I was half way drinking my beer when I stopped, hearing Fred's question. I slammed down the gla.s.s, which didn't even make him blink and looked at him fiercely,

"That is between me and Tony! You have no business asking me about it" I growled

"I don't know how to beat around bushes so I ll be clear. I love Tony and have loved him all these years even after being rejected by him, after my father's disapproval and after him pus.h.i.+ng me away. I can't stop caring about him. I don't care if he is bonded to you or had a kid with you, if you hurt him this time, I promise you, I'll make sure that you never get to see Tony and Twen again" he said with a clear gaze and firm voice

Bang!

I got to my feet s.h.i.+vering from head to toe in fury. What is with this guy? How can he be so clear about his motives? How can he speak it all so sincerely? His love for Tony was so strong that I felt small compared to it. But that doesn't mean, I would give up. I wouldn't be defeated by Fred's feelings,

"Are you threatening me?"

It was strange. He seems like such an airheaded fool but he has a great strength of character. He doesn't gets provoked nor does he reacts emotionally and neither does he flinch by my reactions. There are finger counted people who can remain so composed when I am burning in fury. Fred had to be added in that list too.

"I am just warning you. I have seen Tony suffer a lot thanks to your so-called thoughtless words. He had finally started smiling and living properly. I wouldn't standby and watch you destroy his second chance at life by your half a.s.sed attempts to ease your conscience. If you don't have the gall to stand up for him when he needs you, then it's better you walk out of his life now, before he gets too involved with you and ends up hurting again"

I couldn't keep my temper. I bend down and caught him by the collar. Amazingly, he still remained calm. It was so infuriating. His indifference made me feel even more inferior,

"Listen carefully! There hasn't been a day that had pa.s.sed and I didn't regretted my words. The moment I decided to make Tony part of my life, I had decided to fight for him through thick and thin. I never plan to give up on him, no matter what"

Fred kept looking at me straight like trying to read me. After a moment's pause, he sighed,

"Let go of me. I didn't bring you here so that we could have a match till death"

I glared at him for a few seconds before letting him go and taking my seat, still fuming. I don't know if it was my inferiority complex that was bursting out or enviousness but I felt extremely agitated by his strong declaration.

"Tony never stopped loving you" Fred suddenly said taking me by surprise. I looked at him blinking blankly

"What?"

"It seems weird, isn't it? I seem to be a dense guy with no understanding of emotions but the truth is, I have always been sensitive to emotions of others. Tony doesn't realize it, but his anger and hate towards you stems from his pure hearted love he had for you. He actually cannot forgive himself for going on having feelings for you even after your cruel treatment of him, and that turned into hate" Fred said, picking up a beer bottle and opening the cap with his teeth. He chugged down half the beer at one go and slammed it in the table looking at me with a film of anger and hatred.

"I never understood that why he just couldn't be with me. I told him that I don't care if he is bonded. Just because he is bonded doesn't mean he had to live by himself, right? But later I realized that he was just being considerate of my feelings. He loved you and couldn't reciprocate to my feelings. He felt it to be unfair to me so he rejected me as harshly as he could, going to the extent of breaking contact just so I would give up on him. But I couldn't stop loving him. After returning from studies in abroad, I thought that I ll start my own business and once my business peaks, I ll search him out and propose to him. Even if dad disagrees, he couldn't stop me as I was an adult and financially independent. Unfortunately, you had already entered his life, before I could move on with my plan" Fred laughed. It was a sad laugh. He sounded very upset.

I was grateful to have returned to Tony's life before Fred could take a step. But I can't help feeling bad for the fellow. Unlike me who had to go through painful years to realize my love and gather the courage to stand for it, he was already been brave enough to do that. Like Tony said Fred was unafraid of pursuing what he loves and had the strength to fight for it. He and I are so different and yet, both of our love for Tony bind us.

"Haaah! I guess I have gotten tipsy. I am talking all emotional nonesense. But I am serious, don't hurt him. You are the only one who can heal the wounds of his heart and make him truly happy" Fred said with a melancholic smile and chugging down the left half beer in the bottle

"So, you are not going to pursue him anymore?" I asked hesistatingly

He laughed, more like barked, and said with a mischievous look, "I ll always be in the shadow, waiting for you to make a mistake so that I could claim him. So, you better watch your back!"

I became silent. Simply put, he won't give up unless I fully make Tony mine. I guess my marriage with Tony is the only way to stop Fred from pursuing. I respect and envy his unflinching and unapologetic love for Tony but I would never hand Tony over to him without a fight. I clenched my fist, took a bottle of beer on the table, opened it and took a few swigs. But there was something which I felt I need to say to Fred. I felt it was important that I thank him for what he did for Tony, so, I spoke with true sincerity and grat.i.tude,

"I never got around to say this but I truly thank you for taking care of Tony. He told me that he still feels indebted to you for your kindness but I feel more indebted. If it hadn't been for you, I might never have met Twen"

Fred was looking at the cubicle wall adjacent to him and smiled sadly, "He owes me nothing. I did it because I wanted to, not out of pity or sympathy. Dude, if you can keep Tony happy, that would be your grat.i.tude to me"

"I would" I said earnestly, taking another swig of my beer, "By the way, I didn't know you speak Italian" I said, trying to change the gloomy atmosphere

"Ahhh si! Io posso! Ma molto poco" he grinned

"Sorry, am not knowledgeable in the language"

"Mi dispiace saprelo"

"Are you cursing me in Italian?" I laughed

"Si" he laughed in his usual booming manner

After knowing him personally, I can't bring myself to hate Fred. I could see his clear bright eyes filled with honesty and purity that is rare in this world esp among Alphas. In the future, maybe when he will stop pursuing Tony, we can keep our differences aside and be friends! Hopefully!