A/N
This is way overdue. Sorry…but I made it long so enjoy! And of course…review!
I'm not a very superstitious person. I do believe everything that happens, is supposed to happen. I don't think rain is a bad omen, and I don't think if you step on a crack, you'll break your mothers back. Just like it's okay to walk under a ladder, and cross paths with a black cat. In fact I used to have a black cat. With little white paws. I called her boots. But my point is that if something odd or "eerie" happens, it doesn't mean the grim reaper is around the corner to suck out your soul. It's just bad weather. I wish I could convince more people to think like that. "The first million I have in my bank account, I'm buying us a house in this area." I glanced over to my left and extended my left hand setting it on his. He turned his hand slowly, almost at the same slow speed he was driving and laced our fingers together. "Can you imagine what we could do with a house like these? Have our own basketball court…a pool, a hot tub…maybe have three or four extra rooms for a gym for me, and an office for you. Oh and we could have a room just for Romeo."
"You spoil that dog James. He's going to end up being a fat needy jerk who only likes his daddy." My hand was squeezed and I turned my head to look back out my window as I yawned. My body and my mind were exhausted and I almost canceled this dinner but I was curious to see Louis's house and I didn't want Carlos and Kendall to go by themselves. First of all, Carlos barely knew the guy and that wouldn't be fair. And Kendall…well Kendall doesn't have a filter, and after what I showed him on Wednesday he hasn't been the easiest person to talk to. He won't mind just blurting out that he thinks Louis had something to do with the break in. If I was there, I would be able to help Carlos keep Kendall quiet. I think I have done a good job of convincing James Louis isn't a bad guy. At least enough to make him not think he had anything to hurt Carlos or that he's obsessed with me. "The first million I have in my bank account I'm taking us on vacation. To…Rome or maybe Paris."
"I don't speak Italian or French." I laughed quietly and squinted trying to read the street names passing us.
"That's why you have me handsome. I think we're getting close. You remember the house number right?"
"Of course." We both went quiet, him gently rubbing my hand, still in his, with his fingers. "So…I know you told me not to bring this up tonight…" I groaned as loud as I could and set my head back closing my eyes. My hand was squeezed and raised. He kissed the top of my hand and the ring on my finger and sighed. "I know…I know alright I just have one thing bugging the hell out of me." I rolled my head gently to look at him and watched as he turned down a street, hopefully the right one. "You literally saw all those pictures on his computer, saw a video of us having sex on his computer and to top it all off with a cherry, you saw a video of someone, beating the shit out of our best friend. All on his computer. Why is that not enough proof for you that this dirt bag is, in fact a dirt bag?"
"James I've said this once already." He looked at me quickly before paying attention to the road again. "Louis just fired an assistant who thought loved him. Louis probably told Matthew a million and one secrets. How do you know everything that has been happening, hasn't been Matthew's fault? I mean the guy was just trying to get up in the financial world and he thought sleeping with the CEO would help. When Louis said no, Matthew freaked out. You saw the police report. Why is only Louis, someone you barely know, capable of doing this to us? To me, and Carlos? Why isn't Matthew just as capable? Taking pictures of me, planting cameras in my office, Louis's…everywhere I went…and then send them to Louis to maybe black mail him in some way? Why doesn't that seem to make sense to you?" I breathed out hard staring at the side of his face, only seeing a blank reaction. I smiled small, knowing I had won, yet again and looked straight ahead. The first thing I saw was Kendall's car parked on the side of the road a little way up by a huge, mansion. I frowned noticing as James pulled up behind Kendall's car, and turned off our car, there were two people in the car in front of us. I glanced to James who sighed and took off his seatbelt.
"Kendall, no doubt, has said or done something really stupid." I smiled and pulled my hood on from my black coat and took off my seatbelt pushing open my door. When I slammed my door shut I looked ahead of me to see Carlos getting out of the car, not looking happy at all. He looked at me but looked away fast walking up to the walkway. He didn't look back at Kendall who said his name quietly. I stifled a chuckle walking up to James and wrapping my arms around his right one as he led us up the walkway after Kendall. "What happened buddy?" Kendall only shook his head as he situated the beanie on his head and walked up the huge beautiful porch getting right next to Carlos as he knocked on the door. Kendall wrapped around Carlos's waste but Carlos shoved him off. I smiled and looked up at James who was also smiling. "I must say you two are very cute. All mad and what not."
