Under the brilliant night sky, a more brilliant silver Lamborghini roared its way into the driveway of the Palace Hotel. Heads of bystanders turned, and hotel staffs perked up from their spots, eager for a tip.
The driver's seat slid upward, and Andrew stepped out decked in a thick, giant, black fur coat and lavish accessories. He lobbed the keys high in the air to the Valet without sparing a glance and linked his arm to Sir Allen who stepped out from the driver's seat. He came off as a mafia drug lord in his shades and their couple butterfly earrings.
-#-
This morning In a jewelry store, while searching for the loudest accessories available. Andrew had asked Sir Allen. "Now that you're dedicated to being a rebel and all. And you finally have that tattoo like a gangsta. Is there anything else you've always wanted to do but couldn't?"
Sir Allen contemplated. "I have always played around with the idea of having my ears pierced."
Andrew gasped and his face lit up in delight. "Me too! I've always wanted to do it. But I haven't had the chance because you must wear it for a couple of days, and someone keeps interrupting my extended leaves."
"And that someone will buy you your first diamond."
"Apology accepted. Now, someone ring up this shiny butterfly studs, so my hubby and I can get a couples piercing."
-#-
More heads turned as the duo crossed the hotel lobby and sauntered up to the elevator. Andrew handed over a hundred pesos bill to the elevator concierge and said, "Roof deck, please."
As the elevator went up, Andrew whispered to Sir Allen. "Remember, act like you're a spoiled kid in college who's being a rebel just for kicks, except your way richer and healthier than your peers, so harmful activities are nothing to you. Remember you have to be a disappointment."
"Why are your examples always so specific."
"You trained me to be that way."
"Touché."
The elevator doors sild open and the pair stepped out into a lavish restaurant. The soft yellow lights from the lamps gave a film of luminescence for the whole interior. The music from the string quartet was accompanied by the mellow murmurs of the diners in their suits and evening dresses. Needless to say, their heads turned on the arrival of the flamboyant couple with loud but branded outfits.
A receptionist approached them. Andrew nudged Sir Allen with his elbow. He cleared his throat.
"Yes dear. Remember these faces, remember these clothes, because we don't wait for anybody but ourselves...And yes we do have reservations under Lopez for five."
Andrew shook his head, disappointed at Sir Allen's weak portrayal of a rude customer. You would think that a man who could made his employees cry with a glare could muster up some rudeness for his own benefit.
They were led to a table where the Lopez parents were engaged in a one-sided conversation with their youngest son, Luiz, who replied to their inquiries about his life with grunts and stabs on his steak with his fork. He was the least lax out of the three. His back was ramrod straight. Elbows just outside the edge of the table. Feet flat on the ground. While the two parents leaned closer with expectant faces.
"Any girlfriends in your life son? Or a boyfriend?" Mr. Luiz asked Luiz.
"No." Another stab to his meal.
Mrs. Lopez flashed a comforting smile as she patted his elbow. "It's alright, son. No rush. Love can come by chance at any point in our lives—Speaking of love. Here are...our...lovebirds."
The family stilled. They unabashedly ogled the pair. Was the faux fur coat too much? Andrew circled the table and air kissed Mrs. Lopez on the cheeks and offered a deep bow to Mr. Lopez.
"Ah, Alfonso. I'm not Chinese," mumbled Mr. Lopez astonished, but he still bowed in response, nonetheless. Andrew tried to ruffle Luiz's styled hair, but he slapped Andrew's hands away.
"Stop it. Just go to your seats. We've been waiting quite a while."
"So sorry we're late," said Andrew as they took their seats. "We actually didn't want to come."
After a tense pause, Andrew burst out in laughter.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Hubby here just couldn't get his hands off of me—" He winked at Mrs. Lopez. "—And he was also getting down from his high, so I had to splash some water in hubby's face."
Mr. Lopez clutched Mrs. Lopez's hand. Mrs. Lopez worked up a half-smile half-frown, clutching at pearl necklace expression. "Coming down from his high?"
"Oh, don't worry, mother. It was only recreational marijuana, no harm at all. Sir Allen just loves his greens." Andrew held his breath on anticipation if Mrs. And Mr. Lopez would finally bite the bullet and burst in parental outrage.
Except they didn't. What came out was high-pitched laughter from Mrs. Lopez followed by Mr. Lopez's stuttered laughter. "Aha. Wonderful," he said.
"That's good," said Mrs. Lopez to Sir Allen. "It's always best to get out of the house sobered up and proper. Let's order your dinner, shall we?" Mr. Lopez hurriedly called down a waiter.
