A Love to Last Ch. 04

"And they were not impressed with the Valedictorian?" She said with a raised eyebrow. "And even at that, your family owns a billion-dollar empire and there's just no way you can tell me that they couldn't afford to buy you a car."

Ben dropped his eyes to the floor.

"And the second thing is, I have seen your family photos and you haven't appeared in any of them." She continued. "How do you explain that? There's so much difference in the way you and Jim carry yourselves, the way you dress and how you take things. It's like there's some fear in your eyes."

"It's obvious huh?" Ben chuckled nervously.

He didn't wanna lie to Amber but he also didn't know how he was gonna tell her.

"The thing is, I... I am not considered a true Henandez." He said softly. "My mother and father's relationship is considered one that was not accepted by society. They met when he was already married and I was born out of that relationship. I was so young when she died and I can barely remember her. Dad brought me along with him one night and I have been living with them ever since."

Amber was quiet for a few seconds. "Wow! Who would have thought? You and Jim are so close. You're literally inseparable."

"I know." He couldn't lose that smile. "At first, I thought I wasn't gonna be accepted by him but ever since I was brought to the house, he's never made me feel like a stranger. He supports me in everything and protects me from troubles as I do."

"That's so sweet. I have always known him to be a very good boy. I am sure your father is an amazing person too. But what about your step-mother? How is she?"

Ben was again staring at Amber with a blank face. No matter what he did, what she had done to him on his mother's memorial came back to him. She had made him so miserable that what she had was gonna be so hard for him to forget.

"I figured." Amber sighed. "But I've never really been sure of it. Let me guess, the fact that she allowed you get into her home is enough so there's no need for you to get the special amenities like her son, right?" She shrugged though she felt bad. "I am sorry if this brings any sad memories."

"Well, she did allow me to be in her home all these years." He gave a shy smile. "My relationship with my step-mother is a very complicated one. But I understand her sometimes because my mother did ruin her happy family. I am just a reminder of my father's betrayal."

Amber took Ben's hand and squeezed. "You're a very tough boy and just know that I am here for you no matter what it is. And just so you know, you can use my car anytime you want."

"I am okay." He smiled. "Besides, I enjoy riding on a bus. You should try it."

"Hmmm... I have never thought of that." She laughed. "But I promise to try."

The two friends had their lunch and went shopping afterwards. What Ben didn't realize that what he had heard was David calling him, the connection he had felt was the yearning in David's heart. But what was it that was keeping them and were they even destined to meet? It is a question that we're soon gonna find answers to.

***

David was so lost in thought that he was disconnected from his own world. The same image kept playing in his mind and the same question that he had no answer to. How the hell had he lost the boy that was just in front of him. Why was his fate so cruel to him? He didn't know what to do?

"Baby?"

David was gotten out of his thoughts when he heard Jim calling and caressing his cheek. He snapped out of his thoughts and tried his best to smile. He was in his room, lying in bed with Jim pressed tightly on his chest that was half-way buttoned up. Jim was playing with his chest, massaging it.

"Are you okay? You seem to be thinking about something."

"Just tired. What were you saying?"

"Come on, don't think too much. You're with me. Let's enjoy this moment."

"You're right." David sighed as he tightened his arms around Jim. "I am sorry. What were you saying? I'll pay attention."

"I am happy that we're like this. We've gotten so close in two weeks." He laughed as he caressed that chest like his life depended on it. "I have been with your family and now you also want to visit my family. I feel like the luckiest person on earth."

"I am the lucky one." David responded. "It's not every day you get someone so hot to propose to you and also wait for you."

"I told you that you were missing a lot." Jim turned and lay on his stomach, carefully placing himself between David's legs. He was so horny that he was leaking in his panties. His eyes were looking straight into the hunk's. "But it's not too late, you can always catch up. I think you're a fast learner, right?"

David burst into laughter. "Depends on what I am supposed to learn."

"A lot, David. For instance..." He paused and traced his fingers up to David's lips and pinched on them seductively. Then he crawled up David's body until their faces were touching, their lips brushing on each other. "...you can start by kissing me and the rest will follow."

