#only 21 days until onyx storm i am so excited

[sorrengailviolet]

waxladrian >> sorrengailviolet

new year, new me, and matching with my darling @riorsonxaden 🥰

[ren1327]

Pretty Boy Ch.3

“I told Kenji.”

“I am not telling Ben.”

Both statements came out at the same time, but both men heard in Simon’s large open office.

“Why wouldn’t you tell him?” Kosei asked.

“He just stopped taking his antidepressants and antianxiety medication.” Simon said. “I’m not going to throw this at him!”

“Let me remind you my son is also a part of this.”

“Kosei, I can’t. I really can’t.” Simon said and started pacing back and forth in front of his floor to ceiling windows, the sky getting dark with approaching storm clouds.

“Simon. Have you told Sandra?”

Simon made a face and Kosei sighed, putting a hand over the other’s arm.

“Simon, despite this seeming like a mistake, I see this a blessing.” Kosei said softly. “I want nothing more than for my son to be happy and I know he would be happy with any child you raised.”

“Gentlemen.” The third person in Simon’s office said, sipping his water. “There is an expiration date where both parties come out without any damage. In fact, the only issue is telling Benjamin.”

Ajay Tembo was an attorney for the Masrani’s since Simon was a child. And he only called him during emergencies. The older man was technically retired and enjoying his down time. Luckily, Ajay’s husband was leading a hunting/trapping expedition. So, being bored and it too quiet around their house, he arrived less than an hour ago.

“I still find it insane how you found a way to create a legally binding contract while drunk off your asses.” He said with a smirk.

“Ajay…” Masrani groaned. “Our sons?”

“Yes, yes.” He said and pointed to a line in the messily done contract. “here.”

They both read the line.

“If found unsuitable, both parties must verbally deny marriage with no issue on the deadline of Benjamin James Pincus Masrani’s 21st birthday. If not both parties will marry and—”

“Combine Masrani and Kon assets under both names?!” Simon asked.

“Kenji is my successor.” Kosei said.

“But Benjamin never wanted to be mine!” Simon groaned. “And they are nowhere near ready to take over!”

“I agree. I was going to wait at least more a few more years before I started to properly train him.”

“Kosei!” Simon chided. He sighed.

“I would love for our families to be united and if our legacies to combine. But I know now that Ben would never want to be placed on that pedestal. I can’t force that on him.” Simon said and put his face in his hands. “Oh, my sweet Ben, please forgive my drunken actions.”

Kosei stayed silent for a moment.

“Simon. Kenji agreed to go through with it.”

“Are you serious?” Simon asked, gaping at his friend.

“Yes, my friend.” The Japanese man said and took his hand in a firm shake. “I know we love our sons. But shall we stand back and observe? Perhaps it’ll be in our favor in the end.”

“I…Fine.” Simon said and squeezed Kosei’s hand.

“Let us see if our sons are compatible.”

Ajay capped his pen and smiled.

 *

 “I’m happy y’all want to help me out!” Sammy said as Brooklynn put on the blue and gray stripped apron.

“It can’t be too hard, right?” Brooklynn asked. “Just take the orders to the tables.”

Ben smiled and nodded. “Sammy, Yaz and I will take care of prepping and plating. Just smile and take them their drinks and cakes.”

“I think we might be overstaffed now, Beloved.” Yaz said, making Sammy blush and bite her lip.

Ben smiled as he watched them smile and Yaz wrap her arms around Sammy’s waist and pull her close.

He couldn’t help feel a little jealous at the two’s interactions.

Yaz had came in the shop last year, huffing and upset she hadn’t qualified for an obstacle course that would have ended with a recommendation for her to qualify for team America. She had angrily yelled for the most sugary dessert they had and Sammy had served her with a decaf chocolate frap. She had sat next to her and after Yaz finished her food, she broke down and vented to the Latina.

They talked for hours between customers and Yaz asked Sammy to a movie.

And now here they were, on their way to sharing an apartment and getting hers and hers mugs.

