Chapter 8 Timely Rescue
1049 Words
Oliver and Boris turned to look at Murphy and Charles.
I slipped behind Murphy while Oliver was distracted, but Charles stepped in to block Oliver when he tried to get me back.
Charles grabbed Oliver's wrist with a serious look, no longer the joker he used to be.
"What are you trying to do?" asked Charles.
Oliver jerked his hand away from Charles and shoved him hard in the chest.
"What's none of your damn business. Buzz off!" shouted Oliver.
Oliver pushed hard, but Charles didn't move an inch.
Charles grabbed Oliver's wrist again, then twisted his arm behind his back to pin him.
Charles smirked and said, "You're bullying my friend, and it is my business."
"Damn it! Charles, don't touch me! I feel sick just being touched by someone from the Taylor family!" Oliver cursed and struggled to free himself from Charles' grip.
Oliver swung at Charles, who dodged the punches while casually smiling.
"Oliver, you've got strength, but that's about it. Who are you trying to hit with your lame punches?" said Charles.
'That's so cool!'
I stood behind Murphy and covered my mouth in awe. I hadn't realized Charles was so skilled.
Realizing he was being toyed with, Oliver grew even more furious. "Damn you, Charles! Why dodge? Stand still if you're so tough!"
"That wouldn't do." Charles smiled. "Don't you find it sick to be touched by someone from the Taylor family? Let me add to that feeling."
With that, Charles suddenly closed in on Oliver, swept his leg, and knocked Oliver to the ground.
With a thud, the burly Oliver hit the floor face-first.
Charles sat on his back, patted Oliver's butt, and grinned.
"How's that? Mess with my friends again, and I'll make it even worse." Charles threatened.
"Charles Taylor, I swear I'll kill you someday!"
Oliver roared in anger, trying to rise, but Charles firmly sat on his back and kept him pinned.
"Anytime, I'm waiting for you." Charles smiled.
When Boris saw his buddy on the back foot, he tried to give Oliver a hand, but Murphy blocked him.
Murphy shot Boris a cold glance and said, "Wanna try my punches? I'm not as gentle as Charles."
Boris backed off and showed Murphy an awkward smile.
"It's a misunderstanding, dudes. We weren't bullying Peter. We just invited him to a birthday party."
Murphy scoffed. "An invite or coercion? You think I can't see Peter's scared out of his wits?"
"Maybe we scared him by mistake. Since he's not available, let's go, Oliver."
Charles stood up from behind Oliver, dusting off his clothes from the scuffle.
"Scram. Hit the gym before you try to take me down again." Charles teased.
"You..." Oliver was about to lunge at Charles again, but Boris stopped him.
"Oliver, let's go! No point making a scene now."
Hearing Boris, Oliver glanced my way and clenched his fists.
He then shot a fierce glare at Charles before leaving with Boris.
After they left, I couldn't help but clap for Boris and Murphy.
"Thanks, guys. That was epic!" I said to them.
Charles shot me a flirty wink. "Honored to get your praise, Peter."
"What got you on their bad side?" Murphy asked me.
I shook my head and replied, "No clue."
"Since when do those bullies need a reason to pick on someone?" Charles shrugged and caught a glimpse of my lunch box. "Peter, are you heading to the cafeteria? What a coincidence! Murphy and I are about to grab a bite. Why don't you join us?"
Murphy was from Austentia's royal family, and Charles was the heir to one of the four major families. People of their stature usually dined in a fancy private room in the cafeteria.
I asked curiously, "That's a special room for you guys. Am I even allowed to dine there?"
Charles smiled. "Murphy's the crown prince. If he brings you, who will say no? The executive chef there is the legendary George Buder, a chef who once worked in a Michelin-starred restaurant. If you dine with us, you'll get to taste his culinary magic. It's a rare opportunity."
Knowing George Buder as my father's idol, I accepted Charles' invitation.
Inside their private dining room, only a few tables were occupied, and the whole room was quite serene.
But the calm was disrupted as Murphy and Charles appeared.
The guys in the room all greeted them, and their attention quickly turned to the lunchbox Murphy brought along.
"Murphy, you brought your own lunch again?"
"Murphy, who's the wizard behind these meals that beat out Chef George? You're not secretly dating, are you? Did your girlfriend make this for you?"
"Isn't Murphy a bit wary of girls? I'd bet it's his boyfriend."
"Murphy, do we know your boyfriend? It isn't Charles, is it?"
"Charles, you switch girlfriends like shirts, but I heard you've dated guys too. You're not actually with Murphy, are you?"
Charles burst out laughing. "Don't get me in trouble, guys. Murphy's the crown prince, next in line for the throne. If I laid a finger on him, the king would not let me off."
"And how did you guys even connect his lunchbox to me?" Charles glanced at me and continued. "I've never cooked in my life."
Charles' words got everyone laughing.
Murphy gave everyone a cold glance and warned. "Cut the wild guesses, guys. The lunch is made by my personal servant. Got tired of Chef George's menu, so I decided to switch it up with my own meals."
"I thought your servant wasn't much of a chef, and you used to complain about his cooking. Did you get a new one?" one of the guys asked curiously.
"Yeah."
I perked up, eager to hear more news about Murphy's former servant.
But they didn't continue with the topic. Instead, they asked, "Why don't you throw a party at your place and introduce us to your new servant?"
'Did Murphy actually throw a party to introduce his previous servants?' I wondered.
"A servant is not worth a party," Murphy stated calmly.
'A servant is not worth a party?'
Murphy's words somehow stung me a bit.
I looked at Murphy, wanting to ask him, "Why throw a party for your previous servants but treat me differently?"
But I never voiced it.
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