Billionaire Mafia's Manny
Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Chapter 44

Throughout the shower, Sebastian had gone quiet after muttering those words, Zeno didn’t say anything either.

They quietly left the bathroom, their towels tied around their waists. Zeno’s mind always kept going back to what Sebastian had said.

What did he mean when he said this wasn’t how things were supposed to turn out for them? How were things turning out for them?

Zeno was lost in thought and didn’t see Sebastian as he picked up the contract he had come with last night and stretched it toward him.

"Read this and understand our contract better; I don’t want you going out of line," Zeno brought his mind back to the present and frowned as he took the paper document from Sebastian.

Zeno heard the anger underlying his voice and couldn’t help but wonder what had suddenly changed his mood since the bathroom.

He was about to ask Sebastian what the problem was when he saw him already heading to the door.

"Sebastian...boss," He quickly corrected; playtime was over, so he needed to go back to just being his bodyguard.

Sebastian paused but didn’t turn, he didn’t want to see Zeno’s face for now.

Zeno sighed, "Did I do something wrong?" Zeno questioned.

Sebastian clenched his jaws, angry as he felt his heart tugging painfully as he heard Zeno’s concerned question; this was what he was talking about...they weren’t supposed to act or feel this way for one another.

What was happening to them?

Zeno saw that Sebastian was quiet, and he slowly started to walk toward him, wanting to get closer to him; maybe he’d talk to him when they were standing next to each other.

"Don’t touch me," Sebastian warned coldly as Zeno was about to hold his arm.

With a confused frown, Zeno lowered his hand to his side. Sighing he asked, "What you said in the bathroom, what did you mean?" He couldn’t help but ask.

Sebastian scoffed, "You don’t get to question me, Zeno," He replied, still not turning, he pulled the door open and left the room, leaving Zeno feeling used and confused.

Zeno sighed heavily; he wasn’t supposed to be sad with Sebastian’s attitude; after all, that’s been his attitude toward him, and that was what their contract was all about, no feelings involved.

But then, why was he starting to hurt each time Sebastian treated him coldly like he used to? He wasn’t supposed to care, but now, it hurt, it hurt like hell.

"Fuck you, Sebastian," Zeno muttered and walked over to his bed, lowered himself on it slowly looked at the document in his hand.

He slowly read through the contract so doesn’t miss anything from it.

CONTRACT:

1. Do not fall in love with me

2. Never think you have leverage over others because of our contract.

3. Never get involved in my personal affairs.

4. Do not try to get too close/attached to my son.

5. Never tell a soul about us.

6. On the bed, we do everything couples do, including ’kissing.’

7. Play time’s over only when I say it is.

Zeno frowned, "Why are you trying to make it look as if I’m doing all these things you’ve asked me not to?" He scoffed.

He got the message loud and clear, and he’d be extra cautious about it. But now, he understood why Sebastian had kissed him, he had totally disregarded his term about not wanting to be kissed.

Zeno had always been the kind of person who believed that a kiss was even more intimate than the main sex, and a kiss was what built emotions and trust in a relationship, that was why he had stated he didn’t want to be kissed by Sebastian, because he couldn’t just continue to kiss someone he didn’t love and someone he had no plans of building an emotional connection with.

But as it’s gotten to this stage, he’ll know how he’ll go about it; after all, it was just a kiss, just someone’s lips on yours; it wasn’t a big deal.

Zeno had just finished dressing and was about to step out when his phone rang. He saw the caller and was surprised.

"What’s up, Anna?" He asked with a delighted smile on his face.

It’s been so long since he heard from someone familiar.

"Hi. Champ, how are you doing over there?" Anna greeted.

Zeno stood in front of his mirror and stared at himself. How was he really doing?

"Well, I’m good, I guess..." he shrugged.

Anna sighed quietly, "You know, you can actually quit the job, and I’ll help you raise the money. Will would love to help too; just come back here and join us; it’s not because I miss you, but I believe your life was way easier and simpler then..." Anna trailed off.

Zeno knew it was true. He had quite a simpler life with them, no one to complicate things for him, and no high risks of getting killed on duty.

Just box, win, cash out, and go home.

But he couldn’t go back there and abandon this job; Sebastian’s father still had a contract with him, and his Nana was still on the line if he failed to get his son married before the year ended.

