CHAPTER 8

Xavier cranked up the volume on his stereo, the music's throbbing beat filling the meticulously soundproofed room, a sonic force field against the outside world. His jumper was cast aside, finding a temporary home on a weathered wooden bench, as he exchanged his trousers and shoes for sleek black jogging pants and well-worn sneakers. Methodically, he wound protective wraps around his hands, their tight embrace offering a sense of readiness and purpose.

With a focused determination, he advanced toward the awaiting punching bag, the room's atmosphere charged with the promise of cathartic release.

Xavier's frustration boiled inside him like a relentless storm, an unyielding tempest that had been building for far too long. With each punch, he channeled his pent-up anger into the leather-clad punching bag. His knuckles throbbed with every impact, mirroring the pain he wished Aurora could feel.

Xavier's eyes blazed with a fiery intensity, and with every hit, he visualized the source of his torment, imagining Aurora's face contorting with each blow as if the bag embodied all the frustrations he couldn't express in words.

Xavier's labored breaths echoed through the room, his bare chest shimmering with a sheen of sweat, but the storm inside him showed no signs of abating.

"Xavier"

He remained utterly engrossed in pummeling the punching bag, every fiber of his being invested in this relentless physical release, as if the bag bore the weight of his innermost demons and frustrations, rendering him deaf to the world outside his maelstrom of emotions.

Suddenly, a gentle tap on his shoulder startled him from his reverie. He hadn't sensed anyone approaching. Xavier took slow, deliberate breaths, grasping the punching bag for support. When he turned to face the intruder, his eyes locked with a gaze so intense it seemed to devour all light. Those eyes harbored a hint of danger, a facet of Alex he had never witnessed before.

"Did it do the trick?" Alex inquired, a sly grin playing at the corners of his mouth as he extended a bottle of water toward Xavier.

Between labored breaths, Xavier snatched the bottle, his eyes narrowing in confusion.

"What trick?" he managed to gasp out, the sweat on his brow glistening like a film of desperation.

Xavier savored the water's cool embrace, his parched throat yearning for its soothing touch. A grateful nod accompanied the swift, determined emptying of the bottle, each gulp washing away the remnants of his pent-up frustration. For an all-too-brief moment, he experienced a weight lifted from his shoulders, the world's burdens lightening ever so slightly.

"Did taking it all out on this hapless bag actually help you release that frustration?" he replied, a small smile forming,

In response to Alex's question, Xavier, though wearied from his physical exertion, let a small, contemplative smile grace his face. His voice, still husky and strained from the intense workout, disrupted the newfound serenity.

"No," he admitted, his eyes holding a lingering turmoil that no amount of punching could truly resolve. "But I appreciate the water."

Alex just grinned "Of course, buddy. That's what friends are for. You're getting married tomorrow, but you don't have to go through this alone. Let's make this day and night memorable."

"Yeah, My Fucking wedding. Yippee" Xavier's voice held a tinge of bitter irony as he mentioned his upcoming wedding.

With a voice still raspy from the intensity of his workout, Xavier managed a heartfelt, albeit hoarse, expression of gratitude. He looked into Alex's eyes, his appreciation apparent in the weariness of his gaze. "Thank you, Alex," he muttered, the words carrying the weight of his unspoken emotions. "Your presence means a lot to me right now."

Carefully unraveling the wraps from his throbbing hands, Xavier's fingers emerged, bearing the marks of the intense workout. He reached for a small towel, its fabric absorbing the glistening sweat that had poured from his body during the punishing session.

As they approached the refrigerator, Xavier glanced over his shoulder, curiosity etched on his face. "What brought you here in the first place?"

"I sensed you could use a confidant," Alex offered.

"You know I've got your back, always." His words carried the weight of steadfast friendship, as he watched Xavier with a sense of loyalty that ran deeper than mere words could express.

"Thanks man" Xavier smiled slightly, and extended his arms to Alex, pulling him into a heartfelt bro hug that conveyed the depth of their friendship. Afterward, Xavier's hand snaked toward the fridge, where he retrieved a cold can of beer.

A heavy silence enveloped the room as Alex and Xavier sat side by side. Xavier's expression was distant, his mind consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts, while Alex observed his friend closely.

Xavier's face darkened, and a surge of frustration coursed through him. With a forceful flick of his hand, he sent the empty beer can hurtling across the room, the clatter against the floor echoing his inner turmoil.

"What the fuck buddy"

"Urgggg..." he replied, as he got up and marched towards the fridge towards the fridge again, momentarily eyeing the beers, but the gnawing dissatisfaction urged him to seek solace in something stronger. His hand reached past the beers, fingers closing around a bottle of Scotch, its robust presence promising a temporary escape from the turbulent emotions that threatened to consume him.

Alex's concerned eyes settled on the Scotch bottle in Xavier's hand, and he couldn't help but question the choice.

