After the Red Sunset

Chapter 4

Hei felt his hand sting as he reached for the wine bottle. He cursed the impulsiveness his outburst had caused. Contractors weren't meant to be emotional. Ever. So why did the wounds of Amber's betrayal and the disappearance of his sister cut so deep? He felt rage pooling inside him as he thought of the golden eyed Contractor, hand involuntarily tightening around the bottle. He had trusted her. He had trusted her with his life and his sister's and she had betrayed him. She had been the first person he had let get close to him, other than Bai, since the appearance of the Gates turned his world upside down. Allowing himself to get close to Amber had been his greatest mistake in his opinion.

"Li," the manager called to him. Hei snapped to attention. "The man at table two is asking for you."

"Huh? Oh, of course," Hei replied, the tension melting from him as he adopted the persona of Li Shengshun.

He looked over to table two and the tension returned ten-fold. An annoyingly familiar white suited man lounged in the booth, cradling a drink in his hand. Hei couldn't believe it.

Resigned, he walked over to the blond.

"How can I help you Mr..." Hei asked, feigning forgetfulness. He saw a flicker of annoyance pass over the light blue eyes. Good, he thought.

"Simon. Jack Simon."

"How can I help you?" Hei repeated.

The blond eyed him closely. "Please sit down."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Simon-"

"Jack," the Brit interjected.

"-I'm working at the moment."

The blond waved his hand as if dismissing his concerns. "I have already spoken to your manager. This is official police business. Take a seat."

"Ah...forgive me Mr. Simon, but what does a British diplomat have to do with the police?" Hei injected all the naivety of Li Shengshun into his voice.

Now annoyance shone clearly on the other Contractor's face. "Are you always this difficult?"

Hei gave his best deer-in-the-headlights look of astonishment.

The Brit sighed. "I'm currently reviewing a matter where a person of international interest may have been involved." He looked up into the dark blue eyes. "I need to ask you some questions about what occurred at the Wang building a number of weeks ago. So sit down."

This time, Hei complied. The Brit started relentlessly questioning him about his involvement. It made Hei recall the first time the man had interrogated him. Thankfully, all the questions were easily answered.

"And then I just went back to work like Misaki said to do, I never saw anything else."

The blond lent back in the booth, seemingly finished with his questioning. Hei was about to stand up when the blond spoke again.

"What happened to your hand?"

Hei looked down at the bandage covering his right hand. "Oh, I broke a glass while doing the dishes."

"May I see?"

"It's fine-"

The blond lent over the table and grabbed his hand. Carefully, he examined it.

"You're bleeding."

Before Hei could protest, the other man had begun unwrapping the bandage. He looked at Hei reproachfully. "This needs stitches."

"Really? I didn't think it was that bad...I'll go to the hospital after work."

November shook his head. "No, now. I'll tell your manager I need you for an urgent statement."