CHAPTER 220: ENGAGEMENT.

"Woah!" Mrs. Wales whispered as she stepped out of the car, her heel clicking sharply on the pavement near the main road.

She circled the vehicle with slow, deliberate steps, and the moment she stopped beside Charles, a cruel scoff escaped her lips.

"If it ain’t the cleaner boy, then who else could it be?" she purred, her voice dripping with mockery, a sly, knowing smirk curling at the edge of her mouth.

Charles swallow hard. "Good... good evening." Charles whispered but his greeting fell onto deaf ears.

"You’re working here, right?" Mrs. Wales asked, one brow arching with sharp curiosity but before Charles could even find the words to respond, she pressed on, her voice dripping with mockery, "Don’t you think it’s foolish to work for the man whose daughter is meant for Augustine?"

"Mom, that’s enough." Augustine snapped, his tone icy as he slammed the car door open.

"Charles, we need to talk."

"Alright," Mrs. Wales whispered, nodding with a sly smile. "Go ahead and talk to your shameless lover. I’ll be waiting inside."

"Mom, you signed a contract not to disrespect Charles," Augustine growled through clenched teeth, his voice low but fierce. "So stick to it because I hate hearing you treat my partner like a piece of trash."

With that he stepped down from the car, gripped Charles’s wrist firmly. "Let’s go," he murmured, tugging him away without waiting for a response.

Augustine yanked Charles several blocks away from the polished gates of Mr. Edison’s estate.

Under the cold glow of a flickering streetlight, he finally stopped, releasing Charles’s wrist.

A heavy, ragged sigh tore from Augustine’s chest as his shoulders sagged.

Charles’s breath hitched, fingers weaving nervously together while his eyes locked on the restless dance of his hands.

"I’m... I’m sorry—"

Charles couldn’t finish his sentence before Augustine suddenly closed the space between them, his arms wrapping around Charles in a fierce, unexpected embrace.

"I’ve missed you so much, Pookie," Augustine murmured, his voice low as he breathed in the familiar scent of Charles.

Frozen in place, Charles stood still as he was caught completely off guard by the raw tenderness, unable to move or respond, as if time itself had paused around them.

Seconds later, Augustine slowly released Charles from the intense hug.

Charles’ gaze stayed glued to the cracked pavement beneath his feet, his heart hammering like a trapped bird.

The weight of Augustine’s presence pressed down on Charles, and the words felt too heavy to carry... too raw to meet those deep, searching eyes.

"Pookie," Augustine breathed again, voice low and thick with longing.

Charles barely whispered back, "Hmmm?" He mumbled, a soft, trembling sound that carried everything he was too scared to say aloud.

"Don’t you miss me?"

Swiftly, Charles lifted his gaze, the nervous awkwardness melting away like morning mist.

His eyes locked with Augustine’s, burning with an honesty he hadn’t expected to show tonight.

"I do miss you a lot, babe," Charles blurted, voice rough with longing. "I... I missed you so damn much, but I never planned for us to run into each other here."

Charles words spilled out, fast and raw, unguarded and desperate.

Augustine scoffed playfully, placing his hands on Charles shoulder. "I’m glad I met you here." He stated with a genuine smile that made his eyes lit up in excitement. "I felt suffocated staying with my mom in that car. She bombarded me with questions, like a storm, asking if I really like you."

Charles’s mouth moved before his mind could catch up. "And what did you tell her?" he asked, voice low and curious.

Augustine slid his hands down from Charles’s shoulders, running his right fingers deep into his own hair before resting them at the nape of his neck.

"I told her the truth," he mumbled, eyes darting away. "Said I’m not in love with you anymore... So she said she’d find someone ’more suitable’ for me." He added. "As matter of fact, she agrees to find me another man."

Augustine bite into his lower lips, trying to suppress himself from laughing out loud at his own words.

Charles chuckled, his hands landing firmly on Augustine’s shoulders. "Come on, babe, stop playing games with me," he purred, voice dripping with teasing warmth.

Augustine couldn’t hold back as his laughter spilled out, rich and easy.

Then, with a mischievous grin, he bent down, swept Charles up effortlessly from knee level, lifting him off the ground like he weighed nothing at all.

