CHAPTER 011

Ciel sighs with his back hitting the car seat, he runs his hands through his hair and looks at the man sitting beside him on the back seat of the moving car.

As usual, he's polished, leg over the other as he scrolls through his tablet and a large coat strapped on his broad shoulders and over his charcoal colored suit.

Ciel looks away and looks down at his own outfit he's been forced to wear, he's dressed to impress but that's the least of his worries at the moment, his minds keep drafting back to Mr Gravis; the sudden death of the reporter is the most unnerving thing Ciel has ever come across. It's been three days and he has come up with many scenarios.

He looks at Xerxes again, calmness and composure woozed out of him; it unnerves Ciel, words on his tongue but he can't seem to force them out. It's all a coincidence right? He's just overthinking this? There's no way Xerxes is responsible for what happened to the reporter. Suddenly, a lump forms in his throat at the thought and a chill travels down his spine.

He clears his throat, finally mustering the courage to break the silence; he's been so quiet, that's not him “Did you see my latest scandal?” He tilts his head, studying the man who looks like he can burn the whole world without even lifting a finger. He waits for a reaction but he receives none; Ciel really shouldn't expect much from this man. He leans back and rests on the seat. “The scandal is gone from the internet anyway, shame he had to die but really Mr Laurent, it's a known fact that you are super rich and influential, did you have to change the whole cast overnight? I'm now seen as a gold digger, using you for your power,”

“Aren't you, Mr. Reid?” Xerxes finally answers, Ciel lets a smirk dance across his face.

“Mutually beneficial. I got it the last time. So, where are we headed, Mr. Laurent?”

Like last time, he's forced into an outfit and dragged out of his penthouse, now on the road to an unknown destination with this man that is potentially a murderer or Ciel is just an over-thinker.

“There's a family dinner I have to attend, as my fiance, you have to be there.” Xerxes answers without a single emotion in his voice, Ciel is starting to wonder if the man is capable of feeling shit.

His jaws drop, his green eyes widening. He jerks up straight in his seat. “I'm meeting the inlaws now, shouldn’t I get a warning for this level of torture? This thing might be just a contract but at least treat me like a goddamn human, Mr. Laurent!” What the hell!

“You are already used to playing roles, aren’t you? Consider this just another performance.” Xerxes dismisses him.

Ciel opens his mouth to retaliate, knowing nothing good is going to come out, he bites his tongue and rests back. He feels like a fuckng trained poodle.

~

After what feels like torture, they arrives at the front of a giantatic mansion that looks like it has a dark cloud over its roof. Ciel’s stomach churn, already having a bad feeling about this whole thing.

He hooks his hand under Xerxes’s extended hand once he's out of the car and they head for the main doors, which opens to reveal a butler.

“Welcome home Master Xerxes, everyone is already seated at the diner table.” The suited Butler says, giving Ciel a bow of acknowledgement that Ciel returns with a flat smile.

He leads them into the mansion, Ciel is welcomed with luxury as everywhere seems to sparkle, he doesn't know when he tightens his hold on Xerxes arms till the man looks at him with a gaze that's both intimidating and encouraging.

They arrive at a massive dining area, the table is filled with people that immediately reels their head towards them, judgment instantly decorating their eyes as they scan over Ciel and then it morphs into disgust.

“Told you, Mom, he's dating him now.”

Ciel looks over at the person that speaks; a young girl that looks the age of twenty and the woman who sits beside her; with an iron gaze, stern and unimpressed with familiar features that makes him instantly realize she's Xerxes's mother. The atmosphere is icy.

She stands up, approaching them with an epitome of class and disdain. “Xerxes, you are finally here, at least you still have a heart to respect the family rituals.” She doesn't smile, her grey eyes are cold and she doesn't get any closer. Swiftly, her gaze drops on Ciel. “Who is this that you've brought home?”

“My fiance, Ciel Reid. “ Comes Xerxes unfazed reply.

Ciel tries to smile despite the frosty look she gives him. “Hello, Mrs. Laurent.”

Bluntly, she ignores him, looking at Xerxes. “This isn't your father's choice, Xerxes.”

“The man is dead.” Come Xerxes's cold reply.

Her cold eyes harden and her jaws clenched, there's a glitter of hate and disgust in her eyes that a mother shouldn't have for her son. “Does your little fiance here know you killed your own father?”

Instantly, Ciel' mouth drops, he quickly looks up at Xerxes to see a sinister smirk dancing on his lips. What the fuck!?

“Not in front of the guest.” A man stands from the table, coming to stand beside Mrs Laurent, his features also similar to Xerxes but older. “Can we not do this here, please Mother, Xerxes.” he looks at Ciel and smiles warmly. “It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Ciel. I'm Liam, Xerxes's older brother.”

Again, Ciel smiles politely but before he can speak, Xerxes pulls him along to the table, taking the two empty seats.

“That's rude, Xerxes.” He murmurs under his breath. He looks at the people seated around the table again when Liam and his mother return to their seats. There are four of them, including Liam and Mrs Laurent.

“So, this is the actor you’ve brought into our home.” One of them speaks, a lady. She leans back on her seat and sneers. “Charming. I see the tabloids didn’t exaggerate.”

Ciel ignores her statement, knowing nothing good is going to leave his mouth. He clenches his hands into fist on the knee. Hold it, Ciel. You can last a few hours of this torture; he chants in his head.

When she doesn't get a reply, she looks at Xerxes. “Is this really the best you could find, Xerxes? A man whose scandals could fill an encyclopedia? If you're gonna be gay, at least find someone decent. Careful, Xerxes. People will think you’ve lost your standards.”

“Enough, Camilla.” Liam intrudes. “Let's just eat.”

Ciel doesn't think he can stomach anything with the heavy tension in the room but Xerxes fills his plate with food when he doesn't move and looks at him with a gaze that orders him to eat. Ciel resists sighing and grabs his fork, the food is halfway to his mouth when Camilla speaks again, addressing him.

“So, what’s it like, hopping from one rich man’s bed to another?”

Ciel drops his fork and retorts in distaste. “Not as exhausting as sitting through this dinner already.”

Camilla smirks, the evil glint in her eyes spreading. “That's more like the Ciel Reid I've read about, a fuckng bitch and a whore.”

Ciel almost gasps, shocked yet thrilled to finally know he can stop holding back, there's a remark on his tongue but Xerxes hand falls on his thighs and grips firmly.

Xerxes's shoots Camila a murderous glare. "The last person who crossed me didn’t get the luxury of a second chance. Do you want to see if you’re the exception, Camilla?”

Camila jaw clenches in anger, her lips quiver and her eyes twitch.. “You are threatening me because of him? That's cheap, Xerxes, I expect more from you.”

"I protect what’s mine, Camilla. That’s not a warning, it’s a fact. You will do well to remember it. Pray you don’t find out what happens when my patience runs out.” Xerxes retorts and

Camila sinks into her seat.

A knot forms in Ciel's throat and it becomes painfully hard to swallow—this isn't some family dinner; Ciel has no word to describe it.