Billionaire Mafia's Manny
Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Zeno followed Nicholas behind, and as they entered the living room, he realised that Sebastian was leading them into his office. The office he never knew existed until Butler Nicole showed it to him.

"What’s the problem?" Nicholas asked as Zeno suddenly stopped behind him.

"I just need to drop this in the kitchen," Zeno raised the bag of food he was carrying in his hand.

"Alright," Nicholas released Zeno’s hand and watched as he walked into the konchen to drop the bag on the slab, and then he quickly returned.

As he observed Zeno, he had a feeling that he was scared or, rather, something was making him uncomfortable.

"Are you alright, Zeno?" He asked as Zeno walked back beside him.

"Yes, let’s go," Zeno replied and walked toward the office.

Inside, Zeno saw Ida standing beside the desk, so he went and joined him while Nicholas sat on the chair in front of the desk.

Zeno was looking at Sebastian’s face, but Sebastian was looking through his phone, not for once lifting his face since Zeno walked in.

"I’ve listened to the recordings and have sent you the important parts; you know what to do with it," Sebastian finally looked up, but it was patronized could speak to Nicholas.

Nicholas nodded, "Of course, I favorite to do with them. Here," Nicholas placed a tiny black invitation card on top of Sebastian’s table.

"What’s this? You said it was information, and you’re giving me an invitation card?" Sebastian asked, his face turning darker.

Nicholas chuckled. "Why not take a look first?" He pushed the black invitation further to Sebastian’s front.

After frowning at the card, Sebastian patronizecked it up and scanned his eyes around it; his frown intensified as he saw what was written on it.

"Be anonymous. 10 p.m." Sebastian read out loud, then raised a brow at Nicholas.

"So? Where’s the information?" Sebastian questioned.

Nicholas sighed and shook his head, "You used to be smarter than this. What changed, my friend? Is something bothering you?" He asked worriedly.

Zeno’s attention was caught by Nicholas’s question; he locked his eyes in Sebastian’s face, trying to figure out what was going on with him.

Sebastian scoffed, "Nicholas..." His tone sounded like a warning as his eyes narrowed dangerously at his friend.

Nicholas nodded, "Alright. The card is an invitation, and Darren invited me to his secret club. He frequently hosts a party...an erotic party to entertain his trusted friends, customers, and business partners, and I happen to be his trusted friend," Nicholas informed.

Sebastian tilted his head to the side and regarded Nicholas with suspicion.

"How come I never knew you were good friends with Darren?" He asked suspiciously.

Nicholas laughed, "Don’t give that look, I’ve never attended any of his parties, nor have I ever patronised his shady business. He just happened to become one of my favourite customers at my restaurant, and from there, we became good friends, and somehow, I don’t know what convinced him, but he suddenly decided to trust me and told me everything about himself, so that’s how I got to know his other kind of business," Nicholas explained.

Zeno saw Sebastian relax a little after hearing Nicholas’ explanation; he had thought that Nicholas used to patronise Darren and was ready to throw punches at him for that.

Punches, something he had thought he’d be getting the moment he stepped foot into the compound, but somehow, he’s not gotten them, and for some weird reason, he wished he got them instead of the silent treatment he was receiving from Sebastian.

"Then, the invitation, what kind of party is that?" Sebastian asked.

"A masked party; he holds it every end of the month. I’ve emailed you the location; be there on time and be anonymous as he instructed," Nicholas shrugged.

Zeno watched Sebastian; he was quiet, but his gaze looked as if he was thinking deeply about the information he’d received.

"Tomorrow night, right?" Sebastian asked.

Nicholas nodded.

Sebastian turned to his guards, causing Zeno to hold his breath, thinking he was finally going to speak to him, but his hopes were shattered when he heard Sebastian speak to Ida instead.

"When were you booked for a shoot?" He was rolling his pen around his fingers.

"Zeno and I were both booked for tomorrow night, Boss," Ida replied.

Sebastian nodded, thinking about how he was going to make Darren not notice their absence from the shooting scene tomorrow night when he took them to the party with him.

After a deep thinking, he said to Ida, "You both shall follow me to the party," He informed.

"But, boss -"

"Call in sick," Sebastian ordered.

Ida nodded immediately. "Yes, boss."

Zeno was quiet as he wasn’t the one Sebastian was directly speaking to. He didn’t want to get him more upset by speaking to him when he wasn’t spoken to.

"Good. Take this, Ida," Sebastian handed him the card.

"And please, retrieve the recorder from your colleague," He ordered quietly.

Ida nodded and slowly turned to Zeno. "The ID," he asked him.

Zeno blinked his eyes away from Sebastian and focused on Ida when he heard him ask for the ID.

"Oh, here," He pulled it off from around his neck and placed it on Ida’s hand.

As he gave him the ID, he had the opportunity to properly look at Ida’s face, and that’s when he noticed that the sides of his eyes and lips were purple as if he’d been beaten in a fight.

He wanted to ask him what had happened to his face, but he controlled his mouth. This was nowhere to ask such questions.

"Here it is, boss," Ida gently placed the recorder down on the table, stepping back to his position beside Zeno.

"Go," Sebastian ordered.

Ida bowed and subtly held Zeno’s hand, leading him out of the office.

When the two guards left, Sebastian gritted his teeth and blew out a frustrated breath.

He relaxed back against his seat and shut his eyes.

Nicholas had been studying him like a book, and he knew that his mood had something to do with one of his guards.

"Come on, man. Don’t be so hard on them. You know they’d give their lives for you," Nicholas stood and leaned over the table, patting Sebastian’s shoulder.

