Vic's POV
"So, when are you going to take the exam?" Kellin asked, kicking his foot against mine as we sat across from one another.
I shrugged. "I'm still deciding whether I should or not. Part of me feels really comfortable where I'm at and I mean, I've checked and I can take the test at any time."
"And why not now? I mean weren't you excited to ditch this job."
"I am but," I sighed and stirred my pasta around on my plate. "I'm worried about Alan and I don't feel comfortable abandoning him."
"I think he can handle himself. He'll have to learn to eventually." Kellin glanced up at me. "Besides, he'll have me to help him, you know."
"I know, but I've been with him since the business got big," I said. "And I think I'm going to take the bar exam in a few weeks and then maybe work at a law firm on the side and I've got some idea on what I want to do with it but I'm unsure."
"What's your ideas?"
"I could possibly, in a way, be an attorney for Ashby Enterprises, I mean, Alan gets in enough trouble with it anyway so it could work."
"That's an idea, I'm sure he'd let you."
"I know he would, but we're going to see what happens and where it goes. Yeah, Alan's absolutely infuriating at times and I'm tempted to run him over with my car sometimes but I still enjoy what I'm doing."
"Okay, okay as long as you're happy."
"I will be, I mean I'm going to get to work with the most beautiful man every day so it makes it all worth it if you ask me," I told him. "And possibly even my boyfriend."
"Boyfriend? Oh really now?"
"Yeah, really," I said, taking a sip of my wine as I looked at him.
"I don't know about that..."
"And why not?"
"Because," he said. "Working with my boyfriend could possibly be a conflict of interest."
I pouted. "Please?"
"Maybe."
"Kellin, don't be like that."
"Fine, I guess, I'd love to. Even though you're not going to be a lawyer."
"I don't need to be a lawyer."
"I'm just saying, it'd be fun to tell all of my college buddies that I'm dating a hot lawyer," he said, kicking me lightly.
"You can tell them you're dating a hot assistant."
"Not the same, that just sounds like a title to a porn."
"That's true." Kellin pointed out.
"I know. And don't worry about work, Alan told me as long as we keep it professional it's fine," I told him.
"I'm glad you ran it by him first."
"Of course I would, he's my boss and my best friend."
"I know, I know." He said with a laugh and smiled. "Okay, I do have one question."\
"Which is?"
"What's it like, like working for your best friend?"
"It's different and I mean it's not the worst thing in the world. I mean sometimes he's a pain in the ass, especially when he is in business mode." I shrugged. "But, if I'm going to be honest, it doesn't change a lot. I mean, I'll still tell him when he's being an asshole he'd do the same for me. We know when to be friends and we know when to be professional."
"Interesting."
"Why? Did you think it would be any different?"
"I don't know, I just thought it'd be weird," he said with a shrug. "So, tell me a little more about yourself. What do you do when you're not working."
"Studying or doing side work or just hanging out at home to relax."
"Really?" Kellin asked. "That's boring."
I shrugged. "I mean most of my life revolves around either work, school or dealing with my brother."
"There has to be more."
"Not really, maybe now that I'm not doing Jenny's work too, I'll have a bit more time to do something more."
"Like?"
"I dunno, hang out with my friends or you," I said with a shrug. "What about you, what all do you do?"
"Well, when I'm not at school Im working for Alan or studying with my roommate-oh jesus we both just work a lot don't we?" he laughed, rubbing his neck.
"Yeah it's part of being an adult."
"I know but I'm pretty new at this whole adult thing, thank you," he told me.
"It gets easier, trust me."
"If it doesn't, I'm going to kick your ass, Fuentes," Kellin told me. I laughed and the two of us continued talking for about an hour and a half or so before we somehow made it to Kellin's apartment.
"Would you uh, would you maybe want to come in?" He asked me nervously as I walked him to the door.
I smiled, "I'd love to."
"I don't know if my roommates are here or not but if they are just ignore them, they're idiots," Kellin said, dragging me into the apartment. I looked around as we walked in and smiled, the whole apartment just screamed Kellin in some ways. "My bedroom's back here," he murmured.
The next morning I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.
"Why are you up so early?" Kellin whined, rolling close to me.
"I wake up this early naturally." He let out a groan and I laughed, pulling him close to me. "Besides, I have to go pick Alan up for the day. Unlike you, I don't just work half the day."
"Shush, I'm a college student," Kellin muttered, nuzzling my neck.
"I'm aware of that."
"So I have classes I have to go to," he told me. I smiled and wrapped my arms around him.
"How about you just go to work with me?" I suggested.
"No, it's five in the morning, I'm tired and I don't have to get up for another two hours," he told me. "Besides, I don't want to deal with Alan unless I have to."
