#one of Eddie’s first major investments when the band started taking off was to buy a a high end camcorder specifically for this reason

[morganbritton132]

Dustin set up a continuous live-stream to his aquarium a while back because he likes to play it on his computer when he’s stressed out at work and doesn’t want an aquarium screensaver because he’ll catch where it loops. Once he does that, it’s all he’ll notice and it will drive him crazy.

Plus, he likes his fish. They’re curated.

For the most part, his aquarium is in his office and the microphone on it isn’t great so you don’t pick up a lot of sound. It’s a big hit with people. It’s a bigger hit if any of his fans know that he has quasi-famous friends over but very rarely do you end up seeing or hearing anything on the fish stream.

Unless you’re as close as Eddie currently is to the fish tank.

You can’t actually see Eddie, just his reflection in part of the glass from where he’s leaned in close to watch the fish. You can definitely hear him though.

Dustin must’ve said something that prompts him to reply with, “It’s actually kinda important that I have my phone so, I’m not doing that.”

There’s a short pause where Dustin must be talking because Eddie scoffs next, “I’m not always filming things for Tiktok.”

Another pause and then Eddie says more seriously, “Let’s be real, Henderson. Realistically, there very likely is going to be a day when Steve is not going to be able to remember anything and I know for a fact that the bad memories stick with you the longest. I don’t want all of his memories to be demogorgans, and bats, and Nancy Wheeler dumping him on Halloween. I want him to be able to see that we were happy and that he makes people happy.”

There’s a longer pause and then you hear a loud snort and Eddie says, “Dude, I’m not Fifty First Date-ing him!”

[ontherockswithsalt]

This Charming Man - The Deal

A Joble Fanfic

Rating: E

(previous chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4) | (ao3 story link)

A/N: Thank you for indulging this little fic on the side! This chapter features Noble’s musical talents and Jamie’s brilliant ideas. 

Chapter 5.

“Mind if I grab a shower before I go?” I call out to Jamie who’s standing in the bathroom fastening the leather band of his watch. 

“That’s fine,” he murmurs, then turns his attention to the dark necktie he’s just draped around his collar. “I’m headed into the office. So when you’re done, you can just show yourself out.”

“Sounds good,” I agree as I linger in the bedroom waiting for him to finish. I come closer, propping my shoulder against the open door frame. 

“What kinds of things do you have lined up today?” He makes absent conversation with me while he loops his tie around in front of the mirror, tucks it from underneath but struggles to straighten it out.

I watch him, amusement twitching my lips. It’s like watching him try to shift that Lotus. “I don’t know. I gotta check my messages,” I tease before I make my way into the bathroom with him. “Here. Let me do that.”

Without argument, he drops his hands and steps back as I slide between him and the vanity and boost myself up on the bathroom counter to face him. 

“I’m capable of doing it,” he tells me. 

I flip his collar up and undo the tie to start over. “I know,” is all I say, softly as I concentrate on adjusting the drape of the tie. I manage a thick swallow when I can feel him watching me and it takes some determination not to let my gaze wander to the tempting ridge of his jawline. And that damn mouth I want nothing to do with.

“I would think it’s harder tying it this way,” he notes, and I assume that means facing the tie versus being on the backside of it.

“I screwed the debate team in high school.” I let myself look at him and have to smile at the sweet bewildered squint of his eyes. “I’m kidding,” I tell him.

A laugh puffs out of him and he glances away.

“And it’s not any harder this way.” I finish, pulling the tie through and snug it down until the knot tightens. Then I reach back and fold down the collar. “There. Y’look good.”

“Alright,” he muses, peering in the mirror around me and adjusting the knot himself. “Not bad.”

I hop down from the counter. “You look ready to negotiate the buying and selling of investments.”

“Do I?” He chuckles. “That’s the look I was going for. Thank you. Bathroom’s all yours.”

“Thanks.”

He makes his way out and I watch him choose a new suit jacket from the closet before he goes.

Huffing a deep breath, I turn my attention to the shower and mentally ready myself to get out of here. Damn, it’s gonna be a shock to get back to the Chinatown highrise, but that’s the life. At least I’ve got three hundred and twenty bucks and memories of a top tier ass that I’ll definitely train my brain to think about on many future encounters.

Even this shower is first-rate. I turn it on and strip down, letting the water get hot before I step in beneath the spray. 

I know I shouldn’t linger here, but the water’s so hot and I can’t remember the last time I took a genuinely hot shower with actual water pressure. Even this shampoo is fancy.

I soap up, humming to myself and let the loud spray of water hitting tile muffle my voice when I start singing. 

“… It isn’t safe to walk the city streets alone

Anticipation’s… running through me…”

Rinsing off, I appreciate a few more minutes, swiping my palms up my wet face, back through my clean hair. Then I shut off the water and keep mumbling my Eddie Money rendition as the song builds. “Something… something… engine on!”