"Shut it James." I shoved my face into James shoulder and giggled along James.
"Gentlemen!" I turned quick and smiled bright at Louis who was holding the door open for us motioning us to go in. Carlos shoved past Kendall, literally shoving him away from him, and walked in the house handing what looked like a pie to Louis. I didn't even notice he had it in his hands. Then again he had his back to me since getting out of the car. But seeing him hand the pie to Louis made em remember the bottle of wine in my own car.
"James…the wine is in the car." He sighed and kissed my head turning and running back to the car fast. I smiled, walking in behind Kendall who looked awkward and uncomfortable shaking Louis's hand. When I walked in, I shivered a little and let Louis pull me in for a hug, comforting me instantly. "We brought you a bottle of wine."
"That's not necessary but thank you." We pulled away and I laughed gently taking off my coat. "And were going to be drinking a little champagne tonight! We need to celebrate!" I frowned as eh took my coat and walked to Kendall and Carlos taking their coats. Kendall also gave him, his beanie giving him a death glare. Louis just smile back and I cleared my throat getting all three of their attention.
"What are we celebrating?" Louise handed the coats to a lady who was probably his maid and clapped his hands together rubbing them.
"Well we'll talk about it by the fire and wait for James. He'll want to be here of this. Why don't you guys go ahead and walk in there and get comfortable and I'll bring out some drinks and some appetizers." I nodded and walked to an open French door stepping in, letting my jaw drop to the floor. It looked like maybe this was his living room. There was a huge fire place on the side wall with a nice big flat screen mounted up on the wall above it. On the mantle were pictures of Louis and his family probably. The fire was blazing and it was the first thing I went to. My hands were freezing, so I decided to stand in front of the fire and warm them while looking around. While I turned I saw Kendall and Carlos on a brown leather couch not looking happy or at each other at all. They were actually sitting on either end of the couch, anger written all over their faces. I sighed and looked back down at the fire shaking my head.
"Can you two get a long please, for just one night while were at dinner? Seriously…nothing is that important to be this pissed off about."
"How can you just stand there and be okay with all the shit they did behind our backs." I turned quick and stared at Carlos who was now standing pointing a mean finger back at Kendall. "He is a jealous idiot who has to be the big bad tough guy, "protecting" me when all he's doing is running around in a circle chasing his own tail!" I frowned and looked at Kendall who stood up fast, just as James walked in holding the bottle of wine. "They are making shit up Logan, and you out of all people shouldn't be okay with that! Saying this guy has pictures and videos of you…"
"Well he does." I gave a evil glare to James who shrugged and sat on the couch in between Kendall and Carlos. "And he had a video of you getting the shit kicked out of you." Carlos turned to me fast after glaring at James and stomped his foot, kind of in a childlike manner.
"This is what I mean!" Carlos walked ot me and forced me to keep eye contact with him. "Kendall wants em to quite because he doesn't want em to get hurt, and I've tried to tell him there is nothing to worry about and that I can take care of myself but…" I quickly set my hands on Carlos's shoulder and shushed him.
"Calm down. Don't worry about any of that. Let them have their wild theories and do stupid shit. They can't hurt anyone. Trust me." He sighed and looked down crossing his arms over his chest. I let him go, walked around him and went right next to James on the couch. I sat down roughly, glaring at both of them and mouthing. Idiot to Kendall who looked away and also pouted like Carlos was doing. James draped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer into him. I wrapped an arm around his stomach and crossed my legs as best as I could.
"Okay I have this spicy jalapeno artichoke dip that is just amazing on crackers." We all looked to the door and watched Louis set down a plate and four empty glasses. "Let me go get some plates and I will share the exciting news." He walked out quickly, me not missing a chance to look at his butt. I now the guy is attractive. Everyone does. I can't help myself.
"Eyes up pervert." James voice slithered into my ear making me shiver. I elbowed him in the ribs, making both of us giggle.
