Chapter 44
Visha
I’m about to punch this man.
“Do you mind getting that idiot out of my face before Aoi arrives?” I ask through gritted teeth. “I don’t want him getting in our way.”
“I’m right here, asshole,” Aiden barks back. “Besides, why do you care if I’m here? This is Bellami’s company. As long as my dear best friend wants me here, I’m not moving. I’m sure Aoi will be thrilled to see me, too.”
“Aoi and I are officially in a relationship, so if you try anything on him, I’ll fuck you up. Understood?”
Bellami sighs behind his desk and looks up at us. “He’s right. Visha and Aoi are together now, Aiden. You better keep yourself in check.”
“Wow, I can’t believe you’re betraying me, dude.” Aiden feigns offense and dramatically leans back on the couch. “And here I thought we were bros for life. Guess nothing beats blood.”
“Blood doesn’t mean shit,” I snap. “Now get out.”
Aiden’s amused expression shifts to mild annoyance as he gets up and crowds my personal space. “I’ll get out if Aoi tells me to.”
“You piece of-”
A knock on the door makes our heads spring toward the black surface, and Bellami calls out to the person behind it to come in. Disappointment slaps me across the face when I see Linda walk in.
“A man of the name Aoi Holden is here, sir,” she says, glancing at Aiden and me before focusing back on her boss. “He’s waiting in the lobby.”
I don’t wait for my brother to speak before bolting past her and jumping into the elevator. Scanning the lobby, I find him sitting on a black leather armchair and I beam. “Aoi!”
He gasps when I launch myself in his arms and bury my face in the crook of his neck. I expect him to push me away because we’re in public but instead he wraps his arms around my back and laughs.
“Seems you’re happy to see me,” he teases as he leans back and cups my cheeks, smiling adorably at me. “You’re like a huge puppy.”
I kiss his cheek and grin. “I missed you.”
“You saw me this morning,” he retorts, detaching himself from me and poking my chest. “Shouldn’t you be working?”
“I could ask you the same question. I might get the wrong idea, you know? Why were you at Amira’s place when you said you’d work in your room?” I ask and my smile falters when he looks away. “Did something happen?”
He shakes his head, but as our eyes meet, he sighs. “Remember the ex I told you about?”
I frown. “Yeah? What about him?”
“Because of him, I decided to move out of my hotel room since he’s been rather persistent about us getting back together.
” He chuckles but it’s a hollow sound as he rakes his finger through his hair.
“He’s been sneaking into my room and waiting for me inside.
So, I decided to get my stuff out of there and find my own place. ”
“Just come stay with me,” I say, kissing his nose. “That way I can see you all the time. Matter of fact, move in with me.”
He snorts and slaps my arm. “Are you nuts? You’re going too far now. I don’t want to move in with you. We’ve been together for barely a day.”
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I murmur into his ear, “Then just until you find an apartment.”
“I don’t know if that’s appropriate,” he mutters, melting into my embrace. “What if you get sick of seeing me every day? Living together is a big step, even if it’s just temporary.”
I groan in frustration, but I understand his point. I’ve been coming onto him pretty strongly since reconnecting with him. From his perspective, we’ve only known each other for less than two weeks, when in reality, it’s been eleven years.
“I know it’s a big step, but I can assure you seeing you every second of my day would only make me thank the gods for having put you on my path.”
He rolls his eyes and chuckles. “Don’t regret it later on.”
As if I could ever regret getting him all for myself.
“Now back to your creepy ex,” I say smiling, but I’m quite sure he can tell I’m feeling murderous. “I want his full name and current address.”
Aoi gawks at me like I’ve grown a second head. “What for?”
“To break his legs maybe.”
“Absolutely not.”
“He broke into your room. Breaking his legs is a clement punishment for what he did. He’s lucky I can’t kill him for it.”
He narrows his gaze on my face as if to decipher whether I’m joking or not. “Stay out of it. I mean it, Andrew. If I find out you got yourself involved in my business, I’ll get really mad at you.”
“But your business is my business,” I pout, tilting my head and as expected he softens.
“I don’t want you to get involved, so please, don’t.”
