Sleeping with a bully ov.., p.43
Sleeping with a Bully (Overachieving Only Wanted to be Happy), page 43
Involuntarily, I clenched my fists and Haru noticed. His gaze darkened, giving me a silent warning, and I relaxed my hands.
Dinner was a happy affair, at least for the three oblivious people in the room. Dinner was pure misery to me while for Haru, dinner was a game of chess. After it was over, Haru made me stay behind in the living room while he talked to the three of them in Patrick's library. I didn't know what he said, but when the four of them came back, they all had varying expressions on their faces.
Mona and Patrick were both elated.
Haru was triumphant.
And Ethan was dumbstruck.
He met my eyes, could perhaps see the concern in them, because he made a smile just for me. Then he and Haru took me home while the both of them went somewhere.
Since then, Ethan didn't tutor me anymore. When I asked Haru about it, he said I was too old for one. Whenever I met him at school, he'd still smile and greet me but there was something in his features that made me sad. I liked him, considered him as a friend and even an older brother. I tried to speak to him. I didn't know what exactly I'd tell him but maybe if I could find out what he thought of this whole affair then I'd be satisfied. But it seemed he was avoiding me.
"I wonder what happened to the Russos," Patrick spoke and I looked at him. "They used to be in every event in the city two years ago. Then suddenly, they just up'd and left."
My muscles locked and my fingers clenched around the silverware.
Haru noticed, put a hand on top of mine and squeezed with warning.
"I've heard they've put their fortune in the wrong hands and went bankrupt," Dad answered him, picking up his wine glass.
"Weren't you in a relationship with their son, Terry?" Ethan asked me. "Lucas Russo, wasn't it?"
Haru's hand squeezed tighter and I swallowed before answering, "We broke up."
Mona's eyes turned concerned. "I'm sorry to hear that."
I wasn't. Not in the least.
"I was too young to be in a relationship anyway," I explained. "And I wanted to focus more on my studies."
"He was a polite boy, I remembered," Ethan thoughtfully and unhelpfully supplied. "And brilliant. But not as brilliant as John Steele if he applied himself. Or Haru, for that matter."
Haru smiled at him. "No one can match my top-notch brains."
Ethan shook his head, chuckling. "No one can match your top-notch arrogance either."
The table burst into laughter and I quickly lifted my lips into a smile. Ethan was trying to be alright. And I should do the same. For the both of us. Still I wished he'd let me speak to him alone.
"So when exactly will this marriage be?" Mona gushed excitedly and my eyes cut to her then to my plate.
Ethan shook his head at her question. "She isn't even legal yet, Mom."
"Sorry, dear. I'm just too excited to have grandchildren from you and Terry. It's too quiet in the house."
"Then make me a sister."
Dad laughed, loud and with great hilarity. "Maybe after she graduates from college, Mona," he replied when he was done, still chuckling. "As much as I want grandchildren, I want my daughter to finish her studies first."
Thank you, Dad.
Haru was watching me from the corner of his eyes. When I met his gaze, he looked as though he was about to laugh. I resisted the urge to stomp on his foot and let my eyes wander around the restaurant.
Then I saw John and my blood ran cold.
His face was crimson with fury as he stood at the door. His narrowed eyes were on Haru. Then they turned to Ethan.
My heart started thumping in my chest.
He heard.
Oh, God, he heard.
He started for our table, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. I was sure I'd turned to stone with terror. I'd even stopped breathing, I was too scared of what he was going to do.
But when he reached our table, he just took my hand, pulled me up and dragged me to the exit. My tablemates didn't speak in surprise, my father was startled at this sudden turn of events. Mona's and Patrick's eyes were wide as they stared after us. Ethan looked like he was about to either smile or laugh. And Haru, oh God, he was so angry.
All of these I saw at once as John escorted me out.
"Let me go, Steele," I snapped when we were outside. "What are you even doing here?"
"Shut up. Just shut up."
"Excuse me?"
"Please." We crossed the street, pausing to let a car pass before he walked with me in tow again. "Just stop talking."
I managed to wrench my hand from his grasp and with a growl of annoyance, he whirled around.
"Do I have to pick you up and sling you over my shoulder just to get you in my fucking car?" he snapped.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I returned.
"Do you want to go back there?"
"Y-yes."
"Bullshit." My heart began to beat faster but John wasn't finished. "You looked like you'd rather stick needles in your eyes then bear one more minute of that bullshit with Haru. I know he's involved in whatever mess you're in right now. And I wish you wouldn't put up with him."
I pulled in breath then let it go to say, "I'm fine, Steele."
"Bullshit."
"Stop saying bullshit!" I shouted, clenching my hands. "I don't need you to tell me I'm not fine. I told you I don't need your protection. I don't need you to save me from Haru."
"I'm not saving you, Evans. I'm saving him. From my fists!"
"You're not even making sense!
"You're the one who's not making any fucking sense!" he yelled and I winced. Fortunately, it was dark and there were barely any people walking on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, the people who were walking past us stared, wondering what was going on. "Did I hear right? You're getting married? To Ethan Cameron? You're getting married to him and having his babies?"
