My Bad Boy’s Ego — Chapter 17

As we finished our plates, I stretched my arms out, arching my back as I feel my body tense and release. Landon released a chuckle as he reached out his hand towards me. I stared at it blankly, before softly placing mine on his.

"Let's dance?" he asks, wrapping his fingers around my hand.

In a panic, I pulled my hand back. I pressed my lips together as I hid my hands under the table. Landon rose an eyebrow in confusion, an embarrassed smile across his lips.

I avoided his eye contact before answering slowly, "I don't know how to dance."

Landon shook his head as he got up from his chair. He walks over to my side of the table before grabbing my hand softly, "I'll teach you," he smiled gently, guiding me towards the middle of the rooftop. Music suddenly starts playing from the speakers.

I swallowed nervously, following him hand in hand. As we reached towards the middle, Landon swiftly pulls me in front of him as I slightly stumbled. He laughs at my clumsiness as I blushed in embarrassment. He grabbed my left arm, putting it over his shoulders as he puts his right around my waist. We locked fingers in our other hand as our body slightly swayed from side to side.

I took a step to the left along with him, looking down at our feet as guides to copy him. I could feel Landon laughing silently, his body shaking softly each time he releases a chuckle. I felt his hand carefully placed under my chin, as he gently lifts it up, looking his eyes in mine. My heart started racing against my chest; it was almost like I could hear the beats pounding against my ears.

"Just follow the beat," Landon says as he hums along with the song. Who knew that a tough, masculine jerk, listens to music like this. A smile crept upon my lips as we started dancing in synchronization.

There were a few moments where I stepped on his shoe, as he winced; not in pain but in an expensive topic. I laughed each time he reacted when I stepped on his luxury shoes.

Half-way through the song, Landon pulls me a little closer as he keeps his eyes locked in mine. His blue eyes was nothing compared to Colton. Landon's eyes were bright blue, piercing through my soul as if he could read my mind. His smile slowly drops and he opens his mouth, attempting to say something.

After a few minutes of hesitation, he finally speaks up, "Aubrey."

I tilted my head, an answer of 'I'm listening'.

He nervously licks his lip as we remain swaying from side to side, "I'm sorry for what I've done."

I stayed quiet as I avoided his eyes; looking out into the view. Half of me wanted to hug him, accept his apology and hoping that we would be able to start on a new page. The other half of me hated him, I wanted to push him away and go home.

I bit the inside of my cheek as I slowly drift away in thought.

"Aubrey?" his voice distracted me from my thoughts. I answered him with a soft hum, as our bodies were still rocking with the music.

A chuckle escaped his lips as the song ended. Another song played as more customers started walking towards the dance floor. I motioned Landon to go back to our seats, I wasn't feeling the dancing and I definitely wasn't feeling the music with him. As we walked back, I noticed that more couples were on the dance floor after we left.

Very rich, fancy couples. A grown lady in her mid-thirties was dressed in a silky blue dress, with a fur cloth draped through her arms and resting behind her back. Her blonde hair was put into a fancy up do as her earrings glistened under the light. Her date was wearing a black velvet suit, matte leather shoes with a black top hat.

I smiled by the look at the couple, followed by a quick sigh. I was never the type to praise for money. In fact, we were very financially stabled at one point; however, we were still not considered as a high class, maybe just upper middle class. Things change overtime though.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Landon asks as we both sat back down at our table.

I shrugged and left him wondering, not interested in answering his questions. Landon is a hard guy to put trust into, especially because how he's portrayed himself to me. I leaned back against the chair in effort to find something else to put my attention on.

Then, Landon spoke up.

"My dad owns a billing company, a medical billing company." He started. I questionably looked at him as to why he was telling me about his stories; but I let him continue, "Just because I'm saying he owns a medical billing company, doesn't mean we haven't broken hearts before."

I raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean by 'broken hearts'?"

"He takes patient's moneys, gives half to the doctors, keeps half to himself. This includes cancer patients, patients in surgery, children," he drifted off with a smirk plastered on his face, "hence, why we're so rich."

"So you're just going to rub in my face about how rich you are?" I scoffed, crossing my legs feeling the heat rise up in my body. The first time I've actually tried to give him a chance he talks about his family's wealth. Skipping to conclusions, I've already assumed that Landon had given no care about his apology with me.

"My dad is my only parent, my mom only existed in my life for a little bit. I'm a lucky guy, as well as my half-brother. We were both born straight into a wealthy family and of course, we've never complained. My half-brother is my dad's favorite son, I'm my half-brother's favorite family," Landon looks at me, smiling at his statement before staring back down at the glass of water, "My older brother, being 21 and I am only 19, he's got the priority as the next owner for JONESMED. Can't lie and say that I'm not jealous."

"Why are you telling me this?" I interrupted him as he rudely sticks a finger up in the air; expecting me to keep quiet.

Being in this peaceful restaurant, I tried not to raise my voice. By keeping myself sane, I crossed my arms and started pinching myself in anger at where my hands landed.

"Just listen," he pauses, "Please."

I took a sigh before looking at him, slightly rolling my eyes at this ridiculous story.

"Since I'm the younger kid, I've always been neglected from my father's discipline. Money seems to bring our family happiness, so that's how it'll stay. My mother worked for my dad, to satisfy his sexual needs. Shortly after she got pregnant, he won the case for full custody over me and here I am. No one believed that I could be raised in the hands of a stripper. They fell in love after having me for the next few years until money tore them apart. My dad is so powerful, he was able to harass my mom without being caught. Snitches gets stitches; that's what he goes by."

My arms uncrossed as my body softened listening to the rest of his story.

Is this why he was so prone to harassing other girls?

"I fell in love once, two years ago. I know we were young, but I was heads over heels for this girl. She had the same personality as my father, results to how they got along so well. But money also got into her head. She was beautiful, sweet; and just like you, she had a passion for art. After a week trip to New York with just her and my family, she changed. She got closer to my father and brother; and soon was obsessed with the fact that money brings happiness. Her personality changed as well as her mindset. Money was always in her head, and she started becoming less patient, less caring, and started to get abusive. Punches after slaps, and slaps after punches I couldn't get enough of her bullshit and started to fight back. It was after months of harassment before I finally laid hands on her though. And even after that we were still together, abusive as fuck until I finally dropped her during our nine-month anniversary." He trailed off, tapping the toothpick against the white cotton table cloth.

Speechless, I couldn't bother to slip out a word. I put my hands under the table and started fidgeting with my finger uncomfortably.

I'm starting to feel bad for him.

"When I saw you painting in class that one day, you reminded me of her so much," he released a horrifying chuckle, "I hated your presence and I wanted to get rid of you. I wanted to make your life horrible," he pauses, "before I realized my hatred her was wrong to be used upon you."

A quick moment of silence passes by.

"When I realized that, I was a little too late. Earning your forgiveness will probably be harder knowing that I've almost ruined your life. I can't even forgive myself after that." He mumbles as he brings his hand up to his lip, brushing his knuckle against his upper lip.

I took a deep breath before staring at the fire in the candle.

I don't know what to say I thought, watching the light dance with the wind.