“How was Tokyo, Jax?” one of the female artists around Jaxon asked, her hand reaching out to caress his.
“It was good. A man once bought a ladder to a party because he heard the drinks were on the house,” Jaxon responded, and they all laughed. His eyes returned to the figure that had caught his attention the moment she stepped in.
“And what did the others say to him?” one of the female artists’ voices snapped him back.
“They laughed, of course. Tokyo is quite interesting. They’ve got skills when it comes to craft and portrait. They have nice women too,” Jaxon replied, and a fleeting look of jealousy flashed on the woman’s face.
Not only was Jaxon Mr. King’s cousin, but he was also handsome, a flirt, and unlike Cassius, who had a cold aura, Jaxon’s was one of approachability.
“Okay, now where the heck is my cousin?” Jaxon frowned, looking around.
—
“Ohmm… Hmp… ohh… oh God.”
Tatiana’s moans filled the room, accompanied by the sound of the desk creaking beneath her.
Cassius’s mind had gone haywire the moment she stepped into the hall. The swell and fall of her perfect shape got him hard. Each day that passed, his addiction to her grew.
He regretted making her wear this dress when he noticed the lust flashing in the eyes of his male artists.
This thought made him thrust harder into her, his length hitting her spot.
His hand was wrapped around her neck, not too hard, as she remained pinned to the desk. Her legs were wrapped around his torso. Her expression was heated as she moaned out his name.
Finally, he shot his release with a sexy groan. She was on birth control. He loved it raw inside her, and having a condom preventing him from feeling those walls was annoying.
She mentioned herself that she wasn’t ready for another child or to announce their relationship, and he understood.
She sat up and kissed him lightly.
“You’ve ruined my makeup. Thank you, Mr. King,” she whispered.
“I’m not the one who asked you to be sexy,” he whispered huskily and kissed her collarbone. “You still look beautiful. Very beautiful.”
“Mr. King, I nearly thought you’d rip my dress off.”
“I would have if it weren’t for the event. Or should we just go home?”
Tatiana pecked him gently. “That wouldn’t be a good thing. You need to welcome your cousin.”
“Yeah, he’s troublesome,” Cassius muttered, and they both chuckled.
—
Tatiana walked back to her seat. Her dress, hair, makeup, and scent didn’t leave anyone suspicious. However, Jolene and Indigo gave her a curious look.
“It took you long enough,” Indigo teased.
Tatiana only smiled.
Cassius also returned properly dressed in his suit. His eyes met hers briefly. It was then Tatiana noticed the similarities between Cassius’s suit and Dylan’s.
Oh, this man.
The celebration started. Tatiana, Indigo, and Jolene clinked their glasses together before drinking. Much attention was drawn to Tatiana and her child again.
Some even spotted the resemblance between Dylan and Cassius but didn’t take it to heart. Probably, Tatiana used makeup so the boy would look like Mr. King.
What an attention seeker.
“Welcome back,” Cassius greeted Jaxon.
“I hate you,” Jaxon mumbled.
“I hate you too. Gosh, another pain in my ass,” Cassius swept his hair back.
“First, you didn’t come to pick me up yourself, and then you disappeared into thin air when the event started. Where did you go? To fuck a woman?” Jaxon asked, and Cassius sighed.
Jaxon didn’t know he was right. Cassius indeed went to have a woman.
“A break for peace has come to an end,” Cassius mumbled.
“How’s Auntie?” Jaxon asked, and Cassius’s expression became serious.
“My mother hasn’t woken up yet,” Cassius replied.
“Fuck the Wallingtons,” Jaxon mumbled, and Cassius looked at him. “What? Wasn’t it Mr. Wallington who sent your best friend to cause the accident, just to spite you for not collaborating with him? Fuck the Wallingtons. Auntie is now suffering because of him.”
Cassius averted his gaze.
Jaxon continued. “And you’re doing nothing.”
“Chris is dead. He has paid for his sins.”
“Then what about the person who sent him?”
