"Clark is dragged in this mess, too? We better do something about it, Clint. I could not afford it if I knew that my grandson experienced any form of bullying. So, how should you convince them?""Not I, alone, it"s how should "we" convince them to do it?" Clint chuckled and stresses the "we" to include him in the plan. "…we are in this together, right?"
John heaved a deep breath.
"I will help in convincing my daughter to do the DNA test but I could not promise that she will consent it. Is it okay with you?"
"A lot better, than not drawing your full cooperation. I never thought that it could end to this."
….
Someone sneakily took pictures of the three again on the beach, after capturing some photos he hurriedly sent it to the person who commanded him.
"Boss, I"ve already sent the pictures to you." the man said. But the other man did not respond. "Boss?"
"How long will they be at the Maldives?"
"They will return the day after tomorrow." The man in the other line hanged up the phone.
After the boss hanged up the phone, he puffed the cigar and stared at the monitor, looking with intense gaze to the picture of Clifford, Ingrid and Clark.
The room where he is, is dimly lit, gloominess could be felt in it.
….
After the dinner, the three went to the seash.o.r.e to have a breath of fresh air and to grant Clark"s request. They look for a beach bench where they could relax for a bit.
"Uncle Cliff where"s the castle we"ve made?" Clark looked for it everywhere and wanted to brag it to his mother.
"I think it was washed up by the waves." The child was saddened by the thought of it.
"Oh, is that so? At least we made it, right?"
"Hmmm.." Clifford observed Ingrid discreetly as they sat on the benches.
Ingrid was still silent and just enjoying the serenity of the surroundings. She closed her eyes, listened to the sound of the waves and filled her lungs with fresh air.
"ahhh, after this I will be back to harsh reality, the workloads and… loneliness," she then exhaled all her unwanted thoughts.
"A penny for your thoughts, Ingrid?" she looked at Clifford"s direction and saw an intense gaze he sets on her. She really feels vulnerable in those big, blue eyes.
"Let me try to be calm around him this time." She decided.
"I was just enjoying this kind of serenity, which I seldom experience in the city…" she said sincerely and tried to loosen up a bit.
"I agree, but may I ask you a very personally question?"
"Please not that "who is Clark"s father?" question again please?" she implored wordlessly. "Ye-yeah, what about?"
"Correct me if I"m wrong, but I"ve notice that you"ve been agitated when I am around. Did I do something that makes you feel like it?"
She was taken aback with his question which makes her avoid his gaze.
"I"m sorry if you feel that way, it"s just that–I don"t trust men easily, especially men like you."
"Like me? I"ve already heard that from you earlier. Care to enlighten me with that phrase?" Clifford smirked.
"I, uh, no…" she stubbornly answered.
"Come on, Ingrid, it won"t hurt you saying it, it may even help you, I guess." Clifford gently urged her to open up.
"Well, if you insist. Men who are play women"s hearts."
She answered straight and blunt. Most men who hear that from her would be dumbfounded but Clifford chuckled instead and his chuckle became a laugh, a hearty laugh.
"Oh sweetheart, that"s deep. But you are definitely wrong on that. What makes you think that I am player?" still Clifford is chuckling as he speaks.
"Are you not? Don"t kid me, okay." Ingrid stiffened. Clifford then stopped chuckling.
"Okay, before I argue with you about that, what is your definition of a player?"
"Easy. Men who love to break someone"s heart and make that person lose herself in the end. Men who used women like toys, giving false hopes, treacherous…"
"oohh but sweetheart, they come to me, not the other way around. They are the ones diggin" holes in their hearts not me." he teased her.
"That, too! Gosh! Men really think that they are high and mighty."