"Mr. Scott, I can take care of my boyfri..." Lucas stops in the middle as Alan's cold gaze falls on him. 

Ben is still crying in Alan's arms but  got tired after crying for fifteen minutes straight. Now, there are only occasional hiccups and sniffs. 

Alan turns his eyes back at Ben before nodding at Juliette. Juliette is already ready with an iced water bowl. She was just waiting for Mr. Scott's permission. 

When Ben's appron caught fire, she ran straight to fetch fire extinguisher but Mr. Scott saved Ben by the time she came back. So, she ran to get an ice tray from the refrigerator. 

She passes Luke with a scowl on her face and places the bowl on the kitchen counter. 

Alan pulls Ben's both palm out of the running water. As soon as Ben loses the cool of the tap water, his palms start burning. He cries again. 

Luke takes a step closer but he can't really fight with Mr. Scott. Why is Mr..Scott so bothered about Ben ? Fred also burned his thumb. Shouldn't Mr. Scott worry about his boyfriend?" 

Ben opens his teary eyes finally. He gets a little bit relief from the cold water. He looks at the bowl with blurry eyes. 

"Better ?" Ben heard a soft whisper from the top of his head. 

He looks at Mr. Scott with greatful eyes then he nods slowly. 

Alan picks up the bowl from the counter with Ben's hand still dipped in it "let's go !"

Luke blocks Alan's path directly this time "Mr. Scott , I will take up from here. Ben , let's ..." 

"Shut up !" Juliette cuts Luke's words this time. "You left Ben when his life was at risk. You were so busy with your affair that you didn't even notice he was burning. Now you are here to play boyfriend?" 

Luke looks at Juliette in disbelief "What are you talking about? I didn't left him. Everybody was burning. I was just helping one by one." 

"Twenty minutes to save someone only with a burned thumb ? Must have hurt a lot !" Juliette mocks..

Fred's eyes squints at Juliette's remarks "you shouldn't interfere in anyone's personal business. Brother Luke was having Ben's back. Ben left his gas burner on. Imagine if something serious happened to me or anyone else, Ben would've faced criminal charges."

"Having Ben's back ?" Juliette almost laughs "tell me why everytime you two come here, Ben ends up getting hurt ? Last time, you were here too. Weren't you ? You came here then you deliberately sneaked out before this scumbug accused Ben of cheating." 

"W..what are you talking about ?" Fred stammers. 

"You were here last time but when this scumbug accused Ben, you let Ben face the false criticism from your fans. You could've cleared the confusion in the beginning but you sneaked out. 

Today when Ben was remembering what to collect from pantry, you deliberately shouted to divert Ben's attention. I saw you smiling when Ben forgot the butter. 

Then when Ben's appron was burning you screamed out of your lungs and ran away from Ben so that everybody follows to save you." 

"WHAT NONSENSE!" Fred shouts. He panics a little. "You... You are making things !" 

"Two times in a row. You two came here and Ben ended up hurt and devastated. Can it be co -incidence ?" Juliette stops herself from cursing. She looks at Luke in disgust..

"Ben broke up with you. He made it clear that he doesn't want to take you back. Which part of it, you didn't understand?" Juliette asks. 

Luke controls his anger because Ben is sick. He doesn't want to create trouble for Ben. "I am courting Ben. Whatever Ben said to me was his angry words. He didn't mean ... 

"So you are Ben's ex boyfriend and he hasn't taken you back." Alan opens his mouth this time. "Next time, if I see you harrassing him I will make sure to teach you a lesson." 

Luke clenches his fists. "I am his boyfriend. Mr. Scott, you are interfering in my personal matter." 

Alan looks at Luke directly in the eyes this time. "Ex boyfriend." 

"Big brother!" Fred chimes in this time. "Brother Luke really loves Ben. Ben and brother Luke they are childhood sweethearts." 

Fred gives the weakest smile possible "It's just Ben is angry with brother Luke for some silly matters. Ben is a little too sensitive." 

