Leave Me Alone, Big Brothers! [BL]-Chapter 142: The Unwanted Chaperone

Leo ended his conversation and left when Louis asked to meet Alexander. It seemed like everyone wanted to meet that man.

Huan didn’t move from Alexander’s side. He shifted from the man’s lap to sit closely beside him on the sofa. Alexander planted a light kiss on the man’s cheek before asking Louis to come in.

The door opened. Louis stepped in, his expression caught somewhere between professional duty and sheer awkwardness at seeing both of them. But he smiled at Huan.

Alexander looked up, his fingers still tracing the line of Huan’s palm. "What is it, Louis? I hope it’s not bad news."

"Not this morning. They looked calm in the car," Louis replied.

"What is it about? The twins?"

Louis nodded. "About Nathan, actually. I’m sorry, I only just found the right moment to tell you this," Louis started, standing at a respectful distance. "But... I’m certain Nathan is in a relationship with Zane Leinster."

Alexander’s hand stilled. He narrowed his eyes, the name ringing a very specific bell. "Leinster? You mean Adam Leinster’s son? The one in his year?"

Louis nodded gravely. "Yes. I’ve been observing them for a while, but last time..." He hesitated, his face flushing a light shade of pink. He cleared his throat, looking everywhere but at Alexander’s darkening expression. "Last time I saw them together..."

"Together how? Tell me," Alexander commanded, his voice dropping dangerously low.

"Well," Louis coughed, struggling to find the right words. "Nathan claimed it was a misunderstanding, but I walked in and saw him... bare from the waist down. I’m not entirely sure what they were about to do, but the situation looked... inappropriate."

The silence in the room was deafening.

Alexander felt a dull throb begin at the base of his skull. Nathan. He knew the boy was a rebel, but he had always categorized him as "innocent." At least, compared to the teens his age.

But then he remembered Nael. Sweet, bright Nael, who had recently shocked the entire family with his own scandalous entanglement with Zimmer.

Kids these days really are dangerous. Alexander rubbed his temple.

Huan, sensing the rising blood pressure of the man beside him, reached out and gently squeezed Alexander’s shoulder. "Don’t be too stressed, Alex," he whispered softly. "You just got back to work. Take it one step at a time."

Alexander let out a long, weary sigh, leaning into Huan’s touch for a brief second before regaining his composure.

"Louis, keep a sharp eye on Nathan. If you have to, go everywhere with him. Don’t let him out of your sight."

"I understand, Boss," Louis replied, though he looked conflicted. "But... there is one more thing. Nael asked me to accompany him to see Sir Dante today. He wants to meet Madam Natasha."

Alexander went rigid. The mention of his mother always brought a complex layer of tension to his face.

"No need," he decided. "Just bring Nael home. I’ll handle it. I’ll ask Mom to come here instead of him going there."

He looked at Louis with a piercing gaze. "Your priority right now is Nathan. Find out exactly how far this thing with Leinster has gone."

Louis bowed his head. "Understood, Boss. I’ll get to it immediately."

As Louis exited, Alexander slumped back against the sofa, the "throne" of the Salazar empire feeling more like a hot seat. He looked at Huan, a dry, weary smile tugging at his lips.

"I fired you so you could rest and be safe, and yet I’m the one who feels like I’m losing my mind," Alexander muttered.

Huan chuckled, leaning his head against Alexander’s shoulder. "That’s because you try to control the whole world, Alex. Sometimes, you just have to let the kids be kids."

"They’re kids because they don’t know what they’re doing. They’ll regret it later. What do you think I should do? Just accept that he has sex whenever he wants? He’s not old enough to think about that yet."

Huan sighed. "But maybe you’ll make him hate you more."

"I don’t care. As long as I live, I have to make sure he’s safe. I’m sure they’ll break up soon. Teenagers," Alexander grumbled, having too much experience to care about his brother’s love story.

Huan chuckled. "One of the reasons they broke up was you."

Alexander stared at Huan. "Nonsense."

"Don’t you realize it? Malvin, even now, doesn’t have any lover. Leo... well, it’s complicated as well. Lucas, we can’t help him. Nael..."

Huan fell silent, staring at Alexander.

Alexander smirked. "You realize how many bastards I got rid of to keep my brothers safe."

