Eduardo was having a late dinner with his family mbers. This ti, Maya was around since she wasn’t able to join during breakfast. For so reason, he was curious as to how she had quickly beco friends with his sister.
"You’ll never know how won work, cuz!" Nessa whispered to him.
"Your gender is so mysterious!" He whispered back and she giggled.
"Nessa! No talking while eating and put your phone down!" Her mother spoke. She rolled her eyes before obeying. She held back to urge to complain about Antonio and Douglas, who were still chatting about unnecessary things and laughing.
The dining hall buzzed softly with the clinking of silverware and the occasional murmur from Nessa who was asked to keep quiet.
Just then, the grand double doors creaked open.
David walked in, dressed in black slacks and a slightly wrinkled navy shirt. His hair was tousled like he’d run his fingers through it too many tis, and his steps were heavy with hesitation. He stood outside for more than five minutes, thinking of a way to enter. He was troubled.
Eduardo looked up from his untouched plate.
"You’re late."
"My apologies, Master. I had... sothing to deal with," David muttered, standing behind Eduardo. He locked eyes with Viola but she looked away.
Viola didn’t say a word. She just raised an eyebrow and sipped her wine like a woman holding in more questions than she could ask in one evening.
Eduardo leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. He could notice the tension between them and the silent treatnt. They weren’t even staring at each other.
He leaned back in his seat and smiled weirdly at his sister.
"Vivi, a word?" He asked.
"Is it important?" She asked, not sparing her brother a glance.
"Yes, super important" he responded. She heaved a sigh and stood up, leaving first.
He shot a glance at David.
"Don’t make order you, David!" He said and left the dining room with David following behind. The rest that were in the dining room were curious to find out what happened, including Fabio.
They entered his office, and David closed the door behind them.
He leaned on the table while his sister sat on the couch. David remained standing.
"So tell , what is the problem? It’s not my position to pry, but the air between you two is so obvious," he said.
"I... I have nothing to say, Master. It’s all my fault," David spoke with a short bow.
"You’re going to admit to it." He said, nodding and turning to Viola.
"And Viola? Did you enjoy your date?"
Silence.
Viola refused to answer. She was hurt and it was boldly written on her face.
Then David scoffed under his breath, the sound bitter. "I... left her."
Viola slowly set her wine glass down.
"Excuse ?"
"I saw sothing I wasn’t supposed to," David said, not looking at either of them. His voice was lower.
He couldn’t expose what he saw in front of Viola.
.
But yesterday, while he was having dinner with Viola, he felt bored and tired. She kept talking about random things that didn’t interest him. No, that was not the problem. Nothing about her interested him in the beginning.
He doesn’t have any feelings for her.
He regretted not telling that to Eduardo when he was asked to date Viola. He just smiled and pretended to listen to all of her words.
About an hour passed and he wanted to call Fabio to prepare to take them ho. He dialled and dialled his number but he wasn’t answering. He thought sothing must have been going on.
He then excused himself and went outside to find Fabio. But he saw Eduardo and Marcello on the street, hugging each other. Marcello’s head was on Eduardo and Eddy felt so comfortable with him.
It’s like... they were ant for each other.
He was jealous. His blood boiled while he watched them. But he was a bit relieved to know that Eddy was interested in n.
When he brought ho Maya, he was doubting his sexuality. He watched them head into the car together and drove off. He hurriedly hid his face so he wouldn’t be found.
By the ti he entered the bar to find Fabio, it was almost too late. He was stripped naked by a bunch of horny n.
He had to do anything to save him.
He pulled Fabio from the bar and escaped, leaving the area. He didn’t even rember Viola till they arrived at his old apartnt.
Viola, on the other hand, watched David leave with Fabio without letting her know anything. It was like, he forgot they were on a date.
She was furious and took a cab back ho.
.
"So," Eduardo said slowly, "What was it that you saw?"
"I don’t rember," David snapped. "I was with Lady Viola, trying to enjoy the night... But I saw... you with that Italian prince,"
Eduardo didn’t even look shocked. He t Marcello in the open so he wasn’t planning on hiding anything. He also told his sister about his sexuality, and she was fine with it.
She supported him fully. All that was left for him was to... tell his father which seed like an impossible task.
Viola narrowed her eyes.
"What the hell does Marcello have to do with anything?"
David ignored her.
"It’s not about him... it’s about the other thing," he said.
Eduardo’s gaze sharpened.
"What other thing?"
He couldn’t fully explain what he saw, so he sumd it all up.
"I only saved Fabio from... getting raped by so n. He was high and..."
