Chapter 4 A Bad News

"Thank you for your hard work today!"

The dismissal of the models took place after the event had actually finished. The staff of the United States Fashion Week event bowed to each other, giving a sign of thanks. Especially to the models who had now changed their outfits.

In between all the models dispersing, or meeting their respective managers, Axel was busy fiddling with the car keys in his index finger. If one or two of the staff passed by and bowed, Axel would occasionally bow back.

"Axel!" came the voice of someone very familiar to Axel's sense of hearing.

Axel, with a twinkling smile, turned his head. Seeing the arrival of Jonathan who ran a little towards him, Axel's eyebrows spontaneously raised.

Jonathan's face conveyed anxiety, as if something had happened. As someone who had been close to Jonathan, his manager, for a long time, Axel could clearly sense that something was wrong.

"Hey, what's wrong? Why is your face like that?" Axel asked after Jonathan was standing next to him.

Jonathan looked out of breath after running. In between, a passing idea of his own pushed the corners of his lips into a mischievous curve.

"What does my face look like? Is it handsome?" Jonathan asked while pointing at his own face. He deliberately made a cute expression.

Axel, who was almost worried about Jonathan, immediately relaxed his frown. Changing his expression to a look of annoyance and disgust.

"I'm seriously asking you," Axel said with a tinge of annoyance on his face.

Seeing Axel's annoyed reaction, Jonathan just chuckled.

"Hey, don't be so serious. I'm fine. It's just..." Jonathan looked around with a cautious glance. As if he was watching for something. Then he took one of Axel's arms and led him away.

"You were talking about that sudden disappearance. I saw you with a woman. Who was it?" Jonathan continued to ask.

No immediate answer came out, Axel frowned. Thinking for a few moments as he tried to guess what Jonathan meant.

"I don't understand..." A second later the confusion on Axel's face changed. He understood something. "Ah, that. I did approach one of the make-up artists to fix my make-up."

Jonathan's eyes widened instantly. Between surprise and warning Axel. Getting closer to Axel's ear, Jonathan immediately whispered, "How could you approach a female make-up artist?"

"Aish. It was nothing, Mr. Jonathan. I just wanted to correct the make up-"

"Don't you see there are a lot of staff in the make-up room? You can ask them for help," Jonathan said in an irritated hissing tone.

At first Axel looked back with a look of astonishment on his face. I don't know what struck him that his manager had to make a face at him. Moreover, just look at it now, a smugness was inevitable from that face.

But not wanting to prolong the matter too much, Axel let out an exasperated breath as he pushed Jonathan's face away. Axel rolled his eyes lazily as he looked up.

"Aish! How can I ask others for help when my make up is handled by Hyun-a? I don't want different hands, different results," Axel explained, which also sounded like a grumble.

The problem is that this is not the only time Jonathan, the manager, has panicked like this. For a long time, every time he sniffed at his closeness with a woman-even if it was just a one-time conversation like he and Olivia had earlier, still.

Axel really didn't know how to ease Jonathan's worries. Even though they had been together for almost five years.

"Olivia?" Jonathan looked thoughtful. "The make-up artist who got in our way earlier?"

Axel nodded his head while mumbling an affirmative. "That's right. The senior one looks really fierce."

"Oh my..." With a look of disbelief on Axel's face, Jonathan ruffled his waist. "Don't you think that his senior would think all sorts of things if he knew-"

"He already knows," Axel cut in immediately, making Jonathan glare. "But he won't misunderstand. I've already explained to her that I'm just asking to justify her make-up."

Jonathan tapped himself on the forehead. He closed his eyes as he exhaled a nervous breath.

"I don't know what will happen if..."

"Never mind, don't worry," Axel said again. He gave a faint smile as he patted one of Jonathan's shoulders lightly. "Nothing will happen. You have to learn to think less negatively."

Jonathan immediately moved his hand away from his forehead and glared at Axel. "I should think less my negative thoughts, you say? You can't imagine how much I have to clean up every time there's news of your closeness with a woman?!"

Looking around, Axel then placed a hand on Jonathan's shoulder. Axel deliberately looked down to whisper something to his manager.

"Thank you, my favorite manager, but you don't have to worry about tightening your voice."

Jonathan gulped with an annoyed look as he looked away. Looking at Axel who threw a meaningful smile, Jonathan pushed Axel's hand away.

"Be careful. You've been in the news a lot with women," Jonathan admonished.

It was Axel's turn to scrunch up his waist. For some reason, his ears perked up when he heard Jonathan's umpteenth warning. It made him feel like there were bars holding his heart.

"Are you going to keep forbidding me like this? Hah... I might never have a family of my own," Axel complained as he looked up, groaning in exasperation.

Jonathan, in the midst of his annoyance, looked at Axel with some pity. "Oh, my God. I feel so sorry for you. Who told you not to have a partner?"

Axel quickly accused Jonathan through his eyes.

Feeling that the accusation was thrown at him, Jonathan was immediately struck by awkwardness. But Jonathan tried to remain calm.

"No, it's not like that. You can still have a partner, but don't confuse. It has to be someone who is definitely your partner," Jonathan said in a nervous tone.

Axel looked unconvinced by Jonathan's words. "Really? Will you be ready to face my fans who might blindly ask for confirmation?"

No, Axel knew that Jonathan would be exhausted by the many parties and fans asking for confirmation of the relationship.

Jonathan let out a sigh. "You still don't understand how professional I am?"

Axel chuckled with his mouth shut, giving Jonathan a pat on the shoulder. I don't know if it was just Axel's feeling or not, but the look on Jonathan's face slowly revealed anxiety. His eyes were moving all over the place, not daring to look Axel in the eye.

After only a few moments of watching Jonathan, Axel felt the vibration of the cell phone. He flinched slightly before pulling out a cell phone from the inside pocket of his coat.

"Hello, Dad?" asked Axel, greeting his father on the phone.

Jonathan watched Axel curiously. His brow furrowed, but his frown deepened when he saw Axel gradually show anxiety. Jonathan had a bad feeling when he saw the sharp glint in Axel's eyes.

"But, dad, I can't-" Axel's voice was cut off by his father. As a result, Axel rolled his eyes lazily and exhaled through his mouth. "Alright, dad. I'll come there, but you should also see something I'm going to show you."

After saying that sentence, Axel put away the phone screen. The call had stopped. Axel's eyes looked very upset as he looked down at his phone screen.

"Oh my. Mr. Jonathan..."

"What's wrong, what did your father say?" Jonathan immediately said a series of sentences. He came closer and looked at Axel with both curiosity and concern.

Axel lifted his face, looking at Jonathan with an incomprehensible look in his eyes.

"What about this? Father asked me to come because he brought my future wife."