One month ago…
Denzel felt like an idiot. After the ball, he went home with a troubled face and a troubled mind. He stepped into his house expecting Shawn, but there was no sign of him; his room was also empty, making Denzel sigh as he entered his own room to undress himself revealing his toned body with abs and big manly shoulders.
He took a quick shower with the same thoughts swirling around his head. He did not know where Shawn was off to nor did he remind him of this sudden disappearance. When he finally stepped out of the shower and got dressed into sleeping wear, he felt like the whole house was dark, cold and lonely—much like the time where Shawn was not around.
Now, he felt that because of his recklessness, he had lost someone important again. Silence covered the room as all he could hear was the air conditioner, but was broken after a phone ring reached him.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Can we meet?" Judging by the tone of the voice, Denzel immediately knew who it was.
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Denzel was supposed to meet someone around the park near his apartment. The moon shone with the stars that pierced the night sky. The place was quiet and dim. Most of its brightness came from street lights that were dying. He kept his eyes peeled, and finally, there he saw a man emerging from the shadows.
"Why did you want meet me, brother?"
Ivan stood beside him with confidence. "I have your lovely secretary."
Denzel's eyes widened and grabbed his collar. "Where did you bring my secretary?" An aggressive tone covered his words. Ivan simply smirked and pulled Denzel's hand away from him.
"I see that you have quite an infatuation with that secretary of yours."
"I don't."
"Then," Ivan started as he walked closer to Denzel, "I could claim him since he's not yours." Denzel became furious; he gave him a stabbing gaze, letting out a hostile grunt.
"You don't even know him." The statement made Ivan pause for a moment before laughing hysterically—because he knew that Denzel did not know an ounce about Shawn. The tension in the atmosphere thickened, and both of them knew better than to get in a fight.
"Nevertheless, he'll be staying with me. Make sure to think about what you've done."
Denzel's eyes widened. "What?" His mind was flooded yet again with confusing questions and thoughts; Shawn was a nobody in this industry. He was just a mere secretary, but somehow, it intrigued Ivan so much.
Denzel wanted to prove Ivan wrong, but when he about to finish his sentence, Ivan cut him off. He let his sharp eyes dictate the outcome and his sincerity in this matter.
"Don't complain. I saw what you did." Denzel was thoroughly speechless. Shawn was probably hurt now because of Denzel—more like scared. His heart thrummed and his body shivered slightly; he had never felt this feeling before—it was weird.
The moment paused between their eyes' when silence crept and thickened the atmosphere. Denzel had finally decided to let the conclusion be because of this rather "exciting" conversation. Though Ivan saw no excitement in this conversation whatsoever, it did not stop him from needing something that could rush him and get his adrenaline up.
"Let's bet. I'll bet that Shawn will much prefer being with me."