Chapter-5🌜 Brown Eyed Menace
Zane's POV
I look at the younger man standing in front of me, who's supposed to be my 'groom'. What's his name again? Yeah, William...
William Oberoi-Maxwell.
Son of Jacob Maxwell.
And dare I say, what a sexy fucking sight he is. The way his perfectly mussed chocolate brown wavy-hair falls on the sides of his face, perfectly cropped and styled, not a single strand messy, is just so mesmerizing.
And I swear, messy ones are my usual types, not upright tip-top, goody two shoes ones, because messy is something, I am not. At least, how I carry myself around others
How I look.
So you know, opposites attract and all?
But with him...
His eyes are dark chocolate brown, a little lighter than his hair, but there is something about his gaze which is currently analyzing everything and everyone present in the room.
They are the perfect shape too, they suit his face, beautifully almond-shaped.
Although if you stare at them, you would see-even though they are analyzing everything with intensity-there's sadness in them, something like... tiredness.
And that makes me pause...
Makes me consider, what's making my future...husband, tired?
I mean let's be real, it has to be the marriage...because who won't be tired if they are forced into a marriage.
Especially with someone with a reputation like me...
Wait, he is getting forced too, right? Or, is his dad normal?
He is wearing a navy blue suit, which looks perfectly tailored for him, with an off-white coloured shirt underneath.
His jacket is open, showing how the fabric drapes over his lean frame like it was made for him, damn that narrow waist...
His lips are full, not too big but definitely not thin. Although I would love to have those fat lips around-
I need to stop thinking from my lower head-it's not the time, he is not my actual husband. Hell, he can even be straight. Also, the way he is looking at me, as if he is also studying me the way I am, is confusing me...
Is he-
Ugh...this is the most horrible part about being gay, there's always a 'Is he, is he not' before you even start something. And then people say, being gay is a choice...
It's just so easy for straight fuckers, fuck whoever you want.
No one would question...
And then there comes the whole, top/bottom thing...
It's way too fucking complicated!
Like, it would have been awesome if there weren't these labels or even need to discuss positions....
You can be into someone, and you cannot be into someone else.
You may want to bend someone over.
Or, bend over for someone...
STUPID FUCKING LABELS!
What brings me back to reality, from my thesis on how-labels-are-bad...is the widening of his eyes, his expression twists-subtle, but unmistakable. Like I just confirmed something he already despised.
My worries were answered.
Yup, he was definitely not.
He might not be straight, but he doesn't seem to like me much...
It's like he is throwing daggers at me with nothing but a look.
And damn his eyes are expressive af, or maybe his poker face is horrible...
Or, he wants me to know how much he hates me.
Well too bad for him, I am used to being the hated one.
Before coming here, I didn't expect him to be this good looking.
This-everything.
Everything, I wasn't used to liking...
What I did expect was that we could just have mutual understanding of this situation.
Because, as much as I am aware of, neither of us is willingly doing this marriage.
And it would be painfully appalling, to spend-however long we are supposed to live together-with a stranger.
Or a hater.
To be fair, I didn't expect us to be friends. But anything that won't make living together that hard.
I mean I live with enough pain-in-my-ass people, I guess we have got a new contestant to the drama they bring into my life.
But the more I stare at his mordant gaze, I feel there's some amount of hurt in them too.
As if just looking at me is physically hurting him.
But that look was gone the moment it came.
Now, his face is back to expressionless mode.
No expressions.
No feelings.
Just a glassy stare and frozen features.
"And this is my son, William." His dad continues, with the 'introduction' and oh my-I hate this man already.
And mind you, usually, I don't hate people that easily, because I have people who gave me bigger reasons to hate-but something about this man...or literally everything about him is off.
William doesn't seem to like him that much either, because when he introduces him, with that disgusting smile of his, something passes on his face.
Something...which was like the look that he passed me, a moment ago.
"Good evening. It's a pleasure to meet you all." William says, with a neutral but stoic tone.
Not rude.
But definitely not kind.
My father nods at him, in his professional manner, as if it's a business meeting.
I guess it is.
A business meeting between fathers who sell their sons.
Ironically, they want to sell their own sons to get someone else's...
But my mom, being the ray of sunshine she is-introduces herself "I am Bianca, Zane's mother." With a motherly tone, her gentle Italian accent, audible through her words
"You are a student currently, right William?"
William nods, "Yes, Ms. Belladonna."
He is composed and it's like there's a boundary around him.
An impenetrable wall.
"Oh, just call me Bianca, hun." My mother asks him, and then continues, "So, what are you studying then?"
"I'm in my third year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in painting, Miss- Bianca" That slip of the tongue tells me this frosty look isn't his default. Neither is the poker face.
And oh, so my future husband is getting a degree in arts? Wow...
So one paints floors with blood.
And the other paints canvases.
Damn, what a combination...
Match made in heaven or whatever the fuck they say.
The face my mom makes is like, as if she found a hidden treasure.
Told y'all, she is easy to impress...
"BFA student and majoring in painting? That's impressive. As an Interior designer, I love it. I would love to see your works sometime." she says with her angelic voice.
William blinks, as if he isn't expecting her to appreciate him. Maybe...be kind to him. But he composes himself and says, "Sure, Bianca. I would love to."
Ohhhhh, so he can be nice too. I guess, his cold nature is for me and his dad only.
I mean with his dad, it would make sense, you know with the whole forcing him in a marriage and all...
But what did I do?
Does he think, only he is the one getting forced?
And I am the one who planned it?
Is he blaming me in his mind?
Making me the villain in his story...
My mom smiles at him. "Son, why don't you introduce yourself?" She asks me, voice still sweet.
Introduce myself? The looks he is passing towards me-I don't think any introduction could change the conclusions he has made in his mind.
..
But still, "Zane Valentino. I run Valentino Co."
My tone is even, controlled-but not cold.
Because I don't want to be cold to him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. "
William's face stays mostly neutral and he just nods. A hard catch, I see.
And my evil twin brother just self-invites in the conversation, "And I am Vance Belladonna, I oversee operations for Belladonna Trust." He smirks. And the way he says that is filled with evil authority and arrogance. "It's good to finally meet you." His smirk widens.
But this time something does change about William's expressions.
Something, I can't pin-point.
Do these two have a history?
I don't know why, but just that thought is really unsettling.
I mean I do know why-
Vance is not the man you should have a history with.
He is literally the definition of arrogance and cruelty. With a temper shorter than an ant.
He doesn't believe in not showcasing power. He flaunts it.
And if they do share a past...it won't be a good one.
I just can't understand how a man like William would end up around him.
William composes himself, and just nods at him.
Now showing no signs of-whatever that was.
And then there's an awkward moment of silence between us. No one says a thing, before my mom comes up with, "Would you two like to talk in private?" She looks at us simultaneously.
Talk in private?
With the man who clearly hates my guts.
Sure...
This is going to be TERRIFIC.