Kill for Love

Chapter 10 - Suspicion

“It seems like we are doing mukbang today, huh?” Athena asked Cytherea. 

They are on their way to the hotel’s restaurant. Ares is also tagging along. He was holding Cytherea's right hand. He remained silent while the two women were talking. He was still in deep thoughts about what had happened in the elevator with Gaus. He couldn't accept the fact that he was wrong in accusing him. 

"Are you okay, Babe?" Cytherea asked Ares. She noticed since yesterday that Ares didn't seem to be with himself. He was always in deep thoughts.

Cytherea had to call his name thrice before he looked at her.

"Y-yes, Babe?" 

You seem so distant. Are you okay, Babe?” Cytherea asked worriedly. She stopped walking and faced Ares. She touched his face so she could get his attention.

Ares smiled at her, but it was so obvious that it was a forced smile. Athena raised her eyebrow. She was also wondering why Ares is acting unusual.

“I’m so sorry, Babe. I just have so many things in my mind because of work. I’m sorry if I make you worry,” he apologetically said. He gripped Cytherea’s hand on his face and kissed it. 

“Work?”

“You can say that. I will tell you more about it later, but first, we have to go to the restaurant.” He gave her an assuring smile. “I know you’re excited to have a feast, so let’s not spoil that. “

Cytherea smiled and lovingly hugged Ares’ waist.

“Oh my god, lovers! Really? Hello? Single here!” Athena annoyingly exclaimed. She rolled her eyes while looking at them. She felt sick to her stomach how Ares looked lovingly to Cytherea. He looked like a saint in front of her when she knew exactly. He was far worse.

Cytherea laughed and looked at Athena. 

“But you’re not single, Beastie,” Cytherea teasingly whispered. Ares, on the other hand, heard it.  His eyes widened as he looked at Athena. 

Athena met his eyes and smirked knowingly. She gave him a sullen glance.  Cytherea had no idea about the exchange of glances the two shared. She thought that the reaction she saw in Athena was for her. 

“What? Ares asked. His heart starts beating frantically. His palms are starting to get sweat. He doesn’t want to assume that Cytherea knows something. But if she does, he is sure that Cytherea will break up with him. 

“Nothing, Babe. Let’s go?” Cytherea simply smiled, changing the topic.

Ares still feels uneasy about what he heard. 

'Great! Another thing to think of,' he thought.

He observed Cytherea's action, but nothing's unusual.

"Is there something I should know about?" he can't help but ask. He wants to know if it has something to do with him, at least. 

"Nah… nothing that should concern you, Babe." 

He sighed in relief. He guessed he might have overthought what he heard.

"Okay, Babe. Shall we go?" He points to the door of the restaurant.

They started walking again towards the restaurant when the cell phone rings. Ares automatically reached for his pocket to check if it were his phone, but he couldn’t find his phone.

“Hello?” 

Ares and Cytherea automatically look at Athena, who has her phone on her ears. Athena signaled to them that she would take the call first. Cytherea nods at her. 

“Babe, I have to go back to the room. I forgot about my phone. Did you forget anything as well? I can get it for you,” Ares said. 

“Oh, okay, wait, let me check.” Cytherea opened her tote and saw if she forgot something. “Oh, my!” she exclaimed. “I did forget my other lens. I was not able to transfer it from my other bag.”

“No worries. I’ll get it for you. We’ll just wait for Athena and when she’s done with the call. I’ll get those camera lenses for you.”

“Thanks, babe. I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“Anytime, Babe,” Ares hugged Cytherea using his right arm and kissed her forehead.

They went to the couch in the lobby and sat there while waiting for Athena to finish her call. She was just at the corner of the lobby, too, and she saw them sitting on the couch. After a few minutes, Athena ended the call and went to them.

“You two can go first to the restaurant. I’ll catch up. I will just get my phone and the camera lenses in the room,” Ares said to Athena with a serious face.

“Sure,” she answered and then looked at Cytherea. She grabbed her right arm and interlocked it with hers. “C’mon, Bestie, I’m famished. Let’s just wait for Ares in the restaurant.”

“Later, Babe,” Ares said and pulled Cytherea closer to kiss her on the forehead. 

Athena rolled her eyes again. His eyes narrowed when he met her eyes. He gave her a warning look before leaving the two. He knew before that Athena would be a headache and he knows that the relationship he had with her will destroy his relationship with Cytherea. He now has more things to think about-- Gaus, the stalker, and now Athena. He knows that it's partly his fault.

He immediately pressed the button the moment he reached the elevator. No one's really using the elevator during this time and so, it was quick for him to reach the fifth floor.  He slightly jogs towards their room and uses his keycard to open the door. 

Ares instantly notices the cleaning trolley in the middle of the living room. He looked at his expensive watch. 

It's 9:35 AM.

He ignored the trolley. It's the usual time for the housekeeper to clean their room so, he doesn't find it odd. He decided to go to Cytherea's room first to get the camera lenses.

When he opened the door, he immediately noticed the duffle bag on the floor. His eyebrows furrowed because of suspicion. He instantly looked at the man who was standing on a chair holding the vent cover. It looks like the man didn't even notice his presence.

"What are you doing?!" he exclaimed. His voice filled with suspicion. 

The man got stunned and slowly looked in his direction. Ares looks at the man intently to see if he can recognize him, but he can't because of the facemask. 

“I said, what are you doing and why are you messing with the vent?” 

The man gets down from the chair, still holding the vent’s cover. 

“I’m sorry, Sir. This is the time of the month that we clean the vents,” he politely explained and went to the duffle bag and took an unopened cleaning solution. “Is there something that I can help you with, Sir?” 

Ares simply peeks in the bag and sees that it contains towels and unopened cleaning stuff. He sighed. He’s overthinking things again. He slightly scratched his head. He couldn’t believe himself. He is now getting paranoid and even thinks badly about the man who was just doing his job.

 “Nope. I’ll just get some things here and you can finish what you are doing.” He went to the closet and grabbed the bag that Cytherea mentioned. He opened it and took the pouch that contains the camera lenses.

He was about to leave the room when he remembered something. “Hey, man, can you make sure that no smell will be left? My fiancée has an allergy to the fumes of those cleaning solutions.”

“Certainly, Sir,” the man responded. 

Ares noticed that even the man didn’t talk too much. He spoke with eloquence. His moves were also reserved and calculated. Ares dismissed his thoughts. He’s overthinking again.

“Appreciate it, Man.”

The moment Ares left the room, the man lowered down his mask and showed a notorious grin.