How frustrating. Edward wasn’t sure what this man was trying to play at doing something like this? Just to get a rise out of him.

His leg was tapping uncontrollably as he sat in the car. Sitting next to him was someone who seemingly refused to look him in the eye. Their black hair covered their face as they looked out the opposite car window.

He had already gone beyond the initial annoyance and was just stuck with the lingering confusion of what had just happened… what was happening.

“Who the fuck is that?”

Zeus looked back at him purplexed lightly lifting the woman in his hand like it was nothing up and down as he thought it over.

“I mean… you just said it. It’s your little girlfriend Bay right,” he said with a smile.

It sure did look like her but…

“She’s was not my girlfriend,” Edward said almost defeated. It wasn’t the tone he wanted to give out at that moment but honestly he was having a bit of trouble controlling his tone of voice.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he said, “This is Bay right?”

Is it? It looked like her. Their eyes matched hers but Bay was….

“That’s not possible. Bay Koybashi is dead.”

Zeus let out a heaty laugh as if Edward had said the funniest thing in the world. Still holding this… imposter… Bay. 

“I mean I thought so too so…”

He leaned forward grinning. He dropped the mysterious guest on the desk before slamming his hand down onto their back pinning them down on the desk. Just to make sure they didn’t make a break for it. It was now that Edward could clearly see their arms were bound behind their back with a pair of handcuffs.

“But imagine my surprise when I saw them having a friend discussion with my sweet little subordinate.”

Light pats on the back as Zeus continues. The body on the desk just limp. Were they knocked out? Who knows. Edward had noticed the moment he had said her name allowed the person’s body hand gon limp as if they had given up completely.

“So it just made me think that you were just up to some sneaky bullshittery,” Zeus said, “So I thought I would do the kind thing and return her to you. Unless this isn’t your? Then I guess I can just kill her?”

Silence. It was just silent in the room. That was just the theme of the day wasn’t it. Silence huh.

Edward gritted his teeth. How annoying. He was completely left in the dark with this entire thing. He had no idea who this imposter was but he would get nothing from them if they just let Zeus kill them.

Even more so he didn’t want to give Zeus anything that would make him look weak. Not to mention who knew how long he had been keeping this prisoner it was obvious now to him that Zeus had just held onto this little gem until today.

“I’ll take them.”

“Hmn”

“I am not repeating myself. Take your hands off her so that I can get my day back.” 

There was a pause before Zeus moved his hand off the smaller figure taking his time pulling the keys out from a drawer in the desk before tossing it over to Edward. Which the blonde camly caught in one hand.

“Wilbur.”

It only took a moment before the orange haired man came into the room. Surprisingly not stopped by the underling from earlier. As Edward looked back he could see them standing in the doorway looking right at him. 

“You called, boss?”

“Unlock her handcuffs and carry her to the car.”

Edward made a gesture to the still limp body on the desk and thankfully for him Wilbur did exactly what he asked without asking one question. 

Even after Edward watched him paused when he went to pick them up.

“I hope that’s all. I do not wish to get another call from you,” Edward said as Wilbur walked by him.

His eyes once again meeting with the subordinate on the outside, their eyes leaving Edward and watching Wilbur walk out. 

“I wouldn’t dream of it after all we both have our own problems to deal with right now,” Zeus said, putting his hand through his hair.

“Indeed, I do hope the next time you call me will be for more pertinent information on that,” Edward said, turning to leave.

“Wasn’t this important though. Maybe this is a clue. After all these disappearances have been happening for over a year.”

Edward stopped in the doorway looking over his shoulders.

“....”

He turned his head back leaving the office. 

What a frustrating man.

He had such a headache just thinking back on everything but this person next him. This girl had not said one word to him.

She was just silent. For what reason? Who knew? This was just so odd and he couldn’t even bring himself to ask her any sort of question and he had many questions for this woman.

There was no way this was actually Bay. It was an impossibility and he knew that even Zeus knew that.. This man had to be messing with him because of their history. This had to just be some random woman that Zeus had picked up from the street that just happened to look like Bay. 

This person was dirty. Their clothing was ripped. They were barefoot. It was obvious to him that at some point they had been living outside for an extended period of time for whatever reason.

He put his hand up on his forehead. Now this person was his responsibility. Just his complete responsibility because he didn’t want to see someone die because they were being used as a pawn. This was so much like Zeus but this was such a cruel thing to do.

He sighed audibly.

“I can get out,”

Edward’s head shot over to the guest sitting next to him. His eyes wide. Had they just spoken to him. They weren’t even looking at him but the car had long stopped at their destination and it seemed as if everyone had been waiting for him.

But he was sure that that was a statement and not a question but nothing else came from the girl. Instead he opened the door and got out of the car. He could see the other door open and he walked to the other side opening it looking down at the girl whose bangs were still. They were still covering their eyes.

He offered his hand out to them but instead of them taking it they simply got out of the car moving past and around him to the other side of the car. They stood next to Wilbur and simply waited.

He was slightly surprised not that they didn’t take his hand but because… they hadn’t run off. He stared at his hand for a moment before closing the door to the car watching it drive off before heading into the building.

It was a silent walk up to the doorway. It was a modest mansion if one were to describe mansions like that. A simple building that screamed money but wasn’t as extravagant as the one that Zeus had called his headquarters… His home.

Edward preferred to not have his business mix with his place of dwelling so of course it was bound to just translate as his home seeming more modest that the money he actually had. He pushed the doors open and waiting for them were a couple of servants.

A quiet greeting.

“Can you please take care of our guest and get her cleaned up and properly dressed before sending her down for dinner?” he said simply with a wave of his hand towards… well Bay?

What else was he supposed to call them while they chose to be silent instead of speaking to them.

A nod from the servants who gently lead the girl up the staircase. He could see the look of confusion on their faces but they of course knew better than to actually question what was going on.

This was just turning out to be a more and more exhausting day than he had ever wanted. He just wanted it to end already.

“Hey Ed,” Wilbur had finally spoken up.

“Yes.”

“Is that who I think it is?”

Edward was silent. He didn’t know the answer to that question. Not one bit.

“I’m planning on figuring that out but if you could do me a favor and make sure news of this doesn’t leave the mansion.”

Wilbur shrugged and smiled at Edward.

“Of course. You can count on me Ed,” he said and gave the man a pat on the back, “You should go and get ready for dinner right after all seems like you have an interesting guest joining you right?”

“Yeah.” He honestly wasn’t sure if he was looking forward to it but what he really wanted was to get some answers.

If this was just some sick joke by Zeus he would have to compensate this poor girl otherwise there were just more questions than answers.

“Don’t let it get in your head too much,” Wilbur said, patting him a couple of times. “Think of it as a hot date. You know we’ve been telling you to put yourself out there. Maybe the stars have finally aligned.”

He pressed lips into a fine line. That was not a funny joke. Edward knew he was just trying to lighten his mood but this was so serious but he couldn’t bring himself to scold Wilbur right now. After all he was trying and what more could he ask from his oldest friend?

He was trying his best in his own way and in a lot of ways he would be lost as head of the family without him by his side. Especially with the loss he had experienced last year. 

Though now that he was thinking of it maybe he was relying on Wilbur too much. 

“Don’t worry about it. It’s fine if you lean on me,” he said, “That’s what friends do.”

He waved his hand in the air as he walked off down the hallway. 

“I’ll take care of what you asked. If there are any updates just let me know you know where I am.”

With that he was just left in the entryway alone. Edward took a deep breath steadying himself before doing what Wilbur had asked of him. He might as well prepare himself for dinner.

After all this was going to be an eventful one.