CHAPTER 6

Xavier slammed his fist into the steering wheel, his knuckles white, and a barrage of profanities escaping his lips. His frustration was palpable, and his father was the epicenter of it all.

"Fuck!" he roared, raining blows upon the unyielding wheel, the remnants of his heated exchange with his father coursing through his veins. Finally, he halted, his labored breathing syncing with the rhythm of his racing thoughts.

Through the windshield, the oncoming traffic appeared as a blurry tableau.

His head shook, desperate to find an escape from this mess.

"Relax, buddy, just breathe," Alex, offered with a concerned look.

"Relax! Seriously, Alex, you want me to relax? My life is spinning out of control. My dad has lost his mind. I can't believe he's forcing me into this," Xavier hissed, his frustration palpable as he struck the steering wheel again.

"I tried to forget everything for a couple of hours at the club, but it's not helping. This Aurora girl is driving me insane."

Xavier's face displayed a vexed blend of annoyance and frustration as he exhaled deeply. With an exasperated huff, he pushed open the car door and stepped out, irking the drivers in neighboring vehicles. Honks blared, and cars swerved to circumvent his parked vehicle, the irritated drivers vehemently voicing their discontent. At the edge of the road, the gusty wind struck him forcefully, briefly stealing his breath away.

Pacing along the pathway, he wrestled with the anger simmering within him.

"Dad can't do this. He can't do this. I need to find a way out of this wedding farce. Think, Xavier, think!" he murmured to himself, his gaze fixed on the bustling road below.

Since his father's shocking revelation of his impending marriage, unease had nestled in his core.

"Buddy," Alex's voice called from behind.

"Everything will work out for the best."

Xavier's eyes met his friend's, a blend of annoyance and despair shaping his countenance.

"Work out for the best, you say? Come on, Alex. How on earth will marrying a gold digger, a manipulator, a... slut, for lack of a better word, work out best for me?"

Alex just shrugged, at a loss for words, and glanced down at his feet.

"Please, leave me alone, Alex. I'm not in the mood for your inane remarks," Xavier retorted, annoyance radiating from him.

"Sorry, buddy, no can do," Alex replied, offering a supportive hand on Xavier's shoulder.

"I get it. You feel like your life has been upended. But you're Xavier Knight. I've never seen anything get you down. Just breathe. It'll all be okay."

Before Xavier could reply, his phone chimed, interrupting the moment. Retrieving it from his jacket pocket.

Xavier read the message, his brows furrowing with consideration. After a moment, he spoke, his tone contemplative,

"It's Robbie. There's a party at his place."

Alex shook his head emphatically.

"No, no, no. Don't even consider it, Xavier. You need to go home and get some rest. It's been an incredibly long day," he practically pleaded, genuine concern etched across his face.

"With your current mood, a party is the last place you should be. We don't need any more headlines, buddy. You won't hear the end of it from your dad!"

"Are you kidding? A wild party is probably just what I need," Xavier stated, as he swiftly climbed into his car, the engine growling to life as he revved it up with determination.

"You coming or what?" Xavier called from the car window.

"I suppose I am," Alex sighed, climbing into the car, and they sped off into the night.

*********************

As Xavier and Alex arrived at the party house, the raucous sounds of music and laughter filled the air. The brightly lit house beckoned with the promise of a wild night ahead.

"Xavier, come on, man," Alex urged, his voice laced with concern. "You really should reconsider this. You've got a lot on your plate right now with the wedding and everything. A party like this is only going to complicate things further."

Xavier glanced at his friend, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. "Alex, I appreciate your concern, but I need this right now. I need to clear my head, even if it's just for a few hours. I can't let my father dictate my every move."

Alex sighed, realizing that Xavier had made up his mind. "Fine, buddy, but promise me you'll be careful. I don't want to see any more trouble on the news, especially with your dad breathing down your neck."

Xavier merely nodded in acknowledgment and headed into the party, leaving Alex with a mixture of worry and resignation.

As Xavier and Alex approached the front door, scantily dressed women sent them sultry smiles, catching their attention by subtly straightening up.

