One Night

Episode 7

Harley walked back to the VIP lounge where Phoenix was seated. He stopped and chuckled at the way his best friend looked. He sat down next to him and followed where he was looking.

“Are you seriously going to sulk in here just because your bodyguard is not returning your feelings?”

He looked at him, “he’s f****d me and used me.”

Harley raised one of his eyebrows at Nix, “no, let’s rephrase that, you let him f**k you and use you.”

“Who is your best friend again, him or me? He probably already knows he’ll be my bodyguard and he took advantage of me.”

He laughed loudly, “c’mon Nixie, are you being serious? The guy is f*****g hot. I didn't even see that bodyguard aura in him. Let’s face it, he’s your type and he’s not returning your feelings. That’s why you’re angry.”

“Screw you! I’m leaving!” Phoenix stood up angrily.

“Nix, come on!” Harley grabbed his hand but he shrugged it off.

“Nix, I was just kidding!” Harley shouted, but his best friend had already walked away.

.

.

Phoenix got out of the door and looked around. His bodyguard wasn’t there and thought this was his chance to escape. He gasped when someone put an arm over his shoulder.

“Hey, Phoenix.”

He turned and was surprised to see an old flame he never wanted to see. He was going to back away but he held his shoulder tighter and pulled him closer.

“Malik…”

“I didn’t know Alistair was already allowing you to come to clubs without hundreds of his men following you around,” he moved closer to his face, making him smell the scent of cigarettes.

“Can you let go of me? I still have a bodyguard and I’m just waiting for him,” he suddenly thought of Zuri, hoping he would show up this time.

He had rather have his bodyguard around than his psycho ex-boyfriend, who Alistair hated the most.

“Oh c’mon babe, its not like you never enjoyed having me around when you were rebelling against your f****d up stepbrother,” he suddenly grabbed Phoenix’s ass, even if there were people around.

“f**k off will you!”

Phoenix pushed him as hard as he could, which made him stumble back. He tripped on his feet and was about to fall back but someone caught him from behind. He gasped and looked. His heart raced at the same time that he was relieved that he was looking at the only person he felt safe with.

He quickly recovered, “where were you? I want to leave now and go home.”

Zuri stared at him and didn’t say a word but he nodded. Phoenix was about to leave but Malik grabbed his arm and it made him wince.

“Where are you going, baby? We’re not done yet. You’re coming with me,” Malik said.

Phoenix was surprised when Zuri reacted. He grabbed Malik’s hand and pushed him away hard enough that he stumbled back. Malik glanced at him and snorted.

“Who the f**k is this now? Your new slave?”

Phoenix was going to say something back but Zuri stood in front of him, covering him from Malik.

“Are you alright?”

Phoenix felt his heart skip a beat with the way Zuri asked him and looked at him. He was going to answer him but it took him by surprise again when he saw his bodyguard avoid the fist from behind his head. He didn’t know how quickly he gently pushed him a few steps back so he wouldn’t get hurt.

And as fast as his eyes could see, he saw how Zuri flicked Malik’s right fist with his left arm and threw in a hard punch at his ex’s face. People around them gasped about the scene after seeing Malik fall on his ass on the ground, looking dizzy from his bodyguard's punch.

“You f*****g asshole! Your going to pay dearly with that f*****g ass of yours,” Malik said as he held his bloody nose.

“You’ll come running back to me soon! And I’m going to make sure you’d be on your knees all night with my d**k in your mouth begging me to give it to your ass!”

Zuri felt that anger in him that he took another step with his fist balled to hit Malik again, but Phoenix held his arm back.

“Leave him. Don’t waste your time anymore on him,” he said while looking down on Malik with a bloodied nose.

Phoenix turned around and walked away. Zuri glanced at Malik again and stared at him. He took something from his pocket and threw it on his lap.

“Wipe your nose… Sir.”

Malik looked at the handkerchief on his lap and gritted his teeth in anger, “I’m going to f*****g get you for this you asshole.”

Zuri didn’t respond anymore and turned to follow Phoenix. He stared at Phoenix as he followed him towards the parking area until they reached their car. He stopped and turned around to face him.

