3. Seven #3
“No,” Seven clarified. “My dad knocked up ten different women, all of whom hate each other, but still somehow love him. They’re not my siblings. I probably pass one on the street every week and couldn’t pick them out of a line-up. Whereas your mom chose to get pregnant twelve times.”
Enzo chuckled. “Would you feel better if I told you that she has two sets of fraternal twins and a set of fraternal triplets, one of whom you just met? So, that cuts down greatly on the amount of pregnancies.”
“Wow. That’s…is that normal? To have that many…multiples?” Seven asked.
Enzo shrugged. “It is when you do IVF. Though, Dante and Rafa were pre-fertility treatments. So...”
Seven’s stomach churned. He’d wanted to change the subject, but talking so casually about their families made this a little too cozy considering Enzo was trying to train him to be his new whore. Or whatever the hell it was Enzo was proposing.
He hated this. Maybe he would have found it funny if he’d had any clue what Enzo had in mind when he asked him to lunch or if Stanley hadn’t shit all over his night again.
When Seven had hit the older man up last night, he’d just been testing the waters, hoping for one more night, maybe.
When he’d invited him to lunch, Seven had let his guard down.
Like an idiot.
“Why me?” Seven blurted, the words punched from his soul.
He shouldn’t even be entertaining this. He should just get up and leave. But he’d always been a glutton for punishment. Why not stay and let the man insult him some more?
Enzo leaned forward. “Because I need someone who knows all about my…extracurricular activities.”
Seven’s stomach sank. It was starting to make more sense, but not in any way he wanted. He sighed internally. Of course, that was why Enzo wanted to play with him. Convenience.
Seven’s face must have told Enzo he wanted a further explanation.
“In the past, our families have simply existed in the same circles, with everyone agreeing to assist if or when necessary. But now, it seems like my mom is making in-roads with both Jericho and Thomas.”
“And that has what to do with me?” Seven asked, the tips of his ears on fire.
Enzo leaned in. “You get what it’s like.
You’ll understand when I have to do something outside of the law.
You’ll understand when I have to cancel plans.
You know what it’s like to live two lives.
You want a Daddy, and I want to play with someone I don’t have to lie to.
” He shrugged. “Unless you’re not interested. ”
“Interested in being your contracted sugar baby that you can ditch whenever you feel like it? Gosh, while that does sound tempting, I’m afraid I’ll have to pass.”
“That’s not what this is,” Enzo assured him.
“Oh, so it would be a relationship?” Seven challenged, arching a brow at him.
“Of sorts,” Enzo hedged.
Seven snorted. “Talk about the bare minimum.”
“You don’t want to even consider it?” Enzo asked, looking hurt, like Seven not wanting to be his own private sex slave was making him sad.
“Do a lot of boys take you up on this offer?” Seven asked. “Do they jump at the chance to be treated like shit by you?”
Enzo’s eyes went wide. “I don’t treat the boys I play with like shit. I just like to have rules and contracts. That way nobody’s feelings get hurt.”
Seven huffed out another breath. “I’m not gonna lie, I would have felt less shitty if you’d just nailed and bailed. Or ghosted me. This just feels…gross.”
“I think you’re looking at this all wrong,” Enzo said, shaking his head. “Or maybe I’m not explaining it right.”
“Oh, I think you’re explaining what you want perfectly. Trust me,” Seven spit.
Enzo shook his head, holding his hands out palms up, like he was surrendering.
“I really like you. I liked you from the moment we met. I don’t usually like bratty subs, but there’s something about you…
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.
This is a way for us both to get something we want. ”
Seven hated that he was actually a little flattered. But nobody in their right mind would agree to that. “What is it you think I want from you?”
“A Daddy,” Enzo answered. “I can be that for you. I meant it when I said I would compensate you generously.”
Seven’s laugh sounded borderline deranged in the near empty space as he glared daggers at Enzo’s bewildered face. “Wow, you really are just looking for a sugar baby.”
