The Contract

by D. C. Hall

  “We’ll just have to fix that.” Just like that, Nathan had pulled his blank expression back. Williams wouldn't admit it, but the quick flash of emotion comforted him. At least he knew Nathan could show something even if it wasn't intentional. “How does Friday sound to you?”

  “That sounds fine to me.”

  “Good. You should keep your day clear. We should observe both morning and night shift. So, we'll be there a while. I'll call Dave in the morning and get this worked out. After that, we’ll work on getting you up to date on your business.”

  “Isn't Friday on your schedule?” Williams asked. Nathan gave a small smirk.

  “We can make time.” Nathan stood from the ottoman, looking down at the other man. “Speaking of that, if you'd like to keep to the schedule, you could meet me in my room. If you still want to wait until tomorrow, I understand.”

  He didn't wait for a response, just picked up the contracts, turned, and walked away. Williams felt the knots forming in his stomach again. Should he just go back to his book? Or he could walk down the hall to see what was waiting for him. Nathan had made it seem like they could take it easy to start with. Although, that could have been a lie. For all he knew, Nathan could be waiting to tie him down and do whatever he wanted to him. To an extent, that didn't sound too bad either.

  He sighed before standing up. He might as well see what would happen. Walking down the hallway, his heart rate started to rise. Turning the corner into the room, he saw Nathan putting the papers back into the filing cabinet.

  “What did you have in mind?” Nathan asked, moving to face him.

  “I don't know. Nothing too rough.” Nathan moved closer, making Williams tilt his head back to look him in the eye. His throat went dry.

  “What if I took it easy on you for today and we just kissed for a while?” he gave a small smile when Williams nodded. He wouldn’t let it be known that his own heart was rushing with anticipation. What had he got himself into? He was about to make out with a practical stranger. But he couldn’t stop now. There was a literal five million dollars on the line here. That could change his and his family’s life forever. The least he could do was make this interesting.

  He breathed in deep before leaning in. Williams had already closed his eyes tight. Nathan moved in closer, hovering over the shorter man's lips. His breath felt hot. Williams closed the small gap softly. They both reacted gently. Nathan let his hands slip to Williams's waist. His eyes shut. Williams’s lips felt so soft.

  Nathan depended the kiss when he felt hands running over his forearms up to his biceps and finally to his shoulders. They pulled apart long enough to draw a breath and look at the other. Then, they closed the gap again. This time wasn’t as soft. Nathan held tightly at the shorter man’s back while he felt an arm hook around the back of his neck while Williams’s other hand traveled into his hair. The feeling of the hair gel did not deter him.

  They continued for a few more minutes before parting breathlessly. They pulled away slowly, arms brushing against each other. Once they were apart, Williams gave a snort before laughing. Nathan furrowed his brows.

  “What’s funny?” his heart was still pounding. So, Williams laughing in his face didn’t settle well for him.

  “Just look,” he pointed towards a mirror. Nathan turned to see his hair stuck in all directions. “I didn’t mean to mess your hair up.” Still Williams was laughing. Nathan gave a huff of a laugh before he saw his own face turn red in the mirror. He ran his fingers through his hair to straighten it down which put it back to normal, all flat except for the few pieces at the front. He could never fix those.

  “I guess that was pretty good for our first night.” Nathan cleared his throat and straightened his shirt. Williams felt like he was starting to see through Nathan's exterior. Granted, so far, it didn’t seem much different. And maybe he was speculating some. But, Nathan seemed to be a bit finicky about his appearance and was easily embarrassed.

  “I guess it was.” His lips were still tingling. He might have wanted a little more, but there was always the chance that things would go too far. He needed to be able to be able to look this man in the eye tomorrow. “I guess I’ll see you in the morning.” Nathan nodded. “The kitchen is down the hall, if you decide you want anything. Help yourself.”