"I'm going to find the bathroom." Carlos was out of the room faster than the speed of sound but it gave me the opportunity to reach across James and smack Kendall's chest. Hard. He shoved my hand away and rubbed it whining quietly while glaring at me.
"You had to tell him there was a video of him getting beaten!? What the hell is wrong with you!? There is a reason I didn't want him to know Kendall! Can you figure out what that was?" He gave me a dumb look making me just that much more pissed off. "Kendall he already feels weak and helpless around you and James because of your guys size and strength…imagine how he must feel knowing he couldn't protect himself when someone broke into his house. And to top it all off to know they taped it must make him feel even worse. SO good job asshole on making your boyfriend, the guy you claim you love, feel pathetic. And awesome job demanding he quit his job even after all these years he's stuck by your side and watched every game you've ever played where you['ve gotten your nose broke, your jaw knocked out of place, and countless fights with different guys! He never once asked you to quit because he knows it makes you happy, but I guess only you get to be happy in your relationship! I can see a relationship for you is you being a protective dick who has a hold of the reigns to tight!" I sat back hard and fast and looked straight ahead at the fire. James gently rubbed my arm making em dig deeper into him. The whole room was dead quiet except for the fire cracking. And it stayed quiet until Louis walked in and set down some small plates and a few napkins.
"Please help yourself to anything. I'm going to go check our dinner while Carlos uses the restroom, so please make yourselves at home." I smiled bright at him as he backed out of the room whistling quietly.
A few minutes passed with James and I talking quietly while eating form one late of the dip and crackers. Kendall stayed on his corner of the couch pouting not saying one word. I stayed very close to James, practically on his lap and occasionally I would catch him looking at Kendall offering him some food. But Kendall was being a world class dick and if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have noticed how long both Carlos and Louis were gone. When they walked in together something definitely seemed wrong. I could see it in Carlos's eyes. He had been crying and I'm not sure if that's because he was just so angry at Kendall or if it had something to do with Louis, who I noticed, and a hand on Carlos's back. That seemed very off to me. And as soon as Carlos got close enough he gently sat on the arm rest of the couch closest to Kendall. He reached down, grabbed his arm and laced their fingers together. Everyone, including James, who was way too into his crackers and dip noticed the odd look Kendall gave Carlos, but no one had time to ask about it. "Alright…so I must admit I knew about this last weekend and the real reason I wanted to have this dinner tonight was because of some exciting news I have for you, Logan." My cheeks went a little red as I looked to Louis who was now pouring champagne into five glasses. "I received a phone call last Friday night as I was finishing up some work in my office, from our headquarters in New York. Apparently your work ethic, your skill level, and the fact that you can speak five different languages has spread like wild fire." Louis handed out the glasses only staring at me. He had a smile on his face, that sort of looked like he was…proud. "Someone was very impressed with how you handled the French customer. SO impressed in fact…" Louis sat in a chair sort of close to the fire and raised his glass. "They are making you head of your own department. Foreign affairs." My mouth parted slightly and he sat up fast waving his hand through the air. "The details are still being worked out. From what they've told me, you are going to keep your office, have a 20,000 dollar salary raise and technically be your very own boss. Now I know, just as well as you do that New York has a lot of people who can speak every language you can but for right now, you are our best bet. We want to expand to Spain, and Italy and maybe even Germany and you are going to be our guy for that. Much like what I do, with the customers on U.S soil, you will have a client list, you will work on their financial portfolio's and convince them to work with us. A lot of what you already od, but maybe a 50 percent work load increase." I don't think I've taken a solid breath since he said my own department. My mind felt numb, but it was a good numb. I was getting a raise and only after two weeks of working as an assistant. "I know it's a lot to take in, and I probably didn't even tell you all the good details. But only because there is going to be a meeting on Monday with the CFO form New York who is going to officially offer you the job." He sat back slowly raising his glass again and smiled big. "Congratulations Logan. Most people have to work their whole life to get this kind of opportunity. You did it in two weeks. That is very impressive. So…cheers." When he started to drink his champagne I blindly followed, squeezing my eyes shut hard and downed the whole thing. I heard a small chuckle beside me and opened my eyes setting my glass on the table turning to look at James who had obviously only taken a tiny sip since he was driving. But he was smiling and he was staring at me. I swallowed the rest of the liquid hard and fast and wiped my chin. He laughed again and leaned in kissing me softly.
