IN OMNIA PARATUS
1094 Words
0016
Levi
August choking on hot chocolate and blaming it on the wrong pipe was very odd.
I knew it was more to that, and that kept on replaying in my head like a bad loop.
He was obviously hiding that stupid text in his phone.
Immediately the text came, his eyes moved to mine, slowly watching me before he darted them back to his phone.
I knew because I had seen the feed from last night when he stripped, touching himself and sending that stupid photo to Nightshade, or to an anonymous person, which is obviously Nightshade.
Lucien.
He was playing his games and August was just a pawn.
I slammed the door so hard, the sound reverberated through the house.
I got into my car, driving straight to the company.
Lucien was at his desk reviewing documents of his businesses all over the world, and I knew he was just watching the cameras as well.
He was always watching, watching every step August made.
I coughed, making my presence known to him.
"The house tour is done," I said.
The resentment boiled on the surface, but I hid it. The same way I'd hidden for years now. I wanted to lean over and strangle him till he's gasping for Air.
He nodded without looking up. "Any problem?"
"He's…um, curious about the architecture and the east wing. Plus he's getting those texts and also responding to them."
He halted, holding the document tightly. "Good, let him do that."
He sounded less Interested, like I was disturbing him.
I clenched my fists behind his back. "He's not stable yet. I think the nightmares are prone to occur again."
"If it happens again, he’ll get used to it eventually. Let him. He's making progress. It wasn't as back as the last time.” he said.
“Progres”, like August was some project, like something he worked on for years, not a person.
I remembered my own nightmares in the basement, crying for years, seeking for attention that never came.
I know how it feels, to suffer from a nightmare with no one to comfort you. I knew how August felt, but somehow, the man who claimed to love him more than I do, said its “progress.”
I was here, sidelined again with the same boy that's played God to my parents. Sometimes I felt he did it intentionally.
"Lunch is at noon," I said as I walked, as I walked out. Stopping myself from doing what I might regret.
"Levi," he said, his voice halting me in place.
"Keep it professional," he added.
I knew what he meant. Professional.
"That's the last thing you should even ask of," I nodded. But inside, the resentment grew harder than it should.
I went back to the house, trying to finalize some documents on my tablet while August slept.
Then the text came again. “We can help you.”
I scoffed, deleting it in an instant.
I wondered who this was.
I finished with my work, then I switched to the monitor footage, While checking out the videos of August in the dark.
I headed to the kitchen, preparing steak, while waiting for August to give me all the sass and smiles in the world.
I walked out of the kitchen to get my phone in the car.
Immediately I walked in, August was there like he was waiting for me.
“Miss me?” he asked, getting all excited.
I didn't respond to him. I just headed to the kitchen, knowing full well that he didn't need anything from and was still sleepy by the look of his face.
I moved over the kitchen, continuing the food like I was programmed to do. August was more like the owner of this place than a helper.
The job was just a way of keeping him close.
When I was done, I slid the food over to him at the table.
He frowned. "Okay…what's with the icky behavior?"
"Did I forget to make my bed or something?" he asked, leaning in.
"Eat," I said, turning away.
Lucien said to be professional.
He was obviously watching us not to.
August laughed, a forced laugh.
"Come on, Levi. I know you better than this. Yesterday, you were human. The day before, you were sweet. Today, you're like a statue. What? You had sour coffee? Or wait, your girlfriend dumped you?" he said, laughing really loud.
I ignored him as I ate my food. He ate in silence for a bit, and then he sneered.
"Seriously, say something. What, did you hear or something? Oh, wait, did you overhear me? Did you hear my nightmare or something?" he said. Placing both hands on the table, leaning in making our faces inches apart.
I froze. The knife almost caught in my hand.
"What nightmare?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"You know, I woke up, I was all sweaty. Fire and love story. You know, the classics. Plus, it felt like another presence was here.” he responded.
I exhaled and continued cutting the stake aggressively. "Not my business."
"But you're always around. You know, watching, walking up, like someone with a stick up his ass." He laughed.
The humor in his voice, ugh. I slammed the knife down, causing everywhere to be quiet.
"I'm doing my damn job."
He raised an eyebrow. "Does the job include being a d**k?"
He had no idea how much I hate being here and not being able to touch him, so much hate. Anytime I see him, I see Lucien.
"Finish eating, You have chores to do.”
He rolled his eyes. ”Oh, yes, as usual." he said, obviously daring me.
I ignored him.
After lunch, I assigned him to polish the glass. He grumbled, but did it, bending in ways that made it very difficult for me to not look at him.
I stepped back to the pool, staring at the cameras from my tablet. Lucien was in his study at his penthouse. reviewing and questioning my loyalty.
You know what? f**k him. Let him notice. I was done being a shadow.
My phone buzzed, a message from an old contact again. "Ready when you are." I scoffed. I deleted it. Planning takes time, and for now, I'd hide the resentment and let it simmer. The longer it takes, the more perfect it will be.
August walked over, “I'm done.”
“Hmm.” I replied.
“But seriously, you sure you good?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
- Writer