Fred studies Alan's face carefully. When Alan denied the rumours and called Ben just an employee, he became really smug.

He knows Alan doesn't love him but he also knows Alan is a mama's boy. So, Alan would never choose Ben over him. Ben can cry in Alan's arms as much as he wants , he couldn't gain Alan. 

And about Luke, Fred will snatch Luke from Ben with every passing day. Ben will have nothing. He will be left alone, just like he was today. 

"Big brother, you just cleared your rumours with Ben a few days ago.  I think you shouldn't interact with Ben anymore. Let brother Luke take care of Ben." Fred asks with a concerned voice. 

Once Alan agrees to put Ben in Luke's care. He will divert Luke with his sob stories and within seconds Luke will leave Ben to be with him. Fred smiles in his mind thinking about his perfect plan. 

Luke was about to take a step closer to pull Ben when Alan turns around giving Luke his opposite side.

Luke grits his teeth. After Mr. Scott's official announcement, he felt really guilty for accusing Ben of cheating. 

But now it looks like the official statement was just a classic damage control act. What does Mr. Scott really think of Luke ? He is blind ? He doesn't have a brain ?

can't he question Mr. Scott's concern for Ben instead of Fred ? can't he question why Mr. Scott's left hand is running circles on Ben's waist ? can't he question how many times and why Mr. Scott's hand went under Ben's loose shirt touching Ben's bare waist and lower back ? 

Luke's face turns ugly in disgust. He has been in relationship with Ben for so many years. Yet every time Luke tried to touch Ben there, Ben always had an excuse ready for him. Not ready, not prepared, not in the mood, not today, not tomorrow. And now, Ben doesn't have any problem with Mr. Scott's touch !" 

Luke glares at both Ben and Alan before marching towards the exit of the hall.

Fred who was being happy in his mind suddenly looks at Luke's leaving posture in shock. Huh ? What happened? 

Alan scoffs at the scene before pulling Ben up in bridal style. Ben whines  without the coolness of the cold water  but his palms are burning a little less now. So, Alan takes hurried steps towards his own reserved room in this hotel before Ben palm starts burning again. 

Everything happened so fast that Fred didn't even get a time to react. When he reacted, he looked around only to find everyone is pointing and gossiping about him. Fred glares at some of the guests. His eyes turn red in fury. He swears...

"Ben Arnold, I wiln't let you play a damsel in distress. Never !  Especially when I created the distress for you." 

**** 

"It will take at least two weeks to heal and in the meantime I would suggest not to pop the blisters in any way." The doctor informs Ben in a formal tone. 

"But ... How am I suppose to do my daily task ?" Ben asks finally. His burning sensation eased after Mr. Scott applied a gel application on his palm. "I need to bath, eat , and cook. I am still in the show." 

The doctor frowns "If you pop the blisters it will take longer to heal. They can even leave a mark. If your hand touches any spices in this situation, the wound will cause infection." 

"But ..." 

"Thank you doctor. We will make sure the blisters don't pop." Alan cuts Ben's words finally. 

The doctor stands up to leave. He talked some more with Alan at the door. 

Ben pouts. He is in the elimination. How is he supposed to cook without popping these blisters. Ben sighs. 

"Uncle Ben , don't worry. I will feed you." 

Ben chuckles at little Ethan who is sitting beside him obediently. "Oh my , can little Ethan feed others ?" 

"I can." Ethan puffs his chest before standing up to reach Ben's ear "It's a secret don't tell anyone. When uncle works on his laptop, I feed him all my oranges." 

Ben widens his eyes "you feed him your oranges ? Why ?" 

"I hate oranges. And when uncle works, I sneak beside him and give him all the oranges one by one." Ethan giggles happily  

"What are you talking about?" Alan comes back from the door. 

Ethan shakes his head "nothing ! I said that I will feed uncle Ben." 

