The Temporary Boyfriend

Chapter 204: The walls are closing in

"How do you plan to do that?" John asked, his voice still hard, though the anger was replaced by a cold exhaustion.

"I got some money saved up. It’s a lot," El said, looking John straight in the eye.

John let out a dry, humorless laugh.

"Will it get me my job back?"

"No, but we can start our own business."

John shook his head.

"Think about it, John. We don’t need them anymore. We can be our own bosses, do things our way..."

Before El could finish the sentence, John’s fist swung forward and connected hard with his jaw.

The punch threw him off balance, and he fell heavily to the floor, his shoulder hitting the leg of the table. He lay there for a second, rubbing his bruised jaw as a thin trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Instead of getting mad, he just looked up at John and let out a weak, tired sigh.

"I probably deserved that." freewēbnoveℓ.com

"Get up and get out," John growled.

His knuckles ached from the punches, but the pain did nothing to ease the anger burning inside him.

If anything, he felt worse.

El wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand and slowly pushed himself up from the floor.

"Alright," he said, backing toward the door. "I’ll go for now. But just think about it. The offer stands."

With that, he opened the door and walked out, leaving John alone in the quiet room.

John stood frozen in the middle of the room, looking at the closed door. The knuckles on his right hand burned, but the sharp pain did nothing to stop the heavy emptiness growing inside him.

​His legs felt weak again, so he walked slowly back to the bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress, burying his face in his hands.

....

"Love... hurts... ughh..." Mark mumbled, lowering his head.

Mark was with his friend at a bar.

People were starting to stare.

Not only was he being loud, but the table was a complete mess.

"Edmond..." he called out. "...Have you ever been in love?"

As if he didn’t already know the answer.

Edmond didn’t respond. He simply sat there and let him talk.

Mark looked like he was seconds away from pouring out every miserable thought in his head.

"I thought..." His voice cracked. "I thought I had everything under control."

He let out a bitter laugh.

"But she doesn’t want me."

His eyes filled with tears.

Edmond grabbed a tissue from the table and handed it to him.

Mark took it, wiping his eyes and nose.

Then he raised a hand toward the bartender.

"Another drink."

The bartender immediately poured another glass.

Mark picked it up and stared at the amber liquid for a long moment before taking a long swallow.

"Clarisse," he hissed. "She has been fucking my brother. That, no good, backstabbing brother of mine."

Edmond reached out and placed a firm hand over Mark’s glass before he could lift it again.

"That’s enough, Mark," he said quietly.

Mark tried to pull the glass away, but his grip was weak. He let go and slumped back into his chair, staring up at the ceiling with a completely blank look.

"You don’t understand," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I did everything for her. Everything. Lyvana left because of her."

"I know," Edmond replied, looking at his friend with pity.

The bartender moved away to serve another customer, leaving the two of them in their own quiet corner of the crowded room.

Mark covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking as the harsh truth finally settled in. Clarisse had betrayed him, and Lyvana was gone."

....

Adrian Blackwood stood on the balcony of his villa, looking down at the driveway with a cold expression. Below, his men were spread out across the grounds, their hands resting heavily on their weapons as they kept watch.

Outside the front gates, hidden in the shadows, a dark car sat in total silence. Inside, Julian’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. Beside him, was Ethan, watching Adrian’s every move from behind the tinted glass.

Adrian Blackwood watched from the balcony as the car door opened. Nikolai stepped out, his heavy coat hanging loosely over his shoulders.

​The armed men lowered their weapons slightly, recognizing him, but the air remained thick with tension. Nikolai looked up at the balcony and gave Adrian a slow, sharp nod.

Nikolai stepped into the villa, and the cold look on Adrian’s face instantly disappeared.

Adrian smiled warmly, truly happy to see him. He walked over, wrapped his arms around Nikolai in a big hug, and kissed him on both cheeks in a warm greeting.

"Welcome," Adrian said, stepping back with a grin.

"When you asked us to meet, I was surprised," Nikolai said.

Adrian said, pouring two glasses of amber liquid from a crystal decanter on the table. He handed one to Nikolai. "Time change, and certain problems require old friends."

​Nikolai took the glass, his expression unreadable as he stared at the liquid. "You have a lot of security outside, Adrian. Are things truly that bad?"

Adrian let out a short laugh and took a sip of his drink.

"Yea."

Nikolai glanced toward the large windows overlooking the grounds.

"I counted at least twenty armed men on my way in," he said casually.

"Twenty-five," Adrian corrected.

Nikolai raised an eyebrow. "That many enemies?"

"That many reasons to be careful."

Then Nikolai set his glass down. "Arthur is missing."

Adrian’s smile faded. "I heard."

"And Zara has disappeared."

Adrian’s jaw tightened. "I heard that too."

Nikolai sighed. "Look, people are saying the Chairman is looking for you."

"Yea, they’re right."

Outside, the sound of boots echoed faintly across the courtyard.

Adrian walked to the window and looked out at the guards.

"The Chairman has always blamed me for everything," he said. "Even when he had no proof."

"He has proof now," Nikolai said quietly.

Adrian turned sharply.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"It means, brother, that the walls are closing in," he said, draining the rest of his drink.