Assigned to You (Completed)

Chapter Fourteen: Everett

I didn’t like the way Papa’s associate stared at me. He looked at me like he was ready to pounce on a prey and devour me. I’m not sure if Papa caught sight of how Mr. Vandif stared at me and I could only hope that if he did, he’d reprimand him. After all, he did keep on introducing me as the one who would run the business when his time comes to pass.

We needed to have a discussion about that.

I think it wasn’t clear to Papa that I wasn’t interested in this business. I think he didn’t see me choosing the other way, thinking that I would be blinded by the money just as the rest of them. They might’ve raised me with a silver spoon, but I saw the world differently. I saw the gray edges that the world offered and not just the black and white.

“Ah, Everett, are you also coming to New York?” Mr. Vandif asked.

“He is,” Papa automatically answered.

I turned my head to him, the confusion evident in my eyes. But Papa had that look on his face, the one that told me that there was no room for arguments. I remained silent as Papa talked to Vandif, and I was set aside like I wasn’t even there. Curtis, on the other hand, talked with the others at our table, mingling with the ease I used to be jealous about.

I decided to text Evangeline to amuse myself. It’s actually the only way I could get through ‘meetings’ with Papa’s associates. There were a number of people who were a part of this business and I’m pretty sure that they’re an organization. One thing was for sure though, they weren’t trafficking people and that was a relief on my part. Although the whole brothel thing was still illegal.

I miss you.

I knew I must’ve sounded sappy or like a complete love-struck fool but I didn’t care. I was new to this whole relationship thing and I really liked Evangeline that much. Sometimes I feel like I really am in love with her but that’s a whole ‘nother mountain that I had to climb.

My phone vibrated indicating her response.

Guess who sent me a package.

My eyebrows shot up as I typed in my response.

I don’t like guessing. Also, I’m not sure if I’m a jealous kind of boyfriend.

Her response was almost immediate.

Your uncle.

I stared at the two words that she texted me and then looked at Curtis who seemed to be so busy laughing with those who were seated behind Vandif. My eyes narrowed and I stood up. The action caught my grandfather’s attention but my eyes were only on my uncle. My phone vibrated again in my pocket.

I think it’s a dress. I didn’t open it. I wouldn’t think you’d be thrilled if I did. I would like to return it though but there’s no return address. Don’t be mad, Ev.

“Curtis, you mind if we take a smoke break?” I asked him politely. His eyebrows furrowed as he stared at me and then he had the audacity to laugh.

I wanted to break his face. I guess I was a jealous boyfriend.

“You don’t smoke, kid.”

“Well, there are just some things that change.”

But Curtis wouldn’t budge. He continued to sit there with a smug smile on his face as he leaned against the couch, his arms cross. He wanted me to humor him and say the truth as to why I wanted him to go outside with me. He tilted his head, the smugness on his face clear and evident, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“C’mon kid, we both know you coughed so bad when you took your first cigarette and swore that you will never light another one again.”

“Curtis,” It was Papa and the smugness on Curtis’ face disappeared as he turned to his father. Papa glanced at me for a moment and I knew that he was trying to read me, “Have a smoke with Everett. He looks like he really needs it.”

Curtis’ eyes narrowed and I knew what must’ve gone on in his mind. There goes Papa again, favoring me and not him. He begrudgingly got up where he stood and we both made our way to the exit. The moment we were out of their sight and from any crowd, I grabbed him by the collar and pushed him against the wall. He yelped. He never liked to fight on his own.

I glared at him. “Why did you send her a package?

“So this is what it’s all about?” Curtis said, trying to push me away but I held my ground, my jealousy fuelling me, “Are you that paranoid that I’ll steal your girl, Everett?”

“No,” I growled, “But I know the game you play, Curtis. Lay off Evangeline, she’s off limits.”

He looked me in the eyes for a moment and then shoved me hard. “Oh, I get it. You’re angry because she really is your girlfriend and that she accepted my gift. You could’ve afforded it if you got off that high horse of yours and got an actual job.”

“This isn’t about me. This is about you trying to steal my girl again.”

“When did you care about your conquests?” Curtis said, laughing, “You and I, Ev, we’re the same. Two peas in a pod. We’re not serious with women. So why can’t we just share?”

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists. I wanted to punch him. “Evangeline is off limits, Curtis.”

Curtis tilted his head, scrutinizing me. “Oh. Oh! You’re together, aren’t you? So it’s official. Wow, your first actual relationship.”

My jaw clenched, my fist itching to collide with his face. “Yes. What’s it to you?”

“It changes the game. It changes a lot.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

But Curtis merely smirked. I wanted to shove him against the wall and maybe bash his head against it too hadn’t someone cleared their throat behind us. Both our heads snapped in the direction of the intruder and I met my grandfather’s steely blue eyes.

