Control

Part 2

The food was way too fancy for his liking. He definitely wasn't made for the  high life. He wasn't even sure what any of this was called. He sat beside you at a table that had a seat for him as your plus one.

"Hello, You must be the boy my daughter has been keeping to herself." A woman with dark skin and sporting a beautiful afro. She had on an elegant red gown that just made her look like a goddess. Was everyone in this family good-looking?

"Hi, yes, I'm Eddie." He said as he shook her hand with his most charming smile.

"I didn't know my daughter even went to local gyms. I mean she owns three of her own." She laughed a bit. Okay, that felt like a jab but he ignored it.

"Believe me, I am just as surprised as you." He said with a tight smile.

"Well this is my husband, You probably already know him." She said as he came over with a smile and kissed her cheek before offering Eddie his hand.

"Hayato Takahashi." He said as he shook his hand as Eddie just smiled. His grip was firm as Hayato was analyzing him, much like his daughter had.

"It's nice to meet you sir, it really is an honor." Eddie tried after letting go of his hand.

"The honor is all mine, and here I thought my daughter would come out as gay to me one day." He let out a hardy laugh, as if the meer thought of his daughter being gay was unfathomable.

"And what would be wrong with that?" Akia asked. Her gaze was cold as she looked at him. If looks could kill, Hayato would have exploded there on the spot.

Hayato sighed as he shook his head. "I'm not doing this with you tonight, Akia." Akia simply rolled her eyes and looked off into the distance as people danced together as a live band played, as if distancing herself mentally from her parents. Eddie frowned and gently touched her hand. It wasn't that he was trying to get her to like him, It was just that he'd be upset too if he just had to hear that. It seemed to pull her away from her trance for a moment to look at him. A look in her eyes that was indescribable. It was gone as soon as it came and she looked away again but didn't make a move to pull away from his hand.

The night went on without too much trouble. He listened to boting speeches and thank yous from people he didnt know. The end of the night rolled around. He walked with her to the car and she drove him back to her place. His clothes were there which made sense.

She stood in front of her place with him before she turned to look at him.

"Can I kiss you?" She asked him, throwing him off. Usually when someone asked to kiss him he thought it was weird but she had this look, it was so intense, it made his entire body feel like it was on fire. Like she was looking through him, into his soul. Those dark eyes boring into his.

He was even more surprised when he nodded. He didn't trust himself to talk but he could not fanthom why he'd said yes.

When her lips touched his it was like his entire body wanted to melt into her touch, she had her hand on the back of his neck. It was firm but not hurtful. It kept him in place as her lips moved against his. He felt her tongue against his and in his mouth as his brain went fuzzy as he felt lightheaded. Her lips were softer than he thought they would be, but her grip was just what he'd expected, strong and demanding. His entire mind felt like mush when she pulled away from him.

She looked down at him, her hand moved from the back of his neck and brushed his now swollen lips. "We should get inside." She said after a bit.

"Oh." He nodded as he just looked up at her. That kiss had his entire head whirling. He couldn't even think about anything else at the moment.

She led him inside to the penthouse.  He changed out of the suit and shoes and into his own comfy clothes. He came out and she was holding a large, thick, white envelope.

"This is all of it. Two hundred and fifty thousand." She said as she handed him the heavy folder.

"Uh thanks." He said. Was that it? She was just going to kiss him, give him the money and send him away? He felt some itch of annoyance try and rise but he pushed it deep down.

"My driver will take you back home, he's waiting for you downstairs. Have a good night, Eddie." She said before turning away from him. He just nodded. That was it then.

He left and was taken back home. While he was celebratory drinking with Jo at the apartment, his mind kept trying to flit to the kiss but he drank enough that night to forget his own name.

He groaned when he woke up the next morning to so many text messages. Not only from Joanne, but his mother and Akia.

He looked at the texts from his mother first.

"Oh no. Oh no no no." He mumbled as he saw the picture that was plastered everywhere. No, it wasn't any of the nice pictures from the event. No, it was the kiss, in front of Akia's place. Someone followed them and then followed him home because the title read:

'Akia's rag to riches babe, spotted at her place just 3 months after being together.'

"You have to be joking." It was on magazines, it was online. There wasn't anyone who hasn't see it. He was being direct messaged on all of his social media for a scoop.

He sat up and called Akia.

"Don't freak out." She said when she answered.

"Easy for you to say, I just got called poor by every news outlet ever and also reduced to a slut! Everyone is assuming I'm sleeping with you!" He shouted as he scrolled through the comments left on his posts.

"I'm being called a whore by people who don't even know me!"

"Look, this will all blow over, okay? Look I'm free at...2. Can you have lunch then? I wanted to see you again anyway." She said.

He was speechless as he looked over all the comments and his poor mother was probably stressing herself into a heart attack right now.

"Fine. 2. Text me the address." He said before he hung up and called his mother as he started to get dressed.

"Okay I know it looks bad..." He started but was quickly cut off by her.

"Looks bad? Eddie there are people outside out house asking about you! Paparazzi, news outlets, reporters. Are You trying to give me a heart attack?"

He knew she would say that.

"No Ma, I'm not, I didn't think things would get out of hand. Don't talk to the reporters, I'm going to try and fix it, okay?"

"Fine, just make sure to call me. How is JoJo?" She asked

"I can't catch up right now, Ma. I love you. Bye." He said before hanging up as he started out of his apartment. He put his hoodie up and started to his car. He had errands to run and he wasnt going to be stopped by some shitty paparazzi. He was immediately bombarded with paparazzi who were yelling questions at him and snapping pictures at his face. He felt overwhelmed and he felt his breathing hitch before someone had their arm around him and they started to walk. He didn't know who it was but he wanted to thank them as they got him to his car. He snuck a glance, it was one of his neighbors. A big burly guy named Kug who was actually one of the sweetest people he'd ever had the pleasure of meeting. He thanked Kug before he closed himself in his car. He tried to calm his breathing. He had to fix this. He couldn't live like this.

He would have a few choice words for Akia.