C.E.O x C.E.O

Ch. 14 - Drunken Confessions

Dmitri catches James in his arms before he could fall onto the floor. His body's limp, breath uneasy, completely knocked out. He knew the man isn't very tolerant but wiped out after one glass of wine? He's had a drink with him before and he'd last three at best. What's going on?

"Hey," He tries to shake him awake. No response, entirely out cold. Dmitri's brows crease of worry. What if he doesn't wake up in time for tomorrow? What if this is dangerous? He knew he should've stopped him from drinking when he had the chance.

"Looks like your friend there's a little unwell," A melodic, feminine voice then came from behind him. He glances over his shoulder to see the bartender from earlier standing there with a grin. "How about you let me take care of him?"

Dmitri squints his eyes at her. That was a random approach. A suspicion grows. "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything!" She raises her hands innocently. "But if I did, then let me make it up to your buddy. I'll give him a treat."

She reaches out for James. Instinctively, Dmitri turns to block her.

"No," Dmitri says with a strained smile. "No, we're good."

"Shame," She backs off. "Such handsome faces wasted on each other."

"Excuse me?" Dmitri questions, a nerve popping now.

"I heard your conversation earlier," She says, smirking. "Lovers quarrel?"

Dmitri's brows furrow. "We ain't lovers."

"Coulda fooled me," She then turns to enter the club again, slow steps, playful steps, like she's achieved something. "It was Rohypnol, by the way, and if you're gonna bring your man home then I suggest you take advantage of it while you still can. It's expensive."

A shiver runs down his spine at the ring of those words. Disgusting words. He holds James in his arms tighter, from the fact she'd even suggested something so heinous to begin with.

"Good night," He says in a grisly voice, as he drapes one of James' arms over his shoulders and leads him away, to his car. He's of no place to stay here, and Dmitri sure as hell will never forgive himself if he left James here all by himself.

This is not how he planned for things to go.

× × × × ×

Dmitri would've driven James home if he knew where his place was, or well, had keys to his home. He wasn't just about to leave him sitting on the porch. So Dmitri's decided to take him back to his place. He doesn't exactly trust anyone but himself to look after James right now, except for maybe Katherine, but neither her nor Tamara are answering the phone.

He never meant for things to end up like this. He just wanted to give James a chance to loosen up, let go, stop being so damn uptight all the time for once, drop that straight-faced demeanor, and smile again. Maybe talk about whatever's on his mind that's disturbing him.

He simply wanted to be there for him. Unfortunately, that was much harder than he thought. He should've expected as much. They are branded as enemies after all. They're not supposed to care for each other. He's not supposed to care.

"Dmitri..." James then murmurs.

Dmitri immediately stops the car. They are thankfully on a secluded highway and he's given a chance to look at James. The man's eyes are only opened ever so slightly, and made blurry by the glassiness. His breath is shaky, and so is his body. Is he cold? So Dmitri opted to turn off the air conditioner, if that did anything.

"Oh, good..." Dmitri turns back to the road and continues driving again. The movement would've toppled James had it not been for the seatbelt holding him. "You're alive."