His Obsession(5)

“Why the fuck did you leave me this shit?” he said to the painting. There was no answer, and he grunted in exasperation while walking out of his office. He usually hired several cleaners and cooks, but since meeting Ursula, he liked only having the one woman inside his house. Stephen lost count of the number of women he’d found inside his bed wanting to be seduced. He picked his own women and his own playthings. Every part of his life, he found a reason to moan. Life never used to be like that. He loved being part of the whole world where he could walk into a room and command attention instantly. There was a time where he used to sleep with other men’s wives and mistresses just because he could. When he looked back on those times, he felt himself sneering at his own attitude. He never cared if anyone liked him. The only thing he cared about was getting his own way.

There was some orange juice with the label “drink me” on it. He noticed Ursula’s handwriting immediately. Turning the label over he saw the added message, “You need to stop drinking whiskey. Otherwise you’ll end up like this”. There was a picture of a stick man with a large belly on his back looking sick.

Stephen burst out laughing. She really did have a sense of humour. He checked the time and saw there were a few hours until she arrived for the afternoon.

He decided to go and pay Cadeon a visit. Stephen rarely visited members of the club at their home, but he’d made friends with a few members.

After a quick shower and changing into another white shirt and pants, he grabbed his car keys and drove. The shirt from the night before had been put in the bin. There was no way he’d be able to clean tomato juice from the fabric. They were expensive shirts. He would never dock her pay. One of the few pleasures in his life was Ursula. She would probably laugh at him.

He pulled up outside Cadeon’s house and saw his friend’s car in the driveway. The gate was open. He put the car into park. Stephen was getting out of the car as the front door opened. Violet stood looking at him. Seconds later, Cadeon walked up behind her, circling his arms around his woman’s waist. Stephen watched him speak to her, and then she left with a blush on her face.

“She still doesn’t like me?” he asked.

“Violet doesn’t understand you.” Cadeon came down the few steps to greet him.

“What’s not to understand?” He shook his friend’s hand, looking over his shoulder to see if Violet was there.

“She’s gone to put the kettle on for you.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t got her tied up or something.”

“Violet is not ready for that,” Cadeon said.

“And you’re fine with waiting?”

“I love her, Stephen. If she’s never ready, then I’m fine with that.” They walked into the house together. “She doesn’t know why, for someone with as much wealth as you, you’re so miserable. There is a woman out there for you. She doesn’t know why you are not looking. She came from nothing but fear. You came from nothing but love, and yet you’re both the complete opposite about life.”

Cadeon stopped talking when they entered the kitchen. Stephen took a seat at the counter as his friend went to his woman. His arms went around her waist once again, and he fell to kissing her neck. The love between the two could not be ignored. Stephen felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He would never feel that with anyone. Violet closed her eyes and leaned back into Cadeon’s touch. The trust on her face was something Stephen had never seen with her. She and Cadeon had fought for everything they had together.

Cadeon pulled away. “We can sit at the table.”

Stephen followed him into the other room. Violet came through with the drinks. She placed one in front of Stephen then two in front of Cadeon. Before she moved away, his friend caught her round the waist, sitting her on his lap. He seemed to be fascinated by her waist.

Stephen thought about Ursula. She was a full woman like Violet, and she had a small, rounded tummy. He smiled thinking about last night only to stop short at the fact she had a boyfriend at home. Violet tapped his friend’s hand then got up, taking her cup, and left.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt your time together.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’ve got the rest of our life together. You’re here to visit. What’s the problem?”

Stephen took a sip of coffee. He only wanted his friend’s company, but he might be able to sort out the problems at the club. Cadeon was a businessman after all.

****

Lucas was pissed off. The mornings were his time to himself. This time he had to find that bastard, Sean. The other man always had a way of spoiling his fun or at least the small amount of fun he could get these days. He pulled up outside Sean’s house and knew the place would be trashed. Lucas was sick and tired of dealing with his shit. Turning the engine off, he walked through the door and was overwhelmed by the stench of cigarette smoke, stale food, and whiskey. There was broken furniture around every room. Lucas knew Sean had no relationship with his parents. He knew they’d set Sean up with a trust fund for him. The other man could spend the rest of his life in luxury, but he took high risk missions by being a bloody operative. That was how Lucas had met Sean, and that was how Sean had met Isabella, his sister. His hands tightened into fists at the memory of her phone call. For the last five years he’d done everything in his power to try to get her back. They had no idea where she was. Sean had promised him he’d find her and bring her home. A groan came from the room on the left. Walking over the broken bits of a chair and stand Lucas found Sean coming ‘round on the couch. It looked like he’d been run over by a truck. Blood had dried on his face from a cut on the eyebrow and lip. There was bruising over the left side of his face. He wore a stained shirt. An ashtray was overflowing with docked out butts. Lucas leaned against the wall and watched the man before him.