Dress to impress
Scratching the back of his hair, Elijah walked towards the face basin, grabbed toothpaste and
toothbrush, squeezing the paste onto the brush before beginning to scrape his teeth. His thoughts
subconsciously drifted back to yesterday, the moment he and Peach hugged, and he spat into the sink
before rinsing his mouth out. “Maybe I have been going about this the wrong way,” Elijah mumbled as
he unbuttoned his shirt slowly. After getting to the last button, he scowled and muttered, “I need
someone that knows Syldavia… But can I trust Peach?” Pulling his shirt off his shoulders, Elijah took in
a deep breath and eyed her reflection in the mirror.
Since he entered Syldavia, he never really had the chance to explore the country because he was busy
being a loyal and stay-at-home-husband to Melina. But now, he really needed to start learning his way
around the country, and his first option was Peach, but the trust factor in their relationship wasn’t quite
there.
With another sigh, Elijah pulled off his pants, dropping them carelessly on top of his shirt, and shortly
after, he walked into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over him.
“I don’t have to trust her to use her,” Elijah mumbled, pushing shampoo through his hair.” We don’t
have to be close friends or anything like that. I just need to make sure she doesn’t betray me like her
cousin.”
After turning off the water, Elijah turned around and stepped out, grabbing a towel from the rail. He
dried himself off quickly, wrapped the towel loosely around his waist, and headed back into his
bedroom. “Elijah?!” Peach’s voice called from behind the closed door. Sighing, he walked over to the
doorway, grabbed the knob, turned it, and pulled the door open, looking down at her rosy cheeks and
said, “What’s up, little buddy?”
“Well… Umm… I just came back from the hospital, and I was planning to head straight to my room, but
then James stopped me in the hallway, and he specifically said that I should get you for breakfast, and
that’s why I came knocking on your door!” Peach blurted out so fast that Elijah was surprised that she
didn’t choke.
“Wait, wait! Slow down! What did he want?” Elijah asked with furrowed brows?
“If you are hungry, go to the dining hall!” “Okay, thank-”
Hastily, Peach turned around like a robot and started walking away, leaving Elijah staring after her with
wide eyes. “What’s her problem,” Elijah mumbled, rubbing his temple, “I thought we were okay.” After
shutting his door, he headed over to the closet, pulling out a pair of blue sweatpants and a white t-shirt.
A while later, after getting dressed, Elijah came out of his room and entered the dining hall, seeing that
everyone was already at the table, their food untouched. “Good morning,” Elijah mumbled as he pulled
out a chair, and sat opposite Peach, their eyes locked for a moment before she looked away. Focusing
to his right, Elijah gave Rayn a weak smile and said, “You and I are going to the bank together, after
here, along with Matt.”
Hearing those words, Peach perked up, looking at Elijah with a curious gaze, and then a smile grew on
her lips when she remembered what he said at the hospital.
“Yes, bos… dude.” Matt blurted out nervously, looking over at Peach who seemed way too focused on
Elijah to care for what he said.
“How’s your mother?” James asked as he stared over at Peach, who seemed way too invested in
Elijah. “Peach!”
“Huh?!” She finally blinked and snapped out of whatever daydream she was stuck in, her cheeks
reddened when she realized that she was caught staring at Elijah, and her gaze immediately went to
James across from her.
“Your mother, how is she?”
“Umm, she is healthier than before. Doctor Ben said once everything is settled, she can get discharged
and come home,”
Smiling as he fixed his gaze on her, Rookie pushed his fork into a slice of his pancake and said, “That’s
great news, Peach.”
“Yeah, I am happy for you two!” Ryan added, giving Peach a friendly grin, then turned back to his
cheese on toast.
The way his men took to Peach and Miss Grace, slightly amused Elijah, and he smiled faintly as he
thought, ‘I don’t have to fully trust her. I just need to give her the chance.’ After breakfast was over,
Elijah walked out of the motel with Matt and Ryan, and they stopped in front of the pickup, frowning at
the old thing.
“Why do we still have this thing?” Matt huffed as he stared at the empty place where the license is
supposed to be. “Are we going to the bank, riding in it?” “Not if we don’t want to get kicked out!… I don’t
know why we are still holding on to this junk. Do we have an idea where to dump it?” Ryan questioned,
crossing his arms, and looked towards Elijah who shrugged lightly. “Forget that piece of junk. I will get a
rental car service to assist us with a decent vehicle to carry us around for today.” Elijah said as he dug
through his pocket for his phone. Then he paced a little further away from his men to make the call, and
as Ryan watched his back turned to them, he drew closer to Matt, whispering, “Did you notice how
Peach was staring at our boss?”
“Mmmh, but I don’t think she should catch feelings for him… he just got divorced, and she’s his Ex-
wife’s cousin… Her chances with him are slim.” Matt said quietly, watching as Elijah talked to whoever
he was speaking to through the phone.
“But not zero.”
“Yeah, but do you think he will trust another after such humiliation from his first wife?”
“I think she can change his mind,” “I don’t think so,” Smirking, Ryan fixed his gaze on Matt with a
cunning look, and whispered, “Twenty bucks, he’s going to fall for her,”
“Fifty bucks say, he’s not going to,” Matt answered back, raising an eyebrow. “Five hundred dollars,”
Elijah said as he turned to face his men.
Immediately, Matt and Ryan’s hearts leaped into their throats, their faces flushed red, and they
stammered out a quick response, “Umm… we didn’t… mean…” “I am fine with the price. Yes. Well…
there are three of us… Umm… pick us up at 505 West 6th Street, Paz motel.” Elijah said, pacing in the
same spot. “Okay, we are waiting.”
Grabbing each other’s shoulders, Matt and Ryan let out a sigh of relief, chuckling and feeling stupid
over the fear they felt just now. It’s not like Elijah was going to do something to them for saying such
things, but it was his feelings they fear to hurt or mess with.
After ending his call, Elijah looked over at them and said, “I phoned the nearest car rental, and they will
be here in fifteen minutes.”
When eleven minutes and forty seconds passed by, a black SUV drove in front of the motel and came
to a complete stop in front of the entranceway. Then the door opened and a bald guy, wearing a black
tuxedo and tie climbed out of the driver’s seat.
After walking a couple of steps forward, he stopped and bowed slightly before asking, “Who’s Elijah?”
Giving the driver a faint smile, Elijah nodded towards him and replied, “You are staring at him.
“Oh, great! It’s nice to meet you, Mr…” The driver trailed off as Elijah placed his hand out towards him.
“Darius, Elijah Darius.”
“Well, Mr. Darius, if you guys are ready, then please step into the vehicle.”
After opening the car door for them, the driver stepped aside, and Elijah, along with Ryan and Matt got
into the back seats before the driver shut the passenger side door. When he got behind the wheel and
had put the keys into the ignition, he glanced over at Elijah and asked, “Where to, Mr. Darius?”.
“Take us to a boutique that sells designers’ men’s suits,” Elijah stated calmly as he buckled his seat
belt.
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