I raise my hands in defeat and smile. “Fine, let’s go grab your things and move them to my penthouse then. I’ll call movers to make it easier and faster.”
“I already asked Dixon to help me out,” he says casually as if I have any idea who that is. “My manager. Remember the Black man who came to pick me up the morning after Mr. Williams' party?”
“Oh, the really well dressed guy with the afro? Are you two close?”
“Are you jealous?”
“Yes. Very.”
He smirks and undoes the top buttons of my shirt before stepping away and motioning me to follow him. That not-so-innocent move shoots straight to my cock, and I bite my bottom lip, stalking behind him out of the company.
Unlocking his burgundy Audi, he motions me to hop in. “Let’s go.”
“Taking me for a ride?” I ask, smirking when he slips behind the steering wheel.
“If you mean I’ll be riding you, then yes.”
My jaw drops and I gape at him, a grin spreading over my lips like wildfire. “Fuck, Aoi I’m harder than a brick wall.”
He revs the engine and sets off. “Tell me about it.”
“You want me to talk dirty right now?” I ask, amused. “If we hop onto that train, I won’t last a second.”
He glances at the bulge under my suit pants and smirks. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you in a minute.”
I peek at my seatbelt. “Your driving skills are still terrible.”
His head spins around with an incredulous smile. “Did you seriously just call me a bad driver?”
“Never, my love.” My head falls against the seat when he slides his palm over my crotch and squeezes my cock through the fabric, making me groan. “I’m gonna burst in my briefs if you do that, my Paradise.”
“Go ahead,” he taunts, eyes focused on the road. “I’ll lick you clean when we get home.”
Oh, my fucking God, I think I’ve just fallen in love with him all over again.
***
Later in the afternoon, after Aoi made me see stars, we moved his belongings to my penthouse. Since he wanted to tell his friends the news in person, we agreed to see each other tonight for dinner.
But I already miss him, and it hasn’t even been four hours since I dropped him off at Amira’s place. What am I supposed to do while he’s away?
Nothing is as fun as teasing him.
I’m pretty sure I skipped a shit ton of classes, but I can’t be bothered to attend. I’m an academic weapon, so I’m not worried about missing a few classes. As long as I keep my GPA above 3.5, my brother won’t give me an earful.
Grabbing my phone, I send Liv a text.
Me
Get ready for a recap girl.
Liv
Alright, hit me.
Me
We made our relationship official! Also, we fucked like rabbits in heat and not just once.
Me
*blushing cat gif*
Me
That’s not all.
Liv
There’s more?! Bro, how the fuck?
Me
He moved in with me. It’s temporary but I’m so happy! He plans on getting his own place soon since he had to move out of his hotel room ‘cause of his creepy ex.
Liv
Did I miss an entire season or what?
Me
I’m still shocked that everything I’ve ever wanted is finally mine.
Liv
Next time you come over, you better spill the tea in DETAIL.
Me
Duh, girl. As if I’d miss out on an occasion to talk about him.
Me
I gotta go pick up Aoi from his friend’s place.
Me
TTYL.
I don’t wait for Liv to answer as I hop into my McLaren and set off. When I finally find a parking spot, I rush toward the apartment building and stop in my tracks.
Shit, what’s Amira’s last name again? I don’t think Aoi ever mentioned it since we met again, but I do remember it vaguely from eight years ago. I think it was Sarkar.
I search for the last name on the buzzer panel and inhale a deep breath before pushing the doorbell.
Fuck, why am I so nervous?
Okay, she’s like a mother figure to Aoi, but still, I’m his boyfriend now. Even if she doesn’t like me, she’ll have to accept me, and I’ll make sure she sees how much I love him.
“Who is it?” a feminine voice with a Bengali accent responds.
“Hi, it’s Andrew. I’m here to pick up Aoi.”
The line goes still for a minute, and I fear she might just have decided to ignore me but then she buzzes me in a second later. I exhale the breath I didn’t know I was holding and push the heavy door open, stepping into the lobby.
A faint scent of floor cleaner, dust, and cigarettes tickles my nostrils as I climb the three flights of stairs. The wood creaks under my shoes and I cringe at the thought of being so loud.
