Chapter 2: First Impression (2)
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Even though Ethan was told not to enter that room under any circumstances… How is he supposed to do that when his boss literally told him to enter the room with him?
“Why are you just standing at the doorway?” Ashton asked as he stared at the man several years younger than him.
“I was told not to enter here by Lizzy…” Ethan was still hesitating to enter the room and stood aside waiting.
“Tsk… She always says such useless things…” Ashton clicked his tongue at the man’s words. “If you don’t want to enter then…” He took his laptop in his hands and took it outside. “I’ll work in the living room.”
“Is it really alright sir? Won’t you be uncomfortable here?” Ethan wasn’t sure what type of work the man did but he still thought the desk was better as a workplace.
“It doesn’t really make a difference to me, whether I’m in my room or here. So just sit down next to me while I work.” Ashton said as he went to the living room and set up his laptop.
“Alright, but first sir would you want something to drink?” Ethan thought it was better to stay hydrated while working.
“…that’s thoughtful. Yes, can you make tea?” Ashton asked a bit awkwardly.
“Yes! I make really good tea, if you have lemon and honey I can make you an amazing tea sir!” Ethan was strangely excited that the man agreed to make him something to drink.
“I think we do, you should check in the cabins…” Ashton wasn’t completely sure what kinds of products he had in his house because he hasn’t bought any of it himself.
“Alright! Just give me several minutes okay~?” Ethan said in a cheerful manner as he began making the tea.
‘cute…’ Ashton thought to himself after seeing the man’s response. Somehow he found the way the younger boy reacted really cute.
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After about 10 minutes the tea was ready and served to the man in the wheelchair who had already started working.
“Sorry I took so long. Here it is~” Ethan said in a cheery tone as he served the tea.
Ashton seemed to stare at the cup for a while before picking it up and taking a sip from it. It seemed like Ethan was eagerly awaiting to hear the man’s opinion on the tea.
“It’s good…” Ashton said as he took another sip from the tea and then put his cup down.
“I’m glad you like it! So what should I do now? Just sit next to you?” Ethan asked the man as he sat down on the couch near him.
“Yes, you just need to stand there. You can read a magazine or play on your phone.” Ashton said as he went back to work.
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After a while the student seemed to get curious and began a conversation once again.
“What exactly do you work?” Ethan asked in an interested tone of voice as he looked at the working man.
“I’m a stock trader and I hold several companies within the city.” Ashton answered the man’s question nonchalantly. He didn’t seem to mind being asked questions like this.
“That must be a lot of work.” Ethan sounded impressed by the man’s ability to work so hard within a wheelchair. However it made him feel like he wasn’t working as hard while just sitting next to the man and being paid for that.
“It’s not that much work. I have a lot of capable employees that take most of the work off of my shoulders. Even if some of them aren’t as skilled…” Ashton said and didn’t take his eyes off the screen even once while talking. He seemed to be really focused but also managed to listen and answer the boy’s questions at the same time.
“I see…” Ethan wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for him to ask more questions so he remained silent for a while. To his surprise however the one that broke the silence the second time was his companion.
“Why did you start working as a caretaker, you seem young like a student.” Ashton asked once again without taking his eyes away from the screen. Despite asking the other man a question, he didn’t really seem interested in the answer.
“Well, before becoming a caretaker I actually worked two other part time jobs to make ends meet. Since I have to pay for my tuition, rent, bills and food…” Ethan said as he looked at his new employer who was still very focused on work.
Ashton stopped his hands and looked at the younger man. “Your parents don’t help out?” he asked.
“My parents are divorced and each have a family of their own already. So I don’t want to be a bother to them anymore…” Ethan said as he looked at the ground for a while. ‘I couldn’t possibly tell him the real reason I’m not asking them for help…’ he thought to himself.
“I see… You’re a good son then. I still think they would be willing to help you if you’d ask them. But then yet I don’t know them personally so it’s none of my business to talk.” Ashton said as he went back to his work.
“Yeah…” Ethan wasn’t sure what to say to that. He was surprised the man admitted to not being one to talk. At the same time he felt bad that he didn’t admit why exactly he was in the position he was in.
“So you’re in University?” Ashton asked while typing something on his keyboard.
“Yes, I am enrolled at the Economics University.” Ethan said as there was only one such university in V city.
“What major?” The man asked while continuously typing.
“Second year, business major, sir.” Ethan answered the man’s question without thinking about it much. ‘I guess he’s just interested in his employees…’ he assumed.
“I have an acquaintance there… Since you’re a second year you must be 21 then... you probably don’t know them.” Ashton said while seemingly sending a message to someone.
“What’s their name? I might know then actually, I’m quite close with first years as well~” Ethan said happily as they had a common topic to talk about.
“Edward Barrik, he’s a Management major, do you know him?” Ashton said as he closed his laptop and focused his attention to the man.
“I don’t sir… Is he your brother?” Ethan assumed as the man seemed too young to have children of his own.
“Yes, he’s younger than me by 8 years.” Ashton said as he looked over the younger male next to him. They were sitting pretty close to each other as it was.
“I see, then are you 27?” Ethan assumed that since Edward was a first year, he’d be 19 and then that would make the man next to him 27 by his simple calculations.
“Yes.” Ashton simply said while leaning into the man.
“Ah…” Ethan wasn’t sure what was about to happen. Seeing Ashton lean into him he thought he was going to be kissed again so he closed his eyes.
“You have a strange look on your face… Did you think I was going to kiss you again?” Ashton asked with a bit of a smug expression on his face.
‘Is he mocking me?! Of course I’d think that if you kiss me on the very first day!’ Ethan thought to himself but decided not to voice his thoughts. “Ah… yes I did think that. I was confused…”
“Are you gay?” Ashton asked as he heard the man’s response.
‘Me?! Gay… no way! You’re the one that kissed me!’ Ethan thought to himself before speaking. “No sir, I am most certainly straight.”
“You didn’t seem to push me away however…” Ashton asked while pulling away from the man.
“I… somehow didn’t mind it…” Ethan had to admit to himself at least, that he enjoyed the kiss. He wasn’t into men at all but somehow he thought Ashton looked very beautiful.
“Aren’t you bi then?” Ashton asked while leaving his laptop on the table.
“No, I have only ever dated women, sir.” Ethan answered while following the man’s movements with his eyes.
“Then that was your first kiss with a man? Sorry to take it away from you…” Despite apologizing, his tone sounded nothing similar to that of an apology. Rather he sounded a bit happy as he said that.
“It’s no problem; those kinds of things don’t really matter.” Ethan was already a 21 year old man, he wasn’t going to be all sad and pouty about a little kiss. Not to mention that his employer was actually quite handsome, so at the far least he didn’t mind it at all.
“How much time have you been here already?” Suddenly changing the topics Ashton asked while checking the time.
“About 2 hours and a half, sir.” Ethan diligently answered.
“Then you can leave now…” Ashton said as he pushed a button on his wheelchair to move him forward. Since his chair was automatic he had no need to constantly use his hands to operate it.
“Yes sir, but are you sure you don’t need anything else from me?” Ethan asked as he thought he’d done far too little while being there.
“You seem to really like working huh…” Ashton remarked as he watched the boy several years younger than him. “I don’t need anything else, you’re free to go.” He continued commandingly.
“Yes, sir.” Ethan said as he bid farewell to the man and left without making too much noise.
‘What kind of job is this really?’ The man thought to himself while leaving. It was strange, everything about it from the handsome employer, to the unbelievably high paycheck, to the minimal amount of work he had to do. Everything was so bizarre that Ethan had no idea what to make of it…