The Billionaire's Agreement (The Billionaire's Proposal Book 2)
Page 5
“Dad, I'm capable of procuring a solid date for some stupid charity event. Besides, I already have someone in mind, and he’ll be perfect for the occasion.”
His father eyed him. His mother did too, but his sister was the one who pointed at the elephant hidden in the room. “What they're saying is that you shouldn't bring a blue-collar man to a white-collar event. We all know you have an affinity for men who work with their hands, but you have to pay attention to how certain things look.”
“Thanks for the clarification, big sis, but I can definitely handle getting a date for the event, or,” Jude feigned innocence, “or I could just stay home and not go.”
“That’s not an option,” his father grunted. “You’re expected to give a toast.”
“Am I?” Jude blinked. “A toast on what?”
“The usual,” his father waved a hand. “How important charity work is to your business, and how important it is to continuously give back to the community you live in.”
“Oh, a standard-issue toast, and when were you gonna tell me?”
“How many warnings do you need? You've been giving these types of toasts since you were damn near in diapers.”
“Maybe, but I still like a warning.” Jude shook his head. “A toast is fine.”
“Good, because it would be hard to find another speaker at the last minute.”
The conversation drifted back to mundane small talk, and Jude weighed his new decision in his mind. He had a few standby hookups who would be happy to stand beside him at a charity event hosted by the elite class, but he wanted to enjoy himself, and another option sounded much better. That other option was Sebastian, and the thought of the electrician at his side for an entire evening excited him even though he was not quite sure the man would agree.
Jude was quiet through the rest of the dinner, answering questions when addressed, but otherwise turning over the different ways he could invite Sebastian. Should he call? Stop by? Was it too much given Sebastian’s mother’s condition?
Did he even own a suit?
By the time he hugged his parents and stepped out of their house, he had worked himself into a frenzy about the event, and he knew he needed an answer sooner rather than later, so he browsed through his cell phone and called Sebastian.
Each trill before Sebastian answered churned his stomach.
“Yeah?” Sebastian grunted when he answered, his voice strung tight.
Jude’s nerves washed out of him. “Hey. Is everything okay?”
“Fine.” His words came slow and calculated. “Everything’s fine, Jude.”
“Are you sure? Because I know you’re going through a lot with your mother being in the hospital and your truck and-”
“I kicked Benjamin out.” Sebastian cut him off.
“Oh-oh, okay. Ah. Um. I am sorry you had to kick him out.”
“You’re not going to bad mouth him?”
“I do not know him well enough to speak badly about him. Besides, he is your ex-boyfriend. You care or cared about him, and it’s not right for me to tear him down.”
“Hm.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t expecting your response to be so,” Sebastian paused, “civil.”
Jude let out an easy chuckle. “I do try to be. I can come over if you would like company?”
“I thought you had your thing tonight?”
“Yes. Every Wednesday, my family eats together. It is nothing serious, and it’s over now. I do not want to burden you with company, however, if you would prefer to be alone, I just-”
“No, you’re good. I’ll be okay, but thank you for offering.”
Jude smiled. “Okay, then, I will see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Do you have any more questions about BDSM topics?”
“Oh,” he gasped and cleared his throat, “N-no. I believe no. I am still working through my list, however. I will have it completed tomorrow.”
“Good, or else I’d have to punish you, I guess.”
Jude bit his lip over a groan. “I-I suppose you would. Regretfully so. What type of punishment?”
“Spanking is the most common, but there are many other different types of punishments.”
“I-I see. Well, yes. I should finish my list. I will see you tomorrow afternoon.”
“Yeah,” Sebastian rumbled. His voice was ragged a second time, but for entirely different reasons. “Have a good night.”
“You, too,” Jude breathed, panting lightly as the call ended.
