[chapter 24. Overprotective freaks]
"Hello, I am Hayate."
The room was so quiet that you could hear a feather drop. Hayate nervously twiddled his thumbs, unsure what to expect from the group of people in front of him, but his face remained poker. Selena moved closer to him. Her action shows that she would choose him over her family.
The sight of her jumping into the fiery pit for a stranger was a permanent fixture in everyone's minds. It was like a scene out of a Disney, but with a lesser-known character.
"Hello," Theodore gritted his teeth. The Mariano head's glare could have melted steel. " How dare he think of coveting his daughter- this punk.
Hayate, still smiling, stepped forward and extended his hand for a handshake. "I'm just a friend," he said with a chuckle.
The room was consumed by silence again as Theodore stared at Hayate's hand, weighing his options. He could either accept Hayate and potentially risk the safety of his entire family or reject him and risk losing his daughter.
Theodore reluctantly took Hayate's hand, shaking it with a firm grip. "Welcome, Hayate. It is a pleasure meeting you," he said, his words laced with sarcasm.
Hayate gave Selena a suggestive wink. "Believe me, the pleasure is all mine," he said with a smirk.
A loud crash filled the room, causing everyone to snap their heads toward the noise. Pieces of shattered porcelain were scattered across the floor, remnants of the once beautiful vase that stood tall on the table. Maxim had a sweet smile on his face as he shrugged nonchalantly. "Oops, my hand just slipped," he said as if it was no big deal.
Hayate couldn't help but feel wary of Maxim. There was something in the way he looked at him as if he was plotting something. He wondered if the broken vase was just a coincidence or if Maxim was sending him a message. Regardless, Hayate knew he had to keep his guard up.
Maxim was grinning widely at Hayate, who took a step back as if seeking protection from Selena. "For goodness' sake, you have killed people," she muttered in a low voice that only Hayate could hear.
Hayate, looking slightly nervous, replied in a hushed tone, "But the way he's smiling now, it reminds me of an angry big brother. I don't want to end up dead at a young age. I haven't even had the chance to get married yet."
Maxim smoothly stepped forward and swiftly hooked his arm around Hayate's neck, drawing him away from Selena with a subtle yet firm grip.
A sly grin spread across Maxim's face as he spoke, his tone saccharine and falsely friendly. "Why don't I show you to your room for the night?" he suggested, his eyes gleaming with an underlying threat.
Maxim and Theodore locked gazes, both men's heads slowly shaking back and forth in unison. Theodore's eyes flicked to the side, giving a subtle nod in the direction of a distant room. Maxim's eyebrows knitted together as he furrowed his brow in understanding.
He gave a decisive nod, his lips pressing together in a determined line. Theodore's mouth twitched with a smirk, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. The two of them were in perfect harmony, their movements and expressions communicating their agreement without a single word spoken.
After a long time, both the father and son duo were in synchronization.
Maxim, with feigned politeness, took hold of Hayate and began leading him towards the room, his grip firm and unyielding. Hayate stumbled along, his eyes bulging as he cast a panicked look toward Selena.
He silently mouthed the letters "SOS," his face a picture of fear and desperation, as if he were a lamb getting led to the slaughter.
Selena's mouth twitched in amusement as she caught Hayate's eye, giving him a small and mischievous wink. Hayate's face went ashen as he realized that his friend was not going to come to his rescue.
He felt a wave of betrayal wash over him; tears welled in his eyes as he mentally accused Selena of being a heartless traitor. His lips puckered like a sulking puppy as he followed Maxim.
"Pfft." A small laugh escaped Selena's lips, causing everyone in the room to turn their heads in her direction. Theodore and Samuel's eyes widened in surprise as if they had just heard something alien.
When her laughter died, she caught her father's gaze on her. His eyes were slightly wider than usual, fixed upon her with an intensity that made her feel self-conscious. The twinkle of amusement that had previously been present in his eyes had been replaced with a look of pure awe and wonder as if he was seeing her in a whole new light.
Liliana's gaze softened, a warm smile spreading across her face as she looked at her daughter. Garold and Wilson appeared stunned- their expressions froze with astonishment.
Selena scowled. What is wrong with these people?
----
The five men of the Mariano household gathered in the office, seated around a round table. Tension filled the room, and the expressions on their faces were stern. Theodore's jaw was clenched tightly, his cheek muscles twitching with irritation.
The mood in the room was thick with unease as if everyone was aware of the weight of the situation they were facing. Theodore spoke first, breaking the silence. "We can't kill him," he stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for debate.
"But we have enough money to cover up if we accidentally kill him," he added after a minute.
Wilson tried to lighten the mood with a nervous chuckle, "Umm boss-s, I don't think you think--"; but Theodore silenced him with a growl, "Shut up." Wilson cowered, lowering his head and letting out a small okay.
The seriousness of the situation was evident- each man was lost in thought as they considered the consequences of their actions. It was clear that this was not a matter to be taken lightly and that the outcomes of their steps could have far-reaching impacts.
Garold's eyes twinkled with a hint of mania. The corners of his mouth lifted in a smile, not a sweet one. Instead, a sinister smile sent a chill down the spines of everyone in the room. His voice was deep and confident as he asked, "Shall I bring him to talk?" The way he emphasized the word "bring" made it sound like a menace.
Theodore nodded his head once.
