Chapter 02

Silas's POV 

I blinked once…then again as my heart kept beating in my chest. Did this mean that Emery was…alive?

But when I opened my eyes, the space near the buffet where he was standing just minutes ago was empty.

It was happening again. My mind was playing tricks on me again…dragging me back into years of hallucinations when Emery's ghost followed me everywhere.

A year after his death, I had been hospitalized for three days after chasing his phantom ghost through the park, screaming his name until I fainted.

The doctors had called it a grief induced psychotic episode…but I called it hell.

“Ladies and gentlemen. We are honoured to have tonight one of New York’s most successful entrepreneurs ....” The MC's voice interrupted my thoughts. “Please welcome Silas Vaughn to the stage!”

Me? How come? I hadn't even prepared a speech. My assistant usually handled these details. I had been too focused on showing up to think about actually participating.

The crowd clapped expectantly as I straightened my suit and managed to walk to the podium.

“Children are our hope…” I started unsure of what to say. “I didn't have the easiest childhood. My parents died when I was twelve and I spent six years in the orphanage. No one wanted to adopt the angry kid with anger issues”

People started murmuring amongst themselves. I'm sure this was not the kind of story they were used to from other sponsors.

“But sometimes I wished someone believed in me…and that's why today, I'm giving these kids the chance I never got…”

My words were silenced when I heard a commotion at the back of the room. Someone was clutching his nose bleeding profusely while another man was shouting and fighting against security guards who dragged him towards the exit.

“You rich people…” he shouted angrily.  “You laugh at poor people…while starving artists like me rot because you refuse to buy our work! My paintings are worth more than your designer handbags!”

The crowd laughed, calling him names. “Security, get that lunatic out of here!” someone called out.

I just stood there watching as security manhandled him…it made me feel so bad. But then…he turned to fight against their grip and then I saw his face clearly.

He was the same man…the same one who looked exactly like Emery and had been stuffing his face with food earlier.

So I wasn't dreaming? Was he actually real?

“Stop!” I climbed down the podium as I shouted to the guards. “Stop! Let him go!”

Security hesitated, looking between me and the man they were holding.

“Sir…this man assaulted a guest” The head of security protested. “He is clearly unstable…”

“I said let him go. Now!” 

They released me immediately, the young man straightened his shirt, as his green eyes met mine.

Up close, the resemblance to Emery was even more startling. Same nose…the same eyes, but the only difference was that this man right here was razz and younger than Emery.

“What happened here?” I asked him, I couldn't stop staring at his face.

“Sir…I did nothing wrong. I was just trying to sell my artwork. These people here spend more on a single bottle of champagne than I make in a month…but they wouldn't even look at my painting. So when that asshole…” he pointed towards the bleeding guest. “Told me to know my place, I helped him find his”

There was this passion in his voice that was similar to Emery's. Emery had talked about his business ventures the same way…who is this guy?

“How many pieces do you have?” I asked.

He blinked, clearly not expecting the question. “Twelve…I sell for two hundred each but you can…”

“I'll buy them all for five times the price”

His mouth fell open, around us the crowd had gone silent straining to hear our conversation.

“Sir I…”

I pulled out my checkbook scribbling quickly and turned to the injured guest. “Your medical bills are covered plus, you get a week at any of my hotels, I'm sorry for the inconvenience”

I tore off another check and handed it over to the event coordinator. “Five million for the foundation. Consider it a donation in lieu of finishing my speech”

The young artist's eyes had gone wide moving between me and the checks like he couldn't believe what was happening.

“Follow me” I said, already moving towards the exit.

We got to the car and he couldn't stop staring at the interior.

“This car is so dope! This is a custom maybach right? The interior design probably cost more than…”

“What's your name?” I interrupted, unsettled with how much his knowledge of cars reminded me of Emery.

“Julian…Julian Reed” 

“Are you related to Emery Vaughn?” I asked, breathing heavily.

He laughed, shaking his head. “I have never heard of him but it sounds like a rich man's name. I don't watch the news so I wouldn't know…my dad died when I was five, so it's just me and my mom now”

I swallowed hard…I didn't know if I should feel relieved or disappointed by what he saw.

“Your account details” I said as I turned to him.

He called out his account number and just then his phone beeped. He pulled it up and froze. “I thought you were joking about the price…I…I've never received this much for my paintings before”

But I wasn't even hearing him anymore.  My body betrayed me…blood rushing south for the first time in five years.

“You look sixteen” I muttered, my voice sounding rough and strained as I tried to hide my bulge. “Are you even legal?”

“You will know I'm not sixteen when I take you in my mouth. I'm twenty two” he said, his eyes shining with mischief.  

“And yes…I know you want me, I saw you checking me out earlier…and you've been trying to hide how hard you are. I want you too…I mean, who wouldn't? With a face like yours and I bet you're huge down there. Well…you can do whatever you want with me as thank you for buying my paintings”

A nervous laugh escaped me. “You…you're very straightforward”

“Is that good or bad?”

“Both”

I called my driver inside and he started the car immediately.

“Where are we going?” Julian asked.

“My house”

He smirked. “I thought we were going to do it here…in your car”

I couldn't help but smile. “You're naughty”

Before I could say more, he leaned across the seat closing the space between us. His lips met mine…pushing his tongue into my mouth, not giving me a chance to breathe.

By the time we reached my penthouse, I was already trembling.

In my room, I barely had time to breathe before Julian pushed me on the bed.

“Let me suck this shyness out of you,”  he said, already reaching for my belt.