10. Oscar
CHAPTER 10
OSCAR
It was New Year’s Eve, and had been six days since he’d kicked Gregory out of his house. They were supposed to be getting engaged tonight, and they were effectively ghosting each other. Neither of them had made a move to reach out. When did this become so complicated? It was supposed to be a business transaction – a million quid and in return Oscar got his mother off his back about getting married. Why was everything in life so difficult? He remembered something his grandfather used to say all the time.
“Every piece of crap life throws at you is an opportunity to learn.”
It was a good philosophy to live by, but his grandfather liked to be cryptic, so there was always another meaning to everything he said. They were a small family. His mother had been an only child, as had Oscar. Based on the crap Gregory was dealing with from Barty, he’d never been happier not to have siblings.
Gregory was everything Oscar wanted in a partner, and not just in the bedroom. He was intelligent, geeky, and sugarcoated nothing. It was refreshing. Because of his wealth, and how he looked, Oscar was used to guys being disingenuous. They either wanted his wallet, or to be railed by a jock. Often it was both. Gregory also had experience of the world Oscar had been born into, and they’d both made their own success, away from the family wealth. On paper, they were perfect for each other. In the bedroom, they were perfect for each other. But history meant it could never be, and that was Oscar’s doing because of his insecurities as a teenager. Now, all he could do was protect his heart, and if they kept having sex, he’d fall in love with Gregory. He was already halfway there.
His phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was his mother and was tempted not to answer, but she would only keep calling.
“Hello Mother.”
“Oscar, where have you been? I’ve been trying to get hold of you for days.”
He’d had no missed calls, texts, or emails. His mother liked to email him lengthy prose, usually about how she’d never be a grandmother. He didn’t have time to challenge her comment, as she didn’t even pause for him to respond.
“Daniel will meet you outside the venue tonight. You’re going to love him. He’s built his own legal practice from scratch, and is now one of the top corporate lawyers in the city. I know that self-made thing gets your motor running.”
What the fuck!
“And he’s middle class, dear. Isn’t that awfully quaint and real ? That’s the word, isn’t it? And he is drop dead gorgeous. Tall, but not as tall as you, because who is?” She tittered and kept going. “Nice muscles. Lots of strength. I know you like to be... what is the term...”
Please stop talking!
“Flung around the bedroom. That’s it.”
Please Lord, take me now.
“I don’t know. You kids and your strange quirks in the bedroom. Your father has only ever done one?—”
“Please stop talking, Mother, before I need a new therapist.”
“I’m just really excited, dear. I’ve been listening, you know. Everything you said about the other men not being your type. There was always something which was not right, rather than everything. If I had one of those cloning machines and could put all your needs into the computer, you know what it would create?”
“That’s not what a cloning machine does.”
“Really? Oh well, you get my point. Guess what it would make. Go on, guess.”
“Daniel,” he said dryly.
“Yes. Daniel. Oh, you wait until you see him. You’ll be on your knees before you know it.”
“Mother!”
“What? Oh... Oscar. Don’t be so crude. I meant one knee. You’ll be proposing.”
Oh, I’ll be proposing tonight alright, but it won’t be to Daniel.
“He’s going to meet you at seven o’clock, so you’ve got some time to get acquainted before the ball starts at eight. Ooh, I’m so excited.”
“Mother, I already have a date for tonight. You know this.”
“I’m sorry dear, I need to go. I’ll see you at the party with Daniel .”
She hung up before he could say anything, and he spent a good thirty seconds staring at his phone, dumbfounded. Then he called her back. No answer.
Ugh, she was infuriating. Now this poor guy, who knew nothing about the situation his mother had put him in, was going to be stood up on New Year’s Eve. Oscar didn’t even know this guy and felt awful. That was all on his mother. Perhaps he could get there early, meet Daniel, explain the situation, apologise, and then meet Gregory as planned. That would work. His mother had gone too far this time.
His mother might have crossed a line, but her taste in men had vastly improved. Daniel was gorgeous. He had to be six feet four, and he was built, but he had a leaner build than Oscar. He looked good in his tuxedo. His handsome face had a layer of perfectly groomed stubble, and his eyes were like sapphires. Geeks might be at the top of his list, but a handsome older guy with experience did it for him sometimes as well. Not too much older, but old enough to bring experience to the bedroom.