“Are you two done being kids?”

I glared at Curtis and then turned my attention to Papa. “I didn’t know about New York.”

“We leave tomorrow evening,” Papa told me curtly, his voice holding the finality that I was familiar with. I couldn’t argue myself out of this even if I tried, “You can bring Evangeline if you want.”

The last statement made me look at him. Bring Evangeline with me to New York? “What are we doing in New York?”

“There’s a party that we’re invited to. I’m bringing your grandmother as my date and you can bring Evangeline with you.”

I knew that I would enjoy the party with her by my side but I also knew that my grandfather was aware of this. I knew that he noticed my constant typing on my phone during ‘meetings’ to keep myself entertained. He knew that bringing Evangeline would keep me occupied and keep me from growing antsy.

But one look at Curtis made me change my mind.

“I’ll ask her. But I doubt it,” I said, knowing the right words to satisfy Papa.

He simply nodded. “Good. Get both of your asses back. We don’t need this kind of stupid argument ruin our image. You can argue like little boys when we’re at the house and never in public.”

Curtis and I trudged behind him but I shoved my uncle slightly and fired him a warning glare. “I’m serious, Curtis. She’s off limits. She’s mine.”

When we returned to the group, there were a couple of furtive glances thrown our way but Curtis and I painted the image of getting along. I laughed at his jokes when he said it to the group but kept to myself most of the night. I fished out my phone from my pocket and sent Evangeline a text.

I’m not mad at you. I’ll give you his address later so we could return it. If we can’t, I’ll return it to the store. I’m not mad at you, Evvy. Don’t worry.

I couldn’t wait for the night to be over. When it finally did, it took everything in me not to sigh in relief. I shook everyone’s hand and couldn’t help but feel dirty. I knew that they’ve had ‘tasted’ the girls that work for them too, cheating on their wives to satisfy themselves. Sometimes I’ve wondered if Papa did it too, cheated on Nana.

I felt like I could punch him if he did.

“Everett,” Papa said as we stepped into the parking lot. I turned to look at my grandfather, “You still don’t like this very much.”

“I didn’t even agree to this trial run. What did you expect?”

“That at one point, you’ll realize that this was all for you,” Papa replied with a small smile, “Your father was the heir to this business.”

Suddenly, everything became clear to me. My grandfather who was always hard for me but gave me everything I ever needed. He saw the son he lost in me and now, he saw the heir he lost that I could replace. I was nothing but a mere replacement for my father in his eyes. That was why he was pushing me too hard to like this, why he was training me, why he seemed to be ripping away my choice.

“You have Curtis,” was all I said.

Papa looked at his youngest son who was leaning against his car and taking a long drag out of his cigarette. There was that look on his face again every time he looked at Curtis as if Curtis was someone that pained him to look at.

“He’s not like your father. Nothing like the potential I see in you,” Papa said, looking at me with such pride that I’ve always wanted to see in his eyes. For some reason, my heart clenched. All my life, I wanted him to be proud of me too.

But I couldn’t do this. This was against everything I swore myself not to do.

I stopped my memories from bringing me back to the time after I met Evangeline at the beach.

Not now.

“Go at the airport tomorrow night, Everett. We’ll wait there,” was all Papa said and then he placed a hand on my cheek and looked at me. For the first time, his steely blue eyes didn’t frighten me.

I got into my car and drove back to the apartment, a million of thoughts rushing through my head. For some reason, I was torn between finally having an opportunity to make Papa proud of me and going against the morals that I’ve come to make myself swear onto.

I needed Evangeline.

The moment I arrived in the apartment building, I rushed into her unit. I found her sprawled on her rug in the middle of the living room and staring blankly at the ceiling. “What are you doing?”

She didn’t get up to see me. “Staring at the ceiling.”

“Why?”

“It helps me think.”

I locked the door behind me, removed my shoes and then lay beside her. I stared at the ceiling and we remained silent for a good of almost fifteen minutes. I reached for her hand and interlaced it with mine, loving the warmth that she radiated. Her presence was comforting. I didn’t know why. Maybe that was just what love was supposed to feel like.

I shifted so I turned my entire body to face her. “What are you thinking about?”

“Who conspires with the universe to make life difficult for us humans,” she answered quickly and then she closed her eyes, “I’m sorry if you got upset or mad about the package your uncle sent. I only read the letter. I didn’t even pull out whatever he got me. I just think it’s a dress.”

She turned her head to meet my gaze. “I don’t know if I’m supposed to say that to you. I’m new to this whole relationship thing too. I feel like I should tell you, though. Honesty is good, right?”

I smiled and then pulled her hand closer to my lips and kissed it gently. “Honesty is good. So I guess I have a confession to make.”

She shifted her whole body to face me. “What?”

