Chapter 13: XAVIER BANKS

After a quick shower, I put on a black long sleeved shirt with beige cargo pants and applied cologne. I slid into one of my black sneakers and made my way back to the vanity mirror.

I brushed my hair and tousled it afterwards. Hewitt had sent a driver to pick me up a few minutes past eight o'clock but I had insisted on sleeping till whenever I felt like.

That's why I was just making my way to the event being held on my behalf at thirty minutes past the stipulated time.

“Good evening sir.” The driver greeted, bowing deeply. He was different from my usual driver. People that worked with me knew well enough not to address me as ‘sir’ but I wasn't in the mood to correct him.

“Good evening.” I replied, getting into the car.

~•|~•|~•|

The man —whose name I forgot to ask— drove into the garage and waited for me to get down before looking for a parking spot. I walked briskly to the elevator that would take me to the hall where Hewitt told me the get-together was going to hold.

Every other floor was quiet and dark until I got to the tenth floor. The saying ‘it was filled with life' didn't seem to do it enough justice.

The place was teeming with people, all of them there to celebrate what I didn't know exactly.

Hewitt and lying to me.

This was way more than thirty people and was in no way near a small get-together as he had described. The music was a bit too loud and the bright lights were almost blinding.

“Xavier, you finally decided to show up.” Kira said as she approached me with two glasses in her hand. She was probably going to hold onto that glass till this party ended.

“Hey.” I replied, shoving my hands in my pocket. “Where's Derrick, didn't he come with you?”

“He went to the restroom, I'm holding his drink for him. Do you want mine?” She asked, extending a glass to me.

I shook my head. “I'm fine, thanks.”

“Why did Hewitt throw this party?” She asked after taking a sip from her glass.

“He didn't tell you that when he invited you? That man is something.” I chuckled softly.

“Nah, all he said was that we should show up for you. I had to hand over my night shift to another doctor so I could show up for an unplanned event that had no description whatsoever, on a weekday at that.” She responded, tapping her foot against the floor.

“You know Hewitt will give any excuse to throw a party and bring people together.” I told her.

“True. What's the event for anyway? I should at least know that much.”

“The Saturday when we went out for drinks was when I was supposed to hold my press conference to address the rumors about my birth but somehow, no reporter showed up and I later found out that dad had something to do with that.” I narrated my ordeal to her.

“Dad?” She asked. I nodded in reply.

“It was becoming an issue as even the agency's PR couldn't suppress the new rumors and stories that kept on coming but today, I was able to clear the air and that's why Hewitt insisted on a get-together.”

“This doesn't look like a get-together though. Have you seen the guests here? Maybe he is trying to find you a girlfriend because the amount of actresses and models who actually showed up for this, is alarming.” She replied, gesturing to the filled room.

“I'm going to skewer that man. If he wanted me to mix up, he shouldn't have invited you and Derrick.”

“Xavier, my man.” Derrick clapped my back. “I didn't know you liked things like this. It's giving me a nice idea of what to do on your birthday.”

I frowned but when he and Kira started laughing, I eased my expression. They were teasing me as they knew I didn't like gatherings like this.

Probably why I graduated high school and university without any friends — although, dad also played a huge role in that.

“Why didn't you tell me you were here already?” Hewitt's loud voice shouted from behind me, attracting the attention of the people around us. “Have you gone to greet your guests?”

“I have just arrived but why did you invite so many people?” I asked, turning to face him. Derrick and Kira excused themselves, chatting up a storm as they walked further into the crowd.

“I promise I only invited thirty people but somehow, all these ladies came in here, demanding to be let in and I couldn't refuse them since they are popular models and actresses who seemed to have found out about the get-together.” He said, defending himself against my anger.

“You know a lot of these ladies want to date you but you haven't given anyone a chance after Kamila broke your heart.” He continued. One of the things I didn't like about Hewitt was that he just didn't know when to stop.

“She didn't break my heart.” I said through gritted teeth.

“Of course, she didn't. That was a slip. Why don't we go round and greet everyone then you can hangout with your family when you are done.” He said, smiling mischievously.

“I don't trust you.” I said to him.

“You should.” He smirked. “Come on, if you behave, I may let you have a bit of those pastries you love so much against Kira's instructions.”

He did drive a hard bargain, though.

“You've got yourself a deal.”

~•|~•|~•|

I groaned, slapping Hewitt's hand off me. “You are a wicked monster.” I let out, barely managing to hold myself up.

“What's up?” Kira asked as we stepped into the reserved corner where Derrick and Kira had remained ever since they left me in the hands of Hewitt.

“Oh Xavier, why don't we link up sometime soon? I'd really love to spend time with you.” Hewitt said in a high-pitched voice which didn't, in any manner, resemble that of the lady he was trying to mimic.

“Did a woman say that to him?” Kira enquired as Derrick remained quiet, watching our exchange.

Hewitt nodded, latching onto my arms and stroking my chin. “You have been lonely for too long, dearest Xavier. Why don't you give us a chance? I promise I'm not like Kamila.” He said again, mimicking another lady I'd encountered. Kira began to giggle uncontrollably, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“That's hilarious.” She squeaked, wiping her tears.

“Get off me, you crazy man! Never host a party in my name again.” I grunted, sitting down beside Derrick.

“Here.” Derrick said, handing me a glass of wine. “You look tired.”

I took it gratefully and downed it in a gulp. “You are right. I am very tired. Hewitt had me walk around and interact with everyone out there. It was pure torture, to say the very least.”

“That must have been difficult.” He replied. I looked up from the wine I was pouring into my glass and noticed him trying hard to rein in his laughter.

“Just let it out. You all are birds of the same feather.” I sighed, relaxing into the comfortable sofa as Derrick joined Kira and Hewitt in making fun of me.

Though I didn't like the party, I was glad that I had my loved ones around me to share this moment.