Chapter 30/177: Gold

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No, it was not easy to be creative, finalize a chapter, and decide to update it. 

But Beirut, this one is for you.

Please take a moment to pray for all what's happening in our beloved capital and to its people. 

On a final note, we stress on the importance of having read the extra chapters on the Extra Material book for you to properly understand the references in this chapter. 

Thank you for all your continuous support, and please continue supporting us by voting and commenting. 

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I held my breath tightly as I stood behind the now closed door of Sarah Dowell's room. 

Rickard Ellington Conway's harmonic and confident steps were heard, and I assumed he was approaching the bed. 

Some silent seconds passed, and I heard a faint and feminine sigh escape Sarah as she groaned softly from her new injury, yet silence remained. 

Knowing his majesty enough, I could tell he was taking his time to eye her, as he burned her with one of his concentrated, cold, and haughty gazes. 

His voice came at that, holding a deeply cold, yet slightly blaming arrogance:

"That was a foolish move."

Sarah's chuckle was heard, and this time, it was a genuine one, despite the fact that it was bittersweet. "Classic Rickard Ellington Conway." 

He didn't honor that with a reply, and I could tell he'd shot her a dangerous glare, as her voice came again, the typical and bubbly Sarah Dowell voice: "Ouch, Ricky! That inconsiderate glare of yours is hurting this young injured maiden more than my already existing woun–" 

His sharp, thoughtless, and dead cold voice cut her off: 

"Be silent!" I could imagine his neck muscles popped at this, as his tone deepened, "Have you any idea how reckless and anti-productive what you did was?" 

A soft gasp was heard, and I could tell Sarah Dowell was equally surprised by his... snap. I wanted to gasp too, but remembered the last time I was eavesdropping on their conversation in a hospital (back in the Harveston Hamlington shithead days), my gasp was what gave me off, so I kept silent. 

"You could have permanently rendered your arm immobile." His voice came, low and deep, "Do you never learn?" 

A few moments of silence passed, before Sarah's bubbly giggle was heard. 

"For the love of God!" She laughed loudly, "You're so fucking adorable!"  

No answer came to that, and I could tell he was just darkening his gaze ten folds, just freezing her. 

A sigh was heard, "I'm sorry." Sarah's voice came, "For worrying you. And for everything." Her tone got lower, "I bet my stupid actions even pushed Khaled away from a collaboration with you." A bitter chuckle was heard from her at that, "And away from me as well." She followed up, her tone upset, clearly regretful. 

Farther footsteps were heard at that, and looking to the end of the hall, I eyed none other than Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed, as he was chatting with a doctor. 

Speak of the devil!

I eyed as the doctor pointed at the room, and figured he was probably asking for Sarah. 

Stealthily, I moved from behind the door and turned towards the other side of the hall, before he could see me. I wouldn't really like to make my debut as a stalker for the Sheikh as well, but I'm really just curious!

Khaled stepped in, and pushed the door closed behind him. I moved back at that, and much to my happiness, he did not fully close it, rather left a teeny tiny opening which allowed me to sneak a peek into the room.

The sheikh stood before the bed, a paper bag in his hand, as he fixed Sarah with a gentle yet non-smiling gaze. 

His object of observation fidgeted in her place, her expression surprised as she clearly did not expect him. 

A few seconds of silence, and meaningful exchanged gazes passed, before his majesty, with all the sensibleness he had, cut off the exchanged gazes with his cold arrogant voice: "I informed him of your incident." He spoke, fixing Sarah unflinchingly, "And the reason behind your... abnormal behavior." 

Right, it had slipped my mind that before even raising a gun at Mr. Ellington, Sarah had pointed a knife at Khaled. It's true she did not know it was him, but still, for a reaction, it was pretty... aggressive

Sarah gasped softly at my employer, as she switched her look back to Khaled, and bit her lips. "Khaled..." 

The addressed prince spoke not, as he stepped closer to the bed, his beauteous golden like hazels centering on the young woman.

Dowell's look mellowed as she eyed him further, "I... don't know what to tell you, But..." Sarah's beauteous green eyes glowed with a layer of wetness at that, as she bit her lips. 

Her expression changed at that, as she forced a bitter, pained, and teary smile.

