My Bad Boy’s Ego — Chapter 37

Isaiah and I were sitting in the basement together, joking about the little fangirls he had around in school during his soccer games. Even though Isaiah never talks about the little fan group he has, he was very well aware of the existence of girls gushing over him.

"Come on, you were probably like 'Oh my goodness, Isaiah's so hot I wish he can kick the ball like how he – ow!"

I kept a killer smile on my face as my hand made impact to the side of his head. There was a loud slapping sound while laughter escaped my lips. I couldn't help but find amusement in Isaiah's cheerful personality. The only side that I've experienced was his childish moments where he seemed to not be aware of his surroundings.

Isaiah leans towards me as he grabs both of my wrist, laughing as he attempts to growl at the same time. I leaned away from him and shaking off my shoes, bringing my feet over the couch and onto his chest. I pushed him away with the strength of my legs, uncontrollably laughing at the sight of a wild Isaiah.

"Stop! Stop, I'm sorry," I cried, trying to hide my face under the decorative pillow.

"Aubrey Watson!" he snarls, shaking my arms with my wrist with a devious smile.

"You two are getting along pretty well," a voice interrupted out bonding moment. We stayed in that weird position, looking up at the interruption as if we were just caught as cat and dogs.

Standing in front of us was Landon, dressed in a regular black suit and a bowtie that complimented his slightly tan skin and dark brunette hair. His light blue eyes were piercing at both of our bodies and Isaiah and I were bewildered from his stunning appearance; and getting caught in the act.

I looked up as Isaiah against and pushed him with my feet once more as his hands releases my wrist. We both sat up and brushed our outfits and hair before obediently facing Landon. My cheeks were gushing red; not because I had a little fun moment with Isaiah, but because the embarrassment of getting caught in that position by Landon. That position probably brought in so many misunderstandings.

"Anyways," Landon trialed off as he sat on the coffee table, facing both of us.

Isaiah suddenly cut him off, "Wait, it's only eight. Why are you here already?"

Landon blinks at Isaiah and innocently answers with a "Because I can."

"But that wasn't part of the plan."

"Isaiah, me arriving early has nothing to do with the plan." He sighs, covering his face with his palms.

"What?"

"I just came a little early."

"But you Carthys always come 'fashionably late'," Isaiah rebutted, putting quotes into the air as he jokes around with Landon.

I looked back and forth between Landon and Isaiah; amused by their little random argument.

"That's why Charles isn't here yet," Landon slightly whispers, looking at our surroundings before continuing with his sentence, "When he comes, then we'll introduce Aubrey to Charles and the rest of my family."

"The rest of your family?" I asked, suddenly feeling my back heating up as my palm starts sweating. Originally, I believed that I was already nervous to see Charles, let alone the rest of Landon's family.

Footsteps behind us were heard rushing down the stairs before Isaiah's mother motioned us to come towards the set of stairs, "Children, come! Greet yourselves."

She didn't seem to notice Landon's early appearance through her rushing to get us upstairs.

- - -

I held Isaiah's hand, palms slightly sweating from the anxiety trailing down my back. I found myself greeting other guests alongside with Isaiah, shaking many other hands and exchanging multiple smiles that was good enough to his my nerves jolting in my body.

Suddenly, I felt Isaiah's hand trailing behind my back, resting on my waist as he leans down towards me.

"He's here," Isaiah whispers in my ear before standing up straight, shaking hands with the last person from the group who previously entered.

Strolling through the door came four males. One with a top hat, oldest of the bunch who I assume is Landon's father. Landon was standing next to an older guy, who I assumed to be his brother. They didn't look the same at all, after all they were only half-brothers. Lastly, came cruising in a familiar figure with a scruff and light blue eyes. He eyes immediately landed on mine, a smile crept among his face as his eyes spoke nothing but recognition.

When Landon was planning out the plot, it sounded as if we were able to flow through the scheme very well. However, Landon left one thing out; the most important thing.

Charles and I have met.

My hand immediately jolted towards Isaiah's hand that was resting on my waist. He sensed my nervousness and slightly squeezed my hip, assuring me that it was okay. However, it made me feel even more anxious. Landon's father smiles at me, holding out his hand as I shook it with ease.

Followed by Landon's older brother who had almost better features than his younger brother. He smiles at me, showing his straight white teeth as he greeted me with a "Nice to meet you," his deep, husky voice flowing towards me.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," I responded, pushing out the shakiness in my voice.

"Hey," Landon greets, winking at me as we made eye contact. Landon came in for a hug and I wrapped my arms around his waist softly, "Loosen yourself," he whispers in my ears.

I swallowed nervously as the last man came strolling in. The closer Charles got to me, the more my body started shaking. I pressed my lips together in a thin line as I watched him exchange greetings with both of Isaiah's parents. Luckily, Isaiah's parents were able to stall out enough time before I finally thought of the first thing that popped up in my mind.

As soon as Charles releases his hand shake from Isaiah's father and took a step towards Isaiah and I, I swiftly turned my body towards Isaiah's. In a smooth motion, I grabbed Isaiah's face and sneaked my thumb between our lips, closing my eyes as I pretended to have a meaningful kiss with my finger. Isaiah seemed to stumble in surprise and placed his hands on my back, holding me up as he soon fell into the act. We both stayed like that for a few seconds, before I pulled away, smiling up at Isaiah as if I was 'in love'.

I removed my thumb and caressed his cheek, using that as an excuse as to why my hand was cupping his face. Isaiah looks back at me and mouthed the words 'What are you doing' before Isaiah's mother came up to us.

