10 9. Glowing Stars (1/2)
Alexander's POV.
”Is he in London?” I asked impatiently on the phone as a masseuse massaged my free hand.
It hadn't occurred to me that Julius might've headed there but when Philip suggested it, it didn't seem so...despicable. And when it disturbed me deeply as to why he'd be there, Philip was quick to answer- to look for the girl, Sam.
It seemed absurd in the beginning but after processing it, I knew that it was plausible. Julius' mind was like a Rubik's cube that I only seemed to understand its strategy. It made perfect sense because he disappeared from the hospital and hadn't even been at his slut's -Audrey- burial, which meant that he was after something more important.
Revenge. My idiotic, moronic son wanted revenge. He'd always be an arrogant, childish, complaining boy.
”I don't know yet-” Augustus replied on the other side.
”It's been long enough,” I said with frustration. ”I'm not sure if I should've assigned you to-” I rambled as I glared at the masseuse who was starting to remove my rings. She noticed and left them in place.
”It's been less than twenty-four hours, Dad. Chill-” He wasn't being serious and I got angrier.
”Are you joking around?” I shouted on the phone. There was a long pause before he started laughing and wheezing. I squeezed my eyes shut, smiling involuntarily.
Well. Augustus was Augustus.
”Of course I'm not joking, Daddy, but I'll see if he's in London that Julius guy of yours. Who is he anyway?” He asked curiously and I sighed.
”None of your business. Just find him, okay? I'll send you his picture later today. Remember, you'll get double the usual reward.” I said, studying the rings on my fingers. Black and sapphire.
”Double the reward? For just finding a person? You're spoiling me. I'm not a brat-” He said sarcastically. ”Dad?” Augustus then said shortly after a pause.
”Yes?”
”You do realize that I'm not doing this for the money, right?” He said seriously and I shook my head, knowing where this was going. ”I like it when you involve me in what you do-”
”Augustus, we've had this conversation before. Me making you look for Julius is all you're getting. Help me try protecting you.” I stated crossly and heard him chuckle.
”I know, I know- just messing with you, old man.” He said and laughed lightly. I sighed heavily.
I knew he wasn't really 'messing' with me.
”Alright, one more thing-” He paused and I sighed. ”Daddy?”
”What's it?”
”It's really important. Are you ready?”
”August, seriously?”
”Hey, listen-”
”I am. So very patiently.”
”Okay-” He took a deep breath. ”So I was hanging out with my mates in the-”
”Get to the point.”
”I am, but you keep interrupting-” He pressed with a laugh. I sighed. ”Anyway. So David. One of my mates-”
”I'm going to hang-”
”So he's like crazy-genius. Like wow, how-do-have-such-brain-cells kinda genius-” He continued and I smirked.
”August.”
”So he makes up this so very sophisticated sex joke. Wanna hear?” I raised my brows unamused. ”It's-oh my god- lit. I bet you will relate.” He guffawed and I shook my head, lowering the phone to hang up.
”WAIT, wait, DAD, DON'T HANG UP-” Then another fit of laughter burst from my phone's speakers before I hung up, smiling.
What nonsense.
I relaxed back into the sofa in the living room, watching some old, boring movie and sipping on a cold, strawberry smoothie. I then sighed heavily and kept switching channels.
Julius' POV.
I woke up from my dreamless sleep as my phone rang. I groaned, rubbed my eyes, and twisted my upper body to reach for it from my bedside table. I held it blankly as I squinted at the bright screen. I read the name and hit my head on the pillow with a huff.
Caroline.
I held my phone in front of my face and took my time to roll my eyes and grimace before considering whether or not should I answer the call. I ended up answering anyway- people got offended by rejected phone calls (especially if they're not close to you) and I obviously couldn't afford to lose Caroline, who proved very useful. Who knew? Maybe, I'd use her again.
It was nineteen hundred hours and I was in no mood of talking to speakers.
”Hey!” She exclaimed and I had to put the phone away from my ears, scowling.
”Hi. Caroline.” I stated, trying not to sound sleepy as she giggled.
”Since you're coming to the party, can please you do me a favour? Like a really important one?” She asked in her squeaky voice and I remained silent for a while choosing between the following possibilities:
1. Hang up on her. (And to hell, with her thinking I was rude.)
2. Tell her the truth that I won't be going. (Turning down an invitation is also offensive, I guessed.)
3. Kill myself. (But then Audrey would've died for nothing.)
”Romeo? Hello-?”
”I'm still here.” I chuckled nervously. ”Yes, sure what?” I said, realizing that I have abandoned my three options which meant one thing and one thing only.
Going to the bloody party.
”Yay! So, I was at the salon doing my hair. And when I was done, Johnny and Ben left in my car as a stupid prank. And like...I don't like public transport alone. So how about you come and give me like a ride or something?”
For a moment, I couldn't blame Johnny and Ben for doing what they did.
”Yes. Okay. Sure. What's its name?”
She gave me the salon's name, thanked me profusely then hung up.
I inhaled deeply, got out of bed, pulled on my jeans, a plain, white shirt topped with my new leather jacket, and left with a cigarette dangling from my lips. I took a cab to the salon and when I reached, I took a moment to observe her closely.
She stood looking stunning in her short, scarlet dress that revealed a little cleavage that she tried covering by a silky, black shawl that covered her shoulders. She was tapping her silver, sparkly stilettos on the damp pavement, her arms crossed across her chest. She seemed lost in thought, her gaze unfocused on her phone as her golden curls shone beautifully under the salon's bright lights.
Pretty but a pain in the neck.
I told the driver to wait for a few minutes, got out of the cab, and walked to her in long, confident strides. She noticed me before her pink-glossed lips broke into a grin.
”Romeo, you're such a lifesaver, oh my life!” She threw herself over me and my eyes widened as I staggered back, not expecting the embrace. I steadied myself quickly and hugged her back half-heartedly (no, eighth-heartedly) while gritting my teeth in pain.
How more could my wound be bloody conspicuous? It was cast in a sling, dammit, Caroline.
She pulled back, her hands still on my shoulders.
Okay. Something you should know about me is that I hate being touched- if I haven't said that before. That girl was 2.25 seconds away from getting punched in her pretty face when she suddenly said something that completely caught me off guard.
”You know? You're a very nice person Romeo.” She sighed dreamily and smiled.
”I am?”
She giggled and I looked at her curiously. ”Like Ben thinks you're a bad person, and I shouldn't have trusted you and all. But I think he's so wrong-” She paused and looked in my eyes.
I was already feeling uncomfortable by the seemingly intimate eye contact we were having and was ready to detach her arms from my shoulders in any second.
”We could, you know, know each other more. We could get closer-” She leaned in, fluttering her cat eyes, and I was praying God for any natural disaster to save me from this. It was completely uncivilized and unacceptable. She was literally throwing herself over me. I didn't know what to do and was actually panicking. Pushing her away would definitely let her hate me.
Then a sharp 'beep' distracted her, and I used this moment to shrug off her arms to look back at the cab's driver who was pointing at his watch.
I looked back at a blushing Caroline and grinned in great relief.