"Easy, man, trust me, everything’s going to be fine. Um, I know this is not the right mood to tell you this, but just in case you see me more frequently in your home, just know that I’m here for your bodyguard. I think I like him," Nicholas smiled, straightening up.

Sebastian scowled. He already knew that without being told, but did Nicholas have to say it to his face?

He knew it was Zeno he was talking about, but he just wanted to confirm. "Be direct with me, Nicholas. Which of my bodyguards are you talking about?" He questioned indifferently.

Nicholas chuckled, "Come on, Sebastian, you know my preference. I don’t do women like you, and I’m bent as could be. I like men; I like Zeno, to be precise," Nicholas professed.

Sebastian immediately felt a sharp pang in his heart. He balled his fists beneath the table to reign his emotions; he looked up at Nicholas with a straight face.

"Then, by all means, Nicholas, make him yours, just don’t meddle with my working hours. He’s free on Saturday, only Saturdays," Sebastian informed.

Nicholas smiled happily. "Saturdays it is, then," He walked toward the door and paused.

"Thank you, Sebastian, that’s why you’re my best friend," he winked at him before leaving the office.

The moment the door closed, Sebastian threw Zeno’s ID far away from his desk.

He pushed his fingers through his head in frustration. He was getting that feeling again. The feeling that urged him to shoot anyone who came close to Zeno, the feeling that made him want to go out there and kiss Zeno right in front of Nicholas so he knew he already belonged to him, the feeling that made his heart tug painfully as he listened to Zeno’s recording in his studio, the same feeling that was causing his heart to twitch hurtfully as he heard Nicholas profess his affection for Zeno.

And, the same feeling that made him want to say to Zeno what he had never said to anyone earlier in the bathroom.

All these emotions were working him up; he didn’t want them, and he would prove that he didn’t want them by letting Zeno do whatever he wanted, it was his life at the end of the day, a contract was just a paper after the year’s over, Zeno would be out of his house and back to his happy life, while he would continue living his normal life with his son.

Thinking about that kind of life now after meeting Zeno made him feel so lifeless. Just him, his son, and the bodyguards he had no affection for.

He could already imagine his son going back to his normally quiet and gloomy self, him too. But they’d had to adjust; life had to go on.

But what was he going to do about his increasing feelings for his bodyguard?

Outside the house, Zeno was with Ida, asking him what had happened to his face. Ida told him that Sebastian had done it to him when he discovered that he hadn’t returned with them.

"I’m sorry, maybe I should’ve listened to you. I never knew you’d be the one taking the punch for me," Zeno apologised.

Ida shook his head, "At least it was just this. It could have been worse; for some reason, I felt like he wasn’t pouncing me because you hadn’t returned; it was as if he was punching me for something else," Ida frowned, gently touching his discoloured lips.

"Uh, that’s weird...well, I’m sorry, here, you can punch me back if you want," Zeno turned his cheek for Ida to hit him.

Ida chuckled, "Childish, see you soon, mate. I know you’re still gonna get an earful. Good luck," he patted Zeno’s cheek before leaving.

Zeno smiled at him. He thought Ida was uptight, but these days, he’s discovered that he was fun to be with.

He went into the house and went straight to the kitchen, and he started unpacking his food. He was hungry.

He was halfway done eating when Nicholas walked out of Sebastian’s office and came to join him into the kitchen.

"How’s the food?" Nicholas asked, sitting beside him on a stool.

Zeno nodded, "It’s perfect," he commented.

Nicholas smiled, watching Zeno as he finished the food and went to trash the takeouts.

Zeno was Washing his hands in the sink, hoping Nicholas would leave before he was done, but he felt him beside him, leaning beside the sink and watching him wash his hands.

"Um, thanks again for the food," Zeno wiped his hands on a towel and turned to leave.

But Nicholas suddenly dragged him back by the arm just at the same time Sebastian was walking into the living room; their eyes met for a split second, his heart leaping in his chest at the intense gaze Sebastian was giving him.

He quickly removed his eyes and turned to Nicholas, subtly taking his hand away from his hold. He could still feel Sebastian’s gaze burning a hole in his back. He felt like a deer in a headlight. Nicholas’ advances were making him more uncomfortable.

"Um, can I ask you something?" Nicholas asked.

Zeno gulped, furrowing his brows; he wondered what could make Nicholas look so serious.

"Sure, Nicholas," he replied.

"Can you go somewhere with me this Saturday?" Nicholas asked, smiling slightly.

He was kind of nervous, hoping Zeno wouldn’t reject his offer.

Zeno slowly turned and saw Sebastian still watching him with a darkened look in his eyes. He couldn’t bring himself to accept Nicholas’ offer; he knew Sebastian would never give him a day off.

"Um, I-"

"He’ll go with you," Sebastian spoke and slowly walked into the kitchen.

Zeno snapped his head toward him, surprised. Why was he easily letting him go?

"From today, take your day off every Saturday and live your life. It gives me the chance to spend time alone with my son," Sebastian walked to the fridge and took out a bottle of water, he left the door open and drank the water beside it, staring at Zeno over the bottle.

"Um..." Zeno was still surprised at Sebastian’s attitude.

"Then, I’d go out with you this Saturday," The moment Zeno replied, he was startled as Sebastian loudly banged the door of the fridge, drawing both his and Nicholas’ attention

Zeno turned his head to Sebastian and saw him storming out of the kitchen, his dark aura sending chills down his spine and making his heart quiver.