Chapter 10

We were on our way to Leo's house after minutes, if not an hour long of talking about the footage. I understood his situation and mine even better. If he gave it to me, he would risk his relationship with Alex and things might just end up being bad for him but I, if I got it and uploaded it then it would mean the tables would immediately turn. The truth would finally be out and I become the good guy. Easy and simple but the problem is that one of us had to sacrifice one thing for the happiness of the other.

Hear me out, it's not like I emotionally blackmailed him or anything. It was just a casual conversation, nothing more. Although, I wanted it real bad, I never forced him into it. After my first sentence, it didn't look like he was ready for anything like that and that was the first hint it would take a lot more work than was originally planned. I didn't make him feel bad for not helping me and told him it was totally fine if he wanted it that way. It wasn't until after our talk in the car that he changed his mind and decided he would give it. We were already somewhere else if I might add.

I was so happy to hear it, it felt like all my problems went away in a second.

"Once again, thank you very much Leo. I would've never imagined you to change your mind"

"Well, you're getting shame you're not supposed to and I might be risking things but at the end, I did the right thing and that's the point."

"Yeah, only a few people would think the way you just did"

"I'm more than happy you finally see me this way. I didn't see this smile on your face yesterday and you looked like you wanted to murder someone this morning, it's good all that is over now"

"Are you serious? I actually didn't even notice it but I'm not shocked to hear it. I wasn't happy yesterday, it was my first time at a party like that and I had this feeling something would go wrong. My guts weren't wrong cause things at last went even worse than I thought "

"It wouldn't be that way again, it wasn't easy for me when I started either"

"Your dad was literally the most successful on the planet and definitely had a lot of people respecting him so why would anyone want to do that to you?"

"Your dad's just as successful, isn't he? And you still got all of that in one night"

"I didn't even think of that" I chuckled "I'm surprised by the fact she thought of me as proud. I don't see where that is coming from"

"Maybe it's because while you were here with us, people confused your timidity for pride and honestly I did too at first cause I sent a lot of letters and didn't get a reply for a really long time. Then I realised all those letters were in my mom's drawers and the single one I got back was also written by her"

"I think I like your mom"

"She's someone you'd like" He laughed "Anyways, I'll be sure to help Alex understand as soon as all of this is over"

"You don't have to. I'm pretty sure ill be gone before anything like that happens again."

"And if you meet her again later in future?"

"I'll just have to hope I don't"

"That's a difficult way to handle things, you can't keep running away. Definitely, one thing would lead to the other and you'll have her around you again. Then what happens?"

"You're saying this cause she's your friend"

"Cause you're also my friend and I wouldn't like you both against each other. Think of how uncomfortable it would be for me"

"Fine, whatever."

"Great, then I'll take you to my house cause she's there currently as we speak"

I let out a very long sigh and placed my head in my palms. Why in the world did I agree to this? It was too early for any of that to be happening. We literally just had a conflict yesterday and things were heated up. She may have been successful in ruining me but it didn't mean she was automatically going to change.

"I cannot be doing this"

"Of course you can, we're already here"

"Are you serious? You brought me here cause you were so sure I'd say yes? That is so predictable of you. You know what? I change my mind, I'm out of this"

"I would've taken you somewhere else if you said no, honestly"

"So now I have to go inside to meet Alex again? Great" I pushed the door open and exited the car. If it needed to be done, it had to be done quickly. "Same way inside?"

"Yeah, I'm hoping you both end up friends after this. I made reservations for three at the beach"

"High hopes boy, high hopes"

Normally, in a situation that wasn't this, I wasn't so good at making friends. It most probably came from the fact I didn't like people that much, you should understand that, or because the only people I associated myself with were my family and they're not much to talk about. Throughout high school, I didn't really talk to people that much. Even though pretty much every being in the school knew who I was, I strolled in and out like a nobody and tried my best to avoid as much 'Hi's as I could.

Literally, I didn't even have someone to call a best friend. I'd met quite a lot of girls my age and on similar social status but none of them were the kind of friends I wanted.

The conversations I've had with them usually had something to do or was completely about the things money could do. Even at a young age then, there were a couple of them that already knew things they weren't supposed to. Besides, some of them are usually straight up rude.

Maybe I was over thinking it, it probably happens to other people my age and if it doesn't, don't care.

Back to where I was, I walked through the doors swiftly into the building. Leo home was beautiful and welcoming, it felt like a relief from the cold air outside. It was still a little cooler than I expected, definitely not as warm as it was in the car but still better than how it was before.

The doors were closed behind me, leaving Leo and I in the middle of two staircases leading upstairs. The rim was shiny gold under the white lights from the huge chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. The floor beneath my feet was covered with shiny white and gold marble tiles and the walls a similar color.Before me were the most elegant furniture. A long couch surrounded with two armchairs and a huge chandelier hanging right above it. A colourless glass table was right in the center of the sitting room with a little, one foot golden statue at the top of it.

A large picture frame was at the other end with a picture of Aubert sitting on a red arm chair, both his arms on the rest and dressed in a grey suit. He looked a lot younger with just little white strands among his black hair and stubs on his jaw. His look was more masculine with his jaw perfectly sculpted, defined and his lips in a thin line.

Almost like he was an older version of Leo.

His only son was right next to him, looking as young as a sophomore year high school student in a similar suit as his father, white shirt beneath it and black bow tie. His hair was gelled and combed perfectly to the side with a few strands falling across his face. He looked a little slimmer than now, his skin paler than the tanned body right next to me and jaw void of any facial hair.

The inside was so beautiful, I couldn't stop staring at the wonderful choice of colors. How come dad never thought of making our house as fancy as this? Oh yeah, too busy running errands for mom.

"Wow, your house is so beautiful"

"I'm glad you like it"

"I'm guessing you're tired from the long drive, how about you make yourself comfortable while I get some things sorted out. It'll only take a minute."

"Take your time, I'll be right here waitin_"

"Or maybe you should leave"

Okay, I recognize that voice and it made me sick immediately. Turning my neck to see who it was, I almost wanted to yank my hair out instantly in frustration. I had to grit my teeth to pour out some of the strong emotions I had in me and plaster an extremely tight smile on my face.

Ladies and gentlemen, right behind me was the one and only, Zendaya.

Just kidding, it's Alex Coleman.