"Hey Xavier, Alex," some of the women called out.

Xavier turned to them, wearing a confident smirk.

"Ladies."

He turned back to Alex.

"Looks like it's going to be one hell of a party tonight, my friend."

The moment they stepped inside, they were met with an atmosphere thick with the sweet and pungent smell of weed smoke. The cloud of smoke hung in the air like low-hanging fog, wrapping the party in a hazy embrace.

Xavier settled into a plush leather armchair, he surveyed the scene before him. He longed to revel in the carefree spirit of the night, to rebel against his father's impending wedding plans for him. But he knew all too well that rebellion would be futile, as his father had a firm grip on the situation.

The room buzzed with chaotic energy, the thumping music making the floor vibrate beneath their feet. There were people dancing, laughing, and lost in their own world.

Despite the chaos, Xavier found his place in the midst of it all, feeling like an indolent king perched on his throne, silently observing the revelry while sipping his drink.

Shitty trance music echoed through the speakers, filling the room with an incessant, throbbing beat. Xavier couldn't help but frown as he leaned back in his chair, sipping his drink, and his dark eyes darted around the room. He grumbled when the song became intolerable.

"What the hell, Alex? Turn that crap off," Xavier snapped, his frustration evident.

Alex flashed a playful smile, and then, with exaggerated theatricality, blew Xavier a playful kiss. Xavier, annoyed by both the music and Alex's antics, couldn't help but release a heavy, exasperated sigh.

With the music silenced for the moment, the room felt a bit more bearable, but the party continued in full swing, bathed in dim, colorful lights that pulsed with the new music, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere.

A hand slid sensuously along Xavier's jean-covered thigh, briefly pulling his attention away from the thumping music. He glanced down to find Elizabeth, coiled between his spread legs, kneeling on the floor. As he stared at her, he couldn't help but wonder if she had chosen the wrong lighting to do her makeup.

Under the harsh glare of the lamp behind him, her face and neck displayed a stark contrast, making her makeup appear uneven and almost artificial.

The excessive application of foundation left her skin dry and mismatched, a stark difference from the illusion of a flawless complexion she seemed to be aiming for.

"Guess who?" she trilled, her voice pitched just a few notes too high.

Xavier couldn't help but roll his eyes. The question she asked was rather obvious, considering she was right in front of him.

He would recognize her anywhere, even without seeing her, because nobody else wore the same overpowering perfume she did. It was insufferable.

Xavier gazed at her for a few moments.

He contemplated the idea of venting his anger and frustration on her, knowing that Elizabeth often served as a convenient target for his irritation. It was perplexing that no matter how rude he could be to her, she never quite seemed to grasp the hint.

"Let's go somewhere more private?" Elizabeth inquired, her fingers lightly tracing along his thigh.

Xavier gently removed her hand, redirecting her attention. His voice carried a tone of authority, instructing her,

"Not now Elizabeth. Get me a drink," even though there was a nearly full beer on the table right next to him.

“Of course," Elizabeth responded with a sultry purr, using her hands to help herself up onto sky-high heels, which clacked too loudly on the tile floor as she sashayed away.

Xavier's gaze lingered briefly on her departing figure, recognizing her semi-decent assets, before Alex plopped himself down next to him.

"I can't believe you turned her down. Must be taking this whole marriage thing seriously," Alex chuckled with a teasing tone.

"Mention the 'M' word again, then it'll be your last, Alex," Xavier replied sharply, his voice laced with a hint of menace. Despite the warning, Alex couldn't help but grin mischievously, seemingly unfazed by the threat.

"Maybe you need a few hits, man. You look tense as hell," Robbie remarked as he took a seat opposite Xavier. The vape hung loosely from his hand, and Xavier realized he hadn't taken a pull from it in several minutes.

He glanced around the room, gazing through the haze of smoke, his mind consumed by the inner turmoil caused by his impending marriage.

The idea of being forced into this marriage had thrown his life into disarray. As he considered taking Elizabeth up on her offer, he hoped that engaging in something depraved might help him temporarily forget his problems.