***
Chapter 7
Sebastian
With Benjamin gone and his house empty, Sebastian collapsed into bed. The long workday coupled with the roller coaster of emotions Benjamin constantly had him on had his eyes drooping before his head hit the pillow, but rather than replay a blow-by-blow of the fight he and Ben had, he found himself replaying the conversation he had with Jude. It was much more pleasant, and he enjoyed the rhythmic rise and fall of the other man's voice. His words were accentless but musical, with patterned rises and falls and short staccato notes scattered between stretched syllables.
Sebastian's eyes closed as he imagined the possibilities on their date tomorrow and for the future. He knew there was something between them, but that was as far as he'd gotten. Unlike Benjamin, Jude was patient. For better or for worse, neither of them were compelled to define what they both felt brewing between them.
He slept heavy and woke the next morning well-rested and ready for the day. Work itself was uneventful, but he ended his workday early when the doctor called with news of his mother's discharge. He headed straight over to the hospital. His mother was chatty and animated as he wheeled her through the hospital to his truck and drove her home.
When they pulled into the driveway, she sighed. “It's good to be home,” she said as Sebastian assisted her out of the truck and helped her inside. “Where is Benjamin?”
“He’s gone, Mom.” Sebastian shrugged. “He had some business thing to attend to, so he had to rush off last night.”
“Oh, I see.” His mother frowned. “Without saying goodbye?”
“It was unexpected,” Sebastian explained.
“Well, I hope everything's okay.”
“Should be. Anyway, Mom, tonight, you’re going to be on your own because I have to go out.”
“Go out? Where?”
“With a friend,” Sebastian deflected, “but more importantly, I already made you something to eat. There are leftovers in the refrigerator. I'm going to have the next-door neighbor pop in on you sometime through the evening. If you're in pain or you need a doctor, you can always hop over to their house or call them and have them assist you.”
“Hop over to the doctor's house?” his mother teased.
Sebastian sighed. “No, not the doctor's house, Mom. You know what I meant.”
“Yes, yes, of course. I know how to take care of myself. I raised you and your brother, after all, unaided.”
“I know you did, but I still worry about you. You’re getting older, and you need to take things a little easier than you have been.”
She clucked her tongue and settled on the couch. “There really is nothing like being back at the house.” She smiled. “So, who are these friends you’re hanging out with again?”
“Just friends, Ma.”
“Just friends? Well, how’s Jude doing?”
“Just fine.”
“Well, why don’t you go out with him? You two are friends, right?”
“Is this an interrogation, now?” Sebastian narrowed his eyes.
“No, it’s not an interrogation, but he did come see me at the hospital, and he seems to be very drawn to you. Now I don't want to get too into your dating life, but if you haven't given Jude a chance, I believe you and him would be a great couple.”
“Alright, Mom, that’s enough. How about we talk with something else?” Sebastian's cheeks flamed as he shuffled around the living room, avoiding his mother's eyes.
“Sure, sure, w
e can talk about anything you'd like, sweetheart.”
“All right. How does your hip feel?”
“My hip is fine. How does your hip feel?”
“All right.” Sebastian shook his head and sighed. “All right, I’m going out with Jude tonight. We’re going to coffee,” he resigned.
“Oh, how wonderful.” His mom offered a knowing smile. “Well, you tell him I said hi, and that I'm doing very well after my surgery. I know he's a busy man, but I'm grateful he still came to see me in the hospital.”
“I’ll let him know.”
“Good. Good. Now, what’re you wearing on your date?”
“Jeans and a T-shirt, I guess.”
His mother lifted her eyebrows. “You're wearing jeans and a T-shirt to go on a date with Jude Johnson?”
“Why, should I wear something else?”
“Well, it is Jude Johnson,” she reminded Sebastian.
“Okay, and?”
“He is, perhaps, one of the richest men in the city.”
Sebastian shrugged. “Okay, and?”
“Perhaps you should consider something a little more fashion-forward. You could be in magazines, you know.”