Garold entered the room, his broad shoulders carrying a struggling figure over them. The boy's muffled screams echoed through the room, causing the men to turn their heads toward him.
Garold shrugged, "He tried to make a run."
"Well, obviously, I would run when you enter the room with murder written on your face," Hayate looked at the man indecorously.
Maxim and Samuel exchanged a look, both silently approving of his actions. On the other hand, Wilson appeared to be visibly shaking, his eyes darting back and forth as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
Hayate rubbed his sore wrists as he glared at Garold, disbelief written all over his face. He couldn't believe what had just happened. One minute he was making a run for it, and the next, he was being carried into the room by Garold like a sack of potatoes.
"What the fuck, man," Hayate breathed, his voice filled with anger and confusion. He couldn't understand why he was getting treated like this- why was he held captive by these people? He had only come here to help Selena, to tell her to stay away from them.
Garold shrugged in response to Hayate's outburst, a smirk playing on his lips. He didn't seem to take Hayate's anger seriously and was enjoying the power dynamic. On the other hand, Hayate was seething with rage; his eyes narrowed as he took in the scene around him.
Five dangerous men surrounded him. He was starting to regret his decision to come here.
Theodore leaned forward, his arms crossed on the table, his gaze fixed on the person he was addressing. "What are your intentions with my daughter," His eyebrows furrowed in a deep scowl. He clenched his jaw as he spoke, his words coming out slow and deliberate, each bitten out with difficulty.
"Huh?"
"Do you like my daughter?"
"Obviously, duh."
Theodore's glare intensified as Hayate responded to his question, the anger in his eyes making it clear that he was not amused. While Hayate looked bewildered, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"How many girlfriends did you have before?" Maxim asked, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Hayate. The young man, who looked taken aback by the sudden line of questioning, tilted his head in confusion.
"None," he replied, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"So, Selena is your first girlfriend," Maxim stated matter-of-factly.
Hayate's eyes widened; the shock evident on his face. His pupils dilated as his mouth formed a small 'o' as he processed this information.
Disgust began to wash over him, his body convulsing in repulsion as he realized the meaning behind Maxim's words. He looked as if he was about to be sick, his face twisting into a look of pure disgust. He shook his head, trying to shake off the feeling.
"Selena, ew, no. She is disgusting," he cringed at the thought of dating her.
Theodore's face contorted with anger, his expression darkening as he stepped closer to Hayate, looming over him. "Do you think my daughter is disgusting?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Hayate's hands began to shake as he quickly realized his mistake. He had never felt fear like this before, not even when he was tied up and brought in front of the Mariano household. He stumbled over his words, trying to backpedal from his earlier statement.
Hayate was frozen, unable to answer, unable to move. He could feel the sweat beading on his forehead as Theodore's glare bore into him. The man's intimidating presence was overwhelming, making Hayate feel small and vulnerable.
Hayate's thoughts raced as he sat there, surrounded by the Mariano men. The fear was detectable in the room, and he could feel it in the pit of his stomach. He was trapped and caught in a dangerous game where his every word could mean the difference between life and death.
As Theodore's low and dry laugh filled the room, Hayate's thoughts spiraled even further. He could see the threat in the older man's eyes. And he knew he had to choose his words carefully.
But no matter what he said, it seemed like he was doomed. If he dared to admit that he liked Selena, he was sure that Theodore would kill him on the spot.
But if he said that he found her disgusting- he would still be in danger. He was in a no-win situation, and he could feel the weight of his poor, trapped soul pressing down on him.
Hayate felt like he was living in a nightmare, caught in a web of deceit and danger with no way out. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts and figure out a way out of this impossible situation.
But as he looked around at the cold, grim faces of the Mariano men, he knew that he was up against a force to be reckoned with, fuck me.
"I mean," he stammered, trying to keep his voice steady. Fuck, he cursed under his breath, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on him. He took a deep breath and continued, "We are best friends. Selena and I were in the orphanage and grew up together- the bond between us is of brother and sister and not of lovers."
Hayate closed his eyes, sending a silent prayer. Please don't kill me, he thought desperately.
"Really," Theodore pressed, his tone sharp and unrelenting.
"Yes sir," Hayate squeaked out, his voice barely above a whisper. He swallowed hard, trying to calm his racing heart.
"Dating Selena would be like committing incest, and sorry, it is not my kink," he blabbered, the words tumbling out of his mouth in a rush. What the hell am I talking about; he wanted to die.
Samuel, who had been silent the entire time, gazed at Hayate with a strange look; he bit his lower lip and lowered his head as he considered the notion of a bond so strong between siblings that one would jump into the fire to save the other.
His thoughts seemed to weigh heavy while he absorbed the information.
"I swear it on my life," Hayate added, his voice ringing with conviction. He could see the skepticism etched on Chairman Mariano's face, but the man eventually nodded as if acknowledging the seriousness of the situation.
Oh my god, these overprotective freaks.
"Are you the big brother that Selena talks about?" Maxim blurted out, using the Russian word for big brother.
Hayate's lips curled subtly, amused by his question. He looked over at Garold, who had frozen in place.
The man stood frozen, his face draining of color as he stared back at Hayate with a look of horror and disbelief. It was as if he had seen a ghost. Garold's mouth hung open, his eyes wide, and his complexion had turned an ashy pale.
"I am not the big brother," Hayate said slowly. His smile widened. "But you will meet him soon. He is planning on coming here."
~~~~
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