Before David had a chance to answer, Jim was on his lips, kissing him like there was no tomorrow. The kiss was both raw and hungry. Jim couldn't control himself, he moaned helplessly as he forced his tongue into the hunk's mouth and when he was let in, he began sucking on his tongue like a lollipop.

With the other hand, Jim began tracing the man's chest downwards until he reached the buckle of his belt. He slowly unbuckled it and David didn't even realize anything. Then his hand slid into his briefs, passing through those soft pubes all the way to his dick. It was only semi-hard. He arrived at the base of his cock which he held with extreme care.

Fuck! The man was truly blessed and he couldn't wait to have his mouth wrapped on that manhood and later feel it in his sweet channel. He slowly began stroking it through the pants and that was when David realized what was going on.

Almost like a flash, his hand moved and he grabbed Jim's hand, pulling it away from his trousers and in the processing breaking their kiss. Then he proceeded and pushed Jim from him and rose from the bed. He began fixing himself, buckling his belt and stopping the whole thing.

"What's wrong?" Jim couldn't mask the disappointment in his voice.

"Nothing!" David sounded a little harsh. He felt like shouting from the emotions he felt. "Just let's not do this, please."

"What?" Jim's voice was weak. He was horny that it was hurting. His hole twitched so bad that he felt like he was gonna die if he didn't feel David in him. "But why? Aren't you, my boyfriend? I thought you wanted this?"

"I am sorry, I just can't do this." He said as he brushed his hair with his fingers. "I am not in the mood for this. Besides, we've only been together for two weeks. I think we need to get to know each other a little bit more. We can't rush into..."

"No, David..." Jim shook his head. "...whether we've been dating for two weeks or two days, it doesn't matter. I am your boyfriend and it's normal to consummate this relationship. Two weeks is a very long time and we should have done this a long time ago. See..." He got up from the bed and moved closer to David but David took a step back to his disappointment. "...I don't think we need to delay any further. I have known you for over three months now, and I have wanted to be in your arms, to feel your lips on mine and to feel like a man with you inside me. I need you."

He tried to grab his arm but David retaliated. The pain that Jim felt was out of this world.

"Are you seriously gonna deny me this?"

"I just don't want to rush into things." David knew that was an excuse. He wasn't ready to take his relationship to the point where he was gonna regret it. "That's not my style. I wanna know a little more. Besides, I told you to give me some time. You agreed to it."

Jim felt his body shiver in both anger and pain.

"You cannot be serious. I am your boyfriend for fuck's sake." He yelled, stamping his foot on the floor. "It is your duty to satisfy me when I want you and not to reject me like some whore when you know you're the reason why I am horny."

"Hey!" David raised his hands like he was surrendering. "Calm down, please."

"Calm down?" He snapped. "You want me to calm down. No, David. You're the reason for this. You know how bad I want you? But you just keep denying me as if I am some kind of hoe."

He groaned and started leaving angrily but David's hand moved quickly and grabbed him, pulling him back. He wrapped his arms firmly around him and kissed his neck.

"I am sorry, Jim. Don't be mad at me, okay? I respect you a lot and I wanna enjoy our first time together. It shouldn't just be random."

Jim couldn't control his breathing. He was too mad.

"I can't deny you anything because my body belong to you. I want you so bad too." He lied. "But I wanna make it special."

"But..."

"Please!" David kissed his neck. "Come on, my baby. I am sorry, bear with me and I'll make the wait worth it."

Jim rolled his eyes.

"Please!"

He took a deep breath and gave a gloomy sigh. Then he turned and wrapped his arms around David's neck. He was so angry but he didn't wanna show it any more. He was horny and he had blue balls. It hurt so bad.

"But baby, I feel like I've been waiting for a long time for this." He complained. "I want you so bad, can't you feel it. I have been starving just so that I can enjoy my first time with you. But..."

"I know, Jim, but... like I said, I wanna enjoy when that moment comes."

"But when?"

"After I meet your family. I promise, we're gonna do it as many times as you want." Even as he said that, he felt his heart racing. "I'll be yours afterwards and you can use me as you want."

Jim's heart begun singing as he got intoxicated with joy. "Serious, baby?"

"Sure!" He nodded. "I promised, didn't I?"

"I can't wait." Jim hollered as he placed several kisses on the man's cheeks.

