Chapter Twenty-Eight | Shipwreck

Waking up before 12 am on a Saturday is definitely something I'm not used to. However, there really wasn't much of a choice since it was of my father's best interest that attended this charity that was being held today. When I told me about it I just shrugged it off and thought nothing of it, but then he mentioned that the whole household had to attend and that's when I started to look at him sideways.

My father rarely lets us attend anything pertaining to his business, but when he does I figure that it's usually something important that only benefits him in some way.

The event today was a charity event. The cause for the charity? I couldn't tell you and I'm pretty sure none of the people here could tell you as well. I learned from an early age that these events like this are just publicity stunts to make it seem like the %1 are finally giving back their wealth and doing something good for the community but it's nothing like that all. It's just something to make them feel better about themselves as they down expensive caviar and hundred-dollar champagne.

I hate it.

The event today was being held on Bentley O'Hera's yacht. A successful businessman who's up there in the league with Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Pierre Claremont. I have seen many yachts in my life, my dad even owned a few but none of them came close to the O'Hera's. You could fit all the students at Stratford on here and still have room for a little more. It's impressive to say the least.

"How long do we have to be here? This tie is practically strangling me." Braxton wined from his seat beside me adjusting the tie of his suit.

My dad exhaled a low sigh not even bothering to turn his attention to the boy as he continued to type away on his phone. "Braxton, why would you even wear a tie if you're just going to complain? I told you it was optional."

"Because it looks nice on me and the small zig-zag detailing on the tail is funny." He laughed to himself like a child as he played with the tie in between his fingers and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him.

Before my dad could say anything else, his phone started to ring and he quickly answered and placed his phone to his ear. I wasn't trying to hear his conversation and instead turned my attention towards the name tag that sat in the middle of our assigned table, but my father has never been one to use his inside voice no matter the occasion and I could hear his conversations anyway.

"We're right here on the left," He turned around in his seat and his eyes began to wander around the room. "Yeah, positioned right under the chandelier."

My dad ended the call and I couldn't help but stare at him with a raised brow. "Who were you talking to?" I asked him and before he could even respond, I could see someone come up to our table from my peripheral vision and when they spoke I felt a chill run down my spine.

"Sorry it took so long. It was so hard to find the damn place." Zaheer's voice made my face twist up I a disgusted manner, and I honestly felt like I could've thrown up right then and there just from the sight of him. He walked in, three-day stubble and a neatly pressed suit, the kind you only see on high priced lawyers and gangsters. He took in the room with a single sweep, his eerie eyes settling on me for a moment, a sly smirk tugging at his big lips. I quickly turned my eyes elsewhere.

"Zaheer, you could've just rode with us. It wouldn't have been a problem." My dad said to him.

Braxton and I exchanged a knowing glance with one another, before turning back to watch dad and Zaheer engage in conversation.

"Boys, where are your manners? Aren't you going to speak to Zaheer?" My dad broke the conversation and sent us a scolding look and Braxton and I just blinked at him.

Zaheer chuckled to himself throwing his hands up in the air. I couldn't help but notice the many gold rings and finger tattoos that decorated them. "C'mon now, you ain't gotta come at them like that. Besides, these boys are like family to me. We ain't gotta do all that." He reached along over to Braxton's shoulder and gave it a rub. Braxton just laughed it off, his eyes darting to me with an uneasy look.

"We're not family," I say to him.

My dad gasped from beside him, his eyes widened like my words were directed at him. "Asher, watch your mouth boy."

Zaheer lips pressed into a smirk as he stared at me from across the table. "Hey, if that's how the boy feels that just how to feel Sean." He said, snagging a champagne flute from a passing waiter. Taking a sip of his drink he kept his eyes trained on me and I mirrored with a furrowed brow glare.

I hate Zaheer. I hate everything about him.

Before anyone at the table could say anything else, a boisterous laugh to the left caught everyone's attention and I flicked a glance over. I felt something flutter in my chest when I saw that the laugh had come from Pierre Claremont, brownish-gray hair so vibrant, it stood out even in the swirling colored lights of the ballroom. Holding tightly onto his arm was Penelope Claremont, smartly dressed wearing an expression that could only be described as a puppet. My chest wasn't fluttering because of them though, it was because of the one standing beside them looking aloof as the cameras snapped pictures of the family.

Liam looks amazing. He was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. He wore an orange two-piece set with a white button-up underneath. The orange with the contrast of his sand-colored skin made him glow. I couldn't help but smile when I spotted he had unbuttoned his shirt a few buttons to expose the necklace I had got him. He looked like a dream.

"Hey, it's Liam-Parris from Public Speaking." Braxton pointed and my father quickly sent him furrowed brow look.

"Are you stupid? Don't point at them." Dad locked eyes with him from across the table, arms folded and a hellishly mean glare on his face. Braxton's eyes fell to the silverware on the table as he started to fumble with the white cloth that covered the table so he wouldn't have to look him in the eye as he glared at him.

The Claremont's made their way to their assigned table which was only a few tables from the left of us. Liam hadn't noticed me yet, his attention seems to be elsewhere as he followed behind his parents.

