A Billionaire's Secret Chapter 1 - Graduation in a Tavern

C1 Graduation in a Tavern

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***

“Congrats big brother” Dimitri tapped his back and came to sit beside him on the sofa that was placed in front of his bed.

“Thank you, very much little brother,” he comments then finished up his drink, placed the cup on the table, and crossed his legs on the table as he lay back on the couch. “Where are the rest of the team?” he asked and Dimitri pointed to the door.

In came Aiden and Caleb who were both carrying trays and a small cooler in each hand.

“It feels like Christmas or your birthday, so enjoy this treatment while it lasts,” says Aiden who came up to him and shook hands with him after putting down the items he was carrying.

“Thank you, guys, for helping me get out before the party began” Cade sighed then shook hands with Caleb who hit him lightly at the back of his head.

“Anything for you, bro” Dimitri tap his back and shook him a bit aggressively before his hand was slapped by Cade who threw him a dirty look.

“Your mum didn’t really look pleased with how you guys behaved” Caleb states and they rolled their eyes except for Cade who just wore a small smile on his lips.

“I’ll apologize,” Cade said “Mum is quite aware of how I feel about crowds and how much I didn’t want to go to this university in the first place” he looked at Aiden who was scrolling through his phone then to his brother and Caleb “I would have preferred a university with not so much population” he shrugged.

“It’s just to get the degree, I could do that online or go to a non-populated university for that”

“But dad is against that, you are very aware of how much dad takes pride in doing things in an expensive and executive way” Dimitri states, and Cade shrugged.

“At least I got out alive, no more girls trying to get my attention because I am the son and next heir to all my dad’s property” he put his hand behind his head while laying back.

“If I didn’t have a girl, I would have enjoyed the attention I get from those girls” Dimitri comments.

“You’re still with your girl but that didn’t stop some of those girls in your university to throw themselves at you” Aiden pointed out and grabbed some snacks from the tray she brought in then threw a pack to each of them.

“I am not that kind of guy, I am loyal and I stay with just one girl which is my lady, Daniella”

“Yeah, whatever”

“There is going to be a dinner later tonight to celebrate the success of Cade’s graduation” Caleb mentioned and both brothers let out heavy sighs “What is the problem now Dimitri? We are quite aware of why Cade feels such a way”

“I forgot about the dinner and already asked Daniella out on another date… she has been feeling stressed out these past days and I wanted to ease up the stress she is feeling” he explains.

“I am not a fan of being around your girlfriend but I would do anything to third wheel in your date” Cade looked at his brother.

“Nah, I go on my own… singles aren’t invited,” he said.

“If I bring my cute brunette friend, can I come along?” Aiden asked and Dimitri shook his head.

“No third wheel, no double dates. It's just going to be me and my love” he said to them and Caleb rolled his eyes after which they met with Cade’s own who looked bored.

“I will just take a walk and probably be back when dinner is almost done,” he says.

“I know that you know that you can’t even try it,” Aiden told him and he grunted.

“I’ll just be present, I don’t want to have to go over with it again and again till mum thinks it's okay for me not to have that dinner celebration”

“I wonder why you don’t like the attention of others, it's quite a good feeling actually, although some will mess with your business, that’s all part of it” Dimitri encouraged.

“I have heard you” he stood up to his feet “See you guys by dinner,” he said then grabbed his phone and walked out of his room to go for that walk.

When he got downstairs, he saw Sofia and Audriana sitting on one of the sofas in the living room as they talked about something and giggled, not wanting to bother them, he walked quietly away from there and to the back door from the kitchen to leave the house.

His phone rang and when he checked who the caller was, a smile instantly graced his lips.

“Hi, I was about to call you,” he said then heard a small sigh from the person on the other side of the call.

“It’s fine Cade, congratulations on your graduation,” she said to him and he chuckled.

“Thank you, dear, how did your day go? Are you feeling better now?”

“Yeah, I am good, thank you. I think my stomach is settled now, I took a few medications that Dave prescribed for me so it calmed the storm in my stomach”

“I am glad to hear that, please be careful of what you eat, okay?”

“Sure boss” she replied as a soldier would. “Tell me about how your graduation ceremony went,”

“I wish there was more to say honestly” he looked up at the empty street then turned to the right to see if its where he wanted to stroll to.

After much contemplation, he decides to head the other way.

“My cousin, friend, and younger brother managed to drag me out before the party started, you know how I am with the crowd?” he told her “I’d just prefer something quiet and small, nothing too noisy or elaborate. Also, there would be a dinner with the mostly close family” he informed.