"I'm sorry for the disappointment, I guess?"

From before her, Khaled blinked, and focusing more at her expression, I could tell why. 

It was a miserable smile. 

One that screamed 'please don't leave even though I fucked up bad'. 

My heart ached at the tough act she was trying to put, clearly attempting to show Khaled she was not hurting as much, as though to make him hate her for what she did because she doesn't think she deserves forgiveness. Or because she genuinely thinks of herself as a disappointment to him.

Yet at the same time, it screamed silently for help. 

"You are an amazing person," She kept the smile, and I could tell her tears needed a nudge to fall, "You somehow have managed to turn all your pain throughout the years to a lifestyle of kindness and a sense of aim. But I..." 

I eyed as her hand clenched over the blanket over her, as she turned away towards the window. "I can only project all the pain I passed through into others." Her voice broke, and her entity shook, as her head remained turned towards the window. "My father... he was the last of what I had as family." 

"I became blinded." Her voice came in a whisper. 

Rickard Ellington shifted at that, as he moved to leave the room, apparently sensing they needed some privacy. 

"Uh, wait, Rickard." She called softly, and his majesty stopped, arcing his head in her direction. 

I eyed as she clumsily wiped a tear or two with her left hand, as she turned back, eyeing Khaled with her sad eyes. 

"I understand that you're disappointed in me, Khaled..." she mumbled, "But a partnership with Rickard is one I can promise will benefit you both."

She fixed her glinting eyes into the sheikh's pleasingly. "Please don't judge him based on me." 

Some long moments of silence passed, and Khaled finally shifted at that, as he opened the paper bag he had. 

Sarah blinked, and so did I, as he pulled out... Oh... 

Holding it in good packaging, I eyed as he removed the packing, as well as the lid... 

...from the lemonade glass. 

I blinked, and so did Sarah. 

And he smiled at that, as he handed her the drink. 

His white and shiny teeth glowed in symmetry, and his warm eyes devoured her. 

"I got it without a straw this time." He voiced hoarsely, "Saving the sea turtles and papers, hm?" 

Sarah's eyes went wide, as she eyed him in confusion. 

He extended the drink further, keeping his smile. "Won't you honor me with another deep life chat, Miss Dowell?" 

I barely concealed the gasp about to escape me, as my heart thumped. 

Holy... he was re-creating the first time he approached Sarah! 

A tear dropped down Sarah's cheek, as she took the drink from the young man speechlessly. 

More tears followed, as her expression crumbled, and Khaled squatted beside her bed at that, cupping either her cheeks with his hands, as he fixed his eyes into hers. 

"I thought we'd agreed we're a depressing duo, no?" He shot her his boyish grin. 

At that, Sarah's expression fully crumbled, as tears cascaded below Khaled's fingers. 

"Kh-Khaled..." She started sniffing, "I... I have a stabbed hand and another with a lemonade glass, s-so..." 

She fixed her tearful, child-like big orbs into his hopefully, "Can you hug me?" 

A few seconds passed, before Sarah's words sank into the half-Emirati prince, as his smile widened again, and he gently wrapped his muscular and huge arms around her, careful about her shoulder. 

His deep, hoarse, yet slightly amused voice came as she laid her head against his shoulder. "Are you sure I'm not gonna get a knife aimed at my throat this time?"

Sarah giggled bubblily, "You're so warm..." she mumbled. 

My eyes snapped back to Mr. Ellington at that, and I grimaced. Yikes!

He was eyeing them with the most unfazed expression in the world, as though he was literally watching a documentary on how tobacco was synthesized! Had I not been hiding, I would have called him and told him to just get out and leave them to have a moment, but apparently, he had different plans! 

Then again, knowing him, he might have gotten Sarah's 'wait' as some sign that she did not wish to stay with Khaled alone, and considering he had not seen the chemistry of their first meeting, I get him, yet... Yet he needed to read the vibe! 

Sarah's eyes also caught him at that, as she straightened with a gasp, "Ah, right! Ricky's here!" She grinned at him. 

Khaled stood up at that, as he stretched slightly in the air. "Well, I gotta go now. I have lots of work awaiting me."

