It hadn’t happened very often either, so Luther only noticed much later.

Such was Karlyle, suffering from mild insomnia while agonizing over a gift. It wasn’t severe enough to cause stress-induced gastritis, but the tension itself was stronger than ever before.

He had decided it was unbearable and was taking action, but Karlyle knew his confession carried a high probability of risk.

He knew that relationships could change for the worse and even end after a confession. He had never dated, but he had witnessed numerous cases through Aiden and his acquaintances.

Even when he tried not to covet Ash, Karlyle had thought that he might still be able to see Ash occasionally even after their eight meetings ended. So, worsening the situation with a confession was something Karlyle didn’t want.

But his father Jonathan’s words kept coming back to him. Just as he recalled them the day he decided to meet Ash again, Jonathan had said that sometimes one must take risks to gain what no one else has. And Ash was worth the risk.

Moreover, Karlyle’s confession today was not a baseless gamble. He had accumulated data.

Of course, the layers of “hints” Ash had given might well be Karlyle’s own delusion. Given his lack of experience in romance, his judgment had low credibility.

However.

However…

Karlyle silently looked in the mirror. The man in the mirror had a cold face. Skin as pale as winter snow, a cold demeanor that seemed incapable of expression, slightly upturned eyes, ash-gray pupils, and a straight-lined mouth.

The elements forming his features were flawless, but they didn’t shine beautifully like Kyle, nor did they give a flamboyant and profound impression like Nicholas. He certainly couldn’t be compared to Ash, who effortlessly captivated people’s gazes and made them want to grant his every wish.

Yet, Ash continuously called such a Karlyle “beautiful.” He ultimately made him smile and made gestures of desire upon seeing Karlyle’s smile. The hand that pressed down on him touched his bare skin. He spread his legs, openly revealing his desires.

Could someone who treated him this way… truly have no ulterior motives?

No. He didn’t want to believe that. He wanted to believe that all these actions—giving him flowers, giving him something he carried in his wallet, turning back on his way to introduce him to his sister—held some deeper meaning.

Karlyle made up his mind. Taking out his phone from his suit’s inner pocket, he typed a single sentence.

[I have something I’d like to say to you if we meet today.]

A very deep emotion permeated the seemingly stiff sentence. Karlyle stared at it for a long time, then exhaled a shaky breath and pressed the send button.

A heavy pressure weighed on his shoulders. But it was a pleasant pressure. Ash spoke of destiny. Karlyle wanted to believe Ash’s words.

He even held a somewhat forced hope that Ash might unconsciously remember their first meeting.

[Oh?]

Ash replied not long after. The seemingly inorganic expression slowly came to life. Karlyle, with a hesitant hand, impatiently typed out his reply.

[Yes.]

Ash’s reply arrived quickly, as if he was looking at his phone.

[I’m so curious about what you want to say that I don’t think I can do anything until then?]

Impatience and anxiety surged simultaneously. Yet, he was happy. The premonition wasn’t bad.

[Are you very busy?]

Ash was silent for a moment. The delay lasted about thirty minutes. Karlyle checked the time. It was two-thirty in the afternoon. According to schedule, Ash should have been leaving by now. This was because the meeting place today was Karlyle’s mansion.

[I’m sorry, I have something to take care of.]

Ash typed another text immediately.

[The final design printouts had an incorrect value, so I need to resolve that first. Is four o’clock okay? I’m sorry.]

A faint sense of disappointment settled in. Humans were strange. Karlyle realized that every minute and second felt incredibly slow since he decided to give Ash a gift. It was very difficult to restrain himself, wanting to see Ash’s happy face and reaction.

It was a strange feeling to discover for the first time in thirty-two years that he was such an impatient person. Karlyle hesitated. He wanted to see Ash even a little sooner. Karlyle also had a lot of appointments and things to do, but strangely, Ash always seemed busier. As if Karlyle was the most idle and unoccupied person in the world.

Nevertheless, he didn’t want to busily add more to his schedule. He wanted to see Ash as much as possible. If his confession today was accepted and their relationship was defined differently, he was willing to adjust his work to make more time.

[May I come pick you up?]

Karlyle succumbed to his desire. Over the past two months, he had become a person who surrendered very easily to desire and pleasure. This was a result of that change.

[You want to?]

