Chapter 216

"What's with your stained suit?" Jeremiah asked Andre as he saw the stain on the suit Andre was holding. 

Andre settles on the chair, sighing "Fucking spoilt brat." He muttered, grabbing a bottle from the silver ice bucket and pouring himself a drink.

"Was it Leon? I saw him follow you," Cody said.

Andre shook his head, "Leon is not my problem. I encountered a teenager, maybe eighteen or nineteen. Spilled his drink on me while he was probably running to hide with his alcohol," He answered.

"A teenager? I doubt that. The invitation was strictly adults only... apart from Ken, of course," Jasper said, sitting beside Thomas, who was drinking a cocktail juice.

"Maybe it's just some young dude with really great genetics. He might be well in his mid-twenties, but as we all know, money reduces fine lines," Cody smiled, tapping his fingers on the round table. 

Pole chuckled, "True. Who would believe I'm already twenty-six?" He boasted.

"No one for sure. You look fifty-seven," Thomas chuckled

Cody laughed, gently patting Pole's thigh, "Here, a drink to digest the shock," He pushed the ice bucket toward Pole.

Ida smiled. He was happy that Cody was happy. At least, that was all he wanted. 

Cody was starting to be his usual chirpy self, making a joke out of everything that came his way, the Cody he fell in love with.

"Ugh, my head is really splitting," Andre groaned and leaned his back on the chair, shutting his eyes.

"Aww, Florence looks so stunning today, don't you think so, Jasper," Jeremiah asked.

Jasper nodded, "She's a beautiful lady." He replied. 

"So you like her?" Jeremiah questioned. 

"I like men," Jasper said bluntly. 

"So, you like me?" Jeremiah smirked across the table from Jasper. 

Thomas chuckled, "Easy, brother. You don't want your eye popped," He advised.

Jeremiah scoffed, "He does like me." He said. 

Pole smiled while watching them, "You know? You too would make such an amazing -"

"Pole..." Jasper called, a warning.

"Is that cocktail nice? Let me give it a try," Pole snatched Thomas's drink from him and sipped on it, choosing to stay alive for a while.

Florence's worried voice suddenly drew their attention. 

"Oh, my God, Papito! What happened to you? Sit down here and tell me everything," Florence led someone to the bodyguards' table, making the person sit in the chair beside Andre, who still had his eyes closed. 

Andre felt someone settle beside him and opened his eyes, frowning as he saw those familiar silver eyes.

He was confused and surprised; he looked from Florence to the person beside him. From the way Florence had spoken to this person, there could only be one reason that came to his mind.

"Florence, you never told us you had a child this old," Andre finally spoke, clearing his throat and getting ready to tell her how badly her son had behaved. 

However, he was confused when he heard the low, amused chuckles from the table; the guys were laughing at him as if he had said something hilarious. 

He could feel the heavy glare from the person beside him.

"What do you mean? Papito is not my child. He's my younger brother, Cross," Florence introduced. 

Andre paused, and he slowly turned his face to look at Cross beside him.

His eyes fell on Cross's bruised lips and the image of how he had punched him surfaced in his mind.

'Fuck my life,' Andre thought helplessly. 

"You mean... he's your younger brother... my boss's cousin?" Andre questioned, hoping he'd get a different answer.

How was he supposed to admit to everyone that he was the one who punched the boss's cousin?

"He's the boss's cousin, Andre. The one you're sharing your room with," Jasper reminded. 

Andre chuckled nervously and extended his hand to Cross, "Nice to meet you, Cross -"

"Mr. Cross," Cross corrected arrogantly. 

Andre smiled, slowly returning his hand to his side when he saw that Cross wasn't ready to shake him. 

He had punched the boss's cousin, how was he supposed to admit to that? 

"Papito, tell me, who hurt you? Sebastian will not be happy about this," Florence touched Cross's face.

Cross didn't say a word, he removed Florence's hand from his face and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.

Andre gulped, 'Shit.' He thought.

"Hey, you know what I'm thinking?" Pole suddenly asked.

"What?" Thomas asked, always ready for some tea.

"What if Cross is the one who spilled the drink on Andre's suit? I mean, he could easily pass as nineteen," Pole said.

"Ah... true, he does look young," Thomas agreed. 

"You see? That's what I thought, too..." Andre paused when he saw everyone staring at him.

"Wait... you hit Cross?" Jeremiah asked, smirking.

Andre sighed, "It was an accident." He admitted, there was no use lying.

Cross glared at him, still not saying a word. 

"You hit Papito, Andre? Why?" Florence asked with a frown.

Andre raked his hair, "Look, you all should stop staring at me that way; it was an accident, okay? After all, if he wasn't such a little spoilt brat there would have been no need for violence," He defended himself. 

Florence clicked her tongue, "I hope you don't say this to Sebastian; he's very protective of Cross. You might just lose your job. I'm disappointed in you, Andre. Did you have to hit him?" She shook her head.

Andre frowned as he raised his stained suit for Florence to see, "He did this and refused to apologize even after I showed him kindness. Is that really how he was raised?" The wind blew the suit around, flying it up and down like a flag.

Suddenly, his suit was snatched out of his hands, "You need it cleaned, right?" Cross asked, his brows raised.

"That would be lovely," Andre crossed his legs.

"He's got fire," Jeremiah commented.

"Sure," Thomas supported.

"I'll clean it, then," Cross smiled, but it didn't reach his silver eyes.

He walked away, and everyone watched him. His steps were regal, like those of a prince, his gait confident and somewhat arrogant.