“Okay, that’s good… make sure to attend”

“I have to, don’t want to make mum mad anymore. She wasn’t pleased with how we behaved earlier”

“No mother would be pleased to see their son act in such a manner. I will be heading out to run some errands, I just wanted to make sure that you were okay and that your graduation went well”

“Thanks, dear, have a lovely day,” he said and they said their ‘goodbyes’ before he disconnected and continue walking.

…

The day was slowly getting tired as the sky began to darken, luckily for the workers at the tavern. It was quite packed with so many customers requesting the most expensive drinks and wine they had in store.

They were quite short on staff seeing as just a few worked the evening and night shifts so getting the customers their drinks was quite a hassle but those working their shift could pull through. They were able to get ‘Big Mark’ to stop his whining and get him a standby waiter who would answer his beck and call.

“Damien, could you arrange for me some chips and two cans of those sodas for the big guys by the door?” the brown-haired woman in a small pink dress, an apron tied around her waist, and a scarf packing her hair on top of her head.

“Sure Lex” the man on the counter winked then began arranging what she asked of.

“Hey Lex” a big-chested man who had a wife beater on with a worn-out cowboy hat on his head, called out to her and she turned around to look at him with her brows raised as she awaits what he wanted to say to her. “Some dude back there wants to have a word with you,” he said.

A frown instantly crowned her feature as she looked behind him at the man he was talking about. At the far end of the tavern was a man in an all-dark brown attire, sipping from the cup in front of him as he checks his watch from time to time.

Lexi suspected that he might be the one she has been avoiding for so many years and feared what he would do to her this time, now that he was able to confidently approach her at her place of work.

Seeing the uneasiness that played on her face, the big guy offered to walk him out and keep him away from the building.

“No, it's fine. I will go see him now, nothing to worry about” she said and called one to the working waitress to serve the table she was going to serve then walked to the man in slow steps as she tried to think of what she could say to him so that he can get off her tail.

The man was one of the reasons she made a really harsh decision and she didn’t want to keep running away from him. She needed him to leave her alone and just mind his business since she had made a choice to stay out of his way.

“You would have just stayed hiding under the shadows instead of coming here to disturb my work” she napped then sat on the chair opposite him.

The man raised his head to look at her and familiar grey eyes met with hers for a while before she looked away and focused her gaze on the cup he was sipping from. She could feel the same kind of chills he gives every single time they look into each other’s eyes.

It definitely wasn’t the good kind of chills and she didn’t like it one bit.

The man said nothing but continued to look at her as he sips his drink. He noticed the fear she held for him and it was something he cherished more than anything. Maybe this time, she might just give up and do what he wanted her to do so that he can leave her in peace if it pleases his heart.

He was aware that she was fidgeting but commends her for her ability to cover it up and look bold in front of him.

It was funny how those familiar sets of beautiful orbs brought about comfort to her long ago and now these sets that stared at her didn’t rather they were cold, dry, and empty of anything remorse, conscience, or emotions.

“I was wondering that you might actually send one of your minions to deliver whatever message you have for me” she comments then looked back at those cold eyes, trying not to let it get to her. “Maybe I just got lucky or whatever you want to get across to me is something really huge and important to you” she shrugged and he let out a small laugh.

“If it’s concerning our last meeting then no,” she said firmly and he smirked.

“We both know that you can’t stand to your words for too long because no matter what, you will always respond to my every request”

“You’re a monster” she states.

“You haven’t complimented me in a while so I’ll take it, thank you” he bowed a little then continued sipping. “So, not to take too much of your time, he would be coming to town soon, I will lure him here and as soon as he comes, he will surely look for you so I want you to accept him and welcome him into the family” he instructed.

“Treat him like family and from there I will take it over,” he said.

“And to think that I will listen to you?” she asked with sarcastic laughter.

“I bet you have no choice except you want to completely lose all that you have now” he threatened and that shuts her up.

She could feel her eyes water after he said that, she was carefree and was bothered about a few things. Those things were people she cared deeply for and it hurt her that she lost them soon.

“You bastard, you took almost everything from me, and now you want to take it all from me? I hate you?” her words were coated with the number of dislikes she bore for him.

“That’s why you need to cooperate so that it stays at an ‘almost everything’ level as of now,” he says to her then finished his drink, stood up, put a few cash on the table, and waited to say something to her. “I will see you when I see you next, remember my offer and pick wisely”

She watched him walk out the door and couldn’t explain whether she felt relief that she might not be seeing him in a while or what steps he was going to take this time to pull through his threats.

“GOD help me” she muttered then stood up and went back to work.