He was just too excited because the visit was gonna be in just two days. He had to hold himself for only those days then after that, he was gonna give the man the greatest ride of his life. He won't gonna want to stay away from him afterwards. The thought of it made Jim so horny that he needed a release but he wasn't gonna do it.

"Are you happy now?"

Jim nodded like a child.

"Can we go back to bed?"

The two went back to the bed in the same position that they had been in.

"I was thinking, how about we make our relationship official?" Jim suggested. "I don't see why the media shouldn't know about us, after all, we're the kids of one of the richest business families in the countries. We're gonna be a power couple."

"Whatever makes you happy." David responded.

"Thanks. I love you."

"Me too."

Jim got so excited that he couldn't wait to appear in magazines, newspapers and everywhere else with David as his boyfriend then fiancé and then husband. The thought of it made his heart jump with excitement. He couldn't wait.

***

"I want this place spotless, sparkly clean." Elena instructed but it sounded more like a warning. "We should use our best curtains and clothes, make sure it smells nice."

"Yes, ma'am." The head of the maids said with a bow.

"And have the caterers arrived yet?"

"Yes, ma'am." She answered with a smile. "Everything is being taken care of."

"Good! I'll have to taste that food myself. I don't want anything to go wrong today. These are very important people for my son and our soon to be in-laws."

Elena was in one of her best moods. She didn't want anything to go wrong. She had prepared too much for this day, when her son would be so happy. She was dressed perfectly in a black blouse that showed off her gorgeous boobs, an brown animal print knee length skirt that for her like a second skin and matching shoes. Her hair had rollers in preparation for the visitors.

As she was giving instructions, her eyes caught Ben coming down the stairs with a smile on his face. She dismissed the maid, started waiting for him with her arms crossed on her chest and a frown on her face. Oh! She hated him so much.

"Ha ha ha..." Ben laughed as he slowly walked down the stairs. "You're crazy, you know that? It's not like this is gonna be the first time they're gonna be seeing you. You've been there several times and they've seen you so many times. I just don't see the point."

"Well, it's not my idea. Mommy wants me to look my best so I came to get some clothes, do my hair and makeup." Jim laughed on the other end. "You know what mommy wants, mommy gets. I cannot disobey her. By the way, do you have something to wear?"

"Yeah! My clothes. I do not need to impress anybody. He's coming for you and not me."

"Ben!" Elena said harshly.

"Err.... You take care." Ben said as he lost the smile on his face, cutting the call.

"Yes, aunt!"

"Why are you so excited? I can see the back of your teeth. Would you like to share?"

"Errr... I don't understand."

"Of course, you don't." She said with an evil grin. "But may I remind you of your position in this house? You're not part of this family so there's no need to be acting like anyone is even gonna notice your presence at this event. If I were you, I would be locked up in my room and pretend I don't exist. It's just some friendly advice so you don't embarrass yourself."

"I am only going to be present because both Amber and Jim asked me to." He said in a low voice. "Otherwise, you don't need to remind me that I am nothing but an illegitimate son. I know that already and if not for Jim, I wouldn't have had any reason to attend."

"Good!" She chuckled manically, enjoying the look on his face. "I am glad you know your place so that I don't have to remind you all the time. The people that are coming, the Paolas, they're very rich people, influential, very powerful and most of all, they're all pure bloods. So..." She paused and rubbed on her chin. "...I don't know how I am going to introduce you. Should I say, this is Ben, my husband's illegitimate son or should I say we're just keeping you? Obviously, I don't wanna embarrass my husband too."

Ben's soul was drowning in the river of his grief. He suppressed his tears and began walking away from her.

"By the way, I have something that I want you to do."

Ben stopped in his tracks and turned.

"What is it?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

"I want you to meet a very important client in the next town. He is looking for some interior design ideas for his new office and he wants the best." She said as she glowered at him. "I am sure you can pitch him some of your ideas and he can choose from that."

"What?" He gasped, his eyes widening. "But why me? Besides, I have never met a client alone without dad by my side. I don't know how it is done. And the next town is gonna take me hours to reach and..."