"No, Papito; where are you going?!" Florence wanted to go after him but Andre stopped her.

He stood and held her hand, "Let him. I knew he wanted to do that the moment he offered to clean it. I just wanted you to see how mannerless your little Papito is." He told her.

Florence sighed, "I must apologize on his behalf. Cross is such a wild card; no one has ever been able to tame him, he does what he likes and only listens to Sebastian... to some extent." She said, shaking her head.

"Oh! Look, he threw your suit in the water," Cody said, and stood so he could properly see the drama.

"Damn right," Thomas chuckled.

"And this is the start of an enmity," Jeremiah said.

Andre shook his head, "No, you're wrong. I don't have time for spoiled children. No offence, Florence," he bowed his head to her.

Florence nodded, "He's indeed spoilt." She sighed.

"Hey, guys," Irene said, walking over to them, smiling. 

The guys all stood and bowed to her, "Do you need us to do something for you, Ma'am?" Ida asked.

Irene shook her head, "Not me. Your bosses are about boarding the private jet. Maybe you guys need to escort them to the airport?" She asked.

"Sure, Ma'am. That's our job," Thomas replied.

Irene chuckled, "Good, then. Please, hurry, they've already left for their car." She said and walked away.

Thomas sighed dreamily, "Aww, so sweet. That playboy of mine better put a ring on this finger or I'm leaving him for some rich dude because what the hell? A fucking private jet. Yo, bro, how do you compose a breakup text?" Thomas asked his brother.

Jeremiah gave him a stinky look and pushed him out of his way, "Get off my path, idiot." He said and walked away.

"Andre's driving, the guy's a drift lord," Pole tapped Andre's shoulder and followed Jeremiah behind. 

"Coming?" Ida asked as he followed Jasper behind, his side eye watching Cody, who was still standing there as if he was waiting for someone. 

Andre nodded, "Right behind you." He replied.

"Andre," Florence held Andre's hand as he was about to walk away.

"Yes?" He asked.

He looked up and saw that Cross was already approaching them; he didn't want to encounter him so soon again. He might act cool because he had just learnt that he was Sebastian's cousin, but deep down, he wanted to hold the boy's face inside the water and gleefully watch as bubbles floated up around his head, a sign that his breath was leaving him.

He hated people who thought they could act however they wanted just because they had influence or because they were rich.

Sebastian might have been cold and unfeeling, but he was never disrespectful. He had always treated each of his employees with adequate respect. But, here came his cousin, full of shit and disrespect.

He didn't want to get associated with Cross, for the sake of his job.

He was allergic to nonsense and the best way to avoid it was to stay away from the spoiled and privileged kid.

He would choose Ken's company any time anywhere over Cross's.

"Come on, Papito. Your cousin is leaving soon," Florence extended her hand to Cross as he got closer.

"I'll be leaving, then," Andre said and tried to leave but Florence held him again.

"Hold on just a bit, please," She pleaded.

Andre sighed, hoping what he thought wasn't what Florence was about to do.

"Can I take your car?" Cross asked as he let Florence hold his hand.

Florence shook her head, "No, way, Papito; don't think I didn't see you sipping a few alcohols." She stated.

"Then drive me to the airport," he demanded.

"Nah, I'll be right here to oversee how everything is cleared," Florence said.

"You'll go with Andre, he's heading there right now," She informed.

"No way," Cross refused.

'My thoughts exactly,' Andre thought to himself. 

Florence sighed, "Come on, Papito. You have two options: go with him, or stay here and clear things up with me." She told him.

Cross frowned, "Get going then, I don't have all day." He folded his arms and pinned an impatient glare on Andre.

Andre clenched his jaw and slowly nodded, "Of course, follow me, please." He said and smiled at Florence, "See you later, queen." He nodded at her and walked away. 

'My job is important, my job is important, my job is fucking important!' Andre repeated in his head as he heard Cross walking behind him.

He needed to keep his cool, if he lost it with Cross, he'd lose his job.

They walked to the cars that were parked under a palm tree, and Andre went over to the first one with Cody standing next to it.

This was his car; they weren't using an SUV today, they needed to look sleek for the wedding.

"We'll be riding with Ida," Pole shot out his head from the window of the second car and said to Andre.

Andre nodded, "Okay." He said as he unlocked his car.

"I'll ride with you. He's car is filled," Cody said.

Andre smirked, "Or you're just avoiding him?" He questioned.

Cody shook his head af Andre and got in the front seat.

Andre was about to enter his car when he heard someone knocking on the passenger's door beside him.

He took a deep breath and slowly turned to look at the culprit beside him.

"What do you want, Criss?" He asked calmly.

"It's Mr. Cross," Cross corrected, leaning on the door. 

Andre slowly nodded, "What do you want?" He asked again. 

"Who's opening the door? The one inside the car, or you?" Cross asked.

Andre looked inside the car and shared a shocked look with Cody, they couldn't believe what they had heard.

"You work for my cousin... You work for, me. Same same," Cross shrugged.

Andre almost got in the car and drove away but he knew Sebastian would ask of his dear cousin. So, he forced a smile and stepped closer to Cross, "Excuse me, young master," He said.

Cross stepped aside, watching Andre with conceited eyes.

Andre opened the car and stood aside, "Please, get in." He said. 

Cross didn't say a word and entered the car, crossing his legs as he sat.

Andre shut the door, looked up to the skies, and prayed to whoever was above it to give him the strength to tolerate his latest temptation.