BILLS, BOOZE & BETRAYAL | LARRY AU

CHAPTER 08

BILLS, BOOZE & BETRAYAL | CHAPTER 08

"This is a wonderful outcome, son. You've outdone yourself." One of dad's boring associates says to me and I amiably smile and thank him. I've been talking to this guy since the past 20 minutes and I'm past the point of saying that I'm bored. Right now, I'd willingly die if it meant getting away from him.

"Louis!" I hear Harry from somewhere behind me and turn around to see him walking up to me. "Oh, Mr. Jackson, I'm sorry I didn't see you there." He says, shaking the man's hand and Mr. Jackson seemed so happy upon seeing the tall greasy-head, I wouldn't be surprised if he kisses him. "If you don't mind, sir, I need to steal Louis for a few minutes."

"Oh, of course! Louis' set up this wonderful Christmas gala on behalf of his father. I'd reckon he's earned some fun." He says with a wink as if he's totally fine with the idea of homosexual couples but before I can defend myself or the lack of my relationship with Harry, he chuckles and pulls me away.

"What the fuck, why didn't you say anything? We're not dating, Harry." I whisper shouted at him, now trying to pry my arm out of his grip because we were considerably far enough from the devil's spawn of boredom.

"It's better to just walk away instead of explaining everything to that old jackass, Louis. You know that. Plus, it's not very nice to contradict elders."

"Elders who you call jackass?" I said with a snort and he rolled his eyes.

"Whatever, can't you just thank me for getting you out of there?"

"Thank you." I mutter with a huff and he smiles before walking away. I notice my step-father stepping up on the stage at the front of the room and roll my eyes, not wasting another moment in picking up one of the champagne flutes from a passing waiter, downing it in one go.

It doesn't take long for him to break into a speech which is equal parts boring and exaggeration – an art he has mastered from giving the same monotonous speech year after year after year. We stand behind him as he puts on a show of how much of a loving husband he is and steps back so that mum can announce the charity of the year – another sly method of tax deduction – and the room roars into applause and appreciation.

"Alright there, birthday boy?" Lottie whispers from next to me and I snort in amusement.

"Birthday boy, my ass. I've done nothing but preparations for this stupid gala all day long and Mark doesn't even have the courtesy to thank me for arranging the whole thing."

"I told you to just get another event planner, Lou." She says sympathetically and I shake my head in disagreement. "That asshole only bows down to mom and money, nothing else."

"At least he treats mum like a queen. Plus, mom always feels so much better if I indulge in company matters a little more."

"You're too good for this world, kind brother." She says before grabbing two champagne flutes from a nearby waiter, before passing both of them to me.

"I've already had three of those, Lots."

"What's 10 more? The least you can do is get drunk after all that toil." She says and I consider her offer for a minute, before a smirk sets on my face and I down the contents of both the flutes in under a minute.

Soon enough, the gamble tables are rolled in and everyone finally starts pouring out those big bucks.

'It is a charity gala,' they say as an excuse to make lark of their easy-earned money and gamble most of it away.