"I don't care how long it's gonna take you to reach." She snapped. "You can reach next year for all I care. All I know is that you're gonna meet this client and you're gonna strike a deal with him. Do I make myself clear?"

Ben just remained there, staring at her. He knew this was another plan of her to embarrass him and make him look bad.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Isn't this what you've always wanted?" She said with an evil grin on his face. "You always want the spotlight on yourself so I am giving it to you on a silver platter. I don't need to remind you that this is a very important client so don't mess this up."

She extended her hand and handed him an envelope.

"That contains all the details of the man you're meeting. Contact him when you reach there. Your meeting is scheduled to take place today at 8:30 Pm." She commanded. "I will allow you use one of the cars just for today. You can come back tomorrow and with good news I am hoping."

Ben nodded slowly. "I will try my best. But what about Jim's..."

"You shouldn't be concerned about that." She hissed, rudely pointing at him. "Jim will be so happy that he won't even have time to notice that a certain pet is missing. Just make sure you do what I have asked you to do for if you fail, you'll have more to worry about than Jim figuring out if you're present or not. If I were you, I'd be moving my carcass right now because time is running."

A drop of tear fell down his cheek but he quickly wiped it. With one look at her, he left. Elena was on seventh heaven. She couldn't wipe the smile on her face no matter what she did. She was not gonna allow someone like Ben attend such an important event and ruin her family name. As far as she was concerned, they were a family of three and it was gonna stay like that.

"Good riddance for bad rubbish." She laughed as she started going away.

But she just met her husband who was staring at her with so much anger. She didn't even realize he was in the house. He looked sexy as usual.

"What kind of evil do you have inside your heart? Will you ever change, Elena?"

Elena laughed, blowing kisses at him. "My darling sweetheart, I have no idea what you're talking about. But I am in a very good mood today. Why don't you come with me so that we can prepare for the guests?"

"That didn't answer my question, Elena!" He snapped. "I just don't understand how you can be so evil? How can you talk to my son like that?"

"My son this, my son that!" She barked. "Don't you ever get tired? I give that stupid boy a chance to pitch his ideas to an important client and I am the bad guy. Isn't that what you wanted? Didn't we have this same argument last time? What do you want me to do? I could have gone to meet that client but I decided to give him that chance and you're not happy."

"Oh, cut the crap! You and I both know the only reason you sent him there was so that he doesn't attend the dinner you've set up. You don't want him there so that you can have your perfect." He chuckled bitterly, getting closer. "I know you very well, Elena. I have been married to you for over 22 years."

Elena clapped, chirping at him. "It's a good thing you've got memory of how long we've been together. And if your memory serves you right, 18 years ago, you cheated on me. You're the reason why I am like this. So, forgive me if I want to spare my husband the shame of introducing his bastard child to my son's future in-laws. I am a good mother and a good wife, because which wife out there would want to live with her husband when he cheated on her and brought home a son of a whore? You should be thanking me for that.

So, forgive me if I don't wanna ruin my son's important day." She got closer and raised her finger. "I don't wanna have this conversation with you today. You're gonna attend your son's dinner, you're gonna introduce him as your only son and you're gonna smile. Do I make myself clear?"

"You're impossible!"

"But that's why you love me." She chuckled happily, and then planted a kiss on his lips. "There's a reason why they say that behind every successful man, there's a strong woman. Whether you accept it or not, you love me and you need me." She kissed him again. "Now come on, I need to show you something that you're gonna love."

She took his hand and led him upstairs to their bedroom.

***

The dinner table with filled with lots of food, a variety of them. Elena had outdone herself this time. Everyone that was seated at that table looked so classy and super rich. Their outfits looked they were bought from outa space.

"Hmmmm...." Claudia moaned as she slowly and carefully chewed the food. "Elena, this food is amazing. You really should show me where you got your cooks."

"Supervised it myself." Elena slowly bowed her head, smiling at Claudia. "Only the best for my future in laws."

"This is amazing." Claudia said, nodding.

The two women were all smiles and laughs at the table. It was like they had known each other for a very long time, like two good friends. Everyone else spoke too but the two women had the ball. Claudia wore a beautiful red dress with her hair straightened and Elena wore a black dress that made her look like the queen of the gala with her diamond necklace making her shine like a diamond.