5
Lucian
Never in my life had my patience been this tested. I grabbed him and shoved him out of my room. He stumbled and fell hard, but I couldn’t care less.
“What the hell were you thinking, you dumb little idiot? Huh? That you were something I’d actually want? Something good enough to be in my bed?” I asked, my voice dripping with cold, mocking disdain.
His eyes began to glisten, moisture pooling as he stared back at me.
“You didn’t think so… all those years ago,” he said, voice shaking.
I let out a low, cruel chuckle. “Your best shot with me was that night I was drunk,” I sneered, raking my eyes down his frame. “I’m not like you... a fucking fag.”
His tears flowed freely now, unrestrained.
“You should try not acting like them, since you sleep with a fag—”
Before he could finish, my hand struck his face with a sharp crack. His head snapped to the side, and before he could recover, I grabbed him by the neck, slamming him back against the wall.
“Don’t you ever say that again,” I snarled, my voice low and deadly. “And you’d better keep that filthy mouth shut, or I swear—I’ll kill you. I’ll make you watch as the life drains from your pathetic, disgusting fag self.”
His eyes widened in fear, breath catching in his throat beneath my tightening grip. He didn’t fight back.
With a final shove, I let him go. His body hit the floor with a thud, limbs folding awkwardly as he gasped for air.
I stood over him, chest heaving, heart pounding in a mess of fury and something else I didn’t want to name. My fists trembled, not from weakness but from the storm raging inside me.
He looked up at me, broken and silent, tears mixing with the blood at the corner of his mouth.
For a second, just a second, I hated how much I hated him... and hated how much I didn’t.
I shut the door in his face and leaned against it, exhaling hard. My fingers ran through my still-wet hair, pulling slightly at the roots. I really didn’t think someone could piss me off this early.
Rude and harsh as it might’ve seemed, what I did to that kid was necessary. I had to keep control—keep power over him. He was clearly still an idiot, still clinging to that pathetic little hope that he ever had a chance with me.
Fool.
With one last sigh, I peeled myself off the door and headed toward the sink to get ready. I refused to let his face—his eyes—linger in my mind. Not now.
The day dragged on slowly as I moved from one business meeting to the next, but no matter how I tried to stay focused, his thoughts kept lingering—haunting me. The pain in his eyes when I slapped him… it kept flashing back without mercy. I shook my head to clear it.
In the business world, I’ve learned that only by being brutal can you ever hope to succeed. I apply that same principle to my personal life. That’s why everyone around me stays on edge—guarded. It’s easier to spot betrayal when you’re the one holding the blade.
By the time evening came, it was dinner. Since it was their first dinner in the house, I was expected to be present. Formality. Protocol. Appearances. But guess who wasn’t there?
The little bitch.
“Where is he?” I asked William, not bothering to mask the irritation in my voice.
He fidgeted a little before answering. “He’s been out since morning, sir… He took the car you gifted him and left.”
I clenched my fork without thinking, the metal digging into my palm. That boy was really testing my patience.
“Ensure he’s duly punished for missing dinner,” I said sharply, before returning to my plate. My tone made it clear—there would be no discussion.
The girl who came with him was better mannered—quiet, polite, and smart enough not to speak to me the entire dinner. Until, of course, I stood to leave. That’s when she rose, stopping me.
“What?” I asked, arching a brow with a cold, condescending glare.
She swallowed hard, clearly trying to hide how intimidated she was, but I could see it written all over her. From the moment she arrived, she was afraid—especially of me.
“It’s about Halo…” she started, voice trembling. “He was really upset and… and when he gets like that he… he…”
I narrowed my eyes, patience wearing thinner by the second. I continued to walk since she had suddenly become a stammerer.
She flinched, but pushed through. “He does drugs when he’s depressed. He’s an addict!” she blurted out, eyes wide with panic, like she’d said something she wasn’t supposed to.
My body froze. The air around me suddenly felt heavier.
I looked over my shoulder at the fake blonde girl. This morning, she looked innocent enough—brown eyes soft, expression harmless. But now she’d turned into a little rat, selling out her friend for God knows what reason.
Without saying a word to her, I turned and walked out, jaw tight, heart stilling.As if I was actually bothered by a boy so damn problematic. All I cared about was him not affecting me in any way. He reeked of trouble—too emotional, too chaotic. So much drama in just one day… I could only imagine how much worse it would get.
It was 1:30 a.m. when I decided to go down to my study to retrieve something I’d left behind—a flash drive. Since I had just finished some international calls and, of course, couldn’t sleep, I figured I might as well go through its contents.
But I didn’t expect to run into him.
Halo.
He was slumped on the staircase, eyes barely open, body leaning heavily against the railing like it was the only thing keeping him upright.
“What the hell—” I began, but didn’t even get the full sentence out.
He stumbled toward me and collapsed against my chest, giggling like a child.
“Hi, meanie,” he slurred, poking my chest with a clumsy finger. “Why do you look so good… but your mouth…” He trailed off with a snort-laugh. “So mean… but so delicious… I just—” he hiccupped “—wanna taste it.”
I didn’t expect his next move.
And I didn’t stop him either.
He stood on his tiptoes, eyes unfocused, lips parted—and then he pressed a sloppy, warm kiss against mine.