“Chris did it by choice, and he has paid for it,” Cassius said, and Jaxon sighed. His eyes swept around the crowd and fell upon Tatiana.
Why does she look familiar?
However, his attention was shifted to Jolene, who stood alone.
—
Jolene had too much wine and had gone to the restroom. She stared at the mirror and took a deep breath.
Her expression turned worried. Last night, her father had returned after many years away. He came back looking hairy, homeless, drunk, sick, and pitiful.
Jolene knew the right thing to do was to throw him out, but she didn’t have the heart to do so. Now the man was in her house, sleeping on her couch.
After she was done, she stepped out and spotted a figure staring intently at her.
Jaxon Miller.
Her expression softened, and a smile flashed on her face.
“Mr. Jaxon! Oh, um… gosh, I can’t believe you’re standing right before me. I love your movies. Welcome back,” Jolene said, and after a moment of silence, Jaxon smiled.
“So, you’re a fan?”
“Huh?”
“Never mind. What’s your name?”
“Jolene,” Jolene responded, wondering why the man would ask for a common girl like her. Though, Tatiana didn’t see her as common. She saw her as a sister.
“Jolene, hmm… nice name,” he complimented, surprising her.
“Thanks. It’s really nice to meet you,” Jolene bowed. “I… I have to go.”
Jaxon nodded and watched her leave. He stared at her retreating back and muttered, “Cute.”
She didn’t recognize him as the guy she scolded that evening for the near car accident. She was at fault, but instead, she was the one who flared up. He found it cute.
Indigo decided to get some fresh air outside, and there, she spotted Hudson standing and staring at the sky.
“Hi,” Indigo stood beside him, and he looked at her briefly before returning his gaze to the sky.
“France is sure treating you well. You’ve added weight,” Hudson said.
“Hmm. But I kind of like Australia more.”
“Is that your way of saying you’re staying?” Hudson asked, meeting her gaze.
“Perhaps,” she shrugged.
Hudson didn’t reply. He slowly turned and left.
Indigo sighed. “What’s with him again?”
—
[PRISON]
Clad in a yellow jumpsuit meant for hard crime prisoners, Nathan was seated around the corner of the cell, seemingly taking a quick nap as light snores could be heard coming from him. His face was covered in dirt, and his hair was messy.
The loud clash on the door jolted him awake, and his eyes fluttered open.
He maintained his posture, knowing anything happening behind him was none of his concern. No one had ever visited him since his downfall. His family and allies turned against him in his time of need.
Nothing hurts more than that.
“You’ve got a new cellmate. Don’t kill each other,” Nathan heard the military man say before the door shut.
Another cellmate? Now there were four in the room. Great.
Nathan heard footsteps growing louder, indicating the new cellmate approaching him.
When the footsteps stopped, silence filled the room. Nathan kept his eyes closed until the man spoke.
“You look like shit. Your fingers are gone, your toes are cut off. You’re crippled as they say. Your torturer is definitely my kind of person.”
Nathan’s eyes flew open in shock. His body tensed at the voice and he slowly shifted his gaze to the man.
Recognizing him, his jaw clenched.
The man tilted his head to one side and grinned. “Aren’t you going to say hi?” the man asked.
“He hasn’t spoken a word since he got here. Stop bothering him, newbie,” one of the other cellmates said, and the man laughed. He looked back at Nathan and laughed again.
“Is that so? That’s preposterous.” He crouched before Nathan. “The Nathan Redmond I know would never keep his mouth shut. He loves boasting about his wealth and power.”
Nathan’s breath became uneven. Anger clouded his features.
The man before him was Tristan. Tristan Wallington, the uncle who betrayed Isabella. One of the brutal figures in the ring. He had a calm, angelic face, looked younger than his age, and was handsome too.
No wonder Isabella trusted this man.
Nathan watched Tristan’s head tilt to one side.
“You’re not going to say anything? Mr. King isn’t here to torture you. Speak, Nathan.”