  “Thank you.” Just like that Williams was gone. Nathan sighed. He was in over his head, but he wouldn’t back down. Sighing, he fell back onto the mattress. It was so soft. A quick flash in his mind pictured Williams wrapped up in his arms under the covers. He shook his head. There was no need in those ideas. All he needed was some sleep.

  ***

  Nathan grunted while he tugged. His wrists were bound above his head, handcuffs holding his arms to the headboard. How did he end up here? He would have never agreed to this. Williams stood at the foot of the bed. He threw something down on the mattress, but Nathan couldn't see what it was.

  “What's going on?” Nathan questioned. He felt so vulnerable. It didn't help when Williams made his way onto the bed. He straddled Nathan's waist while looking down at him. “What are you doing?”

  “You've worked for some pretty rich people before.” Williams said. Nathan nodded, still pulling at his restraints. “Which means that you should know what money is capable of.”

  “What do you mean?” a strong sense of fear rose in him when Williams lifted what he had tossed on the bed. Now the billionaire was holding a butcher knife up.

  “You shouldn't have tried to play me, Nathan.”

  “W-wait a minute. I can tear up the contract. You don't have to do anything extreme.” Nathan couldn't remember when he had been this afraid for his life. Was this really how he was going to die?

  “Where's the fun in that? The best part is that no one is ever going to know. With the money I have, anyone that does happen to find out, can be paid off.”

  “Please don't do this.” Why couldn't he move?

  “Sorry, Nathan. It was fun while it lasted.” The last thing that thing Nathan saw was Williams raising the knife above his head before plunging it downwards.

  Nathan woke up his breath stuck in his throat. His heart was pounding out of his chest and sweat slicked his body. It was only a dream. He sat up with a sigh. He needed some water.

  Picking his glasses up off the nightstand, he put them on, before sliding out of bed. He stumbled down the hallway in the direction Williams had motioned towards for the kitchen earlier. Finally, he found it. After a moment, he found a glass in the cabinet and went to the sink. He never heard the footsteps behind him as he got his water. Nathan took a long drink before cleaning the glass and putting it back. The person behind him walked closer.

  Nathan turned around to find someone standing behind him in the dark. With the dream still heavy on his mind, he screamed in terror. The figure jumped back at the reaction before reaching for the wall. They flipped the light switch up.

  “What the hell are you doing, wandering around here in the dark.” It was an old woman scowling at him. “And why are you screaming? Haven’t you ever seen a woman before?”

  “I’m sorry. You just startled me is all. I'll go back to my room, now.” Nathan went to move past the woman, but she grabbed him by the arm.

  “Now, you look here, blondey. I understand why you’re here, but I’m warning you. If you hurt that boy, you'll have to deal with me.”

  “Why would I hurt him?” Get a paycheck from him? Absolutely. Fuck him? Possibly within the week. But Nathan had no intention of harming him.

  “I don't know why you would. That’s not important to me. All I know is that Eugene is soft hearted. He doesn’t need you messing with it.” She stated. Nathan didn’t know how to respond.

  “What’s going on?” Williams asked from the doorway. He looked like he had been in a deep sleep. “I heard someone screaming.”

  “Your friend here is scared of old women.”

  “I am not. You snuck up on me.” Nathan said. She just rolled her eyes at him.
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br />   “Gertrude, please be nice to him.” Williams stated.

  “That’s not in my job description.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Well, could you do it for me anyway?”

  “I will if you stop ogling him in front of me.” She responded. Williams blushed deeply.

  “I was not. I wasn’t even looking at him.” That was a lie. Nathan had come to the kitchen in only his sleep pants. It was almost like a sneak peak for Williams. The man was thin, but still had some muscle definition.

  “Either way. I don't need two men in their underwear in my kitchen.” Gertrude said. Williams was aware of the wooden spoon that she had picked up off the counter. “Now, both of you out. If you need something, put some clothes on and come back.” The wooden spoon smacked against Nathan's ass. He yelped before moving to the doorway quickly.

