The sun had already vanished, leaving the sky bruised with twilight, as students streamed from the building like a sudden release of energy. Megara and Jane walked easily, their conversation light and sweet, like the memory of Jane's earlier cake. Then, they both saw him: Hugo, hunched over his car's dashboard, waiting like a sentinel.
"Hey Megara," Jane whispered, leaning close, "I think you should talk to him. He looks like he's about to spontaneously combust." Jane offered a cautious, knowing smile, but Megara merely rolled her eyes with a dramatic sigh, casting a brief, reluctant glance in his direction.
Megara shook her head, an almost imperceptible movement, as they continued their approach. The flash of animosity in Hugo's eyes when Chris had mentioned his past still stung. "Hey Jane, see you tomorrow morning!" she chirped, giving a bright wave as Jane veered off towards her car, where a guard stood waiting.
"Hi," Megara began, her voice carefully neutral as she addressed Hugo. "I'm joining Tobi in his car, and I expect him any minute."
Hugo looked at her, his gaze raw with entreaty, as he ran a hand through his perpetually messy brown curls. "Yeah, look, I'm sorry, Meg. I know I shouldn't have reacted like that. I'm an asshole, and you have no obligation to forgive a bully. But can you please just... not ignore me?" He reached out, his hand hovering, seeking hers.
Megara offered a small smile, her white teeth catching the soft light. "I'm really sorry for ghosting you, Hugo. I just needed a moment to process everything from today." Hugo's shoulders fell. "It wasn't about ignoring you. It's just that seeing what you did to Chris brought back memories of my own experience with bullying, and I needed to get past that."
Hugo's eyes shone, on the verge of tears he refused to shed. "I'm truly sorry. I didn't know," he murmured, his voice laced with regret. "But I'm going to work hard to be a better person."
Megara embraced him, patting his back. "I'm not blaming you, dear, not in the least. It's good that you're working on yourself, and I appreciate that. Just don't be so hard on yourself." She smiled, poulling away as he wrinkled his nose. "Now, you will apologize to Chris."
"I will, if that's what you want and if you're willing to forgive me." He nodded, chewing on his lower lip. "Speaking of promises, where's the cake you said I could have from the car?"
Megara snickered, her hand covering her mouth. "Oh, I'm so sorry! Jane was absolutely starving. I had to give it to her, or she might have fainted. But don't worry, I'll get you a bonito and a baobab tea instead."
Hugo chuckled his white teeth gleaming in the light as he raked his hand in his hair. "I'll be waiting for it. He nods in agreement but pulls out a hundred pounds note from his breast pocket. "I don't usually go around with cash but here I want you to package the cafés specialty for Zack, Uriel, Jane, yourself and I.
Megara's eyes widened as she smiles at him. "Yeah this is more than enough Hugo. She remarked them almost immediately a car horn sounds behind them. "Ok there goes my ride and I'll see you tomorrow.
Megara's lips held a faint smile as she reached Tobi's car, quickly opening the door and slipping inside. Hugo watched them drive off before following suit a few minutes later.
AT THE JEFFERSON MANSION .
The Jefferson Mansion was unusually quiet, despite the fancy gala taking place in the garden. From his helicopter, Uriel could see the festive lights below. The moment his helicopter safely landed, he kicked the door open, striding majestically into the house. Guards bowed in respect as he passed.
Inside, Uriel noted the affluent guests mingling in the living room and backyard, but he paid them no mind, heading directly upstairs to his room. As he reached the lobby, he spotted a girl snooping around the corner.
He observed her silently; she hadn't noticed him. "What do you think you're doing, snooping all over my territory?" he asked gruffly.
The startled girl straightened up, her heart leaping into her throat. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I was just looking for the loo when I lost my way," she replied, her hand tightly crumpling her dress.
Uriel sneered, his expression filled with disgust. "And you thought a lavish floor like this was a loo? Please improve your lying tactics before speaking because this sounds unbelievable." He walked past her towards his bedroom door. "The loo is downstairs, the fourth door to the right, and that's for guests."
She nodded, biting her lip. "Thanks for the save, by the way. I'm Rebecca, and you must be..."
"I'm not interested in your name, and I only helped you because I don't want anyone messing with my floor. None of your family members could possibly afford one piece of these tiles," he said, slamming the door in her face.
Rebecca raised her hand, suppressing the urge to hit him. "Such a braggart! I'd better leave before he eats me alive," she muttered, sticking out her tongue in a mocking expression before hurrying down the stairs.