"Congratulations baby. I'm proud of you." I breathed out low and soft and managed a smile. My mind was still not comprehending all of it quite yet, and I couldn't decide if this was a dream or if it was real.
"And from what they told me there will be heavy travel." My head snapped to Louis fast and I was hit by a truck. That wasn't the most ideal thing to hear at this point. "Mostly to New York but sometimes overseas. I mean…that would be great for you two, especially if James had taken the job in New York." Again I snapped my head but this time to James who was staring right at Louis.
"What job?" James swallowed hard and turned to me licking his lips. "You got a job offer in New York?" He nodded slowly making me scoot a little away from him and turn towards him. "You didn't tell me? Why?"
"Because I…" He stopped and glanced around the room at the three people staring at us concerned. Louis cleared his throat fast and stood up, excusing himself and asking Kendall and Carlos if they wanted a tour of the house, which they both agreed to. They walked out hand in hand, and Carlos looked back at us giving me a sad look. I ignored him and crossed my arms over my chest looking back to James how was no doubt searching through his dumb idiotic brain to find the right words. "I got it the night you got the job with Louis. I didn't want to one, steal your thunder, and two let your dream come crashing down like that. I turned it down and we moved on. It's not a big deal." He set a hand on my leg but I shoved it off.
"Not a big deal? If it wasn't a big deal you would have said something along the lines of, oh hey, I got a job offe4r but it wasn't a good fit so I turned it down." He sighed and set his elbows on his knees looking at the coffee table in front of us. "What was it for?"
"Sportscaster for ESPN." My mouth dropped open and quickly shoved him with surprising force. "Logan take it easy. It's not a big deal! I didn't want to take the job, so I didn't!" I tried to talk but he cut me off and grabbed my hands with his. "And I didn't even tell you about it because I know how you are! You would have gotten all guilty and what not. You would have not taken this job, not have been happy, and would have convinced me in some super smart way to take the job! I didn't want to do that to you! Excuse me!" I closed my mouth fast and bowed my head down shaking it softly. "You would have not gotten this opportunity, to do what you actually love and want to do, if I had said something that night. I know you too well Logan. Don't make this a huge thing, and please don't be mad at me. I didn't do this to hurt you, or be deceitful." I looked up fast and locked eyes with him. He gave me a pleading look, to forgive him and tell him I loved him and I was just about to, but something caught my eye. Something that I probably had seen and looked at, but didn't even put two and two together until right now. I saw it over James shoulder and slowly I stood myself up. "Loges?" I let his hands go and walked around him and the table and walked to the small desk up against the wall next to the doors. Sitting on top of the desk was a sweater, and a bag. If no one knew who it belonged to like I did, they would assume it was Louis. But I knew it wasn't, because I don't think he owned a black backpack, or a black cardigan. Not these two anyway. "Logan? What's wrong?" I quickly unzipped the backpack and reached in gasping quietly. I grabbed a hold of keys and a wallet. I pulled them out and recognized the keys instantly. "What are you doing?" I felt James get right behind me, and knew he was peering over my shoulder. And when I opened the wallet after setting the keys back in the bag, I heard him whisper what the fuck seeing the driver's license. Henry's face was smiling bright up at us. I turned quick to look at James who had his mouth hanging wide open and a confused look on his face. I head soft laughter and talking coming a little closer and quickly shoved Henry's wallet in the back pocket of James black jeans and closed the backpack fast. "Why did you put that it in my pants?" I grabbed his face fast and pulled him down to me, to kiss him hard. Our eyes stayed open and I shook my head softly closing my own. We both heard the footsteps stop at the door and he immediately put his hands on my sides.
"Looks like they made up. And just in time for dinner." I pulled away slowly still holding his face and forced a fake smile. He swallowed hard and also smiled gently pulling my body into his. "Let's eat so Louis can tell you more about your job!" Carlos looked completely different, and so did Kendall. They were both smiling and holding onto each other, and it looked genuine. I glanced back up to James who only nodded and started walking us out to of the room following the other three.