Enzo shook his head, looking frustrated. “I just think you’d make an excellent sub, and I felt like we kind of understood each other that night. This is an opportunity. If things work out, you might not even have to work your way through law school.”
You won’t have to work your way through law school.
Wow.
“You want this to last until I’m out of law school?” Seven asked.
Enzo pulled a face that let Seven know he hadn’t meant that at all. “Well, we can discuss the terms of the contract together, including the length, if you agree to let me train you.”
Fuck this.
“Well, this has been great, but if I wanted to feel like shit about myself, I would have just called my actual father,” Seven said, making to stand. Enzo snatched his wrist. Seven glared at his hand. “Let me go.”
Enzo had the audacity to look upset. “At least stay and eat.”
Seven’s breaths came a little faster as he tried not to squirm under Enzo’s scrutiny.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings. I’m not good at talking about this shit.
Most of the people I play with are trained submissives, who aren’t looking for a long-term contract.
This is how we negotiate our time together.
I thought maybe you might be looking for some mutually beneficial fun with an expiration date. That’s all.”
This was his father’s fault. It had to be.
Seven didn’t get emotional. He didn’t waste his energy crying over rich douchebags, much less rich douchebag attorneys.
This was just misplaced sadness. That had to be it…
or his hormones convincing him that Enzo meant more to him than he actually did thanks to whatever post-orgasmic endorphin rush he’d had that night.
If Enzo had been any other man, Seven would have just eaten his lunch, politely refused, and had a great story to tell the others.
It wasn’t like he did relationships, either.
He loved to throw the word Daddy around, but not in any serious way.
He wasn’t looking for hearts and flowers and all the shit his friends had.
But something about this interaction with Enzo after everything they’d done that night was rubbing his heart raw.
Finally, Seven shook his head, forcing himself to act like he didn’t care.
“I only texted you because you were hot, and I figured I could probably tolerate your shitty personality for one night if it meant getting your dick in my ass, but I’m starting to realize no dick—especially yours—is worth this shit. ”
Enzo leaned into his space, the scent of his cologne making him dizzy. “First of all, you have a filthy mouth,” he murmured. “Second, if all you wanted was a quick fuck, I could have taken care of it at the office before we left.”
Seven glowered at him.
“I think I hurt your feelings, which wasn’t my intention. But if I’m wrong and you do just want a repeat of that night, we can do it right now. I can take you upstairs and fuck you pressed up against the dessert wines. Just say the word.”
Seven’s heart jack-rabbited in his chest. He really did have daddy issues.
He snatched his wrist from Enzo’s grip. “I actually don’t want anything from you, so I’m gonna go.”
Enzo’s eyes went wide, once more looking at him with surprise. “At least stay and eat lunch,” he repeated.
Seven’s chest tightened. Why did this suck so bad? He could feel his hold on his emotions unraveling. “No, thanks.”
Enzo stood, once more catching his arm. “Then at least let me give you a ride wherever you’re going.”
Seven met his gaze, horrified when he felt the words clotting in his throat. “I’m gonna be honest,” he managed. “I’m fighting the urge to punch you in the face right now. So, I’m gonna go before I give in to that urge and get arrested.”
“If you punch me, I won’t call the cops,” Enzo promised.
Before Seven could respond, the partition scraped open. Carli frowned when she saw the two standing. “What are you guys doing? Are you ready to order?”
Seven pulled his arm free. “I’m not staying, but it was nice meeting you.”
“Seven,” Enzo called as he stormed out of the room, but Seven kept walking, tears stinging his eyes. He looked at the crowded dining room, then made for the kitchen door, determined to sneak out the back.
When he swept past Mama’s office, she called his name. He contemplated pretending he didn’t hear her, but she hadn’t done anything wrong, and he didn’t want Thomas or Jericho to hear he’d been rude to their friend. He stopped and turned, startling when he found her standing directly behind him.
“Oh,” she said when she saw his watery eyes. “Come here, bellino.”
Seven let her pull him into her office, just as Enzo came barreling through the kitchen doors, heading towards him.