A few weeks ago, Oscar would have been up for this date, but the only eyes he wanted looking at him now were emerald green and full of rage and heat whenever he looked at them. Now he was getting hard whilst sitting across from Daniel.
“I have to apologise, Daniel. My mother doesn’t want to accept that I have another date.”
“It’s okay. She explained the situation.”
“She did?”
“Something about an obligation to a childhood friend.”
Oscar groaned, wondering what else she’d said.
“Look, I know mothers like to interfere – mine is no better – but it was the first time a mother trying to set me up with her son asked me if I was a Dom Top.”
Oscar spluttered his drink, his face heating with embarrassment. He was going to kill her, and whoever had informed his mother of his sexual preferences.
“Just so you know,” said Daniel, leaning forward. “I definitely check that box.”
Oscar burst out laughing. Daniel looked surprised, then laughed alongside him.
“Tell me about this guy,” said Daniel.
“Really? Why?”
“You seem pretty smitten and I’m an old romantic.”
“How old are you? My mother didn’t get into those details. Just implied you’d fling me round the bedroom.”
Daniel chuckled. “Oh, I’d do that,” he smiled.
This guy was one hell of a flirt, but also seemed to be cool about the situation they’d been put in.
“I’m forty-five.”
Oscar would have pegged him as being ten years younger.
“And still single?” he asked.
“Divorced.”
“Oh. She didn’t mention that either.”
“What did she tell you about me?”
“You built your own law firm, which is now very successful, the bedroom thing, and erm... your name.”
They both laughed at that.
“And you still came and met me?”
“I would not see you stood up on New Year’s Eve,”
“Wow!”
“What?”
“That’s just incredibly kind, and considerate.”
Oscar flushed, feeling awkward. “It’s what anyone would do.”
“No, it’s not. Damn, this... what’s his name?”
“Gregory.”
“Gregory, must really be something. Tell me about him.”
“He’s... well... for starters, he hates me.”
Daniel raised his eyebrows, but then his lips quirked into a smile.
“What?”
“Hot hate sex?”
Oscar felt his face heating again, but couldn’t help but laugh. Then he launched into the entire story of how they’d been friends as kids, what an arsehole Oscar had been in secondary school, the situation they were in now, the incredible chemistry they had, and how he was setting himself up to get his heart broken but was going through with their plan anyway.
“That’s quite a story. It’s like a romance novel.”
“You read those?”
“Only the daddy ones,” he winked.
Oscar couldn’t help but laugh, then noticed Daniel give him a look.
“Seriously?”
“It’s something that’s become more interesting as I’ve gotten older.”
“Really? Please tell me my mother doesn’t think I’m a boy.”
Daniel chuckled. “No, that never came up in her... interview.”
Oscar snorted.
“Where is your man, anyway?”
“He’s supposed to meet me at the ball, but I haven’t heard from in a week.”
“Since you turned down a hot Christmas Day fuck?”
“Wow. You’re direct, I’ll give you that.”
“I don’t see the point of being ambiguous. People need to know where they stand, even if it makes them feel uncomfortable.”
“How did you even meet my mother, anyway?”
“I was helping a friend of hers who popped into the office. She asked if I was gay, then single, and then the Dom Top thing.”
“Oh my God! Please tell me you’re joking?”
Daniel shook his head with a smile.
“I’m going to kill her.”
“Well, why don’t we have a little fun instead?”
Oscar tensed.
“Relax, Oscar. Not that kind of fun. Although you can take my number in case things don’t work out with Gregory.”
“What kind of fun, then?”
“We can mess with your mum a bit and see how Gregory really feels about you.”
“How?”
“We’ll go to the ball together. Your mother will think she’s won, Gregory will turn up, get all jealous, and then probably drag you off to the bathroom to give you a pounding, and then you can do your proposal thing.”
“Err...” Oscar was immediately hard thinking about that playing out.
“Sorry, I’ve read too many romance books.”
“Yes, that sounds very... romantic.”
