Chapter 222

Isaac pressed his lips together and instructed firmnly through the phone, "Jacob, find out what type of men Simon fancies. I need the answer now."

Jacob answered without delay, "Understood, Mr.Bennett."

The moment the call ended, Jacob leapt into action.Barely twenty minutes passed before he rang back.

Isaac picked up, and Jacob's voice came crisply over the receiver. "Mr. Bennett, according to what I've gathered so far,he seems to prefer men who are neat and well-mannered,with gentle features."

Neat and well-mannered, with gentle features...

Isaac straightened, his fingers tightening around the phone as the image of a clean-cut, striking face flickered through his mind.

His lips curved faintly. In a composed tone, he instructed, "I see. Keep tracking his movements closely and inform me at once if anything changes."

With that, he ended the call, his gaze drifting toward the window as if weighing invisible scales.

After a brief silence, he dialed another number.

The line clicked, and Slater's casual voice came through. "Hello,Isaac?"

Isaac drew in a breath before speaking directly."Slater,I need your help. Would you be willing?"

Slater answered without hesitation, his tone resolute,"Of course. You're my friend, almost like an older brother. We may not share blood, but we grew up side by side. Back then, whenever Bobby and I caused trouble, you took the blame for us. Helping you now is the least I can do. For your sake, I'd walk through fire."

Slater might sound slick, but beneath the polish lay genuine loyalty. His words, while dramatic, carried no falsehood.

To Isaac,he had always been like a younger brother.

A faint smile tugged at Isaac's lips as he drawled,"No danger involved. I simply need you to test someone."

"Test someone?" Slater echoed with curiosity. "Who is it?"

Isaac forwarded Simon's photo. "This man is rumored to be interested in men. I need confirmation.Approach him a few times, keep it subtle, but make sure there's some physical contact. Watch carefully how he responds."

Slater stared at the photo in silence, his voice eventually breaking the pause, laced with surprise and discomfort. "Isaac, you want me to test a guy? And he's into men? Did I hear that right?"

His brows knitted as he studied the picture,muttering,"His eyes... they look shifty, like someone scheming."

Isaac knew the request was no easy pill for a straight man to swallow.

He exhaled softly. "I realize this isn't simple, but you're the only one who can manage it. Truly, you're my best option."

Slater's brows furrowed until they nearly touched."Isaac, at least tell me-what's the purpose?"

Isaac's gaze sharpened. His voice lowered. "Forgive me, but it's not something I can explain now."

Silence pressed in again. Slater's forehead creased deeply. Inside,he wrestled with the task.

He would risk danger for lsaac without hesitation,but this-approaching a man attracted to men-felt like climbing a wall higher than any peril.

At length, he let out a long sigh. "Alright. You're like a brother to me. I'll shoulder this challenge." A gleam softened lsaac's eyes at his agreement."Thank you, Slater. I know this isn't easy. Think of it as a favor for me. When the day comes, I'll return it without fail."

Because Isaac had been away from Verena's bedside for a while, he kept the call brief, ending after confirming the matter.

The instant the line went dead, Slater collapsed into his gaming chair, clutching his head as he groaned,"Good grief! What mess have I landed myself in?"

He sat there, brooding for a moment, and then sighed in resignation.

The die had been cast-he couldn't back out now.

But charming women had always been second nature to him; trying to win over a man was an entirely different battlefield. The very thought made him shudder.

Alone, he knew he wouldn't survive this test.

No matter how he looked at it, he needed a strategist.

But who?

He narrowed his eyes, flipping through mental images of his friends. Suddenly, one face popped into focus.

He snapped upright, eyes wide. "Bobby's always full of schemes. Talking this through with him might just work."

Without wasting another second, he typed out a quick message. "Hey Bobby, need to discuss something.Meet me at the usual spot."

Bobby, already online, replied at once with an "OK"emoji.

Half an hour later, the two met in a chic café.

"So, what's the deal?" Bobby asked lazily, lounging with one leg crossed over the other, his attention glued to a game on his phone.

Slater parted his lips, hesitant. "Could you...help me figure out how to win someone over?"

Bobby sipped his coffee, still absorbed in his screen,assuming it was just another girl.

"Who is she?" he asked absently.

Slater, awkward, pulled up the photo on his phone and held it out. "This person."

Just as Bobby's character neared defeat, his fingers flew faster. Hearing Slater's words, he glanced briefly at the photo.

Handsome,Bobby thought-then froze.

Wait.

His casual mask shattered. His phone slipped from his hands and clattered to the floor.

A passing waiter kindly retrieved it, but Bobby was too stunned to thank him.

His eyes widened as he gaped at Slater, jaw slack.

A few beats later, he burst out, "You've got to be kidding me!"

Slater darted nervous glances around, relieved the café wasn't crowded. Otherwise, the scene would have been mortifying.

He hissed under his breath, "Keep it down, will you?"

"How can l?" Bobby exclaimed, his voice trembling."This is earth-shattering! Since when are you into guys?"

The thought spun in his head, almost too much to digest.

Then, with mock suspicion, he clutched his chest."Don't tell me you've had your eyes on me all along.Good thing I'm straight-otherwise, who knows?" Slater rolled his eyes at Bobby's shamelessness. "I've been straight for over twenty years! This is lsaac's assignment." He shoved the phone toward him.

Bobby blinked in disbelief. "My brother asked you to do this?"

Slater nodded firmly. "Exactly. Otherwise, do you think I'd be chasing after a man?"

Bobby narrowedhis gaze. "Didmy brotherexplain why?”

Slater shrugged. "He said it's confidential for now."

"I see." Bobby rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If it's from my brother, he must have his reasons."

Slater stared at him, almost laughing at the double standard.

If Slater had volunteered this, Bobby mocked him endlessly. But the moment Isaac was involved, Bobby flipped sides like a coin.

Slater shook his head, feeling their friendship weighed down by bias.

Still, the main issue loomed. He sighed. "The truth is,I have no interest in men at all. That's why I need your advice."

Bobby eyed him suspiciously. "As if I'd be interested." Slater gave a wry grin. "But you always come up with plenty of ideas."

Bobby didn't argue. He took the phone, studying the photo with a measured gaze.

"Handsome," he admitted slowly. "But something about him doesn't sit right. He looks like trouble."

Slater agreed instantly. "Exactly what I thought."

"By the way," Bobby asked curiously,"why would Isaac choose you of all people?"

Slater shook his head. "NNo idea. He just said I'm the best option."

The best option?

Bobby shifted his gaze back to Slater, his grin spreading with mischief.