“I almost punched Curtis when I found out he sent you a package. I guess I’m a jealous boyfriend, after all.”

She laughed and then touched my face with her free hand. “I think it’s turning me on that you’re jealous.”

I chuckled and then intertwined our hands again. “I also have a flight to New York tomorrow night. There’s a party we’re invited in and I would like to bring you as my date.”

“I sense a but coming.”

“But I feel like Curtis would just want to piss me off by continually hitting on you,” I said and then sighed, “I’d rather you stay here than I make a scene there.”

Evangeline smiled and leaned closer to kiss my nose. “You’re cute but I actually can’t come. I have some things to do here.”

I wanted to ask her what it was that would keep her busy but I didn’t. I let it slide, I don’t know why. There was something about Evangeline that I simply trusted. I moved closer to her and then leaned my head towards her, capturing her lips in mine the way I had been thinking of doing so all night. Evangeline laughed and I pulled her towards me until she was on top of me and our kissing turned heavy and heated.

My hands snaked under her top, my thumbs gently caressing the skin underneath as our lips continued to mold against each other, our tongues battling for dominance, our teeth nearly clashing with each other with how hurried the kiss has become. There was a sense of urgency radiating off of the two of us that I had no idea where it was coming from.

Our clothes were soon all over her living room as I flipped our position, so I was the one straddling her. I looked down at her body, my eyes scanning and watering at the sight of her. I began to kiss every inch of skin that I could get my lips on, nibbling and leaving my marks on her skin where it could be exposed for people to see, to let them know that she was mine.

Evangeline moaned beneath me as I showered her body with kisses, sucking on some parts to leave a hickey. Soon though my mouth was on her breast, sucking on her n****e while my other hand flicked the other one to give it attention. My free hand snaked down to her core and began to massage it, she was already so wet for me.

I spread her legs apart when I went down, blowing on her core. Evangeline writhed and I chuckled. I didn’t give her this much attention last night. I was ready to blow up last night that I could only kiss every inch of skin that I wanted. Right now, I felt like I had all the time in the world and if tomorrow night, I didn’t get to see her- and who knows how long I had to stay in New York- I was going to make this one as memorable as I can.

My mouth latches onto her core and all of Evangeline’s moans and groans were music to my ears. I plunged two fingers inside of her and hastened the speed, as fast as I could. Evangeline screamed my name when she came and my mouth captured hers in an instant, swallowing the rest of her screams. She was panting when I pulled away and I rested my forehead against hers, feeling her own heartbeat thumping against mine.

I was ready to pull away and grab a condom from my pants when she pulled me back, “It’s okay. I’m on the pill, Ev. I need you. Now.”

I didn’t waste another second before I entered her, chanting her name against her shoulder as she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me even closer to her. I didn’t know why we both seemed desperate for each other but I couldn’t care at the moment as she held me and our bodies tangled around each other, our screams and moans and groans filling the silence of her unit.

I pulled out of her, spent and suddenly tired from my release. I pulled a throw blanket that I saw on her couch and draped it over both of us. Evangeline rested her head against my bare chest, her red hair plastered to her forehead that was glistening with her sweat. She looked even more beautiful at that moment.

I traced circles on her shoulder as we both tried our best to regain our energy that we just spent. “Can I ask you a hypothetical question?”

She looked up at me, her green eyes still shining. “Sure.”

“Will you still be with me if you find out that I’m doing something illegal?”

“Can we turn this into a game?” she asked and I nodded. She ran her bottom lip against her front teeth and I resisted the urge to kiss her again, “Yes. I’ll still be with you.”

“Even if it could get me into prison?”

Her green eyes were bright and intense when they bore into mine. “Have I not tell you how committed I can get?”

I laughed and kissed her forehead. “Do you have a question?”

“Will you still be with me even if I do something that could hurt you?” she asked.

My eyebrows furrowed. “Like cheat on me?”

She was quiet but then she shook her head. “Other things that might hurt you.”

“If it’s not cheating on me, I’m imagining that you’re capable of doing b**m so why the heck would I leave you if that’s your play?”

She laughed and slapped my bare arm. “Not that, you i***t. Other things. If you find out that I’m capable of doing something you’ve never thought of, let’s say, like killing someone.”

I looked at Evangeline, looked at her brilliant green eyes that shone brighter even under the harsh fluorescent light. Her red hair that cascaded perfectly behind her, contrasting against the paleness of her beige carpet. The way her eyebrows furrowed as she waited for my answer, how her lips were slightly parted as she stared at me.

This girl hit me harder than anyone ever had and I don’t think I could ever walk away from her, even when she hasn’t been mine for more than 24 hours.

“I’ll even help you hide the body.”

Evangeline laughed and straddled me, her eyes wild and bright with delight. “Good answer, pretty boy, and a good answer deserve a reward.”