From before him, Sarah pouted slowly, "But, But...!"

He chuckled slightly at her, his eyes warming further, "I'll come back by night, I promise." 

He turned towards the president just then, his expression changing to seriousness. 

Extending his hand, Mr. Ellington took it into an unfazed firm shake. 

"It will be an honor for me to cooperate with you, President Ellington Conway." Khaled voiced firmly. 

To this his majesty Ellington fixed him with a long, composed, and cold gaze. "I am gratified to hear so, Sheikh." 

And the sheikh moved towards the door to leave. 

Before reaching it by some steps, he stopped though, as he arced his head into Sarah's direction:

"I'm assuming we'll make it a ritual for me to get you lemonade every time you face a problem?"

The half-Lebanese beauty blinked, as his words sank in. 

Ritual... 

Every time...

Words that reflected... that he'll be there for her... 

Not just this time. But in the future too.

A huge, wide, and genuine smile crossed Sarah's lips at that, and a spark –one I've not seen like before– glowed in her orbs.

"I'd love to save more sea turtles with you!"

Her voice came cheerful yet soft at once. 

I moved from behind the door before Khaled reached it, pretending to be on a phone call some feet away from the room. 

He passed by me, nodding gently not wishing to interrupt my 'phone call'. I smiled back, waiting until he was no longer visible before I started moving back to the room.

Thankfully enough, Khaled's bad habit seemed to be in my great advantage, as he'd left the door slightly open as well this time. 

Looking inside, I could see the effect of the awkward silence filling the air written right on Sarah's face. 

My employer fixed her observantly silent, yet this time he let his unflinching cold gaze do the talking for him, as he broke the silence not. 

The oriental beauty fidgeted beneath his gaze, as she finally fixed her orbs into his, a warm smile crossing her lips. "Thank you for talking to him." 

Mr. Ellington flinched not, as he kept his unaffected cool gaze fixed into her. "It was primarily to keep him as a shareholder." 

I pouted. Why you! Can't you keep up a nice façade for once?!

Sarah giggled. "Yep, sure, that's why he didn't even expect an explanation from me and even low key asked me out, huh?" 

I smiled softly, he'd really went as far as to explain to Khaled everything to preserve his relationship with Sarah. 

He let out a quick careless shrug, as he looked at the lemonade Khaled had bought her. "The man fancies you to an impressive extent." He muttered, his voice deep and chilly. 

She blinked, gasping softly, "And you know that from?" 

His eyes deepened haughtily, as he fixed the oriental beauty. "The looks he was directing at me in the souks."

Sarah blinked again several times before the words registered for her. A loud laugh erupted from her at that, "HAHA! Don't tell me he thought we're a couple!" 

My heartbeat rate suddenly picked up, as I felt some... offense? –creeping onto me at how she was laughing at someone thinking they had... something going on between them. U-Um, hey?! What's wrong with having some... critical thinking about stuff, eh? EH?!?

Rickard Ellington Conway, for a split of a second, allowed a weird flex of his lips to occur, as they barely twitched. "Won't be the first one to fall into such an error, no?" 

It took Sarah several seconds to register, as she fixed her orbs into his, then burst out laughing, her giggle echoing left and right. "Ah, remember that baton race? Can't believe we won with my sprained ankle!"

"Even Thorne thought so, today."

Words had escaped him, almost thoughtlessly, as though it was a thought that hit his brain right after his initial statement. 

I reached to cover my lips before a gasp escaped me, as my eyes widened.

Seriously?!!?!

I never mentioned so! And... And... what the hell!?!!??!?! 

It took Sarah some seconds before she burst out laughing very loudly. 

She kept on it for like a minute.

"Good God... I can imagine Charlotte..." she clenched at her tummy as she kept on laughing, "So cute fidgeting in her place between her thoughts! The girl is adorable. Oh God!" She laughed louder.

Little did she know that a flushed fidgeting Charlotte was at her hospital door at the moment wishing earth would just swallow her up! GAH!

My employer's expression remained unfazed, as he fixed Sarah with his conceited concentrated gaze.