“I can feel you breathe

I can hear your heart beat faster…”

Through the steam, I push the glass shower door open and reach for a towel on the nearby shelf. 

“Take me home tonight! I don’t wanna-- Jesus!” I’m startled, huffing air from my chest when I see Jamie standing right there in the bathroom, leaning against the edge of the counter. 

I rub my face with the towel and blink hard. “I didn’t think you were still here.”

He merely strokes a hand along his jawline and lets out one of these little soft laughs. “I was on a phone call.”

“Oh,” is all I can manage.

Jamie’s gaze flicks down which is only natural since I’m standing here naked and haven’t situated the towel around myself yet. But then he pushes himself a step back and turns out of the bathroom. “You’re not a bad singer.”

With a shake of my head, I scoff. 

Then he announces, “Come out here. I have a business proposition for you.”

“Alright.” Unfolding the towel, I take a second to swipe it over my hair and down my chest before I sling it low around my waist and follow him to the bedroom. But I stop at the bathroom doorway and just lean my weight there.

“I’m going to be in the city until Sunday,” he tells me. “I’d like you to spend the week with me.”

My brows lift and I feel a smile flick the corner of my lips. “Really? A week doing what?”

“I have a major client based in New York and we’re working on a deal that’s gonna take some time,” he explains. “You don’t need to know the specifics. But I just got off the phone with one of my partners…” Jamie pauses a moment, tilting his head as if he’s pondering how to pitch this. His hands gesture before he actually speaks. “It would look good, let’s just say, if I had… somebody with me. Dinners, events, that kinda thing.”

“Like, you were told to bring a date?”

“More or less,” he smiles. “I’d hire you. It’d be a clean business deal. I would be paying you, essentially as an employee.”

My brow furrows in confusion. “You’re… hot. And loaded,” I figure. “Why pay me? I’m sure plenty of men are banging down your door for free.”

He considers it as he slips his hands into his pants pockets. “I want a professional. I’m not interested in any romantic bullshit this week.”

I can feel my eyes flicking all around his face as I process what this means. If he wants to bang every night, great. But going to dinners and whatever else is necessary to make these kinds of billion dollar deals -- I’ve never been hired in that capacity. I’m not exactly the most brilliant in social settings. But I decide not to reveal that concern because he just called me a professional and I kinda liked it. Plus we need to talk price and despite the fact that I’m currently wearing nothing but a towel, I’ve got the upper hand here.

With a deep inhale, I glance off in thought. “You’re talking twenty-four hours a day. That’s gonna cost you.”

“Of course,” Jamie concedes, turning to back up a step before he faces me with arms folded. “Give me a ballpark figure. How much?”

“Six full nights, plus days--” Then I ruffle a hand through my hair and make my best attempt. “Four thousand.”

“Six nights at three hundred is eighteen hundred,” he reminds me of my own rate from last night. 

“You want days too.”

He submits his offer. “Two thousand.”

“Three thousand.”

“Done.” He nods, with this little pull at his cheek acknowledging that this is sort of ridiculous negotiation. 

A laugh rumbles in my throat and I turn away toward the bathroom. I reach back and push the door shut behind me because I’m about to fucking cackle or make some other insane noise at the notion of making that much money.

“Is that a yes, Noble?” He checks from the other side of the door.

I turn and quickly tug it open. Propping my forearm along the door frame, I try to look more composed. “Yes.”

His gaze is heavy. “Good.”

This close to me, he makes my heart beat too fast and it’s probably not okay. He’s got this smirk and this etched jawline, but when a smile surfaces, it’s like... this godawful dreamboat smile that I don’t think I can tolerate for a week. But I’m a professional and for three grand, I’ll squash any and all reactions to it. He’s not that cute.

“Do we need to set some ground rules?” I wonder.

He turns away to head out into the suite and I follow behind him. “Yeah,” he answers. “I do.”

I blink hard when I realize they’re his terms, but I guess that’s the nature of the deal.

“You can stay here. Don’t take any more clients this week,” he lists, moving over to the desk where he packs folders and documents into a briefcase. “Don’t answer the phone.” Then he pulls his wallet from his pocket and opens it before he thumbs through a few hundred dollar bills. “Use this today to get something to wear. You need a suit. We’re having dinner tonight.”

“Dinner?”

“A business dinner with clients.”

I suppress an inward groan and then I look at the money he sets on the desk. “Okay.”

“Does that work for you?” He shuts his briefcase and comes my way.

I nod as he approaches. “And no romantic bullshit,” I repeat, as if confirming the original ground rule.

He steps up and cuts his head to the side once. “Definitely not,” he murmurs before he turns and starts toward the door.

“I would have stayed for two thousand,” I call after him.

He stops and turns back, approaching me once more where he sets a sparky look on me and says, “I would have paid four.” Then he heads out, noting, “I’ll see you tonight” before he goes.