“Thanks for this.” Darius suddenly said, smoothing out his pale blue button down with the Hammond University crest on the right chest, then putting on his own apron, his name display in clean gold embroidery.

“You’re very welcome.” Grey said from behind him, dressed in a suit.

“Looking sharp.” Yaz said.

“My aunt wants me to meet Mr. Lockwood. Ben, can you come with me with a cup of that passionflower and honey tea?” He asked.

Ben nodded and grabbed a saucer with the tea.

“Oh shoot, my apron.” He said. “I forgot it at the shop!”

“Just use the blank extra.” Grey said. “Please hurry. I don’t know how long Mr. Lockwood can be up and about.”

Ben put on the bare non patterned blue apron with no name. After measuring the right amount of heat and straining the tea a few times, he poured the fragrant tea in the porcelain cup painted with green leaves and crooked branches. He sighed and picked up the saucer again, handling it carefully. He remembered how clumsy he was as a child. How on his first day, he had stained a sofa and Mr. Van Owen with a barely warm dark roast.

The owner had laughed and shown him what supplies to use to clean the sofa of its stains, before he showed him how to make coffee and hand him practice in the employee parking lot with heavy wooden saucers, cups and plates filled to the brim with water.

Nick play yelled at him, surprised him as a way to test his grip and walk. He always helped Ben get back up until he was able to walk confidently with a full tray, his arms trembling slightly, but not one drop of water spilling.

Nick and Grey decided to have him in the back after he folded like a chair when a stressed out student had all but bit his head off for adding cream instead of non-fat milk to her cappuccino. She had calmed down a bit after admitting she was failing biochemistry and to his own shock, Ben offered to help her with her homework and share his notes.

Zia had become one of his good friends from then on. She and Franklyn were some of the volunteers who walked dogs at the daycare and puppy corral during mental health awareness month at HU during mid-terms and finals.

They had all met Franklyn during pals and pets day. He often brought his sphynx cat Onyx, often in hand knitted sweater vests with a snappy bowtie, to these events for those with allergies. Ben had cooed over the excitable hairless creature, who had quickly made friends with Bumpy. And they fell in love with the pets, adopting two calico cats within an hour of being there.

And quickly, he was added to their little friend group when they were coerced into a picture with the women. Her moms always invited him over. Ben had to admit out loud to the women how impressive it was they knew Spanish, French, Cantonese and were able to switch in and out between the three and English. The Mrs. Rodriguezs had always doted on him and encouraged their daughter to take care of him and Franklyn.

Ben smiled down at the cup as he followed Grey, still surprised at how far he had come from that child who broke down so easily. Who slept between his parents until he was ten and refused to leave the house as a child and preteen. But now, he had a job, friends, the cutest best friend asleep in her little bed in his room and supportive parents.

He took a deep breath.

He was gonna be okay.

 *

 Kenji was dressed in a fitted black suit. He wore a shirt matching his step-mother’s ash gray cold shoulder dress with many light pink cherry blossoms decorating the maxi skirt and the edges of the elbow length open sleeves. A dusty pink sash was tied around her waist and held by a pink cherry blossom brooch right over the swell of her plump belly. Her curly dark hair was lose and curled around her shoulders as if protecting her from stares over how casual her dress was.

Kenji stayed by her side as his father talked and conversed with other guests of the large ballroom. It was larger than theirs and Kenji was impressed with the rich Indian influence and colors painted on the walls with a large drip chandelier above them.

Candy had been praising it while sipping a soft rose wine from her glass. Kenji put in his own two cents about color and window shape, finding it endearing that Candy had to praise anything and everything that caught her attention.

He wrinkled his nose as Eli Mills, Lockwood’s personal assistant made his way over to them, obviously confused. He had heard from Roxy that he was a ‘straight upturned prat with his nose so high, birds nested in it’. To which Dave had covered Carmen’s ears and said, ‘He’s a douche’.

Mills was flanked by two large guards and Kenji felt his blood boil. Two personal guards, most likely Lockwood’s, as Simon’s staff tended to appear non-threatening at all times.