“I can see by the way you’ve just readjusted yourself that you’re on board with the plan.”
“Erm...”
“Why don’t I take a piss whilst you calm down? Then we can make our move. It’s already half past eight.”
Oscar looked at his watch. How had they been talking for an hour and a half? Was this going to work? What if Gregory didn’t turn up? He’d then be with Daniel all night and give his mum the wrong impression. There was no doubt in Oscar’s mind that Daniel would be a hot fuck, but their dynamic wouldn’t work. Daniel clearly liked to be in control all the time, whereas Oscar just wanted that in the bedroom. Outside, he needed more balance with a partner, which is why Gregory was so perfect for him. How could he not see it as well?
“Ready to go?” asked Daniel, picking up his jacket.
“Yes, let’s do it,” he replied, standing up.
“You don’t have to do this, you know.”
“No... I want to.”
“That was convincing.”
“I need to know how he feels, so when we do this I know where I stand.”
“So you’re still going through with the wedding? Why not just give him the money?”
“He wouldn’t accept it.”
“Come on. I’m sure it’ll work out, and if not, my offer stays on the table... but you’ll need to take a couple of days off work to recover when I’m done with you.”
Daniel walked towards the door of the bar chuckling, leaving Oscar behind with his jaw on the floor.
The ball was packed with revellers enjoying an evening of well-mannered frivolity. They had a live band instead of a DJ, and champagne instead of cocktails. The canapes were seven hundred variations of how to serve caviar, and so on. Oscar had grown up in this world, but he’d never felt so out of place. There was still no sign of Gregory, and he was ignoring Oscar’s messages. On the plus side, Daniel was hilarious company, and he hadn’t seen his mother yet.
“Oscar, look at you.”
Spoke too soon!
His mother’s voice made him take a deep breath before he turned to greet her with a smile.
“Good evening, Mother.” He kissed her on both cheeks.
“I see you and Daniel are getting acquainted,” she said in a loud whisper. “Isn’t he gorgeous?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“See. I know what’s best for my boy, and I told that Balfour brat just that. He won’t be bothering you tonight. You can thank me later.”
Oscar stiffened. “What have you done?”
“Nothing for you to worry about.”
“No. Tell me what you’ve done. Now.” Based on the curious looks they were getting, he’d raised his voice louder than he meant to.
“Don’t be causing a scene. You had a problem, and as your mother, I dealt with it for you.”
“I need to go.”
“Go? What are you talking about? It’s only ten o’clock.”
“I need to speak to Gregory.”
“What on earth for? You’re here with Daniel. Don’t be rude to your date.”
Oscar shot a look at Daniel, who was clearly struggling not to crack up laughing.
“Daniel’s not here as my date.”
“Of course he is.”
“No, Gregory’s my date. Did you send him away when he arrived?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. As if I’d want to risk causing a scene. I dealt with that little leech on Boxing Day. Don’t worry, he won’t cause you any more problems. He knows exactly where he stands.”
Oscar couldn’t believe what he was hearing. That explained why he hadn’t heard from Gregory since Christmas Day. When he’d texted him about this evening and where they would meet, he’d been silent, but Oscar had assumed he would still turn up as they had a deal. How was he going to pay Grant Kincaid? Another payment was due at midnight and Gregory didn’t have it. Would he have been able to raise it in five days? Anything was possible with Gregory Balfour, but Oscar couldn’t take the chance that the man he was falling for would get hurt when he could have done something about it.
“Happy New Year, Daniel. It was... bizarre yet entertaining, meeting you.”
Daniel smirked and held up his glass before taking a sip.
“Mother... I don’t even know what say to you.”
And with that, he walked away, rushing as fast as he could. He had to get to Gregory before midnight. The night was picking up, and it was like wading through treacle trying to push through all the bodies. As he got close to the exit, he almost tripped over a guy’s foot. He looked back to throw an intimidating glare his way, but the guy was engrossed in his own conversation. Turning back towards the exit, Oscar collided with someone smaller than him, and his arms immediately shot out to steady the person. He looked down to offer an apology, and his breath caught in his throat as a familiar and mesmerising pair of green eyes looked back at him. Gregory.