"Isn't it a little early for Scotch?" he queried.

"Says who?"

The room was filled with an uneasy silence as Xavier downed the Scotch in a single determined gulp, the amber liquid burning a path of temporary distraction.

"Buddy, I get that things are tough right now, but is drinking in the afternoon the best way to cope?" His words were gentle, bearing the weight of genuine concern.

"I need it," Xavier responded.

"It's just what I needed to stop my brain from going into overdrive, thinking about tomorrow."

"I'm here for you, whatever you need."

Xavier smiled in response, still grappling with his inner turmoil.

"Talk to me, buddy. How are you holding up despite the obvious?" Alex implored, genuine concern reflected in his eyes as he leaned in.

"Fucking peachy."

"Self-pity doesn't suit you, buddy. I'm a bit of a shit for being blunt, but you need to let go of all this built-up anger. It won't do any good. Maybe you can find some common ground with Aurora."

Xavier's gaze remained unwavering, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.

"That woman... she's hell-bent on destroying me," he seethed.

"Do you honestly expect me to just sit back for two Fucking years and let her drain me dry? Women like her are insatiable; I highly doubt we'll ever find any common ground."

"So, what's your plan, Xavier?" His question hung in the air, heavy with the anticipation of Xavier's response, as if urging him to confront the looming challenges head-on.

"Simple." A devious smile curled on his lips, and he tossed back the remaining whiskey in his glass.

"I'm going to ruin her right back."

A jolt of astonishment surged through Alex, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stammered,

"R-Ruin her."

"Yes," he seethed,

"Ruin her. Make her wish she'd never been born, pray for death every day, for manipulating me into this marriage, and for weaving her charms to win over Dad."

A flicker of realization crossed Xavier's eyes as he turned to his friend. "You know what, my friend," he began, a glint of reluctant hope in his gaze,

"Since you're so concerned about the situation, maybe you can lend a hand." His words hung in the air.

No sooner had these words passed Xavier's lips, his calculating gaze hinted at what he was about to propose, and it didn't bode well for Alex. An uneasy feeling settled in his gut.

"What's with the look?" Xavier asked, his voice carrying an edge that Alex recognized meant he didn't want to be challenged.

"What is it you want me to do?"

"Unearth her secrets, fabricate them if needed. Take any action necessary to extricate her from my life. I may not be able to stop the wedding, but I'll make sure there's damning evidence, whether real or crafted, that allows me to obtain a swift divorce."

"Buddy, don't you think that's a little extreme? Framing her for something she hasn't done?"

"Extreme, Alex?" Xavier's voice rose with fiery intensity, each word laced with a mounting fury.

"Do you think it's fair for that bitch to escape without consequences for what she's doing to me?" Unsubstantiated accusations tumbled from his lips, each one pushing him further toward the precipice of his anger.

"You think it's insignificant that she's got my father wrapped around her finger? Whatever I decide to do, it's justified."

"Look, buddy, maybe what you're thinking isn't......"

Xavier snapped, running his hand through his hair, "She's overtaken my life in less than five days. A marriage doesn't happen in five days. She's definitely planned and plotted for this to happen!" he said grabbing Alex by the collar

"Xavier!" Alex shouted, his tone urgent.

"You need to chill. I've got your back, okay?. I just need to make sure it's done ethically."

Xavier gazed down at his fisted hands on Alex's collar, realizing what he was doing. He let out a sigh and released his grip.

"Sorry, man, I'm just... not thinking straight," Xavier admitted, his earlier intensity giving way to a defeated tone.

"It's okay, buddy." He had come to uplift his friend's spirits, but it seemed he'd had the opposite effect.

"So, will you help, Alex? Help me remove Aurora from my life," he asked, sounding almost defeated.

Alex hesitated, torn between his morals and the need to console his friend.

"I'll do whatever it takes, buddy," he replied with a heavy resolve.

Several hours passed, until, without warning, Xavier rose abruptly from his seat.

"Let's go clubbing. It's my final day as a bachelor, after all. Maybe I should live it to the fullest. What do you say?"

Alex brought his glass to his lips, sipping his drink to buy himself some time.

"Maybe we can stay home, watch football, relax, and chill."

Xavier stared at his friend, momentarily lost for words.

"Are you fucking kidding me? Stay home and watch TV? That's the best you've got?"

"I was just..."

"Well, my friend, get up because we are going to paint the town red. I need a little color in my oh-so-grey life."

With that, Alex found himself sitting once again in Xavier's Ferrari's passenger seat, praying the night went well.

"Ready?" Xavier asked as he revved the engine, the powerful purr of the sports car vibrating through the cabin.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Alex replied, settling into the sleek leather seat.

The sound of the engine was exhilarating, and the night held the promise of adventure and distraction from Xavier's looming wedding.