Free Web NovelChapter 201: Trust (1)
Ian and Victor arrived in the heart of town to have a drink in Ian’s business as they shouldn’t be disturbed there. As Ian told the coachman the time to return, Victor noticed the attention they were getting.
Victor looked down at the clothing to check that nothing was exposed or he hadn’t put on two different coloured shoes again. Nothing seemed to be out of order so why were they suddenly gaining so much attention?
’Is it because we are together?’ Victor wondered as it would be uncommon for him to be standing next to Ian.
There had been rumours that they did not like each other because they were fighting to be their father’s heir. Some might expect a fight to happen with him being next to Ian. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Victor tried to ignore the stares since they would quickly learn that he and Ian were starting to be close. The whispering that followed was what started to push him to want to ask a question about what the rumours were now.
Surely, Hank couldn’t have told anyone about cutting him off?
Ian walked to the doors of his business not sparing a glance at those watching him. His guards opened the doors for him to enter and closed them behind Victor.
"Where have you been? I have been trying to reach you. Do you have any idea of the mess I am trying to clean for you?" Owen questioned, his chest starting to feel less tight now that he saw Ian. "You have a big mess. Monica started a rumour about being with a Kingsley’s son and all of what she spoke points to you."
Ian walked to the bar to pour himself a drink before he heard more of Monica’s childishness.
Victor was puzzled since he didn’t know who Monica was. "Who is this Monica?"
Owen stopped to stare at Victor as it was strange to see him with Ian. "Are you stalking him again?"
"He is here with me. Stop the papers from printing any story Monica is coming up with," Ian said and then took a sip of rum straight from the bottle.
"Well, I already took care of that but this is news that is spreading by mouth and she has brought Scarlet into it. Monica shared at a party last night that you two have been together since you returned to Lockwood and the only reason you are with Scarlet is because it would look good for you to become your father’s heir," Owen said, nervous about Ian’s reaction.
Owen had been trying his best all morning to fix this mess for Ian but it was already spreading around like wildfire.
"I am told that Monica seemed drunk when she said it-"
"Doesn’t matter," Ian interjected as the town would still prefer to view her words as the truth. Ian kept the bottle of rum in his hand so it wouldn’t be served to a customer since he drank from it. "Many are going to believe her lies because they can speak about Scarlet again."
Just when everything was going well with Scarlet there had to be someone to tell lies.
Ian had to decide whether to visit Scarlet so she could hear from him that it was all lies or to go for Monica first. He should have known that it was too good to be true that Monica would stay quiet.
"Didn’t I tell one of you to take her because she was going to cause a problem for me? I already warned her father, but no one listened to me. Wait here Victor," Ian said, putting the bottle back on the counter and then starting to make his way to the front door.
"Wait, wait, wait," Victor repeated, blocking Ian’s path. "Now is not the time to do something stupid, Ian. I must stop you like you stopped me. If something happens to this Monica person then the town guards will be at your doors and many would like to see you taken away."
Victor continued, "I think it is more worth your time to go to Scarlet and let her hear it from your mouth that this is a lie. You must remember what she went through with her husband and his affair. To hear something about you might break her."
Victor looked to Owen for help. He did not want the day to end with the town guards looking for Ian. He was more than willing to sacrifice his day of having a drink with Ian by having Ian go to Scarlet.
Ian wanted to deal with Monica first but now that Victor mentioned Scarlet once dealing with an affair, it was right that he went to Scarlet first. "Owen, keep track of where Monica goes so she cannot hide and keep an eye on Victor for me. He can only have one drink."
"A drink and a half. You have all of that rum there-"
"And when I return, I should see it the same way as I left it. One glass and call upon your doctors to look at you. It is not up for discussion," Ian said as he walked around Victor.
Ian hoped that with Scarlet being with him at breakfast and her wanting to stay at the estate to do some work, she had not heard any of these rumours as yet. If she did, Ian liked to think that she trusted him enough to know that he was not playing her all this time.
Victor was still worried about letting Ian go alone since he could make a quick stop to get rid of this Monica person. "Should one of us have gone with him?" He asked.
Owen picked up the bottle of rum Ian left behind and took a long sip from it. After all the stress he had this morning by trying to protect a relationship that was not his, Owen thought he was deserving of a drink or two. "He wants us to stay here so that is what we should do."
Victor had something else to fear since Owen was drinking the same rum that Ian said was not to be touched. There was a lot he had to learn about Ian but Victor believed that when Ian said something, he was not telling them to do the opposite.
"Do you not fear what will happen when he returns and finds that you drank his rum?" Victor asked. Was he the only one who might receive a beating from Ian? Did Owen get special treatment? ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"I have nothing to fear since there are other bottles of this rum and I will replace this with another. Now, are you going to stand there ready to snitch or come have some rum?" Owen asked, titling the bottle for the mouth to point to Victor.
"Just a cup and a half," Victor replied, going toward the bar to get a glass.
