Bought For Protection

16

"It's just a party, all I have to do is smile, shake hands, and make small talk, even though I hate small talk I will do it anyway" I mumble while tying my tie, this s**t was so overrated.

I wore a navy blue suit with a pale pink dress shirt, black shoes, and a Rolex watch. I give myself a once-over, satisfied with my looks I pick up one of many perfumes and spray a tiny amount on my wrist and neck.

A knock came on my bedroom door, I smiled at the intruder through his reflection in the mirror, he leaned on the door frame looking at me with googly eyes, he wore a black three-piece suit with a microphone in his ear, I glared at the little device.

Looks like Papa asked him to babysit his teen son, not that I'm complaining, I'm not. It's just that I wanted Hunter to be by my side as someone special. and not my bodyguard. I'm yet to come out to my father but I still hoped he would allow me to take him as a friend.

"You look like a prince," Hunter compliments smirking while walking towards me with a naughty look in his eyes.

"Is the microphone on?" I whispered he chuckled while nodding, I smiled before wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him in for a peck.

"You look like my protector," He laughs before kissing my forehead and tightening his hold on my body.

"I'm your protector, always and forever," he declared

"We should go before my father bursts a nerve," I smiled pulling away from him but he pulled me closer and kissed my lips with so much intensity, that I had to hold on to him before I fell flat on my ass.

"Woah! "- "I don't think we will be able to do this entire evening," I nodded at his prediction, it was probably going to be true, knowing this was a business event hosted by Dominick, and there was trouble written in bold on it.

"Let's go," we pulled away sadly and made our way downstairs, my father looked at his iPad, engrossed in whatever was displayed on it.

He looked up noticing our presence, he nodded at my appearance and walked out toward the awaiting car parked outside.

Uncle Jordan smiled at me before following after my father, we got in the car, Hunter was driving, Uncle Jorden sat in the passenger seat, and my father and I sat in the back, there was pin-drop silence in the car our entire drive, Hunter kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror every now and then. I smiled at him every time liking his attention on me.

We reached the plaza in 30 minutes and it was buzzing with chattering and paparazzi. Hunter and Uncle Jordan made a circle around us and let us through. The plaza was beautiful inside, I have been to a couple of them but this one stands out. It was a beautiful gold chandelier and huge stairs like the one in the movie Titanic.

We get surrounded by my father's colleagues and friends, upset I watch Hunter and Uncle Jordan walk to the end of the room and stand guard with other people dressed in similar attire.

He gave me a reassuring smile and sighing I got to work.

"Look at you, you have grown so much since the last time I saw you, and handsome too," Mrs. Peterson laughed patting my shoulder in a gentle way, she was one of the people I liked among my father's colleagues.

"And you look stunning as always Mrs. Peterson," she blushed at the compliment being in her late fifties she was quite gorgeous.

"You have thought him well Mr. Black," she smiles at my Dad and he nods at her.

"You will have to excuse me, I have a few people I need to introduce him to," he said before dragging me to meet the serious bloodsuckers, there were four men in their late fifties, with grey hair, pot belly, and very underage looking girls under their arms. I didn't like the way one man couldn't keep his hands off his date, a very young date.

"Ah! Mr. Black, just the man I wanted to see, " Adrian my dad's business partner said moving away from the pedo table, he looked relieved watching us approach.

"Adrian, I see you have some company," my Dad snickers at his choice of friends.

"We were just talking about you, come join us, and good to see you, Alexander, " I give him my best fake smile.

"Mr. Black, what a pressure to meet you in person, " one man said excitedly "And I see you have brought your Son, I am sure you will get along with Dominick just fine, " I remembered him to be Dominick's maternal uncle. I just smile not replying

"You have got some big shoes to fill young man, it's a tough world out there, it's easy for Dominick because he trained for this his entire life and is doing very well right now, we expect great things from you," I don't know why but my hands get clammy and I feel nervous by his words.

"He will be just fine, my son is meant for greater things, it's in his blood," my dad said patting my back, I looked at him shocked not expecting him to support me in front of his friends but it felt amazing having been praised by him.

I promise I will give my 100% trying to fill his shoes.

I excuse myself after a while grab a glass of champagne and down it in one go. This place was suffocating me, I wanted to go home and chill in silence.

"I see you have found yourself a corner to cry in," I ignored the narcissistic voice and continued drinking my glass of liquid courage. "Ignoring me in my own party, not such a good idea," he continued

"What do you want?" I ask looking at him, he wears an olive green suit, it suits him.

"I want many things but right now I want you to drop this sappy act and cheer up, my investors are here, and your father asked me to take you to them, and show you the ropes," he explained

I raised my right eyebrow at his unusual behavior, "Why are you being nice, go back to your asshole self, selfless is the wrong color on you," I say finishing my drink. "What's in it for you? As far as I remember you threatened to expose me and humiliated my family, "

"There will be time for that but right now, I need your father's support, so smile and start walking," he nudges me a little to move and walk beside me.

His behavior concerns me, I have to watch my back with him. I glance at Hunter and see him looking at me already, more like glaring at Dominick but that slight gesture soothes me.

"let's get over with this,"