Quickly, Charles wrapped his hands around the neck of Augustine, a wide smile plastered on his lips. "Babe, someone might see us." Charles whispered in an hush tone.

Augustine rolled his eyes as he swirl Charles around who giggle and entwined his fingers tightly around the neck of Augustine. "I don’t care if anyone sees us."

After some few seconds he halt, Charles still lifted halfway in the air.

"I plan on giving you a wonderful surprise, tonight."

"Huh? are you for real?"

"Yeah," Augustine whispered, winking his eyes at Charles. "Also," Augustine teased, eyes sparkling, "I saw that panic flicker in your eyes earlier, like you thought I’d get mad because you took that side hustle at Aubrey’s father’s place."

Charles swallowed hard, voice low and rushed, "I didn’t even know he was Aubrey’s dad. I just... tagged along with a friend, and since you said you’d be late getting home, I figured why not work for extra cash. Besides, I also needed to keep my friend company since he’s having a bad day."

"Him?" Augustine questioned, tilting one brows upwards.

Charles smirked as he nod his head.

"Pookie, why the hell would you tag along with some guy at this hour?" Augustine questioned as his voice dropped low, tinged with fierce worry. "What if he harms you? What if he... God forbid—tries something worse?"

Charles couldn’t help but let out a soft giggle, biting his lower lip as a blush warmed his cheeks.

Augustine’s overprotective paranoia was both ridiculous and endearing, and in that moment, all Charles wanted was to wrap him up and never let go.

Seconds later, Charles pulled his lips free from between his teeth, a teasing smile tugging at his mouth.

"So, from everything I said, the only thing you caught was that I ’followed a guy’?" he teased, eyes sparkling with mischief. "By the way, Reuben isn’t gay. He’s just a damn good friend with no hidden agendas."

Augustine’s brow furrowed, voice soft but laced with doubt. "Pookie, what if he is gay?"

’Gosh! This man is unbearably cute when he’s jealous,’ Charles thought, releasing his grip from Augustine’s neck, which made Augustine gently set him back down.

"Reuben is not gay, okay?" Charles said firmly, eyes locked on Augustine’s.

Augustine smirked, a playful glint lighting up his gaze.

"Come on, Pookie, don’t you know you’re so damn handsome? You could make any man turn gay."

"Hahahaha!" Charles laughed out loud, feeling hot as his heart literally skipped a beat. "If Reuben ever turns out to be gay, I still wouldn’t date him," Charles declared, his voice steady and sure.

"Hmm... Reuben is handsome and those hazel eyes... they’re sharp, he has a tall frame but none of his beautiful features can be compared to yours. You’re the only man who makes my heart skip a beat, even when you’re just standing there doing nothing."

Augustine blushed, moisting his lips with the saliva on his tongue. "You... you shouldn’t have made mention of the good qualities of your friend in other to prove a point." Augustine stated, his voice barely above a whisper, but audible to the ears of Charles.

Charles slipped his hand into Augustine’s, fingers weaving as he gave a soft, lingering caress. "I have to go now. Your mom’s probably waiting, and you should pay your respects to Mr. Edison."

"Come with me, Pookie," Augustine purred, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Besides, there’s something I want to show you."

"I... I can’t. I don’t even feel comfortable working as a waiter there, anymore," Charles stammered, the hesitation thick in his voice.

Augustine’s lips curled into a slow, sultry smile. "You don’t have to work as a waiter, Pookie. Come with me as my partner. As my lover." He purred, his voice dropping into a low, seductive whisper, pulling Charles closer with every word.

Without waiting for a reply, Augustine tugged Charles gently, leading him toward the grand mansion, their steps quickening in sync.

Eventually, as they got to the venue where the elite members were all seated, Augustine halt at the entrance of the big gigantic door, his eyes focused on Mr. Edison who was giving out a warm speech that was about to come to an end.

"Everyone, tonight isn’t just about me," Mr. Edison declared, lifting his wine glass high, "but it’s also a celebration for my daughter, Aubrey.

"Tonight, two families are bound stronger than ever before through the engagement of my daughter, Aubrey Edison, and her chosen partner, Augustine Wales."

Stunned...