CHAPTER 215: GO OUT WITH HIS MOTHER.

Charles dove his hand into his trouser pocket and pulled out his phone, quickly lighting up the screen.

With a swift swipe, he opened the SMS notification and his eyes scanned the message.

It was from Augustine Wales.

"Hey Pookie. I just got off the plane a few minutes ago, and all I want right now is to come home to you. To hold you, kiss you, and melt into your arms. But I just got a call from my mom... she wants me to stop by and see her first."

As Charles read the message, a deep frown crept over his face, stealing the softness from his features.

"I... I know you’re going to be upset, but I promise I’ll return home to you tonight, Charles. I’ll just see my mom for a few hours, then head straight to the mansion. I miss you terribly, and I can’t wait to bury my face in your neck and inhale your scent."

The last line of the second message lit up Charles’s entire face.

A soft, dreamy smile curved his lips as warmth settled in his chest.

He was just about to turn off his phone screen when it vibrated again—another text had come in.

"Pookie, my mom just called. She wants me to go out tonight with her, and umm, I known it’s sudden. She said it’s the last thing she’ll ever ask of me, at least for today. I think it’s best if I go with her."

Almost immediately, another message followed.

"But Pookie, I want you to know that I love you so much. I’ll probably be back around midnight. I’m really sorry. Please go to bed early, okay? Don’t stay up waiting for me—I don’t want you losing sleep over this. I’ll be home before you know it."

Charles stared at the screen, his fingers tightening slightly around the phone.

The smile he once wore began to fade, replaced a disappointed frowned.

Charles sighed. "It’s alright. Have fun with your mom," he texted, then slipped his phone back into his pocket.

He stared blankly ahead, thoughts swirling as the soft hum of the city wrapped around him.

Deep down, Charles knew Augustine might not come home tonight.

We were supposed to spend tonight together... Charles thought, his jaw tightening as he exhaled loudly. ’I had plans for us. A whole damn night mapped out.’

"Hey, are you alright?"

The voice of Reuben suddenly snapped Charles out of his thoughts as he fluttered his eyelashes some few times before staring at the cab in front of him.

"I... I thought you already left?"

Reuben shook his head, his hand still resting on the car door handle as he remained seated inside.

"I was waiting for your reply," he said, eyeing Charles with mild amusement.

"Huh?" Charles blinked, confused. "Did you ask me something? Sorry, I zoned out for a minute there."

"I mentioned that there’s an open spot at my night job," Reuben repeated patiently. "We need one more person to work as a waiter tonight. The pay’s decent so with suit be interested?"

"H-huh?"

Charles was still finding it a bit hard to comprehend the words of Reuben because his thoughts were occasionally drifting towards the text message that he just had with Augustine.

"You both are taking my time!" The cab driver who had been quite all this while suddenly snapped in rage.

"Sorry,"

"Sorry,"

Both Charles and Reuben apologised to the cab driver at the same time.

"Sir, just give me a minute," Reuben purred, not bothering to wait for the driver’s response before stepping out of the cab.

With steady steps, Reuben closed the short distance between himself and Charles, stopping right in front of him.

Reuben beautiful hazel eyes held a glint of something unreadable as his lips curved into a thin, teasing smile.

"You looked like you needed a distraction," Reuben murmured, his voice low and his lips curved into a smirk. "So what do you say? Would you join me tonight for an extra cash?"

"Umm, I don’t know." Charles whispered.

Sigh!

Reuben let out a heavy sigh, his gaze locked on Charles with quiet intensity. "A moment ago, you had this storm of emotions written all over your face," he said softly. "And even if I don’t know what’s going on, I just... I have this strong urge to lift your spirits—just like you did for me back at the restaurant."

Charles exhaled sharply, his chest rising with the weight of unspoken thoughts.

His eyes flickered with something between exhaustion and gratitude, but he said nothing, just stared back at Reuben, lips slightly parted, caught somewhere between resistance and surrender.

Charles appreciate the effort of Reuben but Charles doesn’t want to tell Reuben about Augustine. At least not now.

’Besides, it’s not like I won’t be able to spend time with Augustine tomorrow, so there’s no need to make tonight such a big deal,’ Charles thought, trying to calm the quiet ache in his chest.

"You two," the cab driver barked impatiently, his voice cutting through the moment. "If you don’t need a cab, just say so and stop distracting me from picking up real customers tonight."

"Sorry, sir," Reuben said with a polite nod as he turned and slid back into the car.

He glanced at Charles through the open door of the car and added softly, "Anyways, Charles, have a nice day. Call me when you get home, okay? And thank you. I’m really grateful that you showed up for me even when we aren’t so close."

With that, Reuben winked his eyes at Charles, turning his gaze over to the driver.

"Let’s go," Reuben whispered with a soft voice as he held onto the car handle and just as he was about to shot the door, Charles rushed towards him. "I... I think I need an extra cash." Charles stammered as he slide inside the car, unaware that what he was about to face would make him hate the man he loves dearly.