Christian

I understood the importance of the cops arriving at the scene, and bringing Vadik in... yet my eyes never left my fathers.

There was a list of many things I could forgive.

Lies and deceit did not make that list.

Especially when it came to family.

I saw the visible pain etched into Brad's eyes, and I knew there was something here that we didn't know. Something here that neither my mother, nor my father, bothered to inform us of. There hadn't been many instances where Brad visibly showed his emotions... but tonight was one of them, and that's what fueled the disrespect directed towards our father.

"Tell me what the almighty fuck you're talking about." I asked Slav.

"This is not a conversation we should be having here. Let's get through the Gala, and we'll met at home." Slav replied. He had this distant look upon his face, as if he wasn't fully here anymore. It was a look I'd never seen my father present before.

"We'll meet at my place." Brad replied with equal harshness. His tone startled me. This was the first conversation in which Brad had ever spoken back to our father. I saw the distraught look in Slav's eyes, and I knew he was trying to hold it together. I'd never seen my father look so unsure.

"We're leaving now. We'll take Alex, his mother, Brad, Joan, and Derek with us. As soon as the main performances are over, I expect both you and mother at Brad's place." I spoke up. "But understand that this is the last chance I'm giving you to explain everything. And I mean everything. No half-assed truths this time. No bullshitting us. If I find out there is something either you, or mother are withholding from Brad and I, that will really be it for me. I will won't hesitate to leave. Leave this company. Leave my position here."

This was probably the first, and last time I would ever show my father this level of disrespect. I needed him to understand that I was serious. This was serious. Every decision he and my mother had done for the questionable "bettering" of Brad, was fucking serious. We were all grown ass fucking adults here. It was about time we acted like it.

I felt Brad's hand on my shoulder. "Come on. Let's go." Was all he said.

As soon as his hand fell from me, I turned around to follow Brad, and left Slav there with those security guards. We lead the group back up to the office we were in earlier. Alex's mother was still there, hunched over a chair looking just as wasted as we left her.

I wasn't even sure what to do with this drunk woman anymore.

"Brad, you take Derek and Joan back to your place. I'll drive Alex and his mother there." I spoke. Brad gave me a nod back, then showed Joan and Derek to the exit. The rest of us followed close behind.

-

I stole glances at Alex through my peripheral vision as I drove. He was staring out the window, while his fingers tapped impatiently against his knee. I placed my hand on his to still his restlessness, and he looked over at me. There was a weak smile that formed.

Alex looked fucking exhausted. This whole day had been a mess for him, and I knew I was to blame.

Luckily, the drive to Brad's wasn't too far. There were still a few construction dumping bins located in his driveway, but the additional garage he had been building, looked to be completed. The renovations turned out pretty great.

"Jesus, this house is fucking huge." Alex's mother muttered. I saw Alex tense up from her words.

I almost forgot his mom was sitting in the back seat for a while there. We hadn't even found the time to address this woman's bullshit tonight, with everything else that unfolded.

As I pulled my car into Brad's driveway, I noticed he had already made it here with Joan and Derek. "Let's go." I announced to Alex and his mother.

Alex slipped out of the vehicle first, and made his way up the steps to Brad's door. Before Vanessa could reach for the handle, I stopped her short by locking the doors.

"Look at me." I snapped at her.

Her eyes shifted from the door, to find mine.

"There are more pressing matters that I currently have to attend to right now, but don't think for a second I forgot your actions tonight... or the embarrassment you've caused both your son and my family. You're going to walk into this house, sit the fuck down, and behave yourself or so help me god I will throw you back into the streets from which I found you."

Her eyes grew wide, and her face paled at my words. She gave me a slow hesitant nod before I unlocked the doors again.

We both joined Alex at the entrance of Brad's house. The door was thrown open moments later by Brad, as he welcomed us into his newly renovated home. He was still in his Gala attire.

"Please make yourself at home. I know we're all in very formal clothing right now. If you need to change, I have spare clothing in one of my closets upstairs." Brad said as we made our way into his home. "The Gala will continue for the next few hours. Help yourself to the bar. I have some coffee going. Everyone is in the living room at the end of this hallway here. Now I think it's just playing the waiting game until our parents arrive."

I gave Brad a nod as I lead Alex and Vanessa towards that room. Joan and Derek were already sitting in some of the new furniture, with a drink in hand. I saw Vanessa eyeing the liquor, and when her eyes met mine, I gave her a stern look that let her know I was absolutely fucking serious about our conversation in the car.

The last thing I needed right now was another mess on my hands.

"If you could bring Ms. Hamilton some coffee, that would be appreciated. I'm going bring Alex upstairs to change out of these clothes, we'll be back down in a second." I told Brad. Before he could leave us, I whispered something to him. "And keep an eye or Ms. Hamilton for me. If she even looks like thinking about drinking the slightest drop of liquor, you get me immediately."

Brad gave me a nod, before showing Vanessa to a seat. I lead Alex upstairs.

"I really don't mind staying in the suit I'm wearing." Alex told me as we made our way to Brad's closet room.

"Yeah Magasin De Costume has some seriously comfortable suits. I think it would be best to still change into something more casual. We'll be waiting here for a few hours. It might be good for you to also catch up on some sleep, love. You look exhausted." I replied to him.

Alex gave me an appreciative smile.

"That, and I can promise you shits going to hit the fan as soon as my parents arrive. I think being fully rejuvenated for that conversation would be best."

"Are you sure we should all be here for that?" Alex asked. "This matter seems incredibly personal."

"If the situation had been contained, I would think that... but now each and every one of you have gotten yourselves a little involved." I replied.

Alex gave me a small nod.

"I've also done more than enough prying into your own personal life." I added. "I guess it's only fair you hear about our own dark and twisted past."

"Something we have yet to discuss." Alex reminded me. The conversation about his mother was just the cherry on top of this pile of shit sundae.

"Yes." I replied. "I know Brad appreciates Joan being here. I know I appreciate you being here. Derek has somehow managed to wrap himself up in this fucking mess so I guess he deserves to know what's happening... and there's no way in fucking hell I'm leaving your mother alone anywhere again tonight."

I approached Alex as he stood in the middle of Brad's closet room. He was fidgeting with the hem of his jacket. My hands reached up to gently slide off the suit he was wearing. I let the material fall to the ground. I then got started on unbuttoning his dress shirt.

"I-I can do this myself." Alex mumbled as he watched me undo the remaining buttons.

"I know." I replied with a sly grin, when the material fell back to expose his bare chest. "But where's the fun in that?"

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