Aiden’s P.O.V
From Evan my eyes move down straight to the stand where the phone is kept with the circular light. I take a deep breath and turn to my right at Riley. We are seated on the large couch, Evan stand in front, behind the coffee table and stares at us. We stay silent for a while till the count down for live reaches one and there the front camera switches on.
A live stream, this is my first time to do this and if I’m asked whether I’m nervous, the answer is definitely a no but the person next to me is flushed up.
Comments keep popping on the left bottom corner of the screen. I sit beside him with a fake smile as I try to cooperate with him but neither of his words gets into my head. I crease my brows when I notice silence all of a sudden. I turn to my right to face him, he bites his lower lip as he stares at the screen with knitted brows. I follow his gaze.
Are you really together?
They don’t look good together?
How can we believe that he is really into her?
Is he playing again?
Is she a victim as well?
What about Mira?
Mira? Who’s that? Seems like he has got some kind of history.
My eye balls slide to the right corner of my eyes. He stays still staring at the screen, his hands formed into fists, the skin over his knuckles turns white. I lock my lips and look at Evan; he throws himself on the sofa and buries his face in his hands.
Why is he upset because of those people?
The unstoppable comments continues to pop up. The notifications of the messages clearly to be heard in the silent environment.
-They are faking it.
-They are not together
- haven’t seen him around her
-She is not living with him
-We are not fools
-He has never changed
-Prove us that you are in love
-I don’t see the spark
-His scandal never stops
-They look uninterested
-Kiss!
-Yeah, kiss.
-Riley is a pervert
-How much did he pay her?
Kiss!
I close my eyes as I take a deep breath in, letting it out I turn to the right to see him. I turn my body and slip my right hand to the back of his neck. His brown eyes widen, astonished.
To be honest I have no idea why I’m doing this. Is it because I pity him or is it because I just couldn’t take in their words anymore. A kiss to prove love, a kiss doesn’t always prove how you feel. I agree that we don’t look like couple and yeah, I myself cannot digest the fact that I’m in a fake relationship with someone who is childish and grumpy yet they, the people out there have no right to judge his life.
I look into his eyes for a while, I understand how he feels right now. the judgement of people can break your heart and I have gone through the same.
I move my head closer; a slight smile makes its way on my lips to see him. He stays still his eyes on me. I move my head closer and capture his pouted lips in a second. My fingers travel through his brown strands as I suck his lips to make sure it looks passionate. My mind counts till thirty. I pull back and bend over my knees. I look at the phone, the left corner of my lips twitch up to smirk when I read the words on the screen.
-She kissed him
-So cool
-Damn, they look cute
-She took the lead
-Oh my god, she looks handsome
- Riley being shy?
-That was unexpected!
-Is he blushing?
-Aw, he is so cute
I steal a glance at him, my eyes observe his behaviour, his heated-up cheeks spread a light red blush.
"Your ears are red," I say pointing at his ear.
Is he really blushing?
He stays silent for a while and cups his cheeks suddenly, he looks down at me with his eyes out of its sockets. His lips part, his cheeks turn red.
"My goodness, you are really blushing," I sneer in a low voice.
"I..." he stops when my phone rings.
 I pull out the phone from my trousers’ pocket, its Mr. Mintz. I’m sure why he is calling me now, he might have got the news.
 "I've got something to do," I stand ignoring the camera. I step aside and look at Evan. He shows me thumbs up with a wide smile on his face.
 "Make sure he doesn't go anywhere," I request passing him a smile.
I answer the call and walk out.
"Was that you?" Mr. Mintz questions the very next second I answer "Can you meet me now? I'll send you my address" he hangs up before I utter a word.
###
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The long empty narrow path consists only two houses, one at top of the lane and the second is at the end of the lane. I dial to Mr. Mintz again but doesn’t pick up. I look around and step in the open house, my feet stop by the shelf, a few meters away from the entrance. Different sizes of photo frames arranges in each row. I bend a little low to take a closer look at the little boy by the beach, my vision follows the order in which the frames are kept. He looks cute. I smile while I see the photos of him and Mr. Mintz together, I step closer to the shelf. A family photo.
