the next three chapters are going to be in Zarek's pov to make up for that one time we skipped his (from chapter 34 to chapter 38)

enjoy.

When Zarek opened the door to his bedroom, he didn't expect Violet in there.

Violet's face was makeup-free, she was wearing her pastel pink set of silk pyjamas, and her dark brown hair was damp from the quick shower she must've took. She was sitting on his chair, arms drumming on the surface of the desk as she sighed out of boredom, gaze looking at the deep pool that glistened against the moon glow. When she sensed her brother's entrance, she immediately straightened up.

"What are you doing here?" Zarek hissed at her. It must've been years since Violet stepped a foot inside his bedroom. "I don't think you're looking forward to our talk, are you?"

"No, of course not," Violet tried to sound chill about it, but it was obvious from her shaky breaths and her trembling lips that she was scared shitless. Good, she should be scared after sneaking out of the house to party away with some teen who hadn't even hit puberty yet. "I'm just here to give the, um, shorts back to you."

Zarek glanced at where she was pointing; the lamp, and sure enough, the pair of the damned shorts were there. "You got them back," Zarek stated, unsure. He didn't expect his sister to give in that easily but put up a fight instead. Zarek laid on the bed, utterly exhausted. "Fine, whatever, I'll spare you but just because I'm tired."

"Okay," Violet giggled, all fear gone now that she was off the hook. Her deep blue eyes glistened as she carefully tiptoed towards her brother, stifling her childish laughter. "Now it's my turn to give you the talk, and I'm not sparing you, big brother, oh no."

Zarek barely snorted, closing his lids and breathing heavily. "You don't even wish."

Normally, Zarek didn't want any people present in his private bedroom since it was his space but he hadn't had a proper conversation with Violet that didn't involve lecturing her or lasted more than five minutes in too long. Besides, Zarek needed some of the goodness and innocence in his life to hopefully balance his evilness and assholeness. So Zarek refrained from listening to the demon that kept telling him to kick Violet out and basked in her childishness instead.

"Oh, I do wish, alright," Violet grinned, her damp long hair falling over Zarek's face and tickling his nose as she peered over him. "Who was that redhead, Zarek? Is she your girlfriend?"

Zarek's electric green eyes snapped open, meeting his sister's quirky ones. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I do, actually," Violet giggled again. "She was wearing the same shorts and perfume as me, which explains why you got pissed and took the shorts and why you smashed my perfume bottle - I'm not saying I forgave you for that, by the way, you still owe me a new bottle of perfume."

"Yeah, so?" Zarek played it cool, because if Violet suspected anything then she would annoy him forever, no doubt.

"You offered her a ride, Zarek, you never do that," Violet deadpened, "Well, not unless you want dad to take away your Mustang anyways. You obviously care about this girl."

"She's a nobody," Zarek got to the bottom of it. "I don't care about her, and no, she's not my girlfriend."

"Hm, whatever you say, big brother, but I caught you," Violet nodded, a sly smirk on her lips that screamed 'you can't fool me'. "I just hope you're not an asshole to her too."

Zarek glared at her, sitting up. "Careful with your language, there."

"Oh my god, you're so controlling." Violet flipped her brown hair, it was almost dry. "By the way, dad needs to talk to you. Don't know about what, but he's waiting for you in his office."

Zarek didn't know what Theodore needed but he hoped it was an early salary, Zarek had been good this past month - Theodore caught him sneaking in only once and Zarek even passed the car checkup - so Zarek deserved it. He didn't exit his room until he made sure Violet left, well aware that Zarek hid the bit left of the drugs bought from Hunter in the parking lot was in his desk's drawer and he wouldn't want Violet traumatized, would he?

Zarek stood in front of his dad's office door. Zarek only got to hang around the office once a month for his salary, since his dad was a very busy man and because if the two men were to meet then they would most likely end up fighting. It was something with Theodore's strictness and Zarek's impulsiveness that made the tension in the room unbelievable if they were to be together. Zarek took a deep breath, preparing himself the lies (which had a bit of the truth in them) he had to recite to his dad on what he spent the previous salary - I changed my car's tires and oil (he was intending to), I had a couple of meals outside (his cigarettes and drugs), and I took care of my best friend's birthday party (it was Ashton's money, but still) - before he knocked twice and barged in.