"I-it's an arranged marriage," I found myself whispering.
"Arranged marriage? Who the fuck even has arranged marriages anymore? This is the 21st century, Evans. Tell your brother and father they're fucking welcome to join us in this century anytime soon."
"John Steele."
My heart stopped beating faster and started slamming against my chest. Haru was coldly staring at us, so cold I shivered. My fingers tensed and the nails embedded deeper into the flesh of my palms. John pushed me behind him and in momentary terror, I let him protect me.
"Always a pain in the neck, I see," I heard Haru say softly, his voice awful. "I'd appreciate it if you'd return my sister to me, John."
"And I'd appreciate it if you return to whatever circle of hell you crawled out from," John shot back, his tone biting.
"I don't have time for your games. My sister and I don't. Now let her pass so we could go back to dinner with the Camerons."
I licked my lips and decided to do what I could do to defuse the situation.
Which meant apologize and quick.
Stepping from behind John, I started, "Oniisan, I—"
But John caught my arm and pulled me behind him again. "She's not going back there," he growled, his voice rumbling with fury that I feared he'd do harm to my brother. "Go back by yourself and tell your father she's not getting married to Ethan fucking Cameron. Seriously, Haru, you've always had a screw loose in your head but I'm beginning to think that screw is looser than I thought."
"I fail to see how any of this is your business, John. And besides, this isn't her first arranged marriage."
I felt the breath leave John's body in whoosh and saw his body lock. "What the hell?" he breathed.
"Terry, get over here. Now."
I jumped to do his bidding. John captured my hand to stop me again. Reluctantly, I looked at him. He was looking at me with pleading eyes, begging me not to go to my brother.
"You don't need to listen to him, Terry," he told me.
"Why shouldn't she?" Haru asked.
John turned to him. "Because you do nothing but hurt her."
Something flashed in Haru's eyes, something I couldn't read, before they froze again. "And again, I fail to see how our relationship has anything to do with you."
Slowly unlacing my hand from John, I whispered, "Just leave me alone, Steele."
"Terry," Haru prompted angrily.
Turning my back to John, I walked swiftly to Haru. When I got close enough, his hand came up to grab my arm and pull me close.
"You know you'll pay for this interruption right?" he muttered coldly.
I felt myself pale. "I-I'm sor—"
I didn't finish.
I was so stunned to see Haru's face and grip disappeared. The fierce whack of John's fist hitting his jaw sounded revoltingly in the air and Haru lost his balance at the unexpected attack, falling to his side on the ground.
With a gasp, I stood in front of John's body and spread my arms wide. Kabakura and two of Haru's bodyguards had appeared, their expressions hard, with the full intent to subdue John.
"Go," I whispered to John over my shoulder.
The anger seeped out of his features. "Terry—"
"You've done enough," I said shakily, watching as the bodyguards helped Haru up the ground. "Just go."
"Please, Terry—"
I turned, leaned in and shrieked, "Go!"
It took a lot, but I didn't flinch at the depth of pain in John's eyes as he stepped back from me.
Then he turned and, without a backward glance that made my heart break, John walked away.
~*****~
The bonfire was as large as a house, the sparks flying well above the treetops. The flames swayed high against the night sky while gray smoke was being carried aimlessly by the warm summer wind to the throng of excited and drunk people that all stood and partied around the great fire.
Skull did his fires like his parties, enormous to the point of ridiculousness and danger. John had talked to him about it, asking him to keep the fire down, telling him that he needed to watch over his guests if he didn't want any of them to be burned alive. But the moron was already drunk and didn't give a fuck. So it was up to John to stay sober, or as sober as he could be since he too had a lot to drink already, and make sure there wouldn't be any casualties.
In truth, it wasn't really up to him. There were people they'd designated to keep watch over the others. But John couldn't stay still, couldn't participate in this party with a smile on his face. His thoughts kept straying to Terry, to what he'd seen that night, to what he'd heard.
Sitting on a log by the bonfire, he stared at it, lost in his thoughts, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.
"She's getting married."
John didn't believe it at first.
He thought Vincent was telling him a joke, a cruel joke.
But his bodyguard wasn't laughing.
"You're not kidding," he murmured, alarmed. "And let me remind you that she's still in high school. She can't get married."
"Yet," was Vincent's empathetic reply. "But let me clarify. There are rumors of a pending merger between the Sakurai-Evans Group and the Cameron company. And there are also rumors that in order for that to happen, a marriage will have to take place between the two families."
"Rumors," John growled. The hell was Vincent telling him rumors for? He gave him the job so he could find out what was troubling Terry these days and what her brother was up to. He didn't have much patience for rumors. He needed to know the truth.
Vincent nodded. Then he gave him the large brown envelope he was holding. "The rumors have weight. Trust me." John opened the envelope and he continued to speak, "There are pictures of Terrence and Haru Evans in various indoor and outdoor meetings with Mona and Patrick Cameron in there. There are also documents there collaborating the merger rumor and documents of ongoing activities for its effect in the future. And there are pictures there of Terry going into the Cameron home last month and more pictures of..."