***

That afternoon, after dropping Nael off, Nathan immediately headed to Zane’s house. During the trip, Louis and Nathan were silent. Nathan sat in the back seat, staring out the window, while Louis gripped the steering wheel calmly but looked at Nathan through the mirror many times.

As the car pulled up to the curb in front of Zane’s house, Nathan made a move to get out, but Louis shifted the car into park and unbuckled his own seatbelt.

"I will come with you," Louis said simply.

Nathan froze, his hand on the door handle. "What? Come where?"

"Inside," Louis replied. "Boss Alexander ordered me to accompany you wherever you go. That includes your study session."

Nathan’s jaw dropped. "Huh? Are you serious? Don’t you have anything else to do? Go find a hobby, Louis!"

"It’s the Boss’s order, Nathan. I don’t have a choice."

"No way. You are not coming in with me," Nathan hissed, his face flushing with embarrassment. "You’ll embarrass me! Who brings a bodyguard to a friend’s house just to study? Seriously? Do I look like a toddler?"

Louis didn’t flinch. "I will do nothing. I’ll just be there."

"That’s exactly the problem! You’ll do nothing except annoy us. Just stay here in the car, or go back to the mansion and pick me up later. Please!"

Louis merely opened his door. The message was clear: he wasn’t staying behind.

Zane was already waiting on the porch, leaning against a pillar. He had been watching the car for a few minutes, wondering why Nathan hadn’t stepped out yet. When the door finally opened and Nathan emerged, Louis was right on his heels like a persistent stray cat.

Zane stood up straight, his eyes darting between Nathan’s frustrated face and Louis’s polite expression.

"What is this?" Zane asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

"He needs something to report back to Alexander," Nathan muttered, walking past Zane into the house. "So now, apparently, he’s joining us."

Zane stared at Louis, who offered a small, professional smile. Zane clicked his tongue in annoyance. Dealing with this guy during their rare outings was bad enough, but now he was going to be a permanent fixture during their study time?

Seriously?

Despite the heavy atmosphere, Louis followed them inside with calm composure.

Once they reached Zane’s bedroom, Nathan threw his bag onto the floor, still fuming. Zane tried his best to ignore the man standing near the doorway and focused on Nathan. He reached out, taking Nathan’s hand to draw his attention away from the "chaperone."

"I have something for you," Zane whispered.

He walked over to a corner of the room where a large object was covered by a dark cloth. Zane looked nervous, his movements careful and deliberate as he picked it up. He carried it over to Nathan as if it were made of glass.

Nathan’s anger flickered out, replaced by curiosity. Zane pulled the cloth away, revealing a canvas beneath.

Nathan fell silent.

It was a painting of him. In the portrait, Nathan was smiling, a genuine, wide smile that reached his eyes. The background was a dense, dark forest, but the scene was illuminated by brilliant, ethereal moonlight that made the piece feel romantic and hauntingly eerie all at once.

Nathan felt as if his soul were being pulled into the frame. He stared at the boy in the painting, his heart hammering against his ribs.

Is that really me? he wondered. Can I actually smile like that? He reached out, his fingertips grazing the rough texture of the dried oil paint.

"Beautiful," Nathan whispered, the word escaping him before he could catch it. He was completely mesmerized.

"I tried my best," Zane said softly, watching Nathan’s reaction with bated breath.

"It’s... it’s really beautiful, Zane." Nathan looked up, his eyes shimmering with sincerity. "Thanks."

Zane felt a wave of relief wash over him. He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, intimate murmur. "You’re the only reason I picked up a brush again."

Zane leaned in, his gaze dropping to Nathan’s lips. He reached out to pull Nathan closer for a kiss, the rest of the world, and their problems... fading away.

"Ahem!!"

The sharp, loud throat-clearing sound cut through the air like a knife.

Both teenagers jumped, nearly colliding with each other as they whipped their heads toward the door. They had completely forgotten that Louis was standing right there, watching them with a blank, dutiful expression.

Louis adjusted his tie, looking entirely unbothered by the fact that he had just shattered the most romantic moment of their week.

Nathan’s face turned a shade of crimson that rivaled a beet, while Zane’s expression darkened into one of pure, unadulterated murderous intent.

The realization hit them both: as long as Louis was on "Alexander duty," there would be no kissing, no privacy, and certainly no peace!