"I’m sorry, Anna, but I can’t risk it, I have a lot of things on the line, and -" He paused, a knock on his door.

"I’ve got to go, Anna, talk to you later, and thanks for calling. You made my day, bye," He quickly ended the call, not wanting to expose any other person to Sebastian.

He believed Sebastian was the one behind the door, so he didn’t want him to see Anna’s name or hear her voice before he now used her as another person to threaten him.

He opened the door and was surprised to see Butler Nicole.

"Morning, Zeno. Others are waiting outside," the butler informed and stood aside to allow Zeno to step out.

"Good morning, Nicole, I was just heading out, thanks." Zeno nodded at him and quickly shut his door and walked down the stairs, not before staring at Sebastian’s door.

He wondered what was going on inside Sebastian’s head that morning, but he didn’t need to worry. He wasn’t going to go against anything he had written on the contract.

Zeno was in the living room and saw Julia sitting with Ken in the dining with his laptop in front of him. It looked like she was helping him do an assignment, and Ken looked so invested in it, so he didn’t want to distract him.

He silently waved at Julia before walking out of the house.

Once again, the black van was already waiting beside the gate as he stepped out of the house. The guys were standing beside it, but only Ida looked ready to go.

"Morning, Coach," Jeremiah was the first to see him and walked up to him, hugging him.

"Good morning, everyone; I see you guys got to rest today," Zeno made a jealous face at them.

"Well, at least, you’ve got me as company," Ida replied.

"True," Zeno nodded.

"I could go in your place if you’d let me," Jasper stepped forward, looking serious.

Zeno shook his head, "Se - the boss would kill you for that," Zeno replied.

"I don’t mind, as long as you don’t get to lay naked with those bitches," Jasper spoke, his fists balled beside him.

Everyone went quiet. They all knew what Sebastian had asked Zeno and Ida to do, but no one really wanted to talk about it. Jasper had suddenly blurted it out, making it all the more awkward.

"Alright, alright, calm down, Romeo, don’t be so green," Thomas came behind Jasper and patted his back while sending his brother a secret look. He knew his brother liked Zeno too, but he didn’t want to make it obvious yet, so Jasper was the good cover-up.

Cody was quiet, unusually, standing a little away from the rest. He had his unreadable eyes pinned on Ida as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know how to.

Ida felt him looking at him and turned his face to him, smiling reassuringly at him but Cody quickly removed his face, looking angry.

Ida sighed, he knew why Cody was acting that way, he didn’t want him to go for the mission, he had even threatened him that whatever they had going on would be dissolved if he dared to kiss someone else, and he had promised to try his best and not kiss anyone, but he too, knew that his promise was made in weak foundation.

He sighed as he saw Cody walking away and back into the bodyguard’s quarter.

Zeno didn’t know what to say to Jasper’s words, he knew he was worried, and as Thomas had stated, jealous, he had come to realize that Jasper bored feelings that went deeper than just friendship for him, and it worried him, how was he going to act normally with someone who had showed in everything he did that he loved you?

He sighed. "Don’t worry, Jasper, I hope we get what we went for before it gets to that level," He assured.

Ida nodded, agreeing and hoping it was as Zeno said; he didn’t want to lose what he was already building with Cody.

"Alright, alright, Guys, enough chatting, can our two culprits get in the van?" Lucia suddenly asked from behind.

"Culprtits? Haha, nice one, go along, culprits," Thomas laughed, tapping Ida’s hand.

Ida glared at him, snatching his hand away from him.

Zeno just shrugged, "I guess I’ll see you later," He said to Jeremiah, who slowly released the hand he’d been holding since Zeno stepped outside.

"You know, I don’t get why you guys seem so gloomy, other guys would be elated going for this kind of mission, but you two, you look as if you’ve been sentenced to death. Whatever, get in and don’t waste my time," Lucia said and entered the front of the Van.

"Wait, you’re driving?" Thomas asked.

"Yup, surprised?" She raised a cocky brow at him.

"Bye, guys," Zeno waved and entered the van, wanting to get all this over with.

"Be safe!" Thomas shouted, as Ida entered and closed the door.

As the van drove off, Zeno suddenly realized that he didn’t see Sebastian anywhere. He had thought he’d see him outside but he wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

Where else had he gone, or was he avoiding him again?