CHAPTER04
1589 Words
CALDEN
The dark haired girl trailed her fingers over my chest. "Don't you think we should take this somewhere more private," she suggested, her voice dripping with a false sweetness that got on my nerves. "Or we could stay here too. However you want."
I let a slow, calculated smirk curve my lips—not quite a smile, but enough to make it clear that I wasn't interested. Women like her always assumed they could handle whatever I was into, but they never could.
They saw the tailored suits, the polished demeanor, and thought they could mold me into what they wanted—a lover who whispered sweet nothings in the dark. But that wasn't me. It never had been.
I didn't do tenderness or intimacy. What I wanted was control, no kissing, no touching, just s*x and that required a certain kind of woman—one who knew the rules and didn’t try to change them halfway through.
I had more of a timetable for that, a list of women who understood what I needed and gave it without question. This dark haired was definitely not getting on that list.
"Not tonight swits," I said, taking the last sip of the whiskey in my glass. "It's my best friend's farewell party."
Her gaze followed mine to Jahmir's, who was surrounded by women who fawned over him like he was the last man on earth. He grinned from ear to ear, his charm working its usual magic. Jahmir had a way of putting people at ease, making them feel like they were the only ones in the room.
I'm pretty sure he had probably f****d half the City's female by now. Sometimes I wonder how he actually became a medical doctor. But I, on the other hand? I put people on edge. Well, according to them, and I actually preferred it that way.
"He can join us," the girl still persisted, edging closer until her breasts brushed against my arm. Her friend, another petite brunette who had been quiet up until now, suddenly found her voice. "Mily and I do everything together," she said, her eyes fixed on me like I was her next meal.
The desperation in her voice was obvious, a sharp difference to the sultry look she was trying to pull off. It was pathetic, really. Most men would have jumped at the chance, but their neediness was a turn-off.
I glanced at them without even answering before turning away. The room was packed with people, but I felt totally bored, observing them like they were actors in a play I had no interest in watching. If it weren't for Jahmir, I wouldn't even be here.
My life was already full with running the Wesley Group as CEO and handling my other side projects, but Jahmir was my best friend, and he was leaving for two years as a Medical personnel volunteer and to round up his MBBS in Canada. So, here I was, surrounded by people I didn’t care about, playing a part in a scene I didn’t want to be in and pretending like I wanted to be here.
A burst of laughter caught my attention, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked over to see Aria, Jahmir’ little sister, glowing with happiness as she laughed at something her friend said.
She had always been so...bright. This time, I wondered if it was a real laughter or a fake one. Most people wake up every morning and wear a different mask according to what they wanted that day and how they wanted the world to see them.
They smiled and laughed at people they hated, and kissed the asses of those they secretly hoped
to mess up. Not that I didn't have a mask of my own but at least I wasn't overdoing it and that's why I try to avoid certain things.
And Knowing Aria, her happiness was real. She was just carefree. The kind of girl who believed the world was a good place, who thought the best of people. It was almost painful to watch.
Poor thing. I’m sure she still has no idea how brutal the world could be since she’s still in Xanard. I shook my head, dismissing the thought. Aria wasn't my concern. Not my problem.
I took one last glance at her as she was already alone looking at something amongst the crowd.
I spotted Jahmir making his way to the counter and quickly walked up to meet him. I had been trying to get to him all night. I needed to find the tiniest excuse to leave early.
“Yo, my man. Wassup bro!” Jahmir said out loud immediately I stood in front of me. It was so obvious he had a lot of drinks. His hair was tousled and his mouth stretched into a wide grin. The women who had been clinging to him earlier were now entertaining the crowd with a drunken dance routine that was more embarrassing than sexy.
“Thanks for coming around, man. Sorry I haven’t had a chance to talk. I have been all shades of..occupied and thanks for picking up Aria.”
I arched an eyebrow at the lipstick smeared across his cheek. “Yeah I figured, and you have a little something on your face.”
He laughed, unapologetic. “Badge of honor. Speaking of which, I hope you are enjoying the party a bit. I know it's not your kind.”
“Well, yeah…as you know I’m here because it's you and as for this sluttish girl's here, do better next time.” I said, nudging his arm as I glanced back at the two girls from earlier who were already making out with each other. “And I can bet that you won’t last even three months on this trip, you definitely won't get all you get here. You’ll be back before Christmas.”
“Oh,wow, how lowly do you think of me?” Jahmir cracked open a beer, his smile unfailing. “There’ll always be women, and you of all people should know I bring the party wherever I go.
Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something important in regards to my trip and my absence
“Are you missing me already? Please don't get all emotional and sentimental on me, if not I’m out.”
“f*****g Cal.” He laughed. “I wouldn’t even do that If I were on my deathbed.”
It’s about Aria.” I stiffened slightly, hiding my reaction with another sip of whiskey I had poured myself before getting there. The liquid burned its way down my throat, but it was a welcome distraction.
“What about her?”
Jahmir and his sister were very close, even if they argued and fought so much, I wanted to
shut their mouths sometimes. Typical normal siblings groove_ something I’d never quite gotten to experience since I was an only child.
His grin faded, replaced by a look of genuine concern. “I’m worried about her. I know she's old enough , but she’s too trusting. With me gone, I’m not sure how she’ll be able to handle things on her own. Especially after that asshole she was dating before started harassing her.”
There it was. The favor I had seen coming but hoped to avoid. “She won’t be alone,” I said, nodding toward her friends. “She’s got a whole crew around her.”
“Yeah, but I don't trust them at all, they’re not exactly reliable. Chloe is a trainwreck, Shanisse is just as trusting as Aria, and Velma...well, she’s got her own life.”
“But you don’t need to worry though, Xanard Campus is safe, and the crime rate is close
to zero.”
“Yeah I know, but I’d feel better if I had someone I trusted looking after her, you know?”
I set my glass down, the whiskey suddenly sour on my tongue. “What are you asking, Jahmir?”
He hesitated, then let out a breath. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t have to, but could you keep an eye on her? Just until things settle down around her? Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid to get herself in trouble or danger?”
I narrowed my eyes as if considering. Jahmir was one of the few people I trusted, and I owed him more times than I could count. But Aria was a complication and distraction I didn’t need. “You’re asking me to babysit your sister?”
“Not babysit,” he corrected quickly.
“Just...watch out for her. She broke up with her ex a few weeks ago, and he’s been a real piece of work. I’d feel a lot better knowing someone like you was looking out for her.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “You owe me for this,” I muttered. At this point, I knew I couldn't do anything but to agree.
Jahmir grinned, his relief almost obvious. “You know I’ll make it up to you. Besides, you’ve always been too uptight. Maybe Aria will rub off on you.”
“Don’t count on it,” I said dryly, but the tension in my chest eased a little. I didn’t like
the idea, but for Jahmir, I’d do it. Even if it meant getting involved in something I knew was a bad idea from the start.
“So, Is that a Yes?”
- Writer