“Hi, I don’t think we’ve met!” Candy said before he could open his mouth, making Mills stop abruptly. “I’m Candela Kon and this is my son, Kenji.”

“Kon?” Mills asked and then smiled. “I see! I’m sorry we haven’t met yet!”

“Yes, I don’t often go to such big parties like this.” She said and looped her arm through Kenji’s. “Luckily, I have this handsome young man to keep me sane among all the hubbub.”

“Eli?” Claire, her red hair done in a high ponytail and her boyfriend, Owen in a suit next to her. “What’s going on?”

“I was just greeting our esteemed guest.” He responded.

“With your own security?” She asked. Owen rolled his eyes from next to her.

“We got this, have a drink, fellas.” Owen said, holding out his own badge. He and Claire stared down Eli, who nodded and the two men walked away.

“Mrs. Kon.” Claire said and hugged Candy hugged her back.

“Claire!” She said with a smile. “You know better.”

Owen hugged her next. “Hey, Candy.”

He smirked at his girlfriend, who rolled her eyes good naturedly. She took Kenji a step away as Owen and Candy played to Mills’ ego ad asked him about his latest accomplishment, the man paying no mind to them.

“Hello, Kenji.” Claire said. “Mr. Masrani told us of your…arrangement.”

“You know him?” He asked.

Claire smiled, eyes soft. “Yes, I do. He’s very shy and prefers to live a normal quiet life. If you two do marry, I have no doubt he will be happy by the side of someone he loves.”

“What’s he like?” Kenji asked.

“He’s sweet and kind. Loves his family and is very polite. He wants to work in botany, finding ways to use plants for health benefits. He’s also very…” She shut her eyes and sighed, as if trying to push away bad memories. “He’s struggled with anxiety for years and as of now, his confidence is astounding. I think he would be a fine husband.”

“Oh, there’s Dad.” He said as Kosei came to Candy’s other side.

“Uh, h-hello, Mr. Kon. I was just admiring your wife’s…dress.” Mills said.

“Torrid flash sale.” She said proudly, causing a corner of Kosei’s mouth to quirk up as he placed a hand on her bare shoulder, pulling her close.

They shared a look that squeezed Kenji’s heart and even made Owen and Mills melt a bit.

“Have you met our guest of honor?” Mills asked. “Oh, look, there he is.”

Kenji looked over to see the old man in a wheelchair, accompanied by his ever present granddaughter, Maisy.

And next to him was a young man in a nice gray suit and messy brown hair. Along with the owner of green eyes that had captivated him.

“Oh, isn’t that Masrani’s boy?” Mills asked, squinting.

And Kenji felt his heart fall into his stomach.

“I gotta go.” Kenji suddenly said. “Uh, bathroom.”

He walked away quickly.

That man in the suit was his intended. But he hadn’t felt a thing.

 *

 Ben watched Kenji suddenly walk away, who he could assume was his mother taking a few steps after him before her husband stopped her.

“Ben?” Grey asked.

“Huh?”

“Mr. Lockwood said he liked your tea.” Grey said and Ben had to tear his eyes away as his father approached the couple, the older Japanese man talking quickly and quietly to Simon as he frowned.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Lockwood, but I’m afraid I have to excuse myself.” He said.

“Of course, Ben. I know I’ll see you soon by the way Maisy has been talking about those sweets.” The old man joked. “You go do what you need to.”

“Thank you, Sir.” He said.

Grey took the tray. “Go ahead, we got this.”

Ben nodded and took off his apron, giving it to Grey before running off.

 *

 Kenji was sitting alone in the Masrani gardens, looking at the lotus fountain. He watched as the wind blew one into the other and they danced around one and another.

“Kenji?” A voice called.

There was Ben, minus his apron. He was looking down at him in concern.

Kenji looked at him. His kind eyes, sweet smile and how his head cocked a bit like a puppy’s.

He had to know.

“Ditch this party with me?” He asked.

“What?” He stuttered. “I can’t just—”

Kenji grabbed his hand.

“Please?”

Ben looked down at their hands.

“Okay.”