“Somehow, I doubt that.” Sebastian chuckled. “And I'll be fine. Thank you for the suggestion, but he knows what I look like and he knows the way I dress.”
“That is no excuse.” His mother clucked her tongue again, her old personality shining through the haze of pain medicine.
Sebastian ignored her tease and settled her, putting all of her necessities close by and stashing her pain medicine in her private bathroom.
Then he prepared for his date. There wasn't much to prepare, but he did shower and change from what he had worn to the hospital to a different pair of jeans. They weren’t designer, but they were well cut, and over the years, he had received more than a few compliments on them.
His nerves grew as the night wore on and their date time grew closer and closer, and by the time he climbed in his truck, his heart pounded in his chest. “It is not even technically a date,” he muttered under his breath as he started his vehicle and reversed out of the driveway. “It’s a business transaction,” Sebastian reminded himself. “Nothing more, nothing less.”
The truth niggled in the back of his mind.
It was so much more than a business transaction from the moment it started.
They had decided on a local coffee shop halfway between both of their houses, and Jude had already arrived when Sebastian pulled into the parking lot. He had settled in a chair outside, resting his elbows on an iron table and focused his attention on his phone. And for a few moments, Sebastian sat in his car, regarding Jude.
He had gotten a good look at him the night of the BDSM event, but he had never had a chance to really devour him, to memorize the sharp lines of his face and the way the moonlight bounced off his mahogany skin. His thick dreadlocks cascaded down his back, framing his face and giving his usually melancholy expression an injection of youth. Even in a casual T-shirt and jeans, Jude looked magnificent and regal.
When Sebastian exited his vehicle, Jude glanced up from his cell phone and smiled. It was dazzling and so bright that it rivaled the moon and its harem of sparkling stars.
“Hi,” Jude greeted him in a light voice once he approached the table.
“Hey,” Sebastian replied. “Have you been waiting?”
“Not long.” Jude tucked his phone away and stood up. “I came straight from the office because I ended up working late, and I saw no purpose in going home.”
“Straight from the office?” Sebastian glanced him over. “Don’t you usually wear a suit to the office?”
“Most days, yes, but today was unique. The public relations manager thought it would boost morale if we had something of a spirit week. So today was casual day, and tomorrow is team spirit day.”
“Team spirit day?” Sebastian crunched his eyebrows together in the center of his forehead.
“Yes, team spirit day. You're supposed to wear your favorite sports team’s jersey to the office, and there is going to be a contest for best dressed or perhaps, I think she's calling it, most spirited.”
Sebastian chuckled and led Jude to the door, opening it for him and then stepping aside as he entered. “What are you going to wear then?”
Jude shrugged. “I'm not entirely sure because I'm not much of a sports person. I know that may be hard to believe, but I don't understand why I would want to watch someone run back and forth over a field chasing a ball.”
“It’s more than chasing a ball. There are plays and techniques that go into it, and the stamina itself just to complete the game in the hot sun with all that equipment on you.” Sebastian trailed.
“Are you a sports person?” Jude tilted his head as he stepped into the line after an older woman clutching the hand of her preteen child.
Sebastian hooked thumbs in his jeans and shrugged. “Not really, but I used to play in high school.”
“Football, I assume?” Jude asked.
“Yeah, football.”
“Figures.” Jude offered him a little smirk before turning his attention to the menu.
“Figures how?”
“Well, you are…” Jude motioned to his broad shoulders and smiled.
“I'm what? Go on, say it.”
“You are very well built.” Jude nodded, his cheeks warmed with a rosy blush, and Sebastian chuckled again.
“Uh-huh. So anyway, how was your dinner with your family?”
Jude sucked in the little breath. “Dinner with my family?” His tone lifted on the corners, and he exhaled in a hollow laugh. “Well, actually, it wasn't as bad as last week. My father skipped the interrogation, and my mother didn't complain about my dreadlocks for once. I'm pretty sure it’s because they were both jetlagged and tired. Oh, which reminds me. I forgot to ask you last night, but what are you doing this weekend? I mean, what are you doing Saturday night?”
