WADE'S POVMy mood had not improved after the encounter with the b*stard outside the Havana club. Such arrogant fools always made me want to punch them in the face and break their noses. To make it worse, from the corner of my eye, I had seen my angel accompanied by Elaine. Did he witness the whole incident? What did he think of me? The questions ran through my mind as I cleaned the house. I must have sighed for too long when I heard Pa's voice ring loudly, "If you don't stop sighing, I will smack your head."I turned around and found him standing by the door. I knew he was jesting as he walked over and sat down by the kitchen table. "So, I heard what happened outside the Havana," he stated."Pa, don't listen to Auden's gossip." I shook my head. "He always exaggerates stuff.""It wasn't from Auden," he informed me. "You know very well I have friends all over town. You promised no more getting into fights.""The guy started it. I restrained myself. Don't worry, Pa," I responded
The week dragged on and the gallery manager's mood worsened. He kept snapping at everyone and making our lives a living hell. The teams kept away from him, and everyone was walking on eggshells. Auden kept complaining while I laughed at the whole situation. When we got home one evening, I walked to Pa's painting garage and asked him, "Pa, how are you friends with Mr. Winston?" His hand froze midair with a brush in hand, and he turned around, his eyes squinted. "What happened? Did he give you or Auden a tough time?""No, Pa," I denied vehemently. "I have been thinking as to how opposite personalities can be friends." The sarcasm at the end of my voice was enough to make Pa laugh. He put the brush down and walked over to hug me. "Wade, my son, you must be giving him a run for your smartness."Pa knew it. "Why did you send us there knowing the kind of man he is?" Pa smiled and looked at me. "Experience, Wade. I sent you there to gain experience and do work that you like."We hu
I was left wallowing in desperation and anger. I wanted to have him, but he had created a barrier between us again.The door opened and Auden rushed into the storage room and then loudly stated, "Wade, I told you not to lock yourself up in the storage while finishing the work assigned. Mr. Winston has been looking for you."His loud voice was an indication that the gallery manager was nearby. "Sorry Auden, I wanted to be a good employee and impress Mr. Winston. All the data has been recorded. We can go back to the department."I readjusted my clothes and hair making Auden's eyes widened further and he whispered, "Are you f*cking crazy?" When we stepped out of the storage Mr. Winston was standing by the entrance looking annoyed. "Where the hell have you been, Wade? You have been missing for more than an hour. You know the gallery rules very well." "In the storage room, sir," I responded innocently. "I was busy doing the audit trail as you had requested." "Come with me. Elaine E
"What did you do?" Pa asked Immediately when I entered the house. He looked more worried than angry. It was a relief. I just smiled sadly and said, "I hate people who look down on me, Pa. I tried but this time, I just could not take it."He walked over and embraced me. And all the anguish came rushing into my heart and tears rolled down my face. "Wade, there is no stronger person than you. I know something else had been bothering you. You have been mopping for too long. And I know that question you asked me was about you, right?" He moved back and stared at me. I nodded in resignation. There was no need to hide it from him. "Go take a shower. I will place the meat in the oven and then we can have some beers in the backyard."I smiled and walked over to my room, took off my clothes, and walked to the shower. Turning the water on, the ice-cold spray hit my back and jolted me to a harsh reality.Had I been wallowing and living in fantasy this afternoon? My body felt drained, and
Auden and I left the house at dusk the following day after an early dinner. He had a plan for how I was going to see Vaughn and it came sooner than I anticipated. He must have ears on the ground or else how would he have known that Vaughn was going to be at the Havana tonight?We arrived two hours early as I paced up and down between the Havana and a side beach bar that was hidden by the road. I was restless and impatient as I waited for Vaughn. My patience paid off when a white escalade was parked by the Havana parking lot. Standing opposite the far side of the Havana, I watched as Vaughn, Elaine, and the same guy who had accompanied them walked into the club.The guard that Auden had bribed whispered something to Vaughn and he immediately turned in the direction we were standing at the opposite end of the Havana. His eyes widened and I beckoned him to follow me without a care in the world if he did. Walking over to a beach bar that was deserted, I spotted Auden sipping his drin
VAUGHN'S POVElaine's snickering sounds while Gideon's stared at me throughout the journey home made me frustrated. The only way to push Wade away was to be cruel enough for him to hate me. I knew how much Sam Bexley and Ma would fight Wade if they ever discovered that he was interested in me or vice-versa. Walking into the far east villa they followed behind and I expected them to question me. I walked into the living room and sat down on the couch in a slump position. The whole drama at the beach bar had taken a toll on me. I spent so much energy hurting Wade that I felt my heart break. "Okay. As your sister, make me understand why you are being an a*shole to Wade," Elaine said. "As your best friend, why am I the last one to know that you are gay," Gideon said. He sounded hurt. "Can we not talk about this now?" I pleaded. Both of them shook their heads.I stood up and walked to the bar cabinet, took out a whiskey bottle and three glasses, and placed them on the table. Pou
WADE'S POV*10 years later*"Pa, the doctor said that you inhaled too much solvent paint fumes for a long time. No more painting for you," I informed him.He looked at me in anger and then slumped down on the couch and closed his eyes "Ignoring me is not going to change the fact that I value your health. You know how worried I am. I only have you, Pa." I hovered over him as the Milan sunset hit the vast villa windows. Picking up a nearby shawl and placing it on him, he snickered in response. Pa had been feeling ill since godfather Calisto passed away a year ago. It had been a tough time for both of us as his cardiac arrest came as a shock and mourning him was gruesome. We had lost a good man. Calisto had embraced our relocation from Malta with open arms and immediately put me and Auden in charge of the art collection business. Pa's younger brother, Mikael Malkiel, had been the legal advisor of the Calisto Art Collection LTD.The change in scenery and way of living changed. Mila
VAUGHN'S POV"It's been a year since the biggest shareholder of the Everette group passed on. His godson is coming back to Valletta to settle and run the business. The family lawyer had requested a meeting to execute the last will and statement of the deceased," Elaine announced as we convened in the office for Everette Holdings.I set up the offices after I came back from the States. It was easier to manage the business from a central place. "Let's schedule it for tomorrow. The sooner we know who the shareholder is we can focus on growth and continue the business," Ma added. "You know that my ten-year tenure to run for mayor is up. The Senate committee had proposed that I run for the senate seat.""That is such good news," Elaine squealed. "I am so proud of you, Ma." I stood up and walked over to Ma and hugged her. "Congratulations, Ma.""Thank you, Vaughn. I must say I am very proud of the man you have become, my son. You have matured and shown me that you can manage business