  “Good night, Gertrude.” Williams stated only getting a huff in response. He closed the door and rolled his eyes. The two started down the hallway. “I probably should have mentioned her.”

  “Did she really just spank me?” Nathan asked knowing he’d have a bruise tomorrow. He didn't seem to have the same cold exterior at the moment. Williams blamed it on the man being tired, but maybe it would help him learn a little more about his accountant.

  “Yes, and she’ll do it again if you don’t watch her.” He gave a small laugh. “Now, if you really make her mad, she’ll just use the cutting board.” Nathan remembered a comment she had made.

  “Does she know about our contract?” Nathan asked quietly.

  “She knows about the original. She heard Dave and me talking about it.”

  “So, she doesn’t know about the mix up?”

  “No, and if you value not having a broken tail bone, you won’t let her know.”

  “Okay, fair enough.” Nathan leaned on the wall next to his room and crossed his arms over his chest. “So, Eugene, huh?” That pulled another blush from the man.

  “That’s why I go by my last name.” He didn’t like the smile he was getting from Nathan.

  “So, which one do you like yelled during sex?” He didn't know why he asked. Maybe it was just to see the red color pop up on Williams’s cheeks. He wasn't expecting the answer he got.

  “I'll let you decide which one you want to scream.” He watched Nathan's smug look turn to a shocked one.

  “W-wait. Remember I said that I only top.”

  “You don't ever switch?” Williams asked. He leaned forward, putting his hands on the wall on either side of Nathan. Nathan's eyes widened. Williams loved the blush that was coming over his cheeks. Maybe he wasn’t as calculated as he acted.

  “No, I don't.” Nathan responded, mouth dry. “You seen awful confident right now.”

  “It's because I'm tired.” He responded. “I should probably go to bed before I say something I regret.” He pulled back and yawned. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  They went to bed. Now, Nathan was shaken for a different reason. He’d have to make sure to not let Williams get tired before they did things. He didn't need him trying to take control.

  ***

  If Nathan hadn't been so hungry, he would be back in his room working right now. Instead, he was sitting in the kitchen at the table. He was eating breakfast with Williams, Gertrude, and the old man that had been driving the limo the day before. His name was Theodore and was the husband to Gertrude.

  Gertrude had cooked for all of them. Nathan was a little confused about what the two were hired for. They seemed to be the only staff. Which seemed odd to him considering how large this place was.

  No one had been talking for the past several minutes. The tension seemed to be mounting. He wasn't sure if he should be the one to break it or not. Judging by the fact that Gertrude had the wooden spoon sitting between them, he didn't think she was too fond of him.

  “These eggs are great, Gertrude.” Nathan stated. She looked unimpressed.

  “Eugene, your toy is talking.” She said. Williams stopped halfway through a bite. Nathan just clenched his jaw.

  “He's not a toy, and he was being nice.” Williams responded.

  “And I'm sure he was real nice to you last night. Then, you two have the nerve to walk into my kitchen half naked.”

  “Gertrude!” Williams blushed deeply.

  “As long as they aren't having 'fun' on the table, I don't see a problem.” Theodore said. It was the first thing that Nathan had heard him say.

  “You’re disgusting, Teddy.” Gertrude said. “Besides this whole arrangement is wrong. If I were a Bible thumping woman. I would have walloped the both of you with it.”

  “That's not what a Bible thumper means.” Nathan said and sucked in a breath when the wooden spoon cracked against his knuckles. “Shit,” he hissed out. She whacked him again.

  “Don't swear at my table.”

  “The boy wasn’t wrong. That’s not what it means.” Theodore stated while Nathan was rubbing his knuckles.

  “I’ll spat you too.”

  “Sweetheart, you haven’t 'spatted' me in five years.”

  “You perverted old man.” Gertrude stood up from the table. “I’m going to clean up in the living room.” She left grumbling about the three of them.

  “Don’t mind her. She doesn’t do well with new people.” Theodore stated.

  “I can see that.” Nathan responded.

