Chapter 9: Chapter 7. The Dinner

It was tiring for me since the past few days of planning the birthday party and sending all of the instructions for the arrangement over to the management on Klaus’ side. Now, I can relax. All the decorations will be done by the management on their side and I can only check to see if it pleases me a day before the party. Good. I don’t want to be there for a while anyway. I don’t like to have to meet that little demon, Devon.

Only one thing left. This finished painting. Someone will come and get it today. I expect it to be one of the management crews but I have a feeling that either Victor or Kevin will personally come to fetch the painting. It’s hard to deny the knot in my stomach at the thought that... what if Devon come for it? But he’s on a wheelchair so that is highly unlikely. Sighing in relief, I look at the digits on the watch on my wrist but I’m not paying much attention to the time. My thought drifted to my curiosity of the deal that little demon had with William. But... does it matter? Which is more important? The painting? Revenge? Or the little demon?

I feel like ‘the little demon’ is a fitted nickname for him. With that scar on his eyebrow and that fucking twisted smile, he looks like a mafia boss in-the-making. It fits him. I bet he’ll be one in the near future, if he even gets to that age. His deal with William will only have two consequences; a short life or immortality. I hope it’s the former. Because in my case, it’s the latter. But without that painting, my days are numbered. It took a while for me to notice that the bell to my studio was pressed two times from the outside. He’s here. I smile to myself a little, calm at the sound of those nervous thoughts and fluttering desires behind the door. I can sense them clearly.

“Come in, Mr. Klaus,” I invited the man in, making way for him to enter.

He smiles at me. “Kevin, please...,” he insisted for me to call him by his first name as he enters. I’m not sure if we’re ‘that’ familiar just yet but if he insists... should I resist?

I smile back at him. “Kevin, then,” I replied. As I turn around to look at him, I notice that he immediately walks towards the package I placed on the floor near my workstation, assuming that it is the very painting that he’s supposed to fetch.

He bends down to pick it up. “Is this it?” He asked and I simply nod at him.

I was still standing near the open door, waiting for him to pick up the package and leave. He looks reluctant to move but he still picks it up a few seconds later and walks back towards me with the package in his hand. “Have you had dinner, Adrian?” He asked. “It’s okay if I call you Adrian, right?”

I smile at him. “If you must,” I answered. “I haven’t eaten.”

“Then would you like to have dinner with me?”

I wanted to reject him at first since I am aware of his ulterior motives but my mind is troubled and I feel that he can answer some of the questions in my head. “Sure,” I simply answered.

His face immediately brightens up upon listening to my agreement. “Do you have a place in mind?” He asked.

Of course I’ll be stupid to let him decide the place since I will be at a disadvantage so I thought of a place I would normally have dinner at. It is not a crowded and noisy place but it is not absolutely private at the same time so that will do. “I do. I’ll send you the location. We’ll meet up there,” I informed.

“Why don’t we go in my car? I can send you home after that,” he suggested with a spark of naughty thoughts in his mind, I notice.

“It’s okay, Kevin. I have some other business to attend to after dinner,” I said as a-matter-of-factly.

“Alright then, see you there.” He seems a little upset but I can’t care less. He looks like a gentleman but his mind is far from gentlemanly. He is a handsome man. Very masculine in nature and slightly taller than me. He has a gentle face that always smiles easily. It makes people feel comfortable around him. But I know better of his thoughts. He is not gentle at all.

“See you,” I nod at him as I walk away. Naughty thoughts float through as I feel his gaze behind me. I’m used to this by now. People and their thoughts, they no longer affect me. People are after all wicked and will only do things for their own pleasure and benefits.

We choose a table near the street as we sat at the restaurant. Tonight, it is quite crowded than usual but still, it is not very noisy so I adjusted just fine to the ambience. People looking at me up and down and girls blushed or whisper over to their friends are of normal occurrences to me. As I said, it no longer affects me. I’m used to it. Kevin seems to notice people’s gazes too and he looks proud to dine in with someone such as myself. Can’t blame him, though. I am after all above the standard beauty of this world.

We first chatted about the birthday party and Lady Rebecca’s antics. We also later talked about the stock market and current political issue. I have to say, Kevin is quite knowledgeable and admirable when it comes to these talks. He is a proper businessman. “I met a young man named Devon the other day at your manor. Your brother doesn’t seem to like him very much,” I diverted our topic of conversation after a few seconds of pause from both of our sides.

And immediately I can read Kevin’s thought of the little demon. ‘Oh! That delinquent, what did he do this time?’ “I haven’t heard about this from Victor. That kid is our cousin,” he simply told. ‘That kid is like cancer, a shame to the family’ goes in his thoughts.

“He is disabled?” I asked.

He immediately laughs at the question, like he is amused and also annoyed at the same time. “No. It was a motorcycle accident. That kid cheated death too many times already. He managed to get out of this one with just some broken bones. It was a miracle to even survive the crash,” he said. There’s a genuine surprise and awe in his eyes but a very disappointed feeling in his heart. ‘He should’ve just die’, he shamefully thought.

Well, I wonder what is it about that little demon that made Kevin wishes him to die but for sure that kid won’t be dead easily. Cheated death, huh? Of course... if you had a deal with a devil, anything is possible. “That must have scared you,” I commented, pretending to empathize.

‘Scare me? I could care less’ crosses his thoughts. “Yes. Thank God he’s okay now,” he agreed hypocritically. “Actually, he didn’t even need a wheelchair but that brat just want to laze around all day. He said it’s good to have a wheelchair. He doesn’t need to use his muscle. Can you believe that? What a brat,” he told. I can tell from his thoughts, despite of his obvious dislike of Devon, he still find the boy to be amusing.