“Sit down,” Mama told Seven, putting herself between him and her own son. “He clearly doesn’t want to talk to you. Go back to work. That’s all you care about, anyway.”
“Mama,” Enzo said, tone pleading.
The desperation in his tone made Seven feel a little better, which was just pathetic, really. Mama closed the door in Enzo’s face, then shut the blinds so Seven didn’t have to look at his stupidly handsome but comically put-out expression.
“Sit, bellino,” she said, gesturing towards the chairs on the opposite side of her desk. She didn’t take her seat but the one beside Seven, sliding a tissue box towards him.
“I’m sorry,” he said, flushing when he sniffled and an actual tear slid down his cheek. “This is so stupid.”
“I take it this wasn’t about a mentorship at his law firm?” Seven shook his head. “What did he do to make you cry like this? Huh? Did he proposition you?”
Seven nodded, the words stuck in his throat. “I—He was nice about it, I guess. I just didn’t see it coming. I should have after what you said when I got here. But he was so…different that night. He just didn’t act like this when we met a couple of weeks ago. I’m the idiot.”
“Oh, bellino, this isn’t your fault. For someone so smart, he’s so stupid.
My son doesn’t know what he needs. He runs away from every good thing that crosses his path.
” She patted his back, a faraway look in her eyes.
After a few minutes, she gave him a calculating look that made her look just like her son. “You’re in law school, yes?”
Seven frowned. “I’m just a first year student, but yeah.”
“How about you let me make up for my son’s terrible manners. You need an internship, right?” she asked.
Technically, he wouldn’t need an internship until next summer. If he wanted any shot at a judicial clerkship, an internship would help.
“Let me make a phone call,” she said.
“What? No. You don’t have to do that,” Seven said, waving his hands.
“It’s not that serious. Like I said, I was just caught off guard.
I-I started it last night when I propositioned him for…
for another hook-up after I had a shitty conversation with my—” He cut himself off abruptly.
“You know what? It doesn’t matter. This was all a huge mistake. ”
“You’re a grown man,” she said, patting his leg. “You can sleep with anyone you like. He still had no right to treat you like that. I want to make it up to you. An internship—a paid internship—at a big name law firm goes a long way after graduation. I can get you into my son’s firm.”
Seven’s eyes went wide. “Why would you… Y-You really think that’s a good idea?”
She shrugged. “The only reason my son got his foot in the door over there was because of me. Let me do the same for you.”
Did he want to see Enzo every day after what had just happened?
Yes. He wanted to see Enzo right now. He wanted him to apologize and tell him he was sorry and then spend the night making it up to him.
But that was just a fucking fairy tale. This, however…
this offer…it could set him up for life.
Would he be a bad person for taking it? Was it any better than accepting Enzo’s shitty proposition?
“Won’t Enzo be mad?” Seven asked, staring at the closed blinds, hoping he’d already left as much as he also hoped he hadn’t.
“Oh, I hope so, bellino. I definitely hope so.”
“I—He wouldn’t be my boss or anything, right?” he asked.
“Absolutely not. But he will have to see you every day. And work with you every day. And my son needs to learn a lesson.”
“What lesson is that?”
“He can’t always get what he wants, how he wants it,” she said.
“And you think he wants me?” Seven asked, heartbeat skipping.
“Oh, I know he does. He would have never had the balls to bring you into my restaurant and parade you around in front of me and his sisters if he wasn’t secretly hoping we’d adopt you.”
Seven shook his head. “I don’t think that’s true. I think he just wanted me to be comfortable when he asked me to be his sugar baby or whatever.”
“He likes you, bellino. Trust me on that. He’s just too afraid to admit it.”
Something curdled in Seven’s stomach. “I doubt it.”
“You’ll see.” Mama smiled. “But promise me one thing.”
Seven nodded. “Anything.”
“If you do decide to forgive my son, you make him grovel.”
“Grovel?” Seven repeated.
Mama nodded. “Yes. What is it you kids say? Walk him like a dog.”