Her laugh caught us off guard as we pulled away from each other, "Well aren't you two lovebirds just having a great time?"

"Yes, mother," Isaiah chuckles and smiles back at her.

"Go ahead, and enjoy yourselves. Go grab some food, we're done with greetings for today," she sighs playfully, motioning us to head towards the main facility of the restaurant.

I can't believe that worked.

Even though Charles was still standing there, I turned my back towards him and pretended that I never noticed his presence. The introduction could wait.

"How could you be so stupid!" I whispered, in an angry tone.

Not too long ago I was able to peel myself away from Isaiah, and dragged Landon into some small storage unit. It was surprising how I even manage to find a little closet in this big yacht. We were in the water now, floating along who knows where and here I am stuck on this ship with a person who sexual assaulted me.

"You wouldn't have agreed otherwise," Landon whispers back to me, almost in a hissing tone.

"The answer to that should've been obvious!"

"What are you going to do instead? Pay back the debt on your own?"

"Anything but confront the guy that assaulted me. You saw it happen too," I pressed my lips together in a thin line, "Landon, how is this plan going to work? He knows we have some type of relation, and now I'm out there as Isaiah's date? How is this all making any sense?"

Landon raises both of his hands slightly in annoyance, placing each of them on the sides of my face, "Just, trust me. I know it sounds confusing and out of place right now. Just trust me."

With that, I sighed in defeat as I found myself getting caught up in the complicated situation. Landon saw my stress and placed his hands calmly on my shoulders, "Just trust me," he repeated, leaning his face towards me.

The expression on his face shows his sincerity. He places his forehead on mine slightly, moving his hands down my upper arm as he wraps his fingers around my elbow. We found ourselves unconsciously rocking back and forth to the ship's gravity, and pushed ourselves away the moment we felt the heat rising in the storage room.

As soon as we got out of each other's grip, I stumbled towards the door and peeked it open before stepping out. No one seemed to pay attention to up getting out of the weird room, until I felt a set of eyes landing on us. I straightened up and turned towards the feeling. Charles was watching both of us in the middle of the crowd of people. I tuned back around finding out that Landon had slipped out of my sight, replaced by Isaiah, casually greeting me as he places his arm around my shoulder.

"You ready?" Isaiah asks. Without me answering, he slowly pushed me towards the crowd, and in the crowd we held hands again, dragging me around older audiences drinking and listening to the classical music in the dim setting.

I breathed slowly, following Isaiah as I found myself getting a lot closer to Charles. Charles had his eyes pierced on me, eyes never leaving my body. I felt uncomfortable real quick. But I was able to work up enough guts to look at him in the eyes.

"Sorry, we didn't get the chance to greet you in earlier," Isaiah started as we both stopped in front of Charles.

Charles looked quite young to be considered an uncle to Landon. He was probably only a few years older than us, even with his clean stubble he was able to pull off the look as the early twenty year old.

"Chaser," he simply greeted, shaking Isaiah's hand tightly, eyes never leaving mine.

I smiled at him, holding my hand out, "And Aubrey," he introduced. Surprisingly, he held my hand softly. Instead of shaking it like a normal business greeting, he pulled my hand towards his lips, planting a soft kiss on my knuckles before flashing a wink my way, "Even more beautiful than the last time I've seen you."

My heart stopped. I felt Isaiah's hand creeping along my lower back as he tightens his grip along my waist, "I could say the same," Isaiah chuckles, pulling my body towards him. Charles got the hint and let go of my hand, looking at Isaiah. The two were the same height, they easily exchanged glares as it was obvious that there was some sort of tension between them.

"Where's Landon? He should take a look at this," Charles spat, eyeing Isaiah's hand on my waist.

"Take a look at what?" I heard Landon's voice. Landon appeared by my side a little later, followed by his older brother Aiden. The two brother exchanged a smile, as if they were able to communicate telepathically.

Aiden definitely had more a broad body structure than Landon does. Even though the two look attractive in different ways, it was clear that Aiden appeared a few years older than Landon. Landon was thinner, he had slightly a baby face to him as his height was a few inches shorter than his brother.

"This beautiful structure that god has created," Charles mumbles underneath his breath as he starts taking steps towards me. The grip from Isaiah has tightened as he remained by my side, holding me from any sketchy scheme that Charles had in his mind.

Charles started strolling around Isaiah and I, feeling his eyes scanning my entire body as he lands in front of us again.

"Aubrey," Charles smiles, standing not even a foot away from me, "Beautiful, beautiful creature," he taunted.

"Charles, you know what will happen if we tell dad about this behavior," Aiden speaks up, swirling the cup of wine in between his hand. He had his eyes on the deep red liquid in the cup, almost not caring about the consequences from his uncle.

Charles smirked, "What behavior? I'm just acting friendly."

"Aubrey Watson doesn't think so," Landon speaks up, putting both of his hands in the pocket of his pants as Charles's expression suddenly changes.

"Watson?" he rose an eyebrow, his look suddenly hardened the moment he repeated my last name.

I looked back at Aiden who simply nodded, taking a sip from his wine, "The Watson family, doesn't that sound familiar? Charles?" he asked as soon as he swallowed the fresh liquid. Aiden looks at me before turning his attention to Landon who's eyes seemed to be kept on me.

"Of course it does," a dark smile appeared on Charles's face, "Aubrey Watson. Who's dad that begged for money. Too bad your mother was never here to tell him it's not a good idea."

Oh hell, he did not.