Chris's steps were so quick that he nearly nudged Brad into the wall, who unfortunately was on his way to the RPD outdoor. Chris wanted out of the whole damn office and he simply just needed some distance to all this craziness and stupidity...quickly. He couldn't understand anyone in the office, not even himself.
He was so going to kill Forest when he saw him next time…that was Chris's only clear thought when he grabbed the doorknob and opened the outdoor.
Suddenly Chris felt an arm on his shoulder. He turned around and was very surprised that the person behind him was a very worried looking Jill. If it had been Forest or anyone else from the office, he would have hit that person in his mental state… but because it was Jill - Chris actually remembered that she was the only one in Alpha team who had kept her mouth shut in the whole gay matter - Chris just stared at her like a moron and waited for her to say something.
"I need to tell you something," Jill said quietly and she didn't look at Chris, she just stood there and looked very sad and annoyed. " I promised the others that I would do this for them and…"
"What is it, Jill?" Chris's anger vanished immediately when hiscuriosity got the best of him.
"Could we talk somewhere else? I want to tell this properly if I now sta…" The rest of her words Chris couldn't hear. The disturber was Wesker's loud and echoing voice and Chris heard that he wanted everyone in the meeting room within five minutes. Chris saw Enrico walking into the meeting room and he wondered when the Bravo team had come back in the first place.
"Let's talk about it later, ok?" Jill stated quickly and Chris nodded. They both knew that Wesker didn't like it at all if someone was late when he had important information for everyone.
When they entered the room Enrico had only moments before, Chris saw that the whole Bravo team had already taken their seats and only Joseph was missing from his team. Thecaptains were standing and they both looked very serious. Chris took his seat between Barry and Jill and soon Joseph came and sat quickly, apologizing even though he wasn't late yet. Every team member sat silently and waited for when either of their captains would start speaking.
Enrico took a deep breath and started with disappointment in his voice: "First off, I know it's you, Speyer, who started this whole stupidity." He glanced at Forest who seemed to stare at the table surface. "But I won't blame only you, even though you have acted in very unprofessional manner... I'm very disappointed in the whole Bravo team. Your stupid bet with Alpha team has caused more trouble than you can imagine." His face was stiff from his seriousness and he glanced angrily now at everyone in his team. "Chief Irons and some of our other superiors, meaning mine and Captain Wesker's, have contacted us both. You all know that always means problems, don't you?"
Chris swallowed slightly and tried to figure out what was going on. A bet? Why had Wesker been contacted? He had some sort of idea about the whole scene already, but he wanted to properly know every little detail in this case. Enrico didn't explain more about the contact he and Wesker had had this week, but he kept on talking about how disappointed he was in everyone who was sitting around the meeting table. Soon Wesker decided to take his turn, because it really seemed that Enrico's speech didn't end anywhere.
Wesker nodded suggestively to Enrico who stopped instantly. Then Wesker began his short but effective speech: "I have to say that I'm also very disappointed in your actions, both Bravo and Alpha team. Your idea of fun has gone in a far too serious manner, and just for you to know, Officer Speyer, your little rumor has almost cost both mine and Redfield's jobs." Forest looked very pale and his mouth was slightly open with surprise. Wesker took one step closer to the table and leaned on it so he could stare at everyone better behind his black shades murderously. His voice was icy and Chris could hear some well covered anger in his words, "I want ALL of you to know that I will not see, or hear, any gambling or rumors like this ever again. Do you understand this now or do I have to repeat myself?"
No one said a word but there was some slight nodding around the table. When they had their permission to leave, Chris jumped off of his seat a little later than Forest, walked out ofthe meeting room and then straight to Forest who now looked like a beaten and nervous dog when he just stood there, back against the corridor wall. He seemed like he had waited for Chris to explain.
"Forest, you better have a damn good explanation to all this shit! What was the bet between Bravo and Alpha team?" Chris shouted and slammed Forest to the corridor wall roughly.
"WAIT CHRIS! Let me explain, OK? The bet? Well, uh… First off, I didn't mean anything by it at first but it just grew bigger and bigger and it ended up being a rumor AND a bet in just one day!" Forest was nervous, even though he knew that Chris wouldn't harm him before his captain's eyes. Chris loosened his grip a bit from Forest's blue vest, but he didn't free his friend. "Chris... you have to admit that the rumor was quite funny... you're always near Wesker and his office so… it was easy to make."
"It wasn't funny! As you heard it almost cost my job! Your whole idea was damn stupid and..." Chris's grip tightened again with his words and he felt again like strangling Forest for what he did.
Then came Barry who placed his hand kindly on Chris's shoulder and messaged to Chris that he should let go already. "Chris, you have your right to be angry, but would you listen to me?" Chris looked at Forest again who seemed to have a lack of air from Chris's strong grip. Chris let go of Forest but didn't seem happy. Barry took that as a sign to begin again:
"We talked with Bravo: the whole bet is now over. We decided together that we should make this up to you and Wesker." Barry smiled widely, "We'll use all the bet money for a party in a bar! How would that sound? We cannot party this evening, but how about Friday?"
Chris stared at Barry like he couldn't believe his ears. "It sounds good, but how did you all agree with that idea so fast? We just got out of the meeting room and..."
Barry just kept on smiling and even Forest gave a slight smile. "I called Forest yesterday and I told him about how things were here in Raccoon city. He discussed with Bravo and I did the same with Alpha. Jill wanted to tell you herself about this deal because she felt the worst about this and she also felt it was her duty to tell you as your partner... Can you forgive us now? Or maybe later? I will go now to talk with captains Wesker and Enrico... I think they're the only ones now who don't know the whole story..."
After Barry was out of sight again (as fast as he came), Chris didn't know what to think. He had feared all week that he could never get his dignity back and he would hate his best friend forever… but now he felt like everything would be all right again. And also be back to normal in couple of days, hopefully.
"Are you planning my death or are you just relieved? You look funny..." Forest said and smirked when Chris looked back to him again and stopped his wondering.
"Forest... you're still a dead man but I may let you live a couple of days more if you apologize nicely." Chris smirked back and almost felt like laughing at Forest's surprised face. Chris didn't feel like being angry anymore, he had hated Forest enough for a week or two already.
"What if I don't apologize?" Forest asked, his eyebrow raised.
"Then you have to hope that the drinks are good. Otherwise… I sic Wesker after you..."
Both men laughed and they seemed to be friends again. Even though everything seemed to be fine, of course Chris's girlfriend still hated him (doesn't count), there was still something wrong.
His joke about sicking Wesker after Forest kept on repeating in his mind the rest of the working hours, but he was sure that he wasn't bothered by the joke. There was something more... but he just didn't find out what that was.
When the working day was finally over and he had gotten his report done, Chris was still bothered.
Chris kept on wondering over his problem when he walked to his car and said "see ya tomorrow" to every S.T.A.R.S member he saw on his way to the parking lot. When he was going to say it to the man who stood next to the black BMW, he froze instantly.
He had already forgotten his and Wesker's earlier discussion. He had already forgotten his emotions towards the man who now stood there and didn't notice him.