Day One: The Fighting Couples

“A new bartender? This must be the guy that got my son angry,” Polo hummed softly, his hand under his chin.

“I didn't know you'd given birth, please what is the name of your son?” Herod asked with a sarcasm-filled voice.

Polo didn't reply to his question, purposefully ignoring him. Herod sighed and took one of Polo's chicken beef. Polo wanted to stop him, but he was fast.

Lanky sat still, patiently waiting for Ashley to bring Maverick to the dining room. He didn't have to wait for long because a few minutes later, Ashley and Maverick entered.

Maverick looked shy and was secretly admiring the house. While Ashley looked happy to have him around.

“Good evening,” Maverick greeted the men at the table and bowed. Before coming, Caleb had permitted him to spend his first week in the house as a normal bartender, he wasn't to act like a detective, so that he wouldn't be suspected.

“What a handsome lad!” Polo exclaimed and stood up from his seat, moving towards Maverick to shake his hand.

Maverick was surprised to see the two handsome men at the dining table, and he couldn't help but wonder if all Lanky's friends were hotties. He felt a shiver run down his spine as Polo shook his hand, and they both looked each other in the eyes, till Ashley cleared his throat.

“You are so handsome, do you have a lover?” Polo asked straightforwardly, not hiding his lustful intention towards Maverick. Their hands were still together, as his eyes roamed over Maverick's body.

Maverick didn't know how to answer that question and thank the heavens that he didn't answer it, because if he did, Herod would have eaten him up alive.

‘Is he checking me out? Oh my gosh! I feel so hot all of a sudden. I can't believe I am in the middle of four demon princes,” Maverick's dirty mind cried out as he felt Polo's eyes linger on his lips.

“Can you let go of him?” Ashley asked Polo, his voice sounded like that of an angry man, and a deep frown was on his face. Reluctantly, Polo let go of Maverick's hands, a cunning smirk on his lips.

“I like your body by the way, I think it makes you look sexy,” Polo licked his lower lip seducingly, as he praised Maverick.

“Thank you very much, sir,” Maverick replied politely. He nervously began to nibble on his fingers when he noticed that Herod was staring at him with an intense gaze.

Lanky must have noticed his nervousness, because he pointed at an empty chair beside Polo, “Take your seat and join us for dinner,” he informed him, and Maverick immediately sat down.

“Thank you very much,” Maverick appreciated, looking relieved.

“What would you like to eat?” Ashley asked him with a broad smile, happy to be back in the dining room.

“Anything is fine, I can eat anything,” Maverick replied, returning the smile.

Ashley filled Maverick's plate with all sorts of delicacies, and he served him a cold wine.

Lanky kept quiet, he seemed unhappy at the gentle way Ashley was treating Maverick, but he didn't complain.

“Do you usually give a VVIP treatment to all bartenders, because I might need to apply as one?” Herod asked Lanky with a curious look.

“No, not really, but we don't maltreat them either. Ashley believed that everyone is equal,” Lanky replied with a plain voice and continued nibbling on his steak.

“I can't blame him for having such a belief, he was a poor and skinny man before you met him,” Polo whispered just enough for everyone at the table to hear. He offered to clink glasses with Maverick, and Maverick readily agreed.

Lanky gave Polo a disapproving look, annoyed at what he said about Ashley.

“Remind me Herod, why are you in love with such an irritating man like him?” Ashley asked, turning to face Polo.

“Oh my gosh, in love? That's so clingy,” Polo said with a distant voice and shuddered as if he was feeling cold.

Maverick and Lanky sat still, listening to the conversation, and secretly looking at each other.

“I still haven't gotten the answer to that, maybe I'm cursed,” Herod replied and hissed at Polo.

Polo didn't look offended, it looked like he didn't care, and he continued his carefree attitude.

Once again, silence enveloped the atmosphere. Maverick felt caught up in the ongoing quarrel. He didn't know the two men or if they were connected to the hard drugs business, all he could grasp from their conversation was that ‘Polo and Ashley don't get along. Herod was in love with Polo, while Polo didn't care, if anything, he was an everyman's cupcake.

Polo's phone rang, and after looking at the caller ID, he quickly picked it up, a smile plastered on his face, “Where have you been, man? I became so lonely without you?” He asked the person at the end of the call.

Herod shifted on the chair, looking uncomfortable and a flick of pain passed through his eyes on hearing Polo's words.

“Wow, that party might make up for the years I have lost,” Polo informed the caller, and he stood up from the chair. He hurriedly drank the last content of his soup, “Wait for me, I will be there in a jiffy, and don't forget to secure the sexiest men for me,” he smiled at what the caller said before cutting the call.

“See you later, BB. I have to run,” Polo told Lanky, and they both shook hands.

“Where are you going?” Herod asked with a gentle voice, but Polo ignored him and left.

Herod looked frustrated, he dropped his spoon, and covered his face with his palm, “Can I spend the night here? Polo is probably throwing a huge party at home. I wouldn't be allowed to enter,” he said to Lanky.

“Sure, stay for as long as you like,” Lanky replied, offering Herod a comforting smile.

“You guys fought again?” Ashley asked, curiously looking at Herod.

“Goodness, y'all are already aware of what happens in my relationship!” Herod sounded tired, and he sighed, “I am seriously tired of trying to make us work. He doesn't respect me. I'm not allowed to do the things I like, while he makes new friends and parties like there's no tomorrow. He even sleeps with other men!” He lamented, his voice filled with anger.

“I have already told you not to jump to conclusions, have you caught him in bed with someone else?” Lanky asked with raised brows.

“Well…. No, but isn't it obvious that he is bored of me? You heard his conversation with his friend, you also saw the way he flirted with your new bartender,” Herod murmured, trying to convince himself that he was right.

All eyes were on Maverick, probably trying to figure out why Polo flirted with him.

Maverick bit his tongue, blaming him for joining the men at dinner, ‘Yeah, already gaining unnecessary attention!’ His mind roared.

“You know that Polo thinks like a child. Perhaps he did that to make you jealous, and I admit I am aware of his annoying flirting behavior, but I doubt he is cheating on you,” Lanky confessed, but Herod didn't look convinced.

“If you're tired of him, why not ditch the fool? He doesn't deserve you anyway, and I'm sure thousands of men will do anything to be your husband,” Ashley advised. It was obvious by his tone that he didn't mean what he said.

“He will kill all the other men before they get to you,” Lanky joked lightly, and Maverick's ears widened at once.

“He is just like you, too protective and easily jealous. By the way, were you able to bury the –” Herod paused what he was saying, on remembering that Maverick was at the table with them.

Maverick had a smug smile on his face, and he wished Herod had completed his words.

“Birdie, how about I show you your room? The other maids are asleep so you won't be able to meet them today,” Ashley proposed and stood up, Maverick immediately followed suit.

“Okay,” he agreed, and bowed to Lanky and Herod, “Good night.”

Lanky didn't reply to him, while Herod nodded in acknowledgment. After that, Ashley led Maverick out of the dining room.

“He looks normal, but I still don't understand why you employed a new bartender all of a sudden, you don't even need one. The cops are still after you,” Herod voiced out his thoughts to Lanky.

“You are right. I don't know why I hired him, but I have a lot of plans in stock for him,” Lanky replied, a cunning smile settling on his face.