Between Two Billionaires Chapter 2
LIAM
A loud bang at my door wakes my consciousness. My brows furrowed as I got up and twitch the doorknob, whom this shit early in the morning.
When I open the door, a butler Clark is halting his hand in the air—aiming for another loud bang.
"Young Master, you've skipped your breakfast!" I don't listen to him, but instead, I look at the room beside me.
The door is now open, yet no one is coming out. Butler Clark goes inside my room and crossing his arms in his beefy chest, a smile slips on his face.
"It's already noon, why you're late?" I blink faster when I tilt my head to the wall clock. He is not spitting lies, it's already quarter to twelve.
"Oh gosh, my head hurts…." I caress it as I sit beside him with our lunch.
"The car is now ready for the ferry transport."
"What time will we depart?" I inquire softly before he sighs heavily.
"No need to rush. We can cruise before we go to Greenport."
My brows furrowed once again after hearing his suggestion. Butler Clark has the confidence in saying such things that will affect me so much.
"How about the other passengers?"
He gives a foolish grin as his eyes dart at me. "Mrs Adelaide Smith Roosevelt ordered to rent the ferry we rode last time. Meet me before three in the afternoon at the parking lot. I will let you have your things and time, young master."
Clark wipes his mouth with a napkin before taking the soiled dishes to the table. "Don't forget to brush your teeth, young master. So you can look good," he gives a slight laugh before leaving the room.
Clark has been so good, yet irritatingly strict to me. I cannot remember what time I slept after I lay that man early in the morning. I touch my lip where I can still feel the hot and moisture of his lips.
I clutch my heart when it beats so loud enough for me to palpitate. The medicine for my nervous relaxation is inches away from the table; however, I don't want to drink even a tablet because I want to feel this way. It makes me feel alive.
As I go outside—my pupils dilated when I witness housekeepers cleaning the room of that man. A woman in her forties looks at me with bewilderment in her eyes.
"Good noon, sir. How may I help you?"
As a manager for the Zircon Hotel for years…. Hospitality and character will always be the best assets for employees. If I am not discreet about my true identity here on Shelter Island. I will take her as my supervisor in Zircon New York.
"Can I inquire what time did the man here checked out?"
The two look at each other before the other one gestures the time with her fingers.
"Before lunchtime, sir. Is that your friend?"
I smile at her before budging into the room. I look at the same spot where he kissed me. I can still feel the heat underneath my groin whenever I remember his face.
I decided not to interfere with their work time. I grab my bag and order the two housekeepers to clean the room. My feet go to the front office and surrender the key to her. On the other hand, I see the concierge service beside the lady at the computer desk.
"Can I ask for something, madam?"
"Mr Liam. Nice to see you here. How was your stay?" the hotel manager calls me by my name as I look at her identity card.
"It's a pleasure to meet you here, Madam Lee. I only have an inquiry for a name. Can I ask for the name of the man beside my room?"
She looks at me. Confuse.
"Young Master Liam… My sincere apologies for telling you this. Due to our hotel policy, we are not allowed to disclose any essential information of our guests even their names for security purposes."
I heave a sigh before looking at her. "I met him last night at the bar, fond of his stories… just want to ask him if he would like to continue it for my curiosity."
"I am fairly sorry, sir. However, I can ask the owner to grant you permission if you want to know that man from room 403."
I remained poker and went to the couch without lifting a smile on my face. I sent a notice to butler Clark to pick me up because I don't want to look desperate at this moment.
After minutes of waiting for his arrival. He picks me up at the lobby—I go inside the vehicle with a little disappointment in my heart. When I contact the owner of this hotel, she will know that I am gay. And I don't want that speculation from her to ruin my image when she reports to my father.
I pour my whole trust into Madam Lee in the concierge area. When we go to the ferry, I don't feel like cruising to Greenport. Butler Clark gives me my sim card as I put it inside my phone. I've been disconnected from the outside world for months—however, I don't feel something essential is coming.
"Young master, I have something to tell you inside." I walk with Clark inside the ferry as he gives me a white envelope with a stamp created by Ivy.
My heart is racing when I slowly open it. When I lay my eyes on the paper, the letter tells me that Ivy resigned as of my release and promises to look for someone that is aligned with my interest.
"I shall continue this inside my Rolls-Royce." I close it and give it to Clark. We patiently wait for the ferry to dock. When we are near, I go inside the car and let Clark drive while crossing my legs and reading the letter.
I heavily sighed after putting it inside the same white envelope. The travel will be three hours, but my mind is awake—curiously dreaming about that man. His cliffhanger makes me paranoid.
"Young master, do you want to have some sleep inside the car?" Clark asked.
"No. I'm fine with the travel. I will sleep if I want to."