When she finally stopped laughing, Sarah Dowell took a sip from her lemonade, as she sighed. "I need to apologize to her for drugging her, now that I think of it." She muttered, and a few seconds passed in silence, before she gasped softly, as though she remembered something, "Oh! How did you not get drugged by the way, what the hell?!!" 

Mr. Ellington flinched not, as he reached out for his wristwatch. Fixing the beauty before him with a dangerously captivating gaze, I saw how he moved his jaw. "The moment you offered Charlotte carrot juice, I became certain you were aiming to drug us." He started calmly, his voice deep, "You gave her something you are certain she would drink, so that the drug would give its effect and you can interrogate her then." 

I blinked.... Wow, he's actually... observant...

"Had it been your normal spirit, we both know you would have insisted she had a drink." He spoke unfazed. 

Sarah blinked, "What the... hell... You..." she was speechless, and honestly, I get why.

"B-But wait... I... you drank the entire drink in a gulp... I mean I saw you do it, even if you did realize it was drugged..." She arced an eyebrow at him confused.

He pulled out his phone at that, and I eyed as he eyed a schedule before him, clearly checking his daily appointments. 

"I excused myself for the bathroom for some minutes, if you remember." He muttered conceitedly, "I vomited the drink, and that was exactly why I drank it in one gulp. To not give it enough time to give any impact in my body." 

Sarah gasped at that, eyes wide, and I blinked as well. Holy...shit...

The hell is this guy!

Some silent seconds passed, and I eyed as the president shifted in his place, fixing the Lebanese beauty in a concentrated, devouring look. "You know, when you stabbed yourself today," His low, cold, and frosty voice came.

Sarah blinked, as she fixed him with her huge cat-like eyes. 

His orbs darkened, and I eyed as he moved his jaw, careful about whatever he was going to question. "My thoughts were brought back to that time you just mentioned, when you ran the race with a sprained ankle." 

The oriental beauty simply blinked in confusion and anticipation at him. 

"I recall back then I had warned you about the difference between wise determination and idiotic stubbornness." He voiced coldly. 

He neared the bed, and I eyed as he reached for his pocket casually. "Yet you still opted for an idiotically stubborn decision and ended up hurting yourself for my sake back then, just like you did today." 

His gaze intensified, and I eyed his storming orbs. "And this was where I realized during your operation today, that some things, for instance, your idiotic and unreasoned stubbornness, don't age.

Sarah gasped, as his majesty pulled out something from his pocket, and he let it dangle from around his index finger.

My eyes widened as I eyed what it was, and the scene of the merchant that attempted selling it for us earlier hit my mind. 

It was the golden tiger keychain...

"To an acquaintanceship of gold in the City of Gold, Sarah Dowell."

A tear or two strolled down Sarah's cheeks, and my heart beat rate sped up as well. 

Although he refused to say or admit it primarily out of his character, his action had said it all. What he'd really meant by 'acquaintanceship'. 

He extended the keychain towards Sarah, "Ah, and considering the tiger is considered the largest wild kitten in the world, then that falls into place as well." He spoke arrogantly and dead composedly.

From before him, it took Sarah Dowell a couple more tears to register what he was saying, as a grin slowly started forming against her lips, and she smiled again through her tears.

"I'd do it all again for such a friendship of gold, Rickard Ellington Conway!"

From before her, Mr. Ellington flinched not, as he fixed her deeply with his composed unflinched gaze. 

Sarah frowned slightly at that, "I have a question though, Rickard." She started, and his majesty eyed her at that, "We both know I would never shoot you, that's right, but... how did you know I would have not stabbed you?" 

R.E.C. flinched not at that, as he reached for his right wirstwatch. "In fact, I took into consideration the possibility of you stabbing, which is why Alba was raising the gun at you from behind. Had you charged your knife at me, I would have held you in place, while Alba immobilized your arm which held the gun to prevent any random shooting." He stated coldly.

Dowell gasped, "You bastard! You really didn't trust me enough!" 

A few moments of silence passed, as his majesty's gaze darkened.

"We all perpetrate actions we regret when we are in a dark place, do we not?"

And I felt that. It hit me so deep because it applied to every single human of human nature. 

Apparently it hit Dowell too, as she nodded silently, clearly unable to object.

"I additionally had it in mind that it was your mother's memorial in a few

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