Chapter 147: Bento Box
"Thanks, Madam. I hope you’re all adjusting well there."
Ashley smiled at Betty, looking at her through the laptop. Following her remarks were Castor and Nelly, who had to stay behind at the plantation. Since they couldn’t just leave so easily, Betty had to remain there temporarily.
"By the way, Betty, don’t think about looking for an office here," she added. "Just focus there so you can follow us once everything’s settled."
Betty smiled and nodded.
They continued their meeting before eventually ending the call. For a while, silence filled the room as Ashley stared at the monitor.
"I guess that’s it for today," she hummed. "They said business would be hectic, but I’m a little bored now."
Shaking her head, Ashley proceeded to check the underground black market for anything unusual.
She tilted her head to the side, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "For some reason, the black market has been very quiet."
Well, there were requests for Ghost, but those were things she usually ignored. There hadn’t been any activity from the White Serpent or any other gangs.
"I wonder why it’s so quiet," she muttered, checking several accounts. "Whenever the black market is quiet, it’s usually not a good thing."
She wondered about it as if she had completely forgotten the death threat she had shamelessly put as an advertisement not long ago.
Ashley didn’t dwell on it, though.
As long as there weren’t any suspicious activities that could affect Dominion, she didn’t care much.
Once Ashley finished what she thought would take an entire day, she hopped out of her seat and went downstairs. As soon as she reached the ground floor, she saw several people cleaning the house. Even Nolan was there, but she didn’t dwell on it.
Ashley walked to the window and peeked outside, only to see the five bums idling across the street.
"Hah." She tilted her head, watching them lounge around as if they were melting into the ground. "I wonder if they’re alright."
"Madam, would you like some snacks?"
Nolan’s voice came from behind her. She glanced back, seeing him smiling as usual. Even without his butler attire, Nolan still carried the aura of a head butler.
"No," she replied, turning her gaze back to the window. "I’m still full."
"Is something bothering you, Madam?"
"Bother me? Not really. It’s just that... I’m wondering if this is enough."
Nolan furrowed his brows. "Enough? Enough for what, Madam?"
Ashley didn’t answer. She crossed her arms under her chest. After a moment, she turned back to Nolan and shrugged.
"Nothing, Nolan. You should hand some snacks to those five. I’m taking them out with me. I just realized I need to find a building to set up my office."
*****
Meanwhile...
The school bell rang, signaling snack time.
Primo perked up slightly, glancing at his classmates as they began taking out their snacks. After confirming it was time, he reached for his packed food. But as he straightened, he paused when he noticed a group of children standing around his desk.
"You’re one of those people, right?" A boy slammed his hands on the desk, smiling at Primo with an oddly sweet expression.
Primo blinked, tilting his head.
"Didn’t you hear me?" the boy pressed. "I said, you’re that kind!"
Still confused, Primo took out his pad from under his desk and wrote something.
[That kind?]
The children furrowed their brows.
"Are you mute?" one girl gasped, then frowned. "How could you study here if you have a disability? I feel sorry for you."
"Haha! So you’re that kind and also mute?" the boy in front snickered. "That’s so unlucky."
Primo pressed his lips into a thin line, tightening his grip on his snack box.
"Is that your snack?" another child asked. "Can I see?"
"My mommy makes my lunch box for me," the girl said proudly, picking up her pink lunch box and showing it off.
It was neatly prepared, both nutritious and cute.
"Mine too!" another boy chimed in, holding his up.
The boy in front smirked, crossing his arms, a faint condescension flickering in his otherwise cheerful eyes.
"I want to see what you’ve got in there!"
Primo stayed quiet as he glanced at the neat bento boxes around him, then lowered his gaze to his own. Ashley had gotten up early to prepare it, or so he heard.
He had never seen her cook or do some kitchen work. So, he wasn’t so sure about this. However, he too was curious.
He opened his lunchbox slowly.
The moment it came into view, his brows lifted in surprise. The corners of his lips curled upward, his eyes squinting slightly.
Inside was a beautifully arranged bento: rice balls with little faces, carrot flowers, a bunny-shaped egg roll, and a tiny note tucked inside.
[Primo, eat everything, okay?
Love, Me.]
Warmth filled his chest, his eyes softening at the sight. For a moment, he didn’t even want to touch it.
"Whoa... it’s so pretty," the girl beside him whispered, eyes sparkling. "These sausages look like squids."
"That’s so cool!" the other boy added, staring in awe. "It looks delicious too."
Primo looked up at them, cheeks flushing slightly as he hugged the box closer to himself.
Then Ashley’s voice echoed in his mind.
"You can share them with your classmates if you want."
She wants me to make friends.
Primo hesitated, glancing at the two children. But, I don’t want to share... He sighed. Ashley had looked so hopeful. He didn’t want to disappoint her.
Taking his drawing pad again, he scribbled a small note, hoping they wouldn’t read too much into it.
[Do you want to share?]
Please, say no.
But the two children lit up.
"Really?! You’re going to share that with us?" The girl had already pulled up a chair before he could take it back.
"You can have mine too!" the boy said, placing his lunch box on Primo’s desk. "I wonder if it tastes as good as it looks!"
"Here, try this one!" the girl beamed. "It’s my favorite!"
"That’s not her favorite," the boy snorted. "She just doesn’t want to eat it."
"Hey!"
Primo shrank slightly as the two chattered nonstop beside him.
Meanwhile, the boy in front frowned as the others ignored him.
"Hey—what..." he sputtered. "Fine! I’ll just eat on my own."
He turned to leave, then paused.
"I said I’m going?" he called out. "Didn’t you want to see my snacks from Italy?"
But no one responded as the children were too busy chatting. The two kids happily dug into Primo’s food, joining him instead of going with him.
"Wow... this is so good!" the girl said, blushing. "I don’t even like carrots, but this is amazing!"
"Did your mommy make this?" the boy asked curiously.
Primo was about to nod, when the girl added,
"My mommy says she makes my snacks with love because she loves me so, so much!" the girl added cheerfully. "Your mommy must love you a lot too!"
They continued eating happily, even nudging more food toward Primo as if trading.
Meanwhile, Primo sat there quietly, staring at them. His thoughts drifted elsewhere as his gaze lowered.
Mom... but she’s not... my mommy.