  “Once she gets to know you, she’ll calm down a bit.”

  They finished eating and left the table. Nathan went to get back to work while Williams and Theodore went to the living room to find Gertrude. Nathan was mildly aware of the sound they were making. It sounded like they had started playing a board game.

  Nathan just tuned them out and went about his business. He spent hours sifting through invoices and didn’t feel like he was getting anywhere. He sighed as he kept clicking through, writing things down when he needed. Then, he felt like someone was watching him. He turned around to see Gertrude scowling at him from the doorway.

  “Do you know what you’re doing?” She asked.

  “I think I do.” She walked over and leaned against the table. Gertrude just looked at the screen for a while. Nathan wasn’t sure what she was thinking.

  “Why did you take him up on that contract?” She asked, still looking at the computer. She seemed a lot calmer than she had before.

  “Honestly, the money was too good to pass up.” He answered, getting only a sigh from her. “Look, I know you’re worried about me hurting him somehow, but I won't. It's just business.”

  “Just business is a problem.”

  “Why?” Nathan thought she would have wanted as much distancing between them as possible.

  “He's had too many people in his life already that were just business. Both of his parents treated him like he was a project instead of their kid. Any time he's had a relationship, it was about money. He didn't need to go and hire a fuck buddy. He just needs a friend that isn't out to screw him over.” She said. Nathan just sat there for a while. What was he supposed to say to that?

  “I don't know that there's a way for me to help with that.” He responded.

  “All I want you to do is cut the act.”

  “What act?”

  “You walk around here looking like you don't feel anything. I've seen that act a hundred times from business men over the years. I know it's fake.” There was a long silence between them. Gertrude waited on him to either get mad or deny what she had said. It felt like full minutes before he finally could respond.

  “Just let me have a little while to ease into it. I'm not good at being open with new people.” He felt her hands on his shoulders and a slight squeeze.

  “Take what time you need.” She responded before leaving. He guessed that meant she was satisfied. With a long sigh, he went back to work.

  Williams came into the room later. Nathan felt like his eyes were getting blurry from staring at the screen all day. He rubbed his eyes before looking up at the other man.


  “How’s everything going?” Williams asked.

  “Everything is fine. Just very confusing. It doesn't look like anything has been organized in years.”

  “That's because it's only been quick fixes for a long time. We would have someone come in during tax season and figure out enough to file them for the year. Then, it just kind of goes back to this.” He gestured at the computer.

  “I can fix it.”

  “So,” Williams paused and leaned back against the desk, crossing his arms. “Did Gertrude come in here to threaten you?”

  “Not really, she managed to get that part in last night.” Nathan responded. He didn't elaborate any farther. Williams stood there, not knowing what to do or say. He felt like he should talk to him, but had no idea what to say. “You wouldn't murder me, would you?”

  “Huh?” Williams looked at him with wide eyes. Nathan realized how strange of a question that was out of context. “What are you talking about?”

  “I probably shouldn’t have asked that. It’s just that I had a dream last night that you tied me down and killed me because of the contract.” Might as well get it out in the open. It wasn’t like things weren’t already awkward between them

  “I would not do that.” Williams looked slightly appalled. “Do you actually think I would kill someone?”

  Nathan pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose while he thought. “It’s not so much that I think you would. It’s more of that I’ve worked for people that really would have done it.”

  “Who the hell have you been working for?”

  “I signed disclosure agreements so I really can’t say. But there’s one in particular that I can absolutely say would have killed me if I had tried anything like this.” Nathan stated. Williams concern just grew deeper.

  “Should I be worried about you? Like, is anyone going to show up at my house because of you?” Nathan chuckled a little.

  “No, no one is gonna come after me, I promise.” It was kind of nice to see him smile for a change, but now they were back into silence. Neither one knew how to talk to the other. It was strange. If it hadn’t been for a few recommendations that Williams had gotten, their paths probably never would have crossed. For all he knew, that might have been for the better.