Zaheer looked at the family with that eerie smirk of his before it shifted into a sly smile. "So that's Pierre? He looks different from when we last saw him."

"That's because the last time we saw him he was hiding behind his security guards. Nothing has changed about him though. He's still the same spineless punk he was all them years ago."

Zaheer chuckled, taking a sip from his glass. "I can't believe you two are still at it after all these years. What's it been, like thirty years since everything went down? You and your old man sure can hold a grudge." He nudged my dad's shoulder teasingly.

My dad's nose titled up in the air righteously as he nodded. "And I'll forever hold a grudge against those Claremont's until my father gets the justice he deserved. They set him up Zaheer, I can't just let that go."

Sean Montgomery The First, my grandpa, was said to be a nobleman. He was smart, strong, and everything one would want in a man that ran a company as large as he did. I never got to meet him though, he killed himself shortly after being sentenced to life for the alleged murder of Peter Claremont, Pierre Claremont's father, and Liam's grandfather. A lot of shit went down after that, a lot of shit I'm too young to understand according to my dad.

"Plus, Pierre's son has been giving Asher trouble since kindergarten. He's the reason my boy was kicked out of middle school."

"He wasn't necessarily the reason," I interrupted the two, my brows bumping together into a scowl as I stared at my dad. "I was getting in trouble a lot then. I would've gotten kicked out regardless."

"What did he do to you?" Zaheer asked, a curious arch in his left brow.

Make me fall in love with him.

"We got into an argument and I broke his nose. It was a really long time ago I don't remember the details." I shrugged them both off.

"And then the fucker Pierre tried to send me the bill for the little bastards surgery," I tuned out the ranting of my dad as I focused my attention elsewhere. My eyes landed on Liam who sat across the room at the table with his parents. He hasn't noticed my stare on him as he sat with his arms positioned at his side, his posture straight and stiff. He looked just as annoyed as I felt. When our eyes finally lock over across the room the blank expressions of only a few minutes ago have evaporated. He holds my gaze, the corners of his mouth tugging into a small smile that made his eyes smile as well.

It didn't last for long though. Liam's father tapped his arm, dragging him into another conversation he didn't seem to want to be apart of.

••••

It seemed like we'd been here at this event for hours. Even with all the speeches and champagne glasses later, it seemed time had frozen on this yacht. It's starting to get more causal now. The live band was playing louder, and everyone had gotten up from their assigned seats and were now walking around and mingling around. My dad has had a conversation with about seven people in under ten minutes about the same thing, his fake work-smile never fading. I can't imagine how draining it must be to be so fake all the time. No one should want to live like that.

Braxton had snuck off to the buffet table and was stuffing his face with the crab cakes that were laid out for everyone. He seemed to be in his own world, casually winking and making jokes with the rich heiresses that would walk past him every now and then.

Liam had disappeared somewhere with his parents. Most likely talking to the press about upcoming business plans. Which means I was stuck at the table with none other than Zaheer. We both sat in silence for a good ten minutes, and with each minute that passed I felt myself getting sicker and sicker.

He grabbed another glass of champagne from the silver platter of one of the passing servants, his fourth glass so far. He finishes the drink in three gulps and places the wine glass next to the other empty ones, before looking up and sending me a crooked smile.

I nearly vomited.

"So . . ." He started, his ringed pinky finger digging around in his teeth as he met my stare. "You and Pierre's boy, how long you been hitting that?"

My eyes widened at his words and I nearly choked on the air in my lungs. "W-what?"

"Oh is he hitting you? My bad." He chuckled to himself. I blinked at him. "What the hell are you talking about Zaheer?"

"Cut the bullshit boy you haven't taken your eyes off him since he stepped foot in here. You nearly lost your cool when your daddy was shit-talking him earlier. Hell, the boy ain't stopped staring at you since he came in either." He nods across the room and I follow to see Liam with his eyes already on us, but he quickly turned back around when we caught him.

My fist balled underneath the table and I felt myself becoming more annoyed as the seconds passed. If we weren't in a public setting right now I'd definitely deck him in the jaw right about now.

"You two are playing quite the dangerous game, you know?" Zaheer traces the wine glass with his index finger slowly. "Being with a Claremont is never good for anyone. They take advantage, manipulate, and exploit any and everyone they can until their on top. To fall in love with one is suicide."

"You don't know what you're talking about." I fumed.

"I do because I have seen it happen before," He leaned back in his chair nonchalantly resting his hands on his chest. "But I guess I can see why you're so sprung up on the boy. He's stunning, isn't he? I can only imagine how it must be like being the one dancing with him through the night. He looks so smooth, I bet he's hairless. I know his hole is probably tight as-"

"He's seventeen you pervert." I snapped. Zaheer rolled his eyes at me and I bit my lip to keep myself from lashing out on him for talking about Liam in that provocative way. He's so gross.

My dad came back to the table, a chirpy smile on his face as he took his seat. "These damn people know they can talk about nothing. So, what have you two been up to?" He looked around at us awaiting a reply but all he got was me shooting up from the table and stormed off.

