"Stop glaring at things, Rowan." Davis barked the words as if he were in my bloody fucking shoes. "We are here so you can take things out of your mind." I groaned at that. "For the love of god, Davis, they are fucking talking about engagement." He huffed at that. "I know," he said softly. "Is she that bad?" I snorted at that. "You don't have any fucking idea." He leaned on the chair, and I did too, making myself comfortable on the couch and trying to sway to the music, but nothing was working.
"Your dad is on edge these days." Slowly, he spoke. "The negative rumors about you are also spreading; once again, our hands are tied, not able to find the source of them." I was in a daze, thinking about the whole situation and our grip on a certain situation, which is slipping away. "Someone is doing a very good job, Rowan, taking advantage of the situation and trapping you especially." I exhaled a sharp breath at that, not knowing who it was or how to handle the whole thing. "The only escape for you at present is Mendath." Once again, the surname felt like a curse to me, which started haunting me. "You are sounding like my dad." I couldn't help but notice. "I know," was his remark. "You are my fucking friend, so act like one," I snapped; he was asking for it. "I know, Rowan; it's just I always wanted to be CEO along with you. I am heading ahead of you, and I am not liking it." He spoke in a sad tone, and I know he meant every word. I am still tied and regulated within boundaries, and my leash is held by directors. But we know the leash was handled by someone else, and we don't know who that person is exactly.
Silence stretched between us; music was loud, screaming, and other things that would happen in any high-end club. "It feels like things are happening to corner me." Davis nodded his head at that. "That's why we need a strong hand so we can control, and you know why your dad is forcing you." Here we go again with that bullshit. "Act like a friend." I reminded him, and he chuckled at that. "Ok, do you have any plan, Rowan? Please share with me; I am all ears." That shut me up. Wow, what a punch. "We can come up with something," I suggested weekly, and he rolled his eyes at that. "Your dad is turning every gear. He was not ready to push you anywhere that you don't want to be." I sighed at that. "Your dad is not blind because of his father, like you are thinking. Someone is making sure we surrender, and your father is not choosing that." "You know I don't really care about these stupid titles and status; I will show my middle finger, and I will start working like an ordinary employee." He chuckled at that. "I know, but think about your dad, who was doing so much irrespective of the day or night. His dream was always the same: seeing you as a CEO." Immediately, my mood turned sour. "He always wanted me to be happy, never pressured or forced me. Yeah, he was nudging and reminding me about my future, but he never let me feel any pressure from anything." My memory is filled with my upbringing, how both my parents spoiled me, including my sisters. All of a sudden, things took a turn, and I am not able to handle it. "I love my family and my parents too much, but I don't know why I am not able to suck this up." I shook a little when I remembered Shreya and the exact reason why I was unable to just give in for the sake of anyone. "Give it a try, you know, with Shreya." I glared at him harshly, and he gulped.
I shook my head at the situation. Well, that bitch is fucking turning everyone against me, and I don't know how the hell she was doing that. Getting engaged! Marriage! Those words feel like too much for me, and those terms didn't ever invade me when I was with Isabella, either. I just wanted to be with her; all along, my thoughts were just to be with her and enjoy my life. I never planned for how many years, nor did I think of a lifetime with her, and I don't know why. And I never planned that far into my future, like getting engaged and stuff, so marriage is an out-of-the-box thing for me. While dating, one would always plan about the future, which includes marriage and stuff. Strangely, my mind never drifted to that part. To date, Isabella has always been my objective, and yeah, that's it. Strange.
"I will never let my marriage turn into a fucking business deal." Once again, I groaned and glared at everything, frustrated with the overall situation. I need a fucking break. Thank God, he didn't rebuke that, reminding me that my dad's ideology is damn irritating. A guy could take only a handful; don't throw shit after shit.
Suddenly, the club went silent—I mean, complete silence. Davis and I looked at each other, baffled. A high-end club could go silent, that too on the weekend, with a crowd overflowing. When I entered the pub, the club was damn full, and as I was making my way to the VIP section, it took all in me not to snap at anyone.
Davis immediately got up from the couch, walked toward the open glass window, and went still for a few seconds. After a few minutes, he sucked in a large breath. "No wonder." He murmured, and curiosity bested me, and I joined him.
The people were glued to the floor, not moving an inch, and their eyes were moving to the entrance, back to the bar area. A guy stood near the entrance, with a few people behind him, and he looked damn familiar. I tried to rack my brain, and I remembered. Fucking 'Eddie William,' it's been what two or three years? He fucking hated me in college for no reason; I was his senior, still, and he made my life miserable. Well, he has changed a lot, not in a good way, which is quite a view to watch him because he looks a little wrecked, which pleases my eyes.