Sebastian took a step forward in line. “Saturday night? Probably nothing. Hanging out with my mother and watching reruns of weekday shows we missed.”
“Sounds exciting, but how would you like to accompany me to a charity event instead?”
“What kind of charity event?”
“To be honest, I'm not actually sure. It’s been on my calendar for weeks, and it completely slipped my mind, but my father volunteered me for a toast, and apparently, it's very important to him that I have a date for the event. Normally I would take Eleanor or Amelia, but Amelia is going with Cassius and Eleanor is going with David and, I don't know, I felt like I might want to go with someone whose company I may enjoy instead of picking from our family acquaintances.”
“Hm.” Sebastian turned over the idea in his mind as he glanced over the menu. He had been to these types of events with Benjamin, and they had never been fun. However, he wasn't sure if his lack of enjoyment came from the fact that Benjamin quickly abandoned him once they got in the door or because he truly did not enjoy flashy social gatherings. Benjamin’s overtly flirty nature and his hot and cold personality made the stuffy charity events so much worse than they already were.
“I can supply you with the suit if you need one, and you only have to make a little bit of small talk. It's mostly going to be presentations and finger foods. I promise it won't be awkward. Well, it will be awkward, but I promise it won't be uncomfortably awkward.”
“I have a suit,” Sebastian replied. “Unless you plan to coordinate our outfits.”
“No, no. But does that mean you're going to come with me?” Jude's worried expression smooth to one of hopefulness, and his eyes brightened.
“Yeah, you know what? Why not? I’ll come with you. What time does the event start?”
“The event starts at seven o'clock, but the first hour is mostly mingling and small talk, so if you want to arrive a little later, that's always an option.”
Sebastian nodded but then grinned. “What, you’re not picking me up?
“Oh, wel
l yeah, I can pick you up.” The blush returned to Jude's cheeks. “I'll pick you up for seven, and if you want, we can take the scenic route to the event location.”
“Perfect.”
“My suit is charcoal gray, and I usually pair it with a pastel shirt and a matching gray tie, if you were curious.”
Jude bit his lip over a smile as they finally reach the counter.
“What can I get for you?” A bright girl asked from the other side of the counter, her fingers hovering over the touch screen computer.
Sebastian motioned to Jude, and Jude glanced at the menu again. “I think I'll have your white chocolate and lavender mocha.”
“Do you want hot or cold?”
“Cold, please, and can I have it as a blended ice?” Jude tilted his head in question.
“Sure thing.” Her fingers danced over the screen, and then she glanced at Sebastian. “Are these separate or together?”
“Separate,” Jude said.
“Together,” Sebastian replied on the tail end of his words. There was a brief pause before Sebastian repeated himself. “Together,” he confirmed. “And I'll have a black coffee, please.”
“Sure thing.” The woman smiled and rattled off the total, and Sebastian pulled his wallet from his pocket and handed over a frayed bank card.
Jude stood there, fingering through the assortment of gift cards and prepackaged snack foods on the side of the register. When they moved forward, Jude murmured a thanks and posted himself at the counter as the baristas worked on their order.
“No problem.” Sebastian shrugged. “I asked you out, so I pay.”
“I suppose. It just seems odd for you to pay when I have more disposable income.”
“What are you saying?” Sebastian quirked an eyebrow.
“I mean because you have your mother and you are her caregiver and sole provider. I don't have anyone that I'm taking care of, so all of my money is mine. I didn't mean it as a rich or–” Jude's voice cut off when the barista placed his drink on the counter and called his name. He picked it up and took an initial step before reluctantly turning his attention back to Sebastian. “I'm not comparing how much we make. I just meant that because you have more expenses, it would've made more sense for me to treat you instead of the other way around.” Jude sighed. “I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you.”