Clark and I become mute until we reach New York. The sky is cloudless this day; luckily, we're at the premise of our mansion. "Young master, we are nowhere. Do you want me to go with you?"
I look at him. "No need, I want to walk to the premises. Please put my things in my room."
"Young master, Liam! I'm so glad you're here!" Mrs Bell Suarez greets me with a relieving smile on her face. She hugs me so tightly as we go to the mansion. The land is vast—and we need to ride a golf cart so we are not too exhausted.
The spring in September is so warm, yet gorgeous for falling leaves on the ground, crunching. I go out first and Dad's face is lighted up.
"Liam!" He goes to me with a warm embrace as well as Mom.
"Son! Thank goodness you're now released from the clinic!"
I hug them back—the weight that I carry on my chest goes light in their embrace. Moreover, someone in the background is also smiling.
"Liam…." Grandma Adelaide calls me in her wheelchair. I kneel on the ground to kiss her hand. She pats me on the head as I take the wheelchair from Bea. My hands are gripping the wheelchair handle as keeping my slow pace inside the mansion. My eyes dart at the wall when we enter the mansion. I stretch a smile on my face when there's a tarpaulin with my face imprinted, suggesting my release at the Tranquil Clinic.
To my extent, I feel… ecstatic by their efforts.
"Your grandma said to me that she wanted to prepare a simple celebration for your release."
My eyes darted at her. "Really, grandma?" she gets something from the back of her wheelchair and extends her hands to me.
"A small gift for my grandson," she said as I got the small box. It was a pendant with my name on it.
"Well-appreciated, grandma. Thank you so much for this!" I wrap my hands on her body as I feel her undying love for me. Mom and Dad grab some bites with our guards and butler Clark.
I sat with grandma beneath the couch with a plate in my hand. The chocolate is so sweet and a little bitter… like I want it to be.
"Is it okay to eat chocolate for you?"
"No problem, grandma. I can manage it… besides, I am not depressed before, so I can manage this time." She holds my thigh and slowly caresses for my comfort. I take her hand as I stand up to get some water for us.
I can do it on my own, so I can let them eat their food in their respective places. Nevertheless, something outside bothers my instinct. I stroll to the door as I watch someone going upstairs with smoke coming out of his mouth.
My body instantly freezes when his malice aura is approaching my direction.
"YOUNG MASTER LIAM!" Clark shouts, but my anger is rising! My clenching hand can land on his stupid face in split seconds!
"Young master Liam. Your step-brother is here to pay a visit to grandma Adelaide. He has no intention to interfere with you—"
"HOW DARE YOU LOOK AT ME!" My veins in my neck will explode in a thunderous shout to my estranged half-brother. My whole body is shuddering in extreme anger. However, I cannot see any remorse in his facial expression.
"Relax…. It's already in the past, Liam. I am here to bring these flowers to grandma and nothing more—"
I go backwards and pick an expensive jade Eiffel tower as I point it to him. His purple eyes are full of bewilderment this time but in the end. He chuckles at my face.
Hudson's grimace always brings a different vibe to me. I don't feel he is my brother after what he did!
"Oh come on, you will not stab me with that, right?" He takes one step closer.
"Hudson…" Dad calls his name as our attention goes to him.
In his facial reaction, he doesn't flinch a little bit.
"It seems the blame is always on me, Liam? Why don't you ask yourself… if you lack support to his emotional turbulence?"
My teeth are chattering in so much irritation because he is breaking the law again. Even at our home… he continuously possesses his gangster attitude. However, we become dumbfounded when grandma is there with nurse Bea.
"Thank you so much, Hudson. I'm sorry to set you in this schedule." Grandma gets the flower from him as I watch Hudson looking at me with a grin on the edge of his lips.
I am a little bit startled by her words. I bring down what I am holding this time.
"I thought you understand the court order to you, Hudson?" Dad asks him wholeheartedly.
"I understand, dad. I may now bid my leave. Grandma and Auntie… I will now go." Butler Clayton looks at me with ease on his face.
"My sincere apologies, young master Liam. We will now bid our leave." Clayton goes inside the car, but no one is paying attention to him. I can feel my chest tighten in extreme anger! Whenever I see his face… I can clearly see that water is sometimes thicker than blood.
It feels like my trauma is going back like a fresh wound of yesterday.
"Are you alright?" Mom goes to me with her hands on my head. I can feel it move and massaging my scalp throughout the whole time.
Grandma seems happy about the flowers that Hudson gives to her. I cannot blame him this time if the schedule grandma sets are true. I don't want to plant more pain and hatred in my heart.
"I'm totally fine. Please don't let him go near me again, or next time I will not hesitate to strike twice."