Lifting my knuckles to knock on the door, I step back when it parts before I even manage to hit the surface. “Oh, good evening. Sorry to interrupt your get-together but-”
“Aoi, your boyfriend is here,” she calls over her shoulder, then gives me a mean once-over and opens the door wider.
Yep, she hates me.
“I’m coming!”
Amira and I stand in silence as she glares daggers at me. I’m about to say something when she steps out of her apartment, in her sweats and partly shuts the door behind her.
“Listen here, you little shit,” she starts, digging her finger into my chest and I flinch, “I know who you really are, and I swear on Kali, if you don’t tell Aoi the truth, I will.”
My smile falters and my gut twists into knots that makes my stomach churn with dread and nausea.
How does she know? Fuck, what if she really tells him?
No, wait! Maybe she’s bluffing? As long as I don’t admit anything, she can’t prove her accusation.
“I’m sorry but I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, concealing my panic under a smile.
“I know you don’t like me because you’re worried about Aoi, but I will never do anything to hurt him voluntarily.
I swear it. I’m sure our age gap might be what’s ticking you off but I’m not some stupid kid. ”
She scoffs. “He doesn’t know it yet because his memories won’t allow him to recognize you, but I remember you, Visha.”
“How-”
“You seriously think I could ever forget the last name of the kid who almost caused my best friend’s death?
” She glances behind her in case he’s around, and lowers her voice, sharpening her words.
“You will break up with him before he gets more attached, or I’ll make sure he’ll hate you forever.
You have no idea in what state he was because of you, so don’t you dare break his heart again. ”
“I-I didn’t meant to leave. Amira, I swear, I love him more than anything in the world!” My eyes plead her to believe me, but I am only met with wrath.
“Your little obsession with him ends here. I don’t care what kind of trauma bond you think you’ve developed with him. Break up with him and spare him the pain of finding out who you really are.”
“But-”
She raises her hand to shut me up. “I will not risk losing him again. If you really love him as you claim to, you’ll do what’s right.”
Aoi appears behind her with a huge smile, big blue eyes shining at me, and I forcefully swallow the lump in my throat. “I was about to text you to come pick me up. You’re early.”
He steps past Amira and hesitates to kiss me. Instead he turns to the embodiment of quiet rage and hugs her. She pulls him close in response as her icy eyes flash me a silent threat.
“I’ll see you later,” he says, smiling as he settles at my side and takes my hand.
She nods and watches us head down the stairs before she shuts the door, and I instantly focus on Aoi leading me out of the building. He stops right in front of my parked McLaren and tilts his head so adorably that I want to kiss him all over.
“Is something wrong? Why do you look like you saw a ghost?” he asks, cupping my cheeks and scanning my features. “Do you feel sick? I hope you didn’t catch a cold. That’d be odd since it’s almost summer.”
I place my hands on top of his and deflate into his touch. “I just missed you.”
“You’re so needy,” he chuckles and kisses me tenderly. “Let’s go home.”
Home.
Anywhere with him is home.
But am I really about to lose him all over again? Do I really have to break up with him when we’re finally together?
I don’t want to. If I can’t be with him, then what’s the point of anything? I’ve spent most of my life loving him and yearning for him. I can’t lose him again.
“Andrew? Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks, worry glistening in his ocean eyes. “You’re on the verge of tears.”
Fuck, I think he’s right and the fact that he pointed it out pulled the trigger on them. I let rivers stream down my cheeks.
Aoi opens the car door and helps me get into the passenger seat as he sits down in my lap and wraps his arms around my shoulders.
“Look at me,” he demands softly, reaching for my face and angling it to meet his. “I’m here. You can talk to me.”
How can I deserve someone as wonderful as him? Amira is right. If I don’t break up with him, he’ll eventually find out the truth about me, and it will destroy him.
“Please, don’t leave me no matter what happens,” I plead, wrapping my arms around his waist and holding him pressed against me. “Promise me.”
“I promise,” he murmurs unconvincingly, stroking my head. “I won’t leave, no matter what.”