It sounded as if Ash’s laughter was conveyed through the text. The corners of Karlyle’s lips subtly curled up, then slowly lowered.

[If you allow me, I would like to.]

[It would be an honor.]

Kind Ash let Karlyle do as he wished.

[I’m near Covent Garden Station. Can you come to the address I sent by 3:30 then?]

[Understood.]

[See you in a bit.]

Karlyle checked the time. It was two-thirty. Even with an hour left, Karlyle felt he could no longer endure staying at home. He once again succumbed to the surging desire. He decided to leave the house a little early.

Ash’s company was located between Covent Garden and Holborn. Instead of bringing a chauffeur, Karlyle drove himself. After parking the car in a dedicated parking building, he went up to the ground level and arrived at the building Ash had mentioned.

A clean and sophisticated font sign read Unexpected. It was a considerably large studio, four stories high, with one wall made of glass, like many offices in London. The lobby was adorned with vibrant colors, and numerous posters were visible.

He felt as if he had stepped into another private domain of Ash’s, following his home. That fact alone turned the waiting itself into excitement. From wondering what Ash was like at work, to what expression Ash would wear while working, all sorts of things piqued his curiosity.

After entering the lobby, visibly nervous, Karlyle was guided to a waiting area. When asked if he had a scheduled meeting, Karlyle stated Ash’s name. The receptionist’s eyes widened, then she quickly left her desk with a face that suggested she had a lot to say.

With the sound of bustling whispers fading in the distance behind him, Karlyle calmly sat down and surveyed the entire lobby floor. From the D&AD trophy shaped like a yellow pencil on display, to meticulously examining prints listing various awards, time passed incredibly slowly.

It was then that he heard Ash’s voice.

“A visitor?”

Following that was the receptionist’s voice. Karlyle unconsciously rose from his seat. His heart pounded fiercely. A surge of overwhelming emotion mixed with anticipation filled him.

“Yes, a very handsome gentleman. He said he had an appointment with the director.”

Another voice was heard. It was a woman’s voice, like the receptionist’s. It seemed there was more than one person.

“Oh, I think I know who that is! Isn’t he the one you met at the station last time?”

“Oh, I saw him too. What’s their relationship, exactly? The video team staff and I all saw them holding hands!”

Excited voices echoed in the lobby. Karlyle, who had been about to walk towards Ash, paused. The description itself was ambiguous, making it hard to be certain it referred to him, but the context suggested they were talking about him.

Karlyle quietly stood and looked ahead. The separate waiting room was around the corner from the reception desk. The building entrance was structured so that one had to go down a hallway and turn a corner, so only voices were heard first.

“Mr. Frost?”

Ash’s voice held a hint of amusement, yet somehow also sounded troubled. Karlyle stopped completely. If he were to step out now, the situation might become awkward.

A slight impatience grew within him. He wanted to see Ash quickly. Then, he wanted to say the words he had waited for all these days. But the people showed no sign of granting Karlyle’s wish. The chatter continued.

“How can his name be as cool as his face? Are you two dating?”

“Now that you mention it, hasn’t the director been single for almost a year?”

Meanwhile, unknown stories about Ash poured out. His heart began to beat even faster when he heard the word “dating.”

His throat felt a little tight. An inexplicable tension, accompanied by dry palms, spread through him. Clenching and unclenching his fists, Karlyle waited for Ash’s answer. Of course, Ash would say no. But…

“We’re not like that.”

Yes, that was the obvious answer. Rubbing his chilling hands, Karlyle moistened his lips. …Not yet, not at that stage.

“Really? Even holding hands?”

“Mikhaila, if you put it that way, then everyone the director dated was his lover?”

“Well, that’s true.”

A high voice and a husky voice followed one another, constantly revealing facts. Karlyle easily inferred that many people at the company had witnessed Ash meeting others.

This was also expected. Of course. He knew it from the beginning. That Ash had a lot of experience. Holding hands, too, would be a natural thing for Ash. And someone discovering it…

“Then what kind of relationship is it? About to date?”

The receptionist’s question dropped with a laugh. From the voices overflowing with interest and curiosity towards Ash, he felt that they were close to Ash. Footsteps continued to echo.

“With Mr. Frost…”

The amusement was still there, but the voice sounded even more troubled than before. Karlyle held his breath. It wasn’t intentional. But it was hard to breathe.

“We’re nothing.”