I smile at him, amused to the little demon’s simplistic thoughts and laziness. “What a little demon,” I accidentally muttered what’s actually goes on in my mind aloud. Kevin looks shocked at my little comment. Even me, myself is shocked to my sudden slip of tongue. We both look at each other in which for a few seconds but then we both laugh out loud.

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It took a while for us to cool down. And when we finally did settle down, I thought of shifting the topic to a more important agenda. “Say, Kevin... do you have any old painting in your manor? I am interested in seeing them if you do,” I asked straightforwardly.

“Hmm.” He tilts to the side to think for a while before he finally answered. “Rebecca is the one who’s keeping tab of these sort of things. Maybe you can discuss it with her during the party?” He suggested as he realizes that he has no idea of such paintings. He suddenly thought of something. “Oh. Devon is also an art enthusiast.  Maybe he can help you too. He is a fan of your work. In fact, he’s the one who suggested you to us,” Kevin informed.

I was startled at the very information. How come I am not aware of this? Why is it that Victor and Kevin never thought of the little demon before when they met at the art gallery? Devon must be very insignificant to them that they can’t even care to think of him there. This upsets me greatly. I am not prepared for this. “Oh? He doesn’t look like he’s well-versed in art,” I commented.

“He majors in art,” Kevin added.

“I see,” I nodded.

Kevin suddenly chuckles a little to himself, thinking of Devon, appearing to be yet again amused. I look up to him before hearing him said; “Do you know that he said you look like you came out of a painting yourself?”

I laugh nervously that it even shocks me to the sound of my own laughter. Like it didn’t even come from me. I haven’t been this nervous ever since my deal with the devil. “Thanks for the compliment,” I muttered.

“I agree with him,” Kevin suddenly said as he looks deep into my eyes. As I look back at him among my nervousness of Devon’s comments on me, Kevin thought that I’m flustered because of his presence. “Adrian, do you know that you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met?” He asked rhetorically.

I gulp. I know, Kevin. No one can surpass my beauty. It is a curse after all. I only smile at him in answer, refusing to say any more since my thoughts is troubled by that little demon’s comment. How did he know? How did that little demon know that I came out from a painting?!

“Are you seeing anyone at the moment?” I almost didn’t hear his question.

I look back at him. His eyes are suggestive. There’s also desires. I don’t need to read his expressions. I read his thoughts. He thought of taking me somewhere private, undressing me, ravaging me, and claiming me as his. Here we go... I guess this gentleman no longer decides to be a gentleman since he is also thinking of ways to take me by force, of making me submit to him. He even thought of threatening me until I can’t refuse. It was at that moment that I realize... Kevin is far more dangerous than I initially thought. “No. I don’t have the luxury of the time,” I simply answered as I look back down on my food.

“Any women by your side will be lucky,” he implied. I didn’t say anything to him. I just thought that women wouldn’t want to be by my side. I surpassed their beauty. They would be more insecure to be around me. “Have you dated before?” He asked.

I look at him and smile charmingly, “Yes. They are all men though,” I answered candidly. His face blushes red at my straightforward answer. “That’s what you’re trying to find out, right?” I asked him. A glint of malice sparks in my eyes. You want to mess with me? Be careful, you might just get it.

“Am I too obvious?” He asked as he laughs awkwardly.

I smile at him a cheeky smile. “I top,” I said. “Just a reminder. I don’t do bottom,” I informed. This guy, he needs to be shoved straight to his face. What? He thinks he can dominate me? He can dream on!

“Oh!” He laughs to my apparent shamelessness. “You are too forward, Adrian,” he commented.

I chuckle a little at his comment. Of course. You think I never met men like you? “Based on experience, guys wanna ‘do’ me. So I set this reminder ahead before it gets there so they know what to expect. I’m aware that I have feminine features so naturally, guys are attracted to me so as you can tell, this reminder is important,” I said lengthily. If he’s willing to bottom though, I say why not we have some fun?

He is reluctant. In his mind, I can see he’s not willing to be bottom at all. ‘It’s okay, I’ll find a way to top you sooner or later’ was what he thought of. “Well then, what’s your type?” He suddenly asked.

I smile at him even more cheekily. Oh... you’ll be surprised beyond words if you know exactly what my type is, Kevin. It’s beyond your imagination. You think I’m all ‘vanilla’? “Victor Klaus. That’s my type,” I lied.

His face darkens. He looks like he’s trying to tell whether I am joking but I look very serious so he didn’t say any more. “I see,” he simply nodded. He then quietly tends to his dinner as I do mine before his phone vibrated and he checks it. From his mind, I know that the person who texted him is Victor. He replies to his brother with bitterness in his heart that he is having dinner with me. I silently smile at his hypocrisy. He is obviously jealous of Victor so he tries to make Victor jealous of him instead.

So.... I rejected victor’s dinner proposal the other day but dined with his brother today? What would Victor think? I’m laughing in my head. Must be sour... And now I’m rejecting Kevin’s attempt to flirt with me but I agreed to have dinner with him, will he be confused? Maybe they’ll find themselves as rivals? That would’ve been nice.

My eyes suddenly notice a strong presence near me so I lifted my head to look at the table behind where Kevin was seated. My eyes widen in surprise. What the fuck is that little demon doing here?! And he is not even in his fucking wheelchair!

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NEXT UPDATE: 2022/11/29

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