Inside his room, Uriel slowly removed his outfit and stepped into the jacuzzi. He turned on the hot spray, and the warm water rained down on his smooth, pale skin, washing away the sweat. His lion tattoo glistened in the light. After a few silent hours in the shower, he turned it off, wrapped a towel around his waist, and exited.
He carefully took his medication, hiding it in the third drawer, out of human reach. Staring at the crisp white bedsheets, he dived onto the bed, slowly drifting off to slumber.
HOURS LATER, Uriel's eyes fluttered open the golden lamp stand light shimmering into his eyes he heaved in a sigh of relief but was met with anger when he heard a loud bang on his door. He stood up from the bed with a golf stick in his hand he watched his group picture with his colleagues Zack and Hugo fall from behind the door crashing thump onto the ground.
He growled opening the door but was met with his father's indifferent face to his attitude. His father's gaze flickered from the golf stick in his hand and then to his face. "What the hell are you doing here,Dad? He asked his tone flat dead and dangerous. "You do know I hate people banging on my door.
Mr Jefferson puffed out an air. "And you were planning on hitting anyone who does that with a golf stick? This is my house and you will be meeting a lot of this very often. He said gruffly but Uriel only grinned. "Now go in put on some clothes you look like a walking temptation and I don't want gravid ladies all over claiming they're yours. I need to speak to you soon.
"Hahahaha very well then and what you wanted to say couldn't wait? This is fucking 4:39 AM and let's be real this might be your home but you're not the boss of me. He snarled and his father chuckled. "I won't cooperate with you in the early hours of the morning in ruining my sleep for some babbled nonsense.
Uriel hissed slightly retreating as he prepared to slam the door his father held the door with his hand. "It might be interesting to know that you're now engaged to the daughter of my business partner Mr Costello Ramos and they're coming next weekend so better not embarrass me.
Uriel came out not minding he had only a clad of his boxer on as he faced his father toe to toe their faces only inches away. "You insidious manipulative psychopath! You haven't had enough of bossing me around have you? He spat his face red as a tomato as he jabbed his father's chest. "News flash Jeffery Oman I'm not your call boy I'm a human and I can do what I want and I get to choose my destiny.
Mr Jefferson removed his hand from his chest. "Well it's a pity you still considered yourself a human after all a monster in denial would say so. But don't forget you still leave under my roof and I can freeze all your accounts in one day so you better co operate. He threatened poking his son's head. "It's time to grow up and you will marry her when you're done with the University so calm down you still have seven years ahead of you.
Uriel let out a dry laughter than almost came out as a ferocious growl. "You've try to freeze my accounts for years how did that turn out for you? Still the unproductive results eh? It's you Jeffery who shouldn't forget your parents knew you were nothing but cynical and they gave me their shares making me one of the biggest share holder in the family business and in almost half of the city. He remarked facing his father who's fist were clenched and a muscle creeped under his skin.
"You shouldn't try to tame a monster lest it unleashes it's animosity Dad. He warns patting his father's shoulder. "You've been nothing but cruel to me but I don't care all I care about is enjoying myself and you should so the same because there is a day or reckoning for everyone including you.
Mr Jefferson turned almost leaving but stopped in his tracks. "Did you hear what happened to the wills and Moore family? He asked his voice suspicious.
"Yes I did and how does that concern me? Uriel replied rudely. "If they offended someone then they better own up to it.
Mr Jefferson nods. "Yes but that's one of the ancient families after ours no one would have targeted them because from the reports it showed they bullied Megara and then boom black agate bought their shares and they're on the verge of bankruptcy. He stated his voice curious. "What history surrounds that girl?
"You're disturbing my sleep old man. If you want to know then go ask her yourself. He said before slamming the door shut.
Mr Jefferson looked at his door one more time. "I don't hate you Uriel I'm only trying to mold you into the perfect man I want you to be in the future and no one has the potential you have. He murmured within himself before sauntering away downstairs where he met his wife who did not look happy to see him coming down from Uriel's room. "I didn't bully him cat I only told him what needs to be said.
Catherine smirked her face almost looking ghost like in her midnight cucumber mask. "You went to say what need to be said at 4:39 AM in the morning? Hmmn you need to see a shrink trust me. She remarked walking into their bedroom on the eastern wing of the house.
He sighed following her from behind his mind reeling with curiousity about Megara's connection to black agate..