The office was spacious, but it was decorated in a way that made it feel empty and neat - his father's aestheticd. The room had a white couch that Zarek had no idea how it still looked shiny and crispy new, two black chairs that faced the bureau, and, of course, the gigantic white wooded desk. In the heart of the spacious room, sitting behind the bureau was his father, Theodore Black, picture ready in a grey lounge suit that hugged his bulging muscles but it wasn't too tight it looked uncomfortable or about to rip, his outstanding blond hair was slicked back, and his ever sophisticated frown in his tanned forehead was evident as he typed away what Zarek guessed was the script for Scream For Me, the remake of his first ever movie.

The relaxed king nodded, his frown deepening as his fingers slowed down their frantic typing. "Take a seat, Zarek, I'll be with you in a minute."

Zarek sat on one of the two leather chairs, drumming his long fingers as he watched the sexy devil working. His father could be lethal and ruthless, but Zarek knew he had a soft side - the very same one Charlize used to convince him to tie the knot. Zarek was still confused how a sophisticated man, that had The Rock's body, Morgan Freeman's respect, and Leonardo DiCaprio's sex-appeal, fall for such a basic bitch.

Theodore clicked on a few more times before he pushed his chair away from the computer and fully faced his son, a scowl in the old man's thin lips. "Do you know why I called you in?"

Zarek was hopeful for his early salary, but he would never allow himself to sound so eager. He shrugged, electric green eyes scanning the office that triggered Zarek to throw at least a few papers around for being too damn neat. "No, why?"

"You left without prior notice tonight," Theo stated, lethal eyes fixed on his son determined on catching on to his lies. "Where did you go?"

Zarek would never snitch on anyone, leave alone his sister. "Just around the area."

Theodore's eyelid twitched, making Zarek curse under his breath for his wrong answer. "Just around the area, he says," Theo repeated, his biceps flexed unintentionally from his anger. Theo reached out, shaking his head, and fished himself his favorite Mayan Cigar and lightened it. Taking a lingering inhale, Theo visibly relaxed. "Well, I requested Steve Hornson to clean your car the second you came, and he found a red hair, Zarek. Mind explaining that?"

Shit. Zarek knew his niceness would backfire on him. He shifted in the leather seat, pressing his defined jaw. "Yeah, I drove Violet home from a sleepover," he lied smoothly.

"It's short and red, Zarek, not long and brown," Theo retorted.

Zarek bit the inside of his cheek, finding his only way out in changing the subject. "Who the fu- is Steve Hornson? I never heard of him."

Theo tutted, catching on the profanity that almost slipped out of his son's tongue, successfully distracted. "He's the new butler instead of Mrs. Biddy. She covered for you enough, she had to go for breaking my trust."

Zarek straightened his posture, his fist hitting the glass-covered surface of the luxurious desk. "That's not the real reason, dad," Zarek attacked, misplaced rage coursing through his veins. "After she served us for over a decade, you fired her because she had cancer - who does that? What if I had cancer, will you get rid of me too?"

Zarek's little outburst washed over him when he was met by utter silence. Theodore said nothing, observing his son, and Zarek truly thought his dad would take it all back until Theodore reached out his hand.

"I'm gonna need those keys, Zarek," Theor barked, "I've been bery clear the day I gave you that car, yet you broke the rules. It's either this or something worse."

"Fuck you and your rules." The second those words left his mouth, Zarek regretted them. What would mouthing off to his father bring him other than punishment? Knowing that he screwed up, Zarek fished the keys to his most precious - that was slowly losing its worth in Zarek's heart - and stormed out of the office because despite Zarek never admitting it out loud, Zarek was too embarrassed to look his dad in the eye after the filthy words he spat.

Zarek barged inside his black hole - when will the day just be over? First, he spent all his money trying to make it up for his lost best friend. Second, Eva flaunted everything wrong with him by buying those jean shorts. Third, Violet sneaked out to party with a hormonal boy. To top it all off, Eva rejected him yet fucking again and Theodore took his precious mean of transportation. It can't get any worse.