 Is that his mother? She is beautiful... He surely never resembles his mother.
My brows meet at the next picture, I take a closer look at the certificate in his hand. He studied law?
A lawyer?
"Sorry, I didn't hear you," I stand straight and turn to my left to see Mr. Mintz.
“Did Riley study law?” I point at the specific frame.
"Yes." he says with a smile, he gestures me to follow him.
"Was he a lawyer?" I ask out of curiosity. If he was a lawyer then why should he be an idol.
"Singing and dancing was his passion. He studied law and the photo there is his first case but he couldn't do it," he pours some drink to the empty glass on the dining table and places it in front of me.
He sits opposite to me and stares down at the table "He wanted be my assistant on his first day in court," he exhales, like reminding that day "It’s the day when his mother died," he stays silent for a while. I take sip of the drink he served "He ran to her immediately. He called me but I...,"
"You had to attend to the court," I complete his sentence. He looks at me. "I know how you feel but it's not your fault and I'm sure that your wife won't be upset at you," I state hoping that my words could console him as making others feel better is something I cannot do. Lisa always say I sound dry and uninterested.
"He still blames me for it. " he remains silent for a second and continues "Last night!" I look straight as I place the empty glass on the table. He moves forward "How did you...?"
"I couldn't wake you up at that moment," I interrupt. I run my hand through my hair "Here is the pen drive," I take the device which Harry gave me from my pocket and toss it on the table "And Harry is in a safe place. I've asked my friend to let him stay over for a few days and,"
"I mean about Tony," he cuts off, his eyes cold "Did you kill him?" he asks. His voice stern.
I move behind "He had to die a long time back. Isn't that what you wanted as well" I face him.
"What if you are arrested?"
"There will be no clue of in his death,"
"How are you sure about it?"
"There were no security cameras and it was by the beach"
"How?" he asked with knitted brows.
"Got my own ways," I shrug.
Dang!
The door slams shut. I turn around my brows furrow at Riley. He walks to us and stops by the table beside Mr. Mintz. I look down at his hand, his tight grip on the envelope.
He crushes the paper and throws it on the table, the two pair of eyes glare at his father, who stands, astonished.
"Did you prepare the flight tickets?" he yells.
Mr. Mintz moves his gaze to the envelope on the table and back at his son "Yes," he answers "It's for your own good," he continues "I don’t want you to be here for a few days."
"So," Riley snaps "You decided behalf of me."
"I have no other way; I just want you to be safe."
"Dad," his voice cracks.
I stay silent like I’m oblivious of what’s happening in front me to let them have their privacy. I switch on my phone and scroll down the messages from Blake, about Harry. As for urgency I had no other place in mind except for Blake's place as his parents are in their hometown and he is living by himself. It took the entire night to answer his list of questions. My thoughts about him drifts away when I hear Riley, my mind pays attention to the current scene.
"This was what you did when mom died," he utters in a low voice. He stares down, his hands formed into fist "You just left us alone. Have you ever thought of what I feel?"
I look at Mr. Mintz, his eyes welled up. His decision on that day is understandable.
"Was that case important to you more than mom?"
"Enough," Mr. Mintz yells. He sits on the chair and buries his face in his hands.
The environment captures silence. My appearance seems awkward when Riley turns around and passes a glance at me. He walks out with no word spoken. I stay silent for long to give Me. Mintz time to relax. He removes his hands from his forehead and look straight.
"I've filed the case," he informs, exhausted. I pour him a glass of water and push it towards him.
"When did you arrange it?" I ask softly waiting till he finishes the water.
"In the morning,"
"I mean the tickets,"
He places the glass on the table and exhales "A month ago as I know that one day the problem will go out of hand,"
"So, you've been prepared for defeat," he stays silent looking at me "If I was in your shoes, I would order the head in prison to keep a room for those bastards or I will ready the coffin for them."