Andrew leaned back on his seat and he heard a sigh. Initially, he thought it came from Sir Allen, but to Andrew surprise, it was from Luiz himself as it was paired by a not-so-subtle slam of his silvers down on the table.
Interesting.
The waiter had arrived and asked for their order. After a brief glance at the menu, Sir Allen passed it back to the waiter and said, "We'll have the most expensive dish in the menu." Sir Allen swiped the menu from Andrew's reluctant hand and gave it to the waiter. Andrew had wanted to eat seafood pasta, but it's alright as long he gets to eat something expensive. Oh, before he forgot.
"We'll also have your strongest cocktail, please," Andrew mock-whispered to the waiter. "Oh, and some hot water with ice cubes please." The waiter blinked rapidly but his smile never faltered even as walked away. He was going to spit on their drinks, Andrew was sure of it. He should take some money from Sir Allen's credit line and give some to the staff tomorrow.
Andrew smiled at the family members who watched the whole scene. Oh, Andrew had more. He brushed some imaginary dirt on Sir Allen's ear and tapped the diamond butterfly stud. Andrew combed his hair back on his left ear to show off the matching stud.
But it looked like the parents were still reeling in from the fact that their eldest son had imaginarily partaken in some marijuana to notice that said son had pierced his earlobe. Any Asian parents would be spewing venom by now, but not the Lopez's.
Mr. Lopez's small lips curled upwards as he tried to steal Sir Allen's attention. Once he got it, he grinned at Sir Allen. "Congratulations for being the smartest homo! Didn't know there was such a thing."
Mrs. Lopez lit up at the mention of their night at Pride Alley. "Yes, yes, we saw the photos you sent. What a nice party."
Andrew leaned across the table and said, "It was a blast. Hubby here was the last man standing," Andrew giggled. "He even downed a pitcher of margarita before he passed out."
Sir Allen quirked his eyebrow at Andrew. He stepped on Sir Allen's foot.
"Ah, yes. I remember now," Sir Allen gave a side-long glance at Andrew. His lips did that thing again where it tried to smile but it came off as sadistic and hot. "I stood up on the table with the whole club watching me, and I swallowed down litters of alcohol like I was a man in the middle of a dry desert who just found a pond of water."
A bubble of laughter rose from Andrew. He threw a sideway glance to Sir Allen as he said, "And he enjoyed every minute of it."
Andrew continued retelling the story They were meant to be stories of disappointment on how Sir Allen had gone astray from the corporate road of the rich, but the parents enjoyed every listening to it. They even clapped their hands together in joy. Which was the opposite of what Andrew wanted.
"Then he fainted, and I had to drag his body across the cab." Andrew acted out the gesture, wildly. For everyone to see and hear. "Who knew your son had a v-cut? All that disappointment he feels towards his co-workers does a body good."
"Just like some thug," Luiz spit out, his lip curled in distaste. "The great Allen, future CEO, getting wasted in some dirty alley. I can already hear the stocks dip."
Andrew's jaw dropped in glee. Didn't expect that to come out from the younger brother. To be honest, Andrew had already discounted Luiz out of the plan, but that was his mistake.
While working as Sir Allen's secretary, Andrew had perceived Luiz as the younger brother who suddenly worked for a different corporation to prove himself. His sleek appearance and cut-throat manner had always given him an air of authority. Match that with a set of piercing eyes hidden behind his lenses, you get the perfect corporate employee. If Sir Allen was a raging fire that could burn you, Luiz was a chilling ice cube with an inferiority complex.
Under the table, Andrew nudged Sir Allen with his knee. Multiple times. Andrew leaned closer to Luiz and smirked. Which only riled up Luiz further.
"If you think that's gangster," Andrew chimed in. "You should see his freakin' tattoo. Not only is it hot. It's full-on street thug. Com'n babe, show them."
Andrew observed Luiz's expression as his hands fumbled around with Sir Allen to take off his clothes. Andrew's hands battled with Sir Allen's. Finally, Andrew's finger latched on to one of the buttons of Sir Allen's polo.
"Get a load of this!" Andrew exclaimed as he pulled hard on Sir Allen's polo.
A plastic button missiled through the air like a projectile and hit the flaming cocktail glass atop a waiter's tray. The waiter flinched and Andrew's drink tipped over and crashed down into a vacant table. The tablecloth caught fire.
The Lopez parents stood still while Luiz pinched the bridge of his nose as he let out an exasperated sigh. They all watched the hotel staff put out the fire with surprising agility and elegance.
"Wow. You literally put something on fire because of your hot chest. I really thought it would happen because your a terrible boss."
Sir Allen peered down on himself and noticed the top of his polo was open. He quickly covered himself up.