CHAPTER 20 — The Aftermath and High Stakes

Aiden’s laughter died in his throat, replaced by a cold, prickling dread. He glanced around the silent cabin, his face heating up until he was sure he was glowing crimson. The realization hit him like a physical blow: everyone had heard his loud denial, and the very people he claimed not to know were sitting exactly three feet away.

"What Smiths? You mean...?" he stammered into the phone, his eyes darting toward Damien. Damien remained fixed on his laptop, his expression unreadable, but the heavy aura radiating from him suggested he had heard every single syllable.

"Yes, the Smiths—I mean Damien!" Justin’s voice blared from the speaker.

Aiden panicked, his thumb fumbling for the end-call button. "Hey, let's finish this convo later. Bye!"

"Hey! Hey! Don't you dare hang up—" Justin yelled, but the screen went black.

Back at the university cafeteria, Justin stared at his phone in disbelief before reluctantly returning to the table where his crush was waiting.

"Sorry I kept you waiting, there was no empty cubicle," he lied smoothly, trying to mask the adrenaline from his frantic call with Aiden.

"Thanks for the lunch, Justin. About the Smiths..." The woman paused, her sly smile intensifying. "They are my favorites. I’ve followed their business empire for years. I was so delighted when I heard you were close to them. I thought maybe... I could finally get to meet them."

She leaned in, her eyes bright and focused. "I heard you even connected your friend Aiden with them. You must be incredibly high-profile to be that deep in their inner circle."

Justin felt a bead of sweat roll down his neck. "Oh, I see. So that’s why you wanted to talk to me? To use me as a bridge to the Smiths?"

"No, not at all," she lied, fighting the urge to fidget. "I just used that as an excuse to get closer to you. I’ve been wanting a reason to meet you for a long time."

She blushed, and Justin bit his lower lip to keep from grinning like an idiot. Oh my gosh, he thought, is this actually happening? "Can I have your contact so we can talk more? My class starts soon."

As they exchanged numbers, Justin felt a momentary wave of guilt for Aiden, but it was quickly drowned out by the thrill of his own success.

On the plane, Aiden stood up and bowed deeply to the other passengers, his face still a brilliant shade of scarlet.

"I’m really sorry, everyone. Please excuse my loud behavior," he whispered, quickly scurrying toward the back of the plane. He noticed Charlie watching him with a wide, entertained grin.

Hours later, the plane touched down in Monaco. As they walked toward the waiting cars, Aiden watched his luggage being loaded into a sleek vehicle. He approached Charlie, looking down at his shoes.

"I'm really sorry about earlier. I didn't realize how loud I was being in such a... private space," Aiden mumbled.

"It’s no big deal," Charlie replied, stepping into the driver's seat and signaling Aiden to join him. "It is I who should be sorry for what my family put you through in Tokyo. Please pardon my brother—he’s cold and lacks basic empathy for most human beings." Charlie paused, his tone shifting to something more cryptic. "But notwithstanding, your stake is high."

Aiden tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean by 'my stake is high'? I don't understand."

Charlie offered a mysterious smile, eyes on the road. "Don't worry. You will very soon."

"Hum," Aiden nodded, still lost. As they neared the university district, Aiden whispered the question that had been burning a hole in his tongue. "Did... did Mr. Damien hear everything I said on the phone?"

Charlie nodded slowly. "Every word."

Aiden’s head dropped into his hands. "Oh my gosh! What am I going to do? He probably thinks I’m a total idiot."

"Don’t overthink it. Go home and make yourself comfortable. You've had a long few days," Charlie comforted him.

"Charlie, drop him off on your way to your apartment," Damien’s voice came from the back of the car, cool and authoritative.

A few minutes later, Justin, standing by the window of their new off-campus apartment, noticed a white Porsche pull up to the curb.

"Who is this?" he wondered aloud. He watched as Aiden climbed out of the front seat, followed by a handsome man (Charlie) who walked to the trunk to retrieve the bags. Before Justin could get a good look at the stranger's face, the man was back in the driver's seat.

Aiden stood by his luggage as the engine purred. "Thank you, Senior."

"Just call me Charlie, like before," Charlie replied through the open window.

"Okay. Charlie. Please don't tell anyone where my new place is... and I think this will be our last meeting. Take care."

Charlie smiled, a hint of foreboding in his eyes. "I doubt that very much. But bye for now, Aiden." The Porsche roared away, disappearing into the city traffic.

"Welcome back, baby girl!" Justin greeted Aiden with a massive hug the second he stepped through the door.

"Thanks, Mama," Aiden replied playfully, dropping his bags. The weight of the last few days seemed to lift as they both burst into laughter, the familiar safety of home finally surrounding him.