John wasn't listening anymore. He was looking at the pictures, specifically at Terry's face. In each picture she was in, her face was tense and strained. Her smiles were forced. Her expression was resigned. And her body screamed for relief from this ordeal she was in.
His gut twisted as the alarm returned, sharp and vicious.
Was this marriage the reason why she was avoiding him? Why she wasn't giving him another chance? Why she was so closed to all possibilities of them getting back together?
Or was she trying to protect him?
From Haru?
He crumpled the pictures in his hands.
That must be it.
Haru and his family's wealth may not be on par with the Steele family coffers but the man was a threat when riled. And John was still a teenager, a brat in Haru and Terry's eyes.
So that must be fucking it.
"Where are they now?" John asked Vincent.
Vincent stared at him with a frown.
Then he said, "Dinner with the Camerons. Her father arrived from Japan last night and requested this meeting."
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
"Young master, I advice you not to do anything reckless. The bonfire party is tonight, isn't it? Your friends are waiting for you."
"And if I don't heed your advice," John asked darkly as he threw the envelope to his bed and picked up his car keys from the nightstand.
Vincent let out a long suffering sigh. "Then, like always, I will be watching."
John didn't give a fuck if he'd be watching. As long as he didn't interfere.
And he didn't.
Not when he seized Terry from the restaurant and took her outside.
Not when he exchanged words with her, and eventually with Haru.
And not when he punched him.
But it didn't mean Vincent wasn't going to nag him.
That wasn't wise of you, sir.
That was what he texted John when John was in the car and driving away after his heated confrontation with Terry and her asshole brother.
And by that, I meant punching the heir of the Sakurai-Evans Group and possibly making an enemy of him.
Vincent didn't need to spell it out for him. He still didn't give a fuck.
I'll keep an eye out for any retribution. That means overtime. Have fun at the party, young master.
His bodyguard's text messages were drenched with much sarcasm. The man was angry. And John tried to give a fuck but he just couldn't. Wasn't this was why his father hired people like him for? To fix his irresponsible and wild son's problems? He'd be well compensated for this, John would have to make sure, so Vincent would stop annoying him with overdone graciousness.
The bonfire was becoming weaker and John gathered some sticks to keep the fire well fed. His right hand throbbed painfully from the excessive blow he gave Haru and he made sure not to move it too much. But he didn't regret hitting him. The only regret he had was not getting to throw one at Ethan. Hell, but that two-faced teacher was going to regret ever messing with him when the school year starts. John was going to make fucking sure he will.
One by one he threw the sticks into the fire. He was so distracted by his deep thoughts he didn't see Leon making his approach.
"Is your right hand still hurting?"
Startled, John missed the fire and the stick soared into the other side, hitting someone on the head. He straightened and glanced at Leon, then at his hand.
"No," he answered. It was a weak lie. He knew that and Leon knew that. "And what do you mean still? It's not hurting at all."
Leon gave him a look. "You're right-handed, John. Right-handed all your fucking life. So, tell me. Why were you using your left hand all night?"
"Hell," he muttered. "It's always been impossible to lie to you."
Leon sat next to him and stared at the fire. "So?"
"Fine," he clipped. "I punched somebody. Happy?"
"Depends on who you punched."
"An asshole."
"Want me to do something about him?" Leon asked, concerned.
He shook his head. "No, don't get involved. It's my fight."
It was his fight, he realized with a start.
It was up to him to fight for Terry. It was up to him to take her back, to protect her, to make her happy. It was up to him change his future, their future.
He wasn't going to wait anymore. He was a fool to decide on giving Terry all the time in the world to rethink about them.
It was time to take her back.
"Want me to take a look at your hand?" Leon spoke and John focused on him.
"And make people think we're holding hands?" he scoffed. "Fuck, no."
Leon looked like he wanted to hit him but thought better of it. John went back to staring at the fire, already making plans. His mood was better, his stance now laid-back.
Fuck, yes, but he was fighting for Terry.
~*****~
Leon Gage was blocking my path.
I was so surprised, I couldn't control my reaction and I blinked. This was the first time I've ever been this close to him.
"What are you doing here?" I spoke slowly.
He didn't answer my question. Instead, he asked in a monotonous voice, "You're still here even if it's summer?"
Um, what the heck?
"I'm in the student council now," I answered slowly. This was also the first time I've ever spoken to him and even though I wasn't afraid of him after knowing what I know, I still knew that I had to tread carefully. "They asked me to come for orientation."
"Hmm," he murmured to himself.
I stared at him, squaring my shoulders, waiting for him to say something else. He said nothing. In fact, he looked like he was waiting for me to say something. Shaking my head, I took a step to the side to make my way past him. But he blocked me again. I glowered at him.
What the heck did he want from me?
He didn't speak for awhile and I grew cautious. Mustering up my knowledge of karate, I took a deep breath and waited for him to do his next move. But when he finally spoke again, he took me by complete surprise again that I lost my composure.
"John will pick you up next Friday," he said.
Before the breath could entirely evacuate my lungs, he went on speaking.
"He'll pick you and Hannah up for Sophia's birthday," he clarified. "You will be there to celebrate it with her."
"Are you asking me or ordering me?" I seethed.