Eduardo’s eyes darkened.
"You’re saying he was drugged?"
"I’m not sure, but the way he was reacting... It seed like," he said, omitting the part about Marcello and the APHRO-16 pill. Eduardo rubbed his chin, thinking.
Viola looked horrified.
"You left during our date... to rescue a half-naked Fabio?"
David glanced at her.
"I didn’t an to leave you. But Fabio looked like he was about to be..."
"I get it," Eduardo cut in with a fake smile plastered on his face. "You did the right thing."
David looked surprised by the praise but nodded.
"I did?" He asked and snapped out of his thoughts. "I an, thank you, Master"
Eduardo rubbed his face, exhaustion settling over him.
"But for now, you two will be punished. A week’s suspension with harsh training. Fabio ca ho later. Got into a fight with Luca,"
David raised his eyebrows.
"What?"
"Don’t worry about it. They’re both idiots. You included" Eduardo said.
Eduardo stood.
"I guess you two have broken up your relationship after last night,"
"I’m afraid, yes. I’m not a good partner," David spoke carefully.
Eduardo paused.
"If you two are to end it, you should tell that to Viola. You two better sort things out before she leaves for the US,"
David flinched, before nodding his head.
"Yes Master"
Viola leaned forward.
"I’ll be leaving now." She said and left, slamming the door close. The two of them followed behind and Eduardo was left behind in his office.
—
Eduardo shut the glass door to the balcony behind him as he stepped into his study. He ran his fingers into his hair and thought about Fabio getting drugged.
He was close to the bar but he didn’t notice anything. However, there was soone who must have seen sothing.
He paced for a mont, then pulled out his phone and dialed a number he hadn’t called before.
It rang once. Twice.
"Eduardo darling!" a deep voice answered. Calm. Warm. Familiar.
He rolled his eyes. This was the reason he never wanted to call this person.
His fake uncle.
"Chrishan, call darling again and I’ll shove my fingers into your nose," Eduardo said, his voice tight.
"I’d prefer those fingers go into my ass instead"
"How disgusting! I need to ask you sothing."
Chrishan let out a soft hum.
"It must be important. You haven’t called since our last eting.""
"It is. It’s about Fabio."
Chrishan furrowed his eyebrows where he was. He smirked, wondering if Eduardo had found out about Fabio and his involvent in drugging him.
"What happened?"
Eduardo sat down on the edge of the desk, elbow resting on his knee.
"He was found at your bar... disoriented. High. Surrounded by n. He barely rembered anything. Do you have any idea what must have happened?"
Another pause. This ti heavier.
"My bar?" Chrishan asked, jokingly.
Eduardo rubbed his forehead.
"Yes! Your bar!"
Chrishan sighed, followed by a mocking smile.
"I do know what happened. In fact, I have a surprise for you"
"A present?" Eduardo echoed, suspicious.
Chrishan chuckled.
"You sound like you don’t trust .""
"Do I really have to? You don’t seem trustworthy Chrishan!"
"Well, this one might actually help you sort so of things out," Chrishan replied cryptically. "I’ll pay a visit tomorrow"
They exchanged quick goodbyes, and Eduardo ended the call with a sigh.
"I didn’t know you had an uncle," ca a voice behind him.
He turned sharply to find Maya standing by the doorfra, arms folded, one eyebrow arched. She was barefoot, in loose black pants and a cropped hoodie, like she’d just co from a midnight workout.
She thought she had beco weak after the little spar with Eduardo earlier that day.
"I didn’t hear you co in," Eduardo muttered, slipping his phone into his pocket.
"Obviously," Maya said, walking into the room with slow, calculated steps. "You said Chrishan. Is he your real uncle?"
Eduardo hesitated.
"No. Not by blood. I just seem to get used to calling him that."
Maya’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"What does he do?"
Eduardo let out a humorless chuckle.
"You seem too curious. Do you know who he is?"
"Try ."
He stared at her for a beat.
"He was adopted by my grandfather, so I have no idea about his background. He has dark hair and wears glasses. I have no idea if it’s fake or real" he shrugged.
Maya stopped in her tracks. Her face changed... not in a dramatic way... but enough for Eduardo to notice the change in her composure. She sat down across from him.
"Do you know him?" He asked.
"Since he’s adopted, I don’t think I know him" she replied with a smile.
"Hmm", he nodded and continued with his business, but deep down, Maya secretly prayed and hoped that it wasn’t who she thought it was.
’Chrishan can’t be here. He’s supposed to be in India with Mom!’
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