“I can protect myself and you don't need to do that.”

Zuri snorted, “protect yourself? You wouldn’t have the chance to get away from that guy the moment he held your shoulders.”

“Excuse me?” Phoenix was surprised.

Zuri walked closer to him and stood in front of his face. Phoenix could smell his minty breath this time. He swallowed hard when he thought Zuri was about to kiss him but instead reached towards the car’s door and opened it.

“I’m taking you home. Get in.”

Phoenix was furious and pushed him back, “you are an asshole.”

He got inside the car and closed his door roughly. He didn’t look at Zuri when he got inside his car. Zuri didn’t say anything anymore and just drove away from the club. Phoenix felt hurt that he still hadn’t talked to him about their steamy s*x in public or the thought that he said at first that they would go on a date.

He glanced at Zuri quietly driving, thinking that it’s been days since that night and still nothing happened between them anymore. He was very serious at his job and never thought of making any move on him. He wondered if Zuri already knew him before he was introduced to him by Alistair. Or maybe Zuri is not making any move on him because he now knows who he is and he’s only a job to be done and nothing else.

The car stopped at the red traffic light and the rain started pouring. He glanced at Zuriel again and couldn’t hold back anymore, he had to ask.

“Zuri?”

“Yes?”

“Am I just a job to you?”

There was nothing but silence and the pouring rain between the two of them. Phoenix wanted to hear it for himself so he asked another question.

“What happened between us meant nothing to you?”

Zuri glanced at him right after the traffic light turned green. Phoenix waited but he didn’t answer his question.

“Silence means yes,” he felt hurt and tears formed in his eyes.

Phoenix thought, why would it mean anything to him? It was just a one-night stand after all. He wrapped his arms around himself and closed his eyes. Maybe this was his karma, he was his karma for being foolish and playing around with people’s emotions. He later on didn't realize that he dozed off from the tiredness along with the alcohol in his system.

When they got back to the mansion, Zuri parked the vehicle in the basement of the mansion and glanced at Phoenix. He looked at him and sighed quietly.

“Phoenix, we’re home.”

He seemed to be sleeping deeply, so Zuri opened the car door gently and got out. He opened the back door and went in the back to help Phoenix. He gently tapped his arm but he didn’t move an inch. Zuri reached for the phone in his pocket to call their head butler but he was surprised when Phoenix pulled his face up and pressed his lips on his mouth.

He tried to back away but Phoenix only held his face tighter and kept their lips pressed on each other. He felt his lips needed to move to somehow let him have a taste of those strawberry lips. He felt lost for a second and took every strength in him to pull away. He opened his eyes and saw tears in Phoenix’s eyes.

“Zuri, please… Why are-”

“You got your answer earlier…” Zuri whispered.

Phoenix gasped, “no… It’s-”

“Yes… It can’t mean anything to me…”

Phoenix’s tears fell, “why?”

“I’m sorry… but you’re just a job…” Zuri said firmly without any hint of a lie.

Phoenix let him go and wiped his tears. He got out of the car and walked away towards the mansion’s entrance. Zuri closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“I wouldn’t want to hurt you when I leave if my job is done,” Zuri whispered.

His phone rang and an unknown number showed up on his caller ID. He answered and waited till someone spoke on the other line.

“Jaeger…”

“You shouldn’t be calling me while I’m on the job.”

“I have some very important information to tell you. And what I have is something you wouldn’t want to miss.”

“What is it about?”

“It’s about Phoenix St.Clair…”

Zuri’s attention was caught by Phoenix’s name. He got out of the car and walked out of the basement parking garage. As soon as he was outside, he looked up and saw Phoenix’s window with the lights on in his room.

“Is he in danger?”

“Affirmative.”

“How?” he asked the other person on the line.

“With an enormous amount on his head… someone else wants him dead.”

Zuri hung up the phone and saw a glimpse of Phoenix standing by his window with a glass of wine in his hand.

“Just like the promise I made… I won’t let anyone harm you…”

He felt that same ache in his heart five years ago the first time he saw him.

“I will protect you… Even if it means going back to hell for it…”

To be continued…