I Fell For My Contract Partner

Chapter 5.1 Caleb POV : The News and The warning

Today's headline in the newspaper read: "THE BERMOUNT SON HAD AN AFFAIR AND REVEALED HIMSELF AS GAY."

I grinned as I read the news, enjoying my morning coffee while sitting peacefully—until someone slammed the door and stormed into my office.

"Are you reading today's news?" he asked, throwing a newspaper onto the table. "Look, they're gossiping about you, and the whole office is talking about it. That's not true, right?" My secretary—who also happens to be my best friend—sat down in front of me, staring at me with a serious expression, clearly waiting for confirmation.

"Gavin, chill..." I smiled at him. "Here, have some coffee. I made one for you." I pushed another cup toward him.

He took it, but his eyes were still fixed on me, brows furrowed, before slowly taking a sip of his black coffee.

"Actually, the news isn't a lie..."

Pffftttt!!!

Gavin spat out his coffee. "What?!" His brown eyes widened. "No, I don’t trust you. I know you—there’s no way..." He shook his head and placed the cup back on the table.

Then he stood up abruptly, looking rushed, as if he was about to go somewhere important.

"Hey, where are you going?" I gave him a strange look.

"I'm going to call a doctor to check you out. There must be something wrong with your head," he said as he reached for the doorknob.

"What do you mean? Come on, I’m not even finished yet!" A small chuckle slipped out as I watched him act like it was an emergency. "Come back here, I want to tell you the truth..." I patted the seat, signaling him to sit again.

He turned around, throwing me a sharp look from his dark brown eyes and hesitation on his face.

"Fine. But don't joke around with me..." He sighed and walked back to his seat.

"Just as I said, the news isn't lying, but..." I leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. "That's just part of my plan." A faint smirk spread across my face.

"Gosh... that's a relief. At least I won't lose my partner for nightlife parties, huh?" Gavin let out a long breath as if he had just escaped a dangerous situation. "Wait... plan?" He blinked when that part finally sank in. "Are you plotting something?" His eyes narrowed as he studied me.

"Kind of..." I replied casually. "This is a war between my family and me." My hand tightened around the handle of my coffee cup.

"Are you seriously doing this?" Gavin seemed to swallow hard after hearing the real reason behind everything.

He had been my best friend since college. We'd known each other for seven years, and he knew everything about my family. More importantly, he knew what had happened to my brother.

I gritted my teeth as memories of the past resurfaced. The son they once called perfect had become the family's greatest shame simply because he fell in love with another man. The brother they used to show off with pride no longer existed in their eyes.

My mother started hiding him from the public and even planned to send him overseas. Even after his death, people still called him a mistake. As if he alone were responsible for what happened.

Crack!

"s**t!" My body jolted immediately, and I quickly set the cup down. "It's hot...!" I shouted, looking down at my pants—they were now soaked.

"Man, you're insane!" Gavin jumped to his feet. "What are you, a monster?" He hurried out of the room, and I could hear him shouting at someone outside.

"Hey, somebody bring me a towel, now!"

A couple of minutes later, he walked back toward me and said, "You should be careful, man. Here, take it." He held out his hand.

"Thanks..." I murmured, taking the towel from him.

"Hah..." he sighed and took the newspaper. "So, about the guy—who is he anyway? There’s no way you’d pick a random guy. I know you’re picky about people. Tell me, who is he?" He glanced at me with a small grin playing on the corner of his lips.

"His name is Sean Ashford. I just met him at the club before and..." I stopped, my thoughts drifting away as I remembered all the coincidences between him and me. "And for some reason, we kept meeting in a single day... funny, huh?" I let out a small laugh.

"Something like that could happen? Interesting..." Gavin stroked his chin as if analyzing something while looking at the newspaper. "Though I can’t see his face, I bet the guy must be adorable..."

I rolled my eyes and placed the towel on the sofa, sighing at the mess I had made. I decided to call a cleaning service for the office later.

"Anyway, are you going out tonight to the club party?" Gavin asked, leaning back as he casually sipped his coffee.

"No, not today," I replied quickly. "I have a promise. He should come today, so I want to make sure he keeps his word because I’ve already transferred the money..."

My phone vibrated on the desk, the buzz breaking the silence.

"I bet that must be the Sean guy?" Gavin said jokingly.

At first, I thought it was him, but the call came from my mother’s number. She must have read the newspaper too today. I wondered what her face looked like right now.

I took a deep breath before picking up the phone, preparing myself mentally.

"CALEB! DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING? PEOPLE ARE CALLING YOU GAY!"

Just as I expected, she was bursting out every word at me.

"You’re going to give a clarification! I’ve already arranged the time at Central Plaza this afternoon, 4:00 PM. The reporters will be waiting for you—don’t be late!" she said, as bossy as always. I could almost imagine her glaring at the phone right now.

"Mom, stop it. I won’t go anywhere or give any clarification, because that is the truth. I’m with a guy now, and I’m serious..."

I walked toward the window of my office, looking out at the view while listening to her talk about family honor, other people, and what is good and bad. It was exhausting. She kept repeating the same words over and over again.

Power. Money. Authority. Fame—the things you’re supposed to have to survive in a place like this, or you’ll get wiped out. My family already had all of that, yet for some reason my mother still wasn’t satisfied. She wanted more, becoming greedy, always pushing her ego further.

"Are you done talking?" I asked flatly, feeling annoyed.

"What? Is that the way you speak to your mother?" Her voice rose to its highest pitch, I guess. "I am doing this for your good and for us! Where is your resp—"

"I have a meeting today. We’ll talk later. Bye." I cut her off and glanced at Gavin, who was sitting there, having heard everything, wearing a grimaced expression.

"Your mother hasn’t changed at all since the last time I met her..." he said with a grin.

"Yeah, you know her..." I shrugged. "Anyway, I think I’m going back now..."

I took my blazer from the hanger beside the seat and slipped my phone into my pocket.

"You can’t go, we have a meeting!" Gavin shouted as I walked toward the door.

"I’m counting on you. Don’t forget to give me the report later," I said while opening the door and leaving the room, leaving him there in protest.

I left the building and drove my car back to the apartment, my chest burning as I accelerated down the road at full speed.

In the end, I arrived at the apartment 30 minutes earlier than usual. I stepped quickly into my unit, keeping a stern expression on my face—and there I saw him.

A man with dark slicked-back hair stood in front of my door. Edgar Bermount—one of my older cousins, someone I disliked because he always interfered in my personal life and acted as my mother’s right-hand man.

I stepped closer, my expression hardening as I clenched my fist. "Why are you here?" I asked in a cold tone.

He threw me a quick glance before turning away. "Your mother sent me here..."

He wore a flat expression, like he wasn’t interested at all, just doing his job—and that only made me feel sick.

"She want to make sure you are coming up this afternoon to the—"

"I'm not coming!" I cut him off and shot him a sharp glare. "You'd better go."

He let out a little sigh and took a step toward me, then stopped. "I don't know are you really in relationship with that boy or not, but you'd better watch your back. As we know, your mother can do anything, but if this just a fake or just your stupid scenario, that's mean you put someone innocent in danger."

His voice was sharp like a cutting knife, slicing through the truth I was trying to hide. Then he glanced at me and said, "As your cousin, I would give you some advice..." He placed his hand on my shoulder. "Let that boy go for his own sake..."

From the corner of my eye, I could see him smirking before he walked past me.

That bastard... He threatened me.

I bit my lip hard, holding back my reaction as hard as I could, even though I really wanted to punch him right in the face.

I swear, someday I will hit him.