Oh, but boy, it did.

The second Zarek opened his bedroom door, a strong familiar scent slapped him in the face - Victoria's Secret : Pure Seduction. It didn't make any sense, only two girls owned that perfume and one of which he smashed her bottle. Heart accelerating, Zarek peaked inside only to be stricken in shock - what the fuck?

Charlize was there, wearing nothing but a lingerie set that should be reserved for her husband only. Her hand was clutching at a black lacy thong - the very same one that belonged to a certain redhead - which was buried in his drawer along with his bag of drugs. The said bag was now empty and thrown on the ground, a very giggling Charlize looking at him with her dazed hazel eyes, she even had a red wig on and was trying too hard to maintain an innocent grin that went with neither her personality or her outfit.

"Is this hers?" Charlize waved the black thong in the air, her eyes unfocused - fuck, she must've consumed all the drug.

Zarek snatched the thong away, burying them in his pocket. "What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Violet told me everything about that redhead." Charlize slurred, "Why is she better? Yes, she's young but she's not experienced like me."

"Exactly," Zarek snarled, mentally noting to himself to give Violet a couple words on secret keeping - that girl gossips more than hairdressers. "She's innocent and a virgin, and most importantly, she's not married." to my fucking dad, Zarek mentally added.

"You're right." Charlize slid the wedding ring off of her finger, the emerald reflecting the light. Charlize's face split into a crooked grin as she dumped the precious ring somewhere on the desk. "I don't need it, I belong to you. Do you fancy me now?" She ruffled her red wig, hazel eyes unfocused but trying to look innocent. Zarek knew what she was doing, she was trying to look like her. For the most part, it sort of worked. Zarek never noticed this before but it seemed like Charlize even had hazel eyes like Eva too. The only difference was that Eva's eyes were vivid and vibrant, While Charlize's eyes were dead and dull, just like her.

"No." Zarek ran his hand through his hair, shaking his head and stepping away from her. "What are you even doing? Wearing that and coming here while dad is in the house-"

Zarek didn't even get to finish his sentence, someone knocked on his bedroom door.

"Son?" Theo spoke from outside his room, sending Zarek's ill heart into panic mode. "I thought about what you said about Mrs. Biddy. We need to have a chat."

Zarek glared at Charlize - where the fuck am I gonna hide her? No way she'd fit inside his closet, Charlize was too busty for that. Zarek's eyes snapped to the balcony, settling for it and pushing a stoned Charlize outside. He didn't care that she was basically naked and that she might get sick when he locked the glassy door on her. "Stay there," Zarek mouthed, death lacing his lips and tense jaw confirming the threat.

Putting the white curtains down as camouflage, Zarek took a deep self-composing breath and opened the door. He didn't move though, blocking the entrance for Theodore. "Talking to me twice in a day? Must be a record," Zarek hid his fear of being caught by hostility.

"Are you gonna leave me standing here?" Theo's sharp eyes glared at Zarek's foot in the way. "Aren't you gonna open your room to me after I opened my house to you?"

Holding his father's gaze a second longer, Zarek sighed and stepped away. He couldn't argue with his father on that, all what he hoped was for this to be over. It would be as risky as pulling a thin hair out of dough, but Zarek hoped for the best.

Theodore strolled in like he owned the place - he fucking does though. This was Zarek's room, it was his comfort zone, but with his father's presence, Zarek was too on edge to relax. His gaze fell on the previous empty sack of drugs. He pushed it under the desk with his feet, hoping his dad hadn't seen it already.

Theodore's gaze roamed around the room one more time, nodding in approval at the lack of furniture and at the simplicity of it - he was always one for that anyways - before he sat on Zarek's mattress. "I kept thinking about what you said regarding the maid. I thought I was doing the right thing by setting her off, but the way you put it - about the possibility of you getting sick, god forbid - made me realize that what I did was wrong." Theodore's gaze locked with his son, electric green eyes void of any control and filled with regret and... pride? Theo's eyes narrowed on the damned jean shorts on the lamp but he didn't say anything since Violet must've mentioned something to him like usual.