"Well you have to at some point everyday, besides don't you want to be a part of my morning."
Kellin pulled back and glared at me. "I do but not when you get up so damn early. I'm tired."
"I wouldn't get up this early if I didn't have to."
"I thought it comes naturally," he mocked and let out a loud sigh. "I guess I'll go with you since I can't sleep now but, you're going to have to bring me back here because I have class at like 12."
"Okay, I can handle that."
"Good, now come shower with me," he said.
"Alright, alright."
Kellin grinned and pulled me out of bed and into the bathroom. "So, my asshole roommates are all asleep so you won't have to deal with any of them, I don't think."
"Aw damn. One day I'd love to meet them."
"I don't think you'd want to," he said, making a face as he turned on the water.
"And why not?"
"Because, we fucked and they're going to give both of us shit. Not to mention all three of them are annoying as hell."
I laughed, "I suppose."
He rolled his eyes, "Trust me, they will."
I smiled and pulled him into the shower, it was rushed and quick but it was definitely one of the best showers I'd taken in a long time.
"Do we have to leave already?" Kellin said as him and I both go dressed.
"Yeah, I have to pick up different clothes from my place anyway."
"You could wear mine," he said. "I mean, they're not the same kind of suits you wear but, I do own suits, you know."
"As easy as that would be, I have to wear a specific one or Alan will have a heart attack."
"Fine, let's go," he grumbled and the two of us walked out of his room.
"So this is why you were so loud last night," a female voice crooned.
"Shut up Tay," Kellin muttered, his cheeks red.
I laughed, "I'm Vic, the boyfriend. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Tay, one of the roommates, nice to meet you too," she said, grinning. "How'd you get such a good looking guy, Kells?"
"None of your business." He said pulling me out of there before she or I could say anything more to each other.
"I like her," I said as we walked out to my car.
"She's my best friend," Kellin mumbled.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, really," he said, giving my hand a light squeeze. I smiled and opened the passenger door to my car and helped him in before I went around into the driver's seat. We soon made it to my apartment where I ran in, changed clothes and ran out.
"Is Alan going to be mad that I'm with you?" Kellin asked as I drove to Alan's loft.
"Doubt it. He'll probably take a business call or something. He barely even pays attention to me when he's in the car anyway."
"Really?" Kellin asked. I nodded and soon found myself in front of Alan's building and sent him a text, telling him i was here.
Alan came down and got in with an unlit cigarette in his mouth, "Do you have a lighter?"
"Here," I said and handed him one from my pocket.
"Thank god, either of you want one?" He offered.
"I don't smoke," Kellin said and I shook my head.
"I'm good at the moment."
"Alright, don't say I didn't offer."
"I won't," I promised.
"What did you two do last night?" He asked looking between us.
I gave him a look in the mirror and wiggled my eyebrows. "I don't kiss and tell, Ashby."
Kellin snorted and slapped my arm. "Don't even."
"Wow. Don't know and I don't care," Alan said and took something from his briefcase.
I smiled and shook my head. "Then why would you ask?"
He didn't reply as he smoked and did whatever he was doing in the backseat.
We eventually got to the office and I went around to let him out of the car. "I'm taking Kells back home, I'll be here in like twenty minutes or so."
"See you in twenty then," Alan said giving the two of us a look before heading inside.
"What was that look for?" Kellin asked when I got back into the car.
"He's just being dumb."
"Oh, you're sure he's not angry right?" He asked me while I started driving.
"I'm sure he's not angry."
"I hope not," he mumbled. I shrugged, if Alan didn't like it, he'd tell me and I'd tell him I didn't care and was going to stay with Kellin. It'd be fine either way.
Alan's POV
I sat alone in my office staring blankly at my computer screen. I had such a brief and peaceful period in my life I was shattered now. I was being a little over dramatic but I just wasn't happy anymore. I had even told Vic to basically fuck off with helping me for a little while even. I didn't want to be around him right now. I know that we're on good terms, but I just needed to be by myself for a little bit.
I got up from my chair and grabbed my phone making a few calls to pass some time. I was exhausted from the day and it wasn't even noon yet. I sighed setting my phone down before answering some emails before my face hardened.
I stood up from my desk and left my office, slamming the door shut behind me. I was livid. I was ready to kill at this point.
"Goddamnit!" I shouted storming through the office.
Kellin looked up at me wide eyed as I stormed past his desk. "Is everything okay Mr. Ashby?"
"Shut up!" I snapped pushing past everyone in my way. When I found who did this, they were going to never find a job again. I went into my accounting department and stood there looking them all over.
"Who the hell approved this money transfer with Mr. Jacobsen!?"
I glared at everyone in the room, waiting for one of them to admit to this.
One of them stood up, "I thought-"
"My office! Now!"