That son of a bitch, how the hell did he know about me and Liam? It couldn't have been that simple because if it were how hadn't my dad found out yet? Braxton? Pierre? It's just not making sense to me how he managed to get that out of me so easily. God, Zaheer is such a snake. I swear if he tells my dad I'll kill him with no remorse.

Somehow I ended up along the railing outside on the side of the boat. With rage practically fuming from my ears and nostrils, I could do nothing but stare at the horizon in front of me. Waves of a deep royal blue crept towards the yacht before running away, only to repeat the process in a cycle that caused droplets of salty water to spray into the air a bit. The ocean was something I loved, something I respected. I understood its beauty and its dangers. It was calming not going to lie, and I closed my eye and inhaled a breath of the salty air as a way to relax my fired nerves.

It didn't last for long though because I'm interrupted when I hear the sound of someone clearing their from behind me. Already upset and the verge of premeditated murder, I turned around ready to lash out at whoever dared to interrupt me but I'm caught in my steps when I see it's just a smiling Liam.

"You don't look too happy to see me." He folded his arms across his chest, giving me a once over.

I shook my head no. "I am, really. I'm just ready to go home." I truthfully told him.

Liam leaned against the railing beside me, his eyes wondering out the ocean before us for a moment before he spoke again. "Your folks annoying you too?"

"It's necessarily my family. It's just Zaheer bitch ass."

"Zaheer?" Liam raised a brow a me. "That tall guy sitting at the table with your family? I saw you two talking earlier. I thought everything was fine."

"Trust me, the conversation we had was anything but fine. He knows about us." Liam's eyes widened and I chuckled to myself. I've never seen his slanted eyes get so big before. He looked like a cat right before they pounce and scurry off somewhere.

"H-how the-"

I shrugged my shoulders at him. "I don't know. He's weird. He's playing these mind games and talking in code like a Disney villain. I hate him."

"Do you think he's going to tell your father?"

"I don't know but at this point I really don't give a fuck. I'm over everything and everyone." I exhaled a heavy sigh. Liam twiddled with his fingers over the railing  looking at me with softness in his eyes. "I'm happy for the first time in my life and I'm not gonna feel bad about it. Fuck them." I said, intertwining my hands with his.

I felt an urge to do something, to comfort him, but also myself. In a moment I pressed my lips against his, felt his body loosen and arms touch my shoulders. He smiled into the kiss before pulling apart. Then we hovered right there, quite soundless for so long, simply feeling each other's presence. It was nice how he didn't even have to talk for me to feel at peace with him, just his presence is enough to satisfy me.

It didn't last for long though.

A voice came into play that made both Liam and I tense up at the sound of it. Liam's face went pale and he quickly pushed himself away from me almost sending me flying overboard. "What are you doing?" Pierre Claremont came around the corner with a questioning expression on his face, his eyes shifting between his son and me.

"Parris, I said what are you doing?" His father repeated more slowly this time. His blue eyes seemed to flicker like a lighter the closer he got towards us.

"I'm just getting some fresh air, that's all." Liam finally spoke. His voice was lower than I'm used to.

Pierre nods towards me. "With him?"

There's a silence. Only the sounds of the ocean waves hitting against the yacht could be heard. Pierre's eyes were narrowed, rigid, cold, hard. At that moment I knew he wanted nothing more than to toss me in the ocean and let the tide throw my body around like a rag doll against the rocky shore. I'm the enemy. I drew in a deep breath, the burning hard stare would last only as long as it took him to think of the most brutally cutting thing he could tear me down with.

"Parris, come on." He said. His tone oddly not as furious as his eyes.

Liam looked between me and his father. "Where are we going?" He questioned only to immediately regret it once his father yanked him by the arm over to him. He winced at his grip on him but Pierre didn't seem to care.

"When I say come on I shouldn't have to say it twice, dammit!" Pierre's face had reddened as he yelled at Liam and that's when I finally found it in myself to speak up not just for myself but for Liam as well.

"Don't grab him like that!" I tried to intervene but Pierre quickly tossed Liam behind him and stood his own ground. We almost stood eye level, Pierre, a little over me by a few inches.

"Don't test me boy." He growled. His lethal stare felt painful and piercing, as if his glare was tearing my heart apart with a blinding teal light.

He turned on his heels and continued to drag Liam along with him back to the dining area. I followed behind the two. Pierre marched right over to where my dad, Braxton and Zaheer sat. He slammed a hand down on the table to get their attention. It was loud like thunder and caused everyone in the room to look over at us.

"Daddy you're causing a scene!" Liam said, trying to pry his way out of his father's grip but it was hopeless.

My dad looked up at Pierre with a cocked brow, before standing up to meet his gaze, his facial a mixture of both confusion and hatred. "What the hell is wrong with you Pierre? Don't come slamming your damn fist down on at my table."

"No, what's wrong with you?" Pierre counters. "Having your son out there trying to corrupt mine. You got some fucking nerve, Sean. I should kill you!"

My dad furrowed his brows. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Pierre yanked Liam towards him again. "Keep your son away from mine! That's what I mean!" And with that Pierre marched his way out the dining area dragging Liam right behind him.

••••
Excuse any mistakes or errors