1. the meeting #3
"Hmm... I know we just met, but from the moment I laid eyes on you, you were such a frail, delicate little thing that my protective instincts were awakened," Mr. Asano whispers, caressing Aaron’s hand. "I have the strong urge to take care of you, Aaron."
At those words, Aaron’s heart skips a beat. It races, and his breath catches inside of him as he takes in the words that have just been said to him.
This is just a lame pickup line. Aaron is sure of it.
But when was the last time anyone looked at him and saw someone who needed protection?
His father died without taking care of him as much as he should and his brother abandoned him.
He and his mother took care of each other, and Aaron had to learn to be just as responsible for her as she was for him.
So no, he can’t remember the last time he let go and allowed someone else to take care of him.
The very thought of it tempts Aaron to his core.
"Cut it out. That's bullshit. You want to be what, my father, now?" Aaron masks his emotions by scoffing and pulling his hand away.
"Is that what you want me to be to you?" Mr. Asano asks, hard lines on his face as he stares at Aaron hungrily.
Aaron feels somewhat vulnerable, stripped bare under that gaze, and he has no idea what kind of answer to give.
Mr. Asano’s phone rings again, saving Aaron from his gaze, as he looks down at it and frowns in annoyance. He answers it this time. "What do you want, Alvin?" he barks into the phone.
Aaron takes this moment to calm himself down and take a deep breath.
"What? The client clearly stated that he wants 12%. Of course not, they can’t just change their minds, the contract is ready," Mr. Asano curses into the phone. "Your gangster friends won’t bully me. When’s the damn meeting? Fine, I’m on my way."
Mr. Asano stands up.
"You’re leaving?" Aaron asks him, surprised.
"Yeah, there’s an emergency at the office. Sorry, love, I’ve wasted your time." Mr. Asano grabs his coat. When Aaron makes to stand, he pulls out two more notes from his wallet. "No, no, you take this, buy yourself something nice, and finish your food."
It hasn’t even been an hour yet, so Aaron should feel bad about all this money he’s getting for nothing, but well, Aaron’s never been the earnest type. "Oh… okay. Then, thank you. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Asano."
Mr. Asano smiles. "I’ll be seeing you soon, Aaron."
A part of Aaron wants to ask him for his number because he’s sure they will never meet again, but another part of him knows he has no right to even think that a man like this is in his league.
So he lets him go, thinking he will never see him again.
*
Aaron's best friend, James, is studying in the living room when Aaron gets home.
"Thanks for locking up the cafe downstairs. I’m sorry I’m late," Aaron says, putting down the groceries he bought.
"No problem. I only have one assignment today, and I’m almost done," James replies, eyes still glued to his laptop.
Aaron packs the groceries into the fridge and the cupboards. All in all, for spending less than an hour and a half with him, Mr. Asano had given him €500. He used only €200 to buy groceries for both the house and the coffee shop at the supermarket since there was a sale. He even bought pizza today.
"There’s a pizza here if you’re hungry," Aaron tells James as he packs the flour into the cupboard.
He gives him a noncommittal grunt, and Aaron continues packing until he’s done.
When he reheats the pizza, he can feel the rest of the money in his pocket.
He knows that he should feel ashamed, but the fact of the matter is he would not have been able to buy any of this if not for Mr. Asano.
And it’s not like he did anything weird; it was just talking and a little touching.
If Mr. Asano paid this much for some conversation, Aaron wonders what he would pay for more.
How much would a kiss on the lips be? How much would he pay to hold Aaron in his arms and fuck him?
No. That line of thought is dangerous. Aaron shakes his head.
He wonders why Mr. Asano even spent that much money on him; he is hot and rich, and even if his personality leaves a lot to be desired, he shouldn’t have to resort to paying someone to get some arse. So why?
"So, I’m assuming things went well with Xander?" James asks, finally closing his laptop.
"Hmm? No, why would you think that?" Aaron asks, bringing the pizza and a couple of drinks over to him.
"Well, for one, you haven’t asked me for rent money yet. I know I’m behind. And also, you bought groceries, so I just assumed he gave you money," James says with raised eyebrows.
Aaron supposes he has been hounding James for rent money these past few days, but that’s just because he was also broke. "No, Xander wasn’t there... but," Aaron hesitates. He’s not sure what to make of his encounter with Mr. Asano. "I met someone."
"Someone?" James looks up at him. "Someone? Wait, you left me to run the coffee shop alone while you were getting laid?!" The look of utter betrayal on James’s face is laughable. "I mean, I’m happy for you, you’ve had a dry spell for a bit, but you could have said something!"
"No! Calm down; it’s not like that," Aaron defends himself. "Some old rich guy paid me to spend time with him and I…shit James, don’t make that face. I didn’t sleep with him or anything. We just talked."
"Aaron, what the hell is going on?" James regards him with a frown, and Aaron hides behind his pizza as he recounts what happened with Rion Asano.
"I’ll probably never see him again, but this was one hell of an experience," Aaron concludes.
The speechless look on his best friend’s face says it all. It shows how bizarre and dangerous the entire situation is. But Aaron can’t help but wonder how far things would have gone if not for that phone call.
"This is unbelievable, Aaron. Who is this person, really?" James asks.
"His name is Rion Asano. He wouldn’t tell me anything about himself, though."
James bursts out laughing out of nowhere. "No seriously, Aaron, who is he?" he asks in between fits of laughter as if Aaron just told the funniest joke.
"I just told you his name."
"Wait, you’re serious?" James’s eyes are wide open.
"Yes?"
James types something on his phone and then shows it to Aaron. "Is this him? This Rion Asano?"
James shows him a photo on his search results for Rion Asano. It is a photo of the man from earlier today, in a suit and scowling.
"Yeah, that’s totally him! What is this?" Aaron asks curiously.
"This is the man who was interested in you? Aaron, he’s the CEO and co-founder of Asano and Sinclair Holdings, the third-largest investment company in the country! He’s filthy rich!" James exclaims.
Wait, what? Of course. How did Aaron not make the connection? His surname is literally in the company name, and he met him in the bathroom on the floor with the executives.
"Are you saying that I spent this afternoon flirting with a multimillionaire?" Aaron can’t fathom it. "What the fuck? A multimillionaire is into me! What?"
"Aaron, please tell me you got his number," James asks him.
But Aaron shakes his head. "No. Holy shit, James, I fumbled the bag!"