He got up slowly, looking like he was about to walk into his own execution. He left and I followed behind him with a stern look on my face. I couldn't believe he had done this.
I stopped my Vic's office and peaked my head in, "My office, please." I told him, well more like I demanded him. Vic nodded and followed us to my office.
We arrived at my office and I slammed the door shut once again when we were inside.
"Take a seat," I demanded to the idiot who made the biggest mistake of his life.
"What's going on?" Vic asked, sitting down himself.
"Would you like to explain or should I?" I offered before I just did anyway "He authorized a money transfer to Jacobsen, which I- me- his boss did not tell him or anyone that it was okay. Let alone a 1.4 million dollar loan! What in your right mind were you even thinking! He doesn't even have an account or a contract with us in any way!"
"I-I thought you said to do it," he stammered.
"Why would you think a stupid thing like that!?" I shouted at him. "You should know by now that-"
"Mr. Ashby I swear that you-"
"I didn't authorize this! We don't do business with him! Ever!"
"I'm sorry M-Mr. Ashby."
"Mr. Ashby, maybe you should calm down just a bit," Vic said, looking at me.
"Calm down!? We're out 1.4 million dollars! This isn't something that is taken lightly, let alone when it's to someone I don't do business with."
"Let me look at the information," Vic said calmly.
"You think I didn't look at it already?"
"I know you did but if you're going to have me sit in this meeting I would like to see," he told me.
I showed him the email I had received and looked dead at this man while Vic read through it.
"Well, it's a loan," Vic murmured, reading over it. "That means Jacobsen will be paying it back, plus interest, in a way, you'll be making more money from this."
I turned to Vic, "What?"
"When Jacobsen pays the loan back, he'll be paying back about a lot more than what he got from you."
"You're so lucky. You better not do this shit again. Now get out!" I shouted at my employee who quickly ran from the room.
"You know, if it took him about eight years to pay back the loan with the 15% interest that's on here, you'll be getting back roughly 4.2 million," Vic told me, leaning back in his seat.
"Good for him," I grabbed my office phone and dialed Jacobsen's number.
"I know."
"A loan, seriously? What do you need a 1.4 million dollar loan phone!?"
"Alan?"
"Transfer me to Jacobsen, please." I said ignoring the fact that it was Austin on the line.
"Well-"
"Now!"
Before I knew it I was on a two hour call with Jacobsen and a few of his people. I was pissed that he had wanted this money. He had it himself, I don't know why he didn't use it.
I slammed my office phone down when the time came and that call was done.
"Are you done yelling?" Vic asked me.
"I might be."
"Good," he said, nodding his head.
"I'm going out."
"Need a ride, or no?" He asked not looking up from his phone.
"I'm just going down the street."
"Alright, don't kill anyone. Maybe get some dick."
I rolled my eyes and grabbed my things before I left the office. I just needed a break for a little bit. Today was too much.
I got to the bar and started off drinking alone. I didn't want to speak to anyone, nor did I have any intentions to.
"This is from the guy down there," The bartender told me as she set a shot down in front of me.
"Oh no. I'm not here to get hammered or anything. Tell him thanks but no thanks."
"One shot won't get you hammered."
"I know, but one leads to twenty and I don't drink like that anymore." I told her, even though I was never much of a drinker since I just never had the time.
"Alright," she said and took the shot herself.
The guy from down the bar made his way over to me and took a seat beside me, "that was for you."
"I know. I don't do shots anymore."
"Why not? You're young, don't you wanna live a little?" The man offered.
I stopped and thought for a moment. I never really got a chance to live, so why not? From there the night was a blur. It was shot after shot until I ended up sleeping with this guy in the gross bathroom here.
I sighed as I pulled away from him, feeling slightly dirty. He ended up leaving shortly after and I just got back into my suit. It wasn't even six and I was trashed. I felt dirty and disgusting for what I had done. I couldn't believe this. I was slowly falling apart and I didn't know how much more I could take. I just didn't know what I was doing anymore.
I pulled out my phone and dial Vic as I sat up against one of the dirty walls.
"Vic? C-can you pick me up?" I asked as soon as he answered.
"Uh yeah? Is everything alright?"
"I'm trashed and I-I just wanna go home."
"Alright, are you at the bar down the street?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm in the b-bathroom."
"Alright, I'll be there in like ten minutes."
I waited patiently for him while I wallowed in my self pity. I couldn't keep doing this to myself. I grabbed out my pack of smokes and lit one up. I needed this.
Soon Vic pulled up and stepped out of the car and opened the back door for me, "Come on, Kiddo."
I stood up slowly, making my way to the car nearly falling in the process. I flopped into the back seat and laid down on my side.
