THIRD PERSON POV
The casino was dimly lit, dark clouds of tobacco floating around the room, complimenting the ambiance better than the shitty jazz music. He stood there, back pressed against the brick walls, a glass of whiskey in one hand and the other tucked in his pocket.
He waited, his heavily hooded eyes scanning through the vicinity. Luke silently eyed the men in the bar, but none of them were remarkable enough to keep his attention.
All except one.
Luke’s grip on his cup tightens as he spots Ezekiel. The actor had just arrived, and he wasted no time in ordering a glass of champagne.
It annoyed him. It made his blood boil and sizzle over, threatening to make him go mad. But even still, he appeared unaffected, because he would rather die than give Ezekiel the pleasure of a reaction.
Ezekiel spots Luke while a waitress pours him a drink. Leaning back in his seat, he held the CEO’s gaze, a taunting smile playing on his lips. Both men faced off, a silent battle without words, their egos wrestling each other.
Luke straightened up, his shoulders stiffening and relaxing.
Setting his drink aside, he walked towards Ezekiel in deliberate steps, his jaw ticking with each step he took.
Once Luke stood before him, Ezekiel raised his glass as if making a toast, gesturing towards the empty seat across him.
“You’re here early, did you miss me that much?”
Luke scoffed, retaining his standing position. “Don’t flatter yourself.” he spat, his lips curling in disdain. “I warned you, didn’t I? Don’t cross your limits, Sterling.”
Ezekiel feigned ignorance, his brows raising in mock shock.
“Oh, that?” he noted, bringing his cup to his lips. He recalled the moment Luke dragged him out of the studio during the shoot.
*Flashback to the shoot*
…..
“Sterling!” Aurelia was cut off by the CEO’s cheerful laughter.
She watches in awe as Luke swings his arms over Ezekiel’s shoulders, forcing him out of the bed and pulling him into a hug one would give an old friend.
Ezekiel was slightly taken aback by this, but he played along, returning the hug with a bubbly chuckle; “Arroyal, Long time no see.”
“It seems the CEO and Mr Ezekiel are friends.” Aurelia overheard the employees whispering among themselves.
“Is that a nickname, they must be close then.”
“Well, they’re both multimillionaires so it’s only normal right?”
Aurelia on the other hand wasn’t convinced, she noticed the hitch in Luke’s laughter on hearing Ezekiel refer to him as Arroyal, and she also took note of Ezekiel’s stiffness when Luke hugged him. Or was she just overthinking again?
Both men walked out of the room together, leaving poor Aurelia with question marks floating around her head.
“What the hell just happened?”
Meanwhile, Luke dragged Ezekiel to his office, and Immediately the door shut behind them, their cheerful expression falling.
Ezekiel let out a dry chuckle, hiding his annoyance evident in the crease between his brows.
“What a fucking cockblock you are Arroyal, I guess people never change.”
Luke smiled tightly at the sound of his name on Ezekiel’s tongue, his eyes narrowing menacingly. It pissed him off more than anything, and Ezekiel was more than satisfied with the result.
“And you remain the same conniving asswipe, although I’m not surprised.” He retorted, his tone hostile.
“That’s no way to welcome your best friend is it?” Ezekiel stood his ground, running a casual hand through his hair.
“It’s been six years damn it.”
Luke scoffs, then he throws his head back and laughs. A sharp mocking laugh. Ezekiel gritted his teeth at this, his chest burning with irritation.
“Best friend? You’re more than delusional.” Luke took a step forward, his hard gaze sweeping over the other male.
“I have and want nothing to do with you. I would throw your sorry ass out of my company this minute if you get on my nerves.”
Luke knew Ezekiel was going to be involved in the project, but he didn’t want to mix his personal life with business. Even though they shared a rocky past.
Ezekiel arched a brow. His smile came slow, a smug expression taking over his features. “We both know that’s not why you’re pissed.”
“What was that?”
Ezekiel hummed thoughtfully, his fingers tracing his bottom lip. “She tasted like strawberry.”
“Sterling!” Luke grabbed Ezekiel’s collar, his fist raised to deliver a punch. But he stopped himself on seeing Ezekiel’s triumphant smirk, realizing his mistake.
His reaction was a dead giveaway, and Ezekiel was glad to see he’d walked right into his trap.
“Bingo.” Ezekiel grinned, crazed excitement shining in his eyes. He didn’t even flinch, nor was he fazed by Luke’s violence.
“It’s the girl. She’s your new bitch?”
Luke’s grip on Ezekiel’s collar tightened, the force choking him. “Don’t. Don’t fucking go there.” Luke seethed, throwing all manner of restraints aside.
“She’s mine.”
Ezekiel raised his chin, then he jerked off Luke’s grip and took a step back. Ezekiel merely readjusted his collar, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
“That’s what you said six years ago.” And with that said, Ezekiel left the office, leaving Luke to himself.
*End of flashback*
Ezekiel crossed his legs over each other, setting his drink down. “That was before I found out about the bucket list.” He said simply.
Luke faltered, his eyes widening momentarily. “The fuck are you talking about?”
He acted ignorant, wondering how Ezekiel had dug confidential company information out. Could there be a mole in his company?
“Oh don’t play dumb now Arroyal.” Ezekiel saw right through his facade, leisurely leaning back in his seat. “Don’t you think it’s interesting that I was ranked higher than you? It gives me a sweet wave of de ja vu. ”
Luke swallowed hard, his hands balling into fists at his sides. It took everything in him to not punch the smug expression off Ezekiel’s face. He knew the actor intentionally taunting him, gaining pleasure from his reactions, and Luke hated how easy it was to rile him up.
Ezekiel never failed to get under his skin. The bastard knew the right buttons to push, and it was unbearable.
Ezekiel had chosen the elite Casino on purpose, knowing it was a good balance between private and public. A lot of elite celebrities spend their leisure time here, and it also attracts the curiosity of their loyal fans.
If Luke was going to cause a scene, he would make sure to goad him into making the first attack. News travels fast, and it would be easier to spin the narrative in his favor.
“History won’t repeat itself.” Luke stated firmly, a bitter taste settling on his tongue as he recalled the ‘incident’.
Ezekiel shrugged his shoulders, his hands moving to adjust the sleeves of his dress shirt. “Are you scared that it will?”
Now it was Luke’s turn to smirk. He reached for Ezekiel’s drink, twirling the glass between his fingers before pouring it to the ground. Ezekiel’s smirk twitched, threatening to fall as he watched the golden liquid stain his luxurious shoes. Once the cup was empty, Luke took the bottle of champagne and refilled it, raising it to mimic Ezekiel’s toast.
“Whatever it is you’re trying to prove,” Luke started, looking down at Ezekiel. “I suggest you give up. Or else you’ll be setting yourself up for disappointment.”
Ezekiel regarded Luke in silence. Slowly and carefully, he stood to his feet, matching Luke’s fierce gaze.
“Since you’re so confident, how about a challenge? For old time’s sake.”
Luke doesn’t reply, and Ezekiel takes it as a cue to continue.
“Aurelia. I know she’s your new plaything.”
Luke’s grip on the glass tightened, but still, he said nothing.
“Why don’t you give her a choice.” Ezekiel mused, reaching out to take the cup from Luke. “If I make advances towards her, and she still chooses you, then I promise to make up for what happened six years ago.”
This catches Luke’s attention, and his mind goes into overdrive. Ezekiel was as cunning as a fox, but he always kept his word. Luke knew that much.
“So?” Ezekiel tilts his head to the side, the glass of champagne swaying between them like the cruel hand of fate.
“What would it be Arroyal?”