As if the reporters outside were not enough, people had their phones out and some reporters managed to sneak inside as the couple walked in. A waiter easily recognized him and showed them to a table that was right in the middle of the restaurant. A spot where they were left vulnerable to the public eye.
'How convenient', he mused as he settled down beside Lorraine. He took her hand in his and gave it a good squeeze.
"Oh my god! That's Xavier Frost! Who's that beside him?"
"Should be his girlfriend? But damn, I wouldn't want to be her."
"Why is she still with him? Anyone would be crazy to stay with such a man!"
"It must be his money!"
"Or she's just obsessed with his d*ck! He is after all, the sex god!"
"Don't just blame the girl, Xavier is cruel and selfish for keeping her despite the situation! He can't have them both!"
As much as the people around them talked, the two made no sign of making a move. They stayed seated, not saying a word, but still holding hands. As hurtful as the talks were, they put on a facade of remaining unfazed. He only loved when his phone vibrated and he answered the call.
"What the hell are you thinking?" Victoria's angry outburst echoed in his ear. "Do you plan on humiliating that poor girl with you? Get out from there!"
As much as he loved his mother, he could not deal with her right then. It was then he noticed the time, they had been waiting for Nicole for close to twenty minutes. He had a feeling she was doing ut deliberately, so he was not going to give her the satisfaction of calling to check how far she was. And so, they waited another twenty minutes and that's when the lady of the hour showed up.
Xavier's jaw ticked as he watched her saunter in wearing a designer loose fitting dress to accommodate her current condition. He only noticed she wasn't alone when a young man slightly young than him sat next to her.
"I would apologize for being late but I did it on purpose. Tell me, how does it feel to be kept waiting?" she smirked, plopping her elbows on the table.
The waiters did not bother coming to ask for an order and simply watched. Their meeting was practically an indirect marketing technique for their restaurant!
"Did you hire a bodyguard just for this?" Xavier spat with a raised brow, ignoring her snarkiness.
"Bodyguard? Oh no! This is my brother", she said with a smile patting his shoulder.
"You're an only child", he deadpanned with furrowed brows.
"Don't mistaken me with one of your conquests. Speaking of which, is this your new plaything? You must be thick-skinned to stick around, but I get it. His dick game is good after all", Nicole shot a taunting smile at Lorraine.
Xavier used one hand to restrain Lorraine who was evidently pissed and was mid standing up. His face turned stone cold as he threatened Nicole, "You will watch what you say. She's not someone who you can speak so carelessly about."
"And she's not someone you can threaten", Nicole's brother bit back.
"You", Xavier turned his death glare to him. "Will not speak to me unless to."
"I'm not your little bitch, she's sitting right next to you", he sneered only for a second later for him to grunt in pain as his face violently swung to the side and shocked gasps echoed in the restaurant followed by cameras flashing. "Fuck!"
"Xavier!" Nicole gasped, standing and rushed to her brother's side to examine him.
"I cannot hit you", Xavier pointed at Nicole then turned to her brother with an icy glare. "But I definitely can hit you. Don't provoke any more than you already have."
"That was caught on camera", he sneered in a warning while wiping his bruised lip.
"Sue me", Xavier answered leisurely as he sat back down.
"Xavier this woman is ruining the purpose of this meeting. Make her leave!" Nicole shouted, abruptly standing up.
"She came with me, she leaves with me", Xavier seemed laid back as he laced his fingers with Lorraine's before his demeanor turned icy. "Now sit the fuck down, if not, leave."
She huffed out an annoyed breath and sat back down, obviously displeased with how he was siding with Lorraine who had not uttered a word. He should sympathize with her since she was pregnant and not Lorraine. She glared at her but Xavier's question snapped her out of it.
"Nicole, why am I here? This could have all been dealt with privately and it would save you a lot", he said.
"Me?" She chuckled and leaned in to whisper. "Our breakup could have been dealt with privately but you chose to publicly humiliate me. So take this as pay back and you won't try anything funny with the public's eye on you."
Xavier's eyes narrowed. Did she quickly forget who had started that in the first place? This woman! Nicole smirked and proceeded to list her demands. "I am carrying an heir to the Frost empire so it's only right that you take responsibility and support and fulfill my demands. You will get rid of this, this woman beside you and reunite with me. I want my baby to grow up into a complete family so that means we have to get married, preferably as soon as possible, before the baby is born. I'm sure the Frosts provide shares as a trust fund for their children, my baby should not be an exception. I want-"
Xavier broke out into an unamused laugh cutting her off and shook his head before he turned serious. "No."
"Xavier?!" She hissed.
"I will do no such thing. Keep dreaming!"
"I don't get why you are so hang up on him", Nicole's brother started. "He's a no good motherfucker who only thinks with his-"
He was cut off by another hard punch that sent him falling off his chair and to the floor. Nicole gasped and quickly rushed to him. "Stainer!" She cried out and glared at the source.
"I was going to sit here and not say a word since he's doing so well, but I just can't stand anyone, I mean anyone insulting my man", Lorraine said a calm voice but there was anger in her tone too.
Nicole glared at Xavier, "Xavier are you just going to watch?"
"I have no control over her reaction, I guess it all depends on how you both conduct yourselves", he smirked.
"Ugh", Stainer cupped his nose that was dripping with blood as Nicole helped him back in their seats. "I think it's broken."
"If this is how you react in public I wonder what you would have done to us in private? After all, you're more rich and powerful than us! All I want is for you to take responsibility for your actions! What did my brother do to deserve this??!!!"
"You wanted to have a meeting with Xavier, my expectations of you were not that high but I at least thought you would be civil. Is insulting him necessary?" Lorraine glared at the two.
Murmurs now echoed in the restaurant as well as online for those streaming the meet up. They were apalled by Xavier's actions mainly accusing him for abuse of his authority and greatly sympathized with Nicole. Lorraine was also on the receiving end of hateful reactions when she made it worse by what she said next.
"You're lucky I don't hit women", Stainer growled but soon grunted in pain. Speaking was now proving difficult.
"You're lucky I hit men", she bit back making Xavier smirk. Wait, he was a man too.... and her hits were definitely strong. Before he could say anything, she turned to Nicole looking at her stomach. "How far long are you with your pregnancy?"
"What's it to you?" Nicole asked as she fixed her dress so it remained baggy. She sneered, "Do you plan on taking my baby away and raising it with him?"
"The only baby she will be raising is the one I will personally put in her womb and raise it in our matrimonial home." His tone was firm and dismissive, leaving no room for argument but Nicole was not having it.
"What about me? Did you not hear what I said earlier?"
"You didn't answer her question", he interjected, leaning back in his seat. He shook his head, "You must have thought me to be a fool Lorraine. You thought by causing all this ruckus and sending pictures of your sonogram and pregnancy test would be enough to rope me into your little web of lies. And doing this in such a public setting. I did warn you that it would bite you back."
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