Theo sighed, his next words bulging Zarek's eyes out in disbelief. "I'm sorry, son," Theo rubbed at his temples, unbuttoning his collar. "I understand that I'm not the best father, but I don't want to lose you or Violet. All my life, I've been doing my best to provide you the life I dreamt of, the opportunities I never had, but I took it too far, apparently." Theodore's green eyes cut deep within Zarek's soul, sincerity evident in his stance. "Please understand that I-..." Theo frowned, standing up and going to the desk. "Wait, is that- is that Charlize's wedding ring?"

Zarek glanced down and sure enough, the emerald ring was resting on the wooden surface. Zarek mentally face palmed himself for not noticing it earlier. Before Zarek could come with a proper lie, Charlize peeked her spasmed face, knocking on the glass and googling her eyes.

"Ha! Look at that. You two are talking without fighting for once." Charlize hiccuped in a shiver, hugging her naked torso and gluing her makeup covered face against the glassy door. "Hey, let me in, it's freezing out here."

"What the...?" Theo trailed, all color dropping out of him. He opened the balcony door, letting a stumbling Charlize inside. Theo's eyes bulged twice their size at the sight of her nonexistent lingerie set, shielding her behind him and covering her naked body by dropping his jacket over her bare shoulders. "What happened to you?"

Charlize laughed, her drugged behavior sending off all the red alarms in Zarek's head. "I used some of Zarek's amazing drug. It's so good Theo, you should try it some time." Charlize ran her seductive hands over Theodore's hunched shoulders and tense biceps. "Relax, you look like you're about to crush me."

Theodore pressed his thin lips in a tight line, going into controlling parent/husband mode. "Drug?" Theo's sharp gaze zeroed on his son, pure disappointment, that contrasted the previous pride, darkening his pupils. "What are you doing with drugs, Zarek? And why did you give it to Charlize?" Theodore took a hitched breath as if he realized something, horror filling his soul as his lips trembled. "Are you taking advantage of her? For what? Money? Isn't my allowance more than enough?"

"What? No!" Zarek rushed to stop his dad. "I didn't give her anything, she was the one who went through my drawers. And no, I'm not taking advantage of her, more like the other way around." Zarek realized his mistake, so he quickly covered it off with a smooth lie. "She must think I'm you or something."

"No, that's not true," Charlize bid in, stifling her giggles. "I'm trying to lure you, Zarek, can't you tell by my outfit and wig?"

It seemed like Theo noticed the red wig only then, his uncertain eyes shifting between his son and his wife. "Is this a joke?" Fear and shakiness laced the old man's usually dominant voice. In that moment, Theodore looked like the broken man at the birth of Violet, which made Zarek's heart throb in his chest.

Theodore was his dad, and no matter how horrible Theodore was to him, Zarek would never want to hurt him. Zarek would've never indulged himself with Charlize if it wasn't for his hormonal teenage self. Charlize had caught him at the awkward age of sixteen, back when he was still a virgin, and Zarek didn't stop twice to think about the consequences - it wasn't like he ever did. It lasted only a few weeks, and it wasn't until the impregnation of Charlize did Zarek take a step back and cringe at himself. He promised himself right then and there that he would never touch her again, and he never did. Charlize never got the hint though, despite flaunting her off for over three years, but luckily Theodore never caught on.

Well, never lasted till right about this moment.

"This has to be a joke." Theodore hollered, his loud voice sobering Charlize enough to realize the weights of what she had just said. She was still shielded behind Theodore so she placed her hand on his back in an attempt to sooth him. Theodore flinched and pushed her away, making her trip and fall on the bed and widening her empty eyes in fear. Theodore would have usually cared about his wife's safety, but all his concentration and anger was directed towards his son. "There's no way you'd cheat on me like that. I can't believe this, my own son?"

A few tears prickled in Theodore's stern eyes, and all of the horrible deeds caught up to Zarek, his ribcage clasping on his ill lungs - I'm such a dick. Before Zarek could say 'I can explain', Karma beat him to it and made sure he got exactly what he deserved.