Colliding Rulers

Richness (4)

Third Person's P.O.V

"What the hell just happened?" Joshua finally came back from his breakfast date. He even brought back his plate. He didn't want to seem irresponsible and dirty in front of that random stranger, so he returned with his plate. Alex was confused why Joshua brought the plate back, but didn't pester him about it.

Joshua, in relief, sat down beside Gevia.

"You just ate with a very, very clingy man." Gevia shook her head in disapproval, teasing her friend. Joshua felt cold wind slapping his face. He knew that the man was rich and special, but since Gevia even acknowledged the guy, it brought Joshua to his doom. He became nervous.

Gevia hated rich people, but then she acknowledged him. I'm going to die. Joshua thought to himself. He wasn't sure how his trip was going to end, but he was sure it wasn't going to end well. He felt it in his stomach. The upcoming turn of events that no one liked was what he didn't want to happen.

"Clingy?" Alex asked, surprised that Gevia used such an adjective to describe the man.

"You didn't know? That guy doesn't get obsessed with people."

"Don't tell me-" Joshua paused, wanting Gevia to finish his statement for him.

"Yes. Since he's not so easily intrigued, and when he is, it's all one big kaboom." Alex blinked.

"How'd you know all of this?" Gevia rolled her eyes.

"You need to know your people, Alex."

Joshua slumped on his seat. The people around noticed that Joshua had just eaten with one of the most influential people on the plant, and now he was sitting with, not only one, but the only two daughters of the two mafia bosses. He attracted attention and at the same time, he attracted questions.

"Who's that?"

"Isn't he too poor to even be here?"

"Who is he with?"

"What? He just ate with Zack?"

"Who the f**k is that guy?"

"Isn't he just a gold-digger?"

"Does that mean that he's your type of person?" Gevia facepalmed herself. Alex's jealousy was clearer than the day. Alex was easily triggered when it came to Gevia, but then reminded themselves that Zack had indeed taken a liking to Joshua and not Gevia.

Alex calmed down when they remembered what had happened earlier. They smiled, the jealousy now gone.

"Can you shut up for a moment?" Alex shrugged, but chose to abide by Gevia's words, actively listening to the conversation.

Alex thought that, finally, they could tease the captain with everything that they've got now that the captain has some competition, and a hard one at that. While thinking about that, the captain sneezed out of nowhere even though it was quite warm that day. The captain shivered, ignoring that sneeze, and went back to morning practice.

"He's taken a liking to me when I didn't do anything?" Joshua was burdened with the fact that even though he made it his first goal to stir out of rich people's way, he did the exact opposite of that. Joshua sighed heavily, containing frustration in that exasperated sigh.

"Unfortunately, even I don't know what excites him, so I can't tell you anything. But for sure, he likes you." Gevia was so sure that Joshua had no choice but to believe his friend.

"That boy is crazy for food. He must've seen how much you enjoyed you and he took an interest in you." Alex blatantly blurted out their thoughts.

Alex added the possibility of the actual truth. Joshua's memory suddenly flashed back to when they raced in time to get their food. Their same choice of food, and their appetite matched. Joshua pulled on his hair, immediately regretting vibing with the guy.

"I don't even know his f*****g name."

"Zack Payne. Heir to Payne Corporation. One and only son of the Payne family. He is one of the leading future leaders the world has to offer. It's going to be a pain in the back rejecting him." Gevia pitied her friend.

Joshua whined, ready to cry. He couldn't believe that he had got himself into that kind of predicament. He was so sure that he was being careful. His love for food got him to where he is right now - in a problematic twist. He groaned, cussing at himself.

"You shouldn't scare Joshua like that, love." Gevia almost dropped from her seat when she heard 'love' come out of Alex's pinkish lips. It brought Gevia butterflies inside her stomach, hitting her intestines as they flew around.

"What the f**k?" Joshua asked, and was also taken aback by Alex's words.

Alex shrugged, stood up and left the two there. Their signature move of leaving in the middle of something was already a habit that Gevia got used to. It made Gevia sigh, not minding Alex's sudden exit. Joshua, on the other hand, was still bothered by Zack.

"What did I get myself into, Gev?" Gevia shook her head, unable to provide an answer. She was as guilty as her friend.