Ben chuckles before turning at Alan "Thank you Mr. Scott for helping me. And sorry for the inconvenience . It all happened so fast that I panicked and I didn't know what to do." 

"Take rest now. We will talk about it later. I have some work in office. I am leaving for now." 

"Oh !" Ben stands up from the bed. 

Alan frowns "what are you doing ?" 

Ben looks around the luxurious room "this is ... Your room ? I am going back to my room." 

"And Ethan will stay here alone ?" 

Ben looks back at Ethan "huh ? Do you want me to take Ethan with me ?" 

"Stay here ! You can't do anything alone with these hands. Ethan can help you with things." 

Ben blinks "b..but .." 

"I will help uncle Ben." Ethan jumps on the bed happily. 

Alan hits lightly on Ethan's head "Don't disturb uncle Ben. Be obedient and listen to him. Ok ?" 

Ethan nods hurriedly "ok !" 

Alan turns around to leave but stops as Ben follows him behind. Alan turns back again "I asked you to stay here. Why are you so stupid ?" 

Ben pouts "I need my change of clothes." 

Alan sighs "can you take that alone ? Why didn't you just ask me to bring clothes?" 

"I will take Juliette's help. I just need one change." 

"No.you need to pack some of your clothes.. stay here until you can use your hand again." Alan retorts. 

"No no, I .. I wouldn't bother you . If needed I will take Juliette's help." Ben replies hurriedly. 

"Ben, Juliette is a girl. And you are a man. Can you ask her to help you in the middle of the night ?" 

Ben thinks in his mind a little. Why would he need help in the middle of the night ? But he doesn't say it out loud. He just shakes his head.

"Then you will be staying here, in this room and Ethan will stay here with you until you heal. I also need to find a new kindergarten for Ethan. So, in the meantime, if you stay with Ethan, it will be helpful for me too." 

Ben thinks about Mr. Scott's offer for sometimes the he nods. If he can help little Ethan in something, then he will definitely do it. 

"Ok I will pack some of my clothes with Juliette's help." Ben replies after a while. 

**** 

Juliette opens the blue trolley with an excited face. "I am telling you, boy ! You didn't notice the CEO's face when he almost shouted at Luke." 

Ben shakes his head. "You are delusional." 

"I am not. MR. Scott stood straight, pulled you closer to his chest by your waist, looked straight at Your scumbug and said 'Ex. Boy. Friend." 

"Shut up ! Don't say things like this. If anybody hears, they will start calling me mistress again." 

"Who are 'they' ? Are "they" blind ? Everybody saw how he protected you today." Juliette scoffs. "And if you are the mistress then Fred is also your ex boyfriend's mistress." 

Ben blinks. "W..was it that obvious?" 

"Hell yeah ! Are you upset about that scumbug?" 

Ben shakes his head. "I am not. I am just .. thinking .. did Mr. Scott noticed it too ?" 

"Oh he knew for sure. He didn't even look surprised. I highly doubt  Mr. Scott even likes Fred." 

"Well" Ben kind of hesitates to share someone else's personal details but Juliette is good "they have a family connection type thing. Mr. Scott's mother was once benefited by Fred's family and now she wants to repay it by marrying of Mr. Scott with Fred." 

Juliette opens her mouth in shock "damn ! So it isn't a love affair. Oh my god ! That's why ..." 

"Come out of your delusion." Ben rolls his eyes. "Ok, can you manage here ? I need to check on Ethan. He is alone in his room." 

Juliette nods "all done ! You go ! I am comming after locking this room." 

Ben comes out of his room after Juliette's reply. He was about walk towards Mr. Scott's room when Fred came out of nowhere and blocked his way. 

Ben squints his eyes "what are you doing here ?" 

Fred smiles sweetly "I am here to check on you, brother Ben. How are you ?" 

"No one is here, Fredrick. Drop your act." 

"What act , brother Ben ?" 

"I clearly remember turning the stove off. You turned it on again. Didn't you ?" 

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