"Here's a water," he said, throwing a bottle of water at me.
I didn't reply and just held it to me. I just needed to stay laying down or I was going to throw up.I couldn't even remember the last time I got this trashed. I didn't even know how people could do this every weekend, it was exhausting doing it this time.
"Vic?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't leave me, okay?" I said softly.
"I won't, what would make you think I would?"
I didn't answer him. I was just being dumb and over thinking everything that came to mind. I sighed and soon enough we were at my loft. Vic helped me go upstairs and even helped me into bed.
"Thank you," I mumbled looking at him from my bed.
"No problem, now get some sleep okay and-"
I didn't hear the rest of what he said since I passed out from exhaustion. When I woke up, I regretted every single thing I did the night before. I felt like death and didn't even want to get out of bed. I was never going to drink again if this was what it's like. I didn't understand the appeal of this lifestyle. I hadn't been hungover like this in a long time.
I slowly got my ass out of bed, thanking Vic in my head when I noticed water and advil on my nightstand. I really didn't know what I would do without him keeping an eye out for me.
I took the pills and slammed the water before I left my bedroom. I made my way downstairs and to my surprise Vic was already here.
"You look even worse than I expected," he noted.
I glared at him, "You're here earlier than usual."
"No, I'm not."
I looked over at the clock which read 11:30. Great.
"Oh fuck," I groaned.
"I was tempted to wake you up but Kellin said you looked like death so we decided against it," he told me with a shrug.
"You should of woke me up. Please tell me you reschedule my ten o'clock meeting?"
"Of course I did, you're sick today," Vic told me just as Kellin came walking in.
"I'm sick?" I asked "I don't have time to be sick."
"You're sick," Vic said. "Kellin and I have all of your work sorted by level of importance. You had three meetings scheduled for today, one of them isn't important so I'm going to do it, the other two of been rescheduled, both said they hope you feel better. Babe, grab the files, please," he said, looking at Kellin who blushed and grabbed said files and handed them to me.
"These all need your signatures and you need to look over them," he told me.
"Thanks I guess. Besides this what am I supposed to do today? I can still go in. I'm not sick. I feel fine."
"You, Alan Ashby, need a break. There is nothing in there that you need to stress over," Vic said. "If the president can take a day to play golf, you can take a sick day."
"Fine, fine I'll take a fucking sick day." I muttered as I started thinking about last night. How the hell did I get so hammered before it hit me "Oh my god!"
"What?" Kellin asked, looking at me like I was crazy.
"I had sex with someone last night in a bathroom stall. What the hell was I thinking?"
"Well, I did tell you to get laid but, that's not what I was expecting," Vic hummed. "Who knew Alan Ashby had a slut streak? Mike will be crushed."
"I'm never drinking again. It's not even worth it."
"Well, drinking is fun, getting shit faced like you did, isn't," Vic told me.
"I didn't go to get shit faced."
"And yet it happened," he said. "Do you need anything or are you good?"
"I'm peachy," I said sighing at the files in my hand.
"Alright, Kells are going to get going to make sure everything's taken care of," Vic said.
"Yeah for sure," Kellin said smiling at him.
"Alright," Vic said and gave Kellin a quick kiss. "I'll go pull the car around."
Vic left and I turned to Kellin "Forgive me for being unprofessional right now, but you two fucked the other day, didn't you?"
Kellin looked at me wide eyed. "Uh y-yeah? I mean Vic said you didn't have a problem with us being together but if you do..."
"I don't at all. Just don't be gross at work and if you hurt my best friend I won't hesitate to fire you or demote you or something. Okay? I don't have time for childish games."
He nodded at me. "Of course, sir, I'd never do anything to hurt Vic and I can promise there won't be any funny business at work."
"Call me Alan when we're not at work."
"Got it," he said and his phone buzzed. "That's Vic, I'll uh, see you later sir-er Alan."
"Bye Kellin."
Kellin waved and made a mad dash out of my loft.
For the whole day I took my time doing all the things that I needed, checking in with Vic making sure things were good down at the office. I didn't see why I didn't promote him or something, he would be great in this business. But I didn't think he could handle it every single day.
He could handle some parts of it but, I knew if he took over all of it he'd probably want to die.
When I had finished all of my work I didn't know what to do. I was bored, so despite my "sickness" I called an Uber and went to work.
"What are you doing here?" Vic demanded as soon as I walked in.
"Bored and I have to go see my tech team today for a little bit."
"You're insufferable," he informed me.
"Sorry, working is all I have to pass the time anymore."
"That's kinda sad," Vic told me.
I sighed and looked down sadly, "Yeah it is."
"I'm taking you out to do something tomorrow night, just so you know," he told me.
I didn't bother fighting him on it. I just went and did my work like I always did.