"I don't even know. We're both screwed in a sense." Joshua nodded.

"Fuuuckkk," Joshua said in a lower, longer, tone.

"Well, at least you know who to avoid the most right now. Shall we go and get changed?" Joshua had no choice but to nod his head.

They left the table and changed their clothes. The twist of the day's activity was that they had to go somewhere without them knowing where it was. They had no idea, so their choice of clothing was very challenging. Gevia and Joshua went for a casual one, but packed extra shoes.

Once they were done, they went to the lobby and found the people there, talking to one another and the others were talking in groups. Gevia and Joshua immediately attracted attention, which was not new to them, but still bothered them in a way that made them cautious. They got out of the elevator and went outside the hotel, enjoying the breeze of the salty air.

"We should go together." Alex popped out of nowhere again, startling Joshua and Gevia. Gevia was so full of Alex's surprises that she wanted to karate chop the person. Alex grinned, happy to have made an impact on Gevia's mood. Alex was unexpectedly hyper.

"Hoe, would you stop that?" Joshua asked, touching his chest.

"I swear I'm going to have a heart attack because of you." Joshua added, glaring at the giggling Alex.

"Awe, don't be like that. We're friends after all." Alex cockily snickered.

Joshua and Gevia looked at each other at the same time. Alex's mood today was so good that it made the two ask why Alex was in such a nice mood. To which the individual just answered with, "I am?".

"Can I come along with you guys?" the voice was deep, and reeked of 'daddy' vibes, in a British accent. It made Joshua tense up, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He shivered slightly upon feeling that Zack was closely behind him. Already feeling Zack's body heat.

Gevia blinked while Alex sighed.

"Look, man, I know you mean well, but I'm sure you know that I hate men." Alex was ready to carry the burden of being blamed that Alex jumped right in.

Zack was taller than Alex, but it was not no question that Alex was stronger than Zack. Everyone knew of Alex's capabilities when it came to fighting. They weren't known for being Alejandro's heir for nothing. Zack looked at Alex, hoping that Alex would somehow waver from their resolution, but to no avail.

Alex stood their ground, not even flinching when Zack nodded and walked away. When Zack walked away, Joshua finally inhaled. Dramatically panting for air. He didn't breathe when Zack was behind him, acting like he wasn't there.

"Thank you. You're a lifesaver." Joshua said, taking in one last deep breath before looking at Gevia.

"I really hate men." Alex was adamant about their feelings towards men. Alex's number one hated person was none other than their father, Alejandro, and they then proceeded to generalize that every man in the world was the same.

"Oh, that was real?" Joshua asked. He could feel that Alex's hatred was real.

With scornful eyes that could pierce through the soul, and an expression that showed no taste at all. Joshua thanked himself for being gay. He now understood why Alex had approached him when Gevia and him were hanging out as partners for a project.

"Uh-huh. You don't have to worry about anything. This won't damage my reputation at all."

Alex didn't care about reputation, but they knew how much Gevia's reputation meant to Gevia. Gevia wasn't only living for herself, but for her daddy as well. Alex knew of Gevia's love for her father and they didn't want to strain Gevia's reputation by saving her friend. Although Gevia would inevitably jump to the rescue, it would be easier if Alex took the blame.

"Thank you. Gosh. He scares the s**t out of me." Joshua bit his lips, already getting scared for his life.

After a while, someone came and told everyone that they needed treasure. They were going treasure hunting. If they find a key which was going to be the main prize of the event, the winner gets to keep the key as well. Of course, the key was hidden and could be found only in the deepest part of the forest.

Treasure was scattered all over the island, but it wasn't ordinary treasure. It was treasure or relic of some kind. High end artifacts that businessmen would kill to get their hands on.

"For real?" Joshua asked, excited about what he was going to find.

Of course, money will also be there. Money was what Joshua wished to find, but the relic and other treasure would be beneficial to him as well. He was already thinking of selling it if ever that was what he was going to find. It didn't matter either way, as long as he was going to get money.

"I remember finding five hundred thousand dollars last year," Gevia nonchalantly answered.

"That's lame," Alex answered. Joshua couldn't believe their conversation but realized that if you have too much money, money doesn't excite you anymore.

He grinned.

"Well, I'm going to find as many as I can."