He was staring at someone near the bar, and my eyes followed his, and I was in shock. My eyes went wide, and I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. My mouth went dry, I wanted to clarify, and my throat was sealed. I opened and closed my mouth a few times, and finally, I tried to get hold of whatever it was. "He—" I cleared my throat for no reason. "He is?" That wasn't my question; I wanted to confirm by taking his name, but I couldn't. "Dante," Davis replied in an annoyed tone. My breath left me for a second upon hearing his name; it's been what, years? Dante returned when? I missed him so much, even though he broke every contact with me. I always wanted to reconnect somehow, and by seeing him like this, I don't know what I want anymore. Did he even fucking miss me?
My eyes fell on him, giving undivided attention and checking on him. He looks more well-defined, with more muscles, and is taller than me. Everything is ripened in him like fine wine. The same cold stares, the eyes that make one swoon, and the sharp jaw that could slice anything. I wonder how his voice would be turned now. I think I am checking him a little bit out of the boundary, but I am not able to stop myself. This shit always happens only in his presence, or else I would be fine with checking females that way.
Eddie, along with his friends, started walking toward Dante. Dante lazily sat on the chair, his elbows on the table, and his legs stretched. I don't know why I bit my lips at the sight. They stood staring at each other, and suddenly, slowly, Eddie started leaning on Dante, towering over him and cornering him. The sight made me irritated, and the same goes with Davis, as he groaned at the sight. Their faces were an inch apart, Eddie was speaking something, and Dante was rolling his eyes, looking bored as hell. Eddie did the unthinkable, closing the gap; their lips connected, and I could fucking feel it. Everyone sucked the breath out of the room by watching them. They fucking didn't care about anything; the kiss continued deeper for at least a few seconds. At last, they broke the kiss and gasped for air. The videos were rolling, and they fucking didn't care. Dante glared at Eddie and said something in a cold voice. Eddie fucking chuckled in return, and Dante started walking. Eddie didn't waste time; he started tailing Dante.
Every head watched the retreating steps, including me, till we lost sight. Once again, the music started blasting, and Davis and I slowly walked back to the couch without uttering a word. We took our seats, feeling numb and dumb at the scene. There was so much I wanted to ask Davis, but my mind was filled with the kissing scene. I don't know why I was angry when the scene was replaying in my mind. Davis was in shock and completely in a daze.
Once again, I cleared my throat a few times, and finally, I tried to clarify one major fact about Dante. "He is," I tried. I really tried to get the word out of my mouth, which kind of stuck, because it never bothered or affected me before in any way. "He is." I really tried this time, but my mind was messed up. "Gay, Rowan," he clarified. Oh, that's all I could say. "I wonder from when." I once again pressed on the question. "Don't talk like an idiot, Rowan." He snapped at me. "Hey, we were friends; I never knew." He sighed at that. "I suppose from the beginning." He sarcastically replied, to which I rolled my eyes, jerk. "Well, that was a hell of a show." I tried to bring some humor because I really need a distraction right now. "And the cameras were rolling, like every corner," I added. Once again, Davis sighed. "It's Eddie's club." Once again, Oh left me. So, things will be covered from circulating, but it will hit a few sites at least.
I am getting why I am irritated and angry at the same time, but I am not getting Davis's annoyance and irritation. He is more disturbed than I am, and I am definitely missing something.
Once again, I started to do some rampage in my brain, trying to find something by connecting the dots, and when the bulb lit, I swear I wanted to stab this bastard. "You are fucking into that bastard Eddie," I shouted at the top of my lungs. He flinched at my outburst by clenching his fist. "Your precious heart was broken by that asshole." I mocked him; I swear I never saw this coming. "Calm down, Rowan." Well, it should be the other way around or never mind at all. "You are into that shit." I jabbed more, digesting the bloody news. The waves were hitting me back-to-back; I don't know whether I am going to float or drown. "Let me fucking get this straight when you fucking guys aren't." He grimaced at that. "You are fucking into shit called Eddie, and that Eddie shit is into other shit called Dante. Is this it, or am I fucking missing something over here?" Once again, he clenched his hands and was burning with anger, but no words left him. "Well, this shit couldn't get any better." I didn't wait for any response from him and stormed out of the room, my head buzzing from everything.
As I reached home, I tore everything off me and, with a thud, fell on the bed. Groaned when my head hit the headboard, but I didn't care. He is fucking back and didn't bother to contact me, like seriously. On top of it, fucking giving a bloody show in a high-end club. This was the same person who hated everything, especially the crowd. I would always make plans by considering the likes and dislikes of Dante. Now, he has grown up and grown up over things, I guess. I huffed when annoyance was reeking more when I remembered the fucking kiss. I flipped and grabbed the pillow, groaning louder. I hate him; I hate everything about him;