The Terms

Chapter 2: The Terms

The driver killed the engine in front of the massive white compound. Noah sat in the back seat of the car, staring at the huge doors and decors of the house. 

His chest felt heavy, but he forced himself to open the door and step out.

The elderly butler stepped down from the porch, bowing his head slightly as he gestured toward the entrance. "Welcome to the estate, Mr. Bennett. Mr. Cole is waiting for you in his private quarters on the second floor."

Noah picked up his small suitcase, but the butler immediately took the handle from his grip. "I will take your bag to the room. You must go upstairs now."

Noah walked towards the front door, and was immediately taken aback, as the door automatically opened on its own.

Then a maid walked up to him, bowing slowly. “Follow me sir.” The maids said and started walking towards the staircase. 

Noah followed her closely. The mansion was completely silent, except for the sound of their shoes against the floor. 

When they reached the second floor, the maid stopped and gestured towards a massive dark door at the end of the long hallway. 

“That's his private quarter sir.” The maid said. “The young master is waiting for you inside.” And with that, the maid turned and left.

Noah knocked twice on the door, he tried acting calm but his heart beat won't co-operate.

"Come in," Gabriel’s deep voice said from inside.

Noah pushed the door open and stepped into the room. The master bedroom was huge, furnished with a wide king-sized bed, dark curtains, and leather furniture. 

Gabriel sat near the fireplace in a black armchair, swirling a glass of liquid in his hand.

Gabriel set his glass down on the side table and stood up slowly. "You arrived on time."

"The contract said 7pm, and secondly, your driver came picking me up," Noah said, standing near the entrance with his hands clutched together. "I guess I didn't have much of a choice."

Gabriel walked over to a small table near the corner and pointed to a side door. "There is an attached bathroom inside. Go take a shower and wash off your old house scent from your body."

Noah hesitated, looking at Gabriel's calm, unreadable face. "I took my bath before coming."

"You will do what I say, and right now I said… Go wash off those scent," Gabriel said, his voice turning cold and leaving no room for argument. "Go."

Noah reluctantly turned around, opened the bathroom door, and stepped inside. 

The space was bright and clean, designed with white lineless tiles and a massive glass shower stall. 

He walked inside the stall, turned on the hot water, and stripped off his clothes and threw them on the counter.

He stood under the steaming water for twenty minutes, letting the heat soak into his sore muscles. 

The fear from the morning was still fresh in his mind, but he scrubbed his skin red, trying to wash away the stress of leaving his home behind.

He turned off the shower, stepped out onto the bath mat, and wrapped a white towel tightly around his waist. He picked up a smaller towel to dry his wet hair, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves.

Before he could even reach for his clothes on the counter, the bathroom door opened.

Noah gasped, dropping the small towel on the floor as Gabriel walked inside. "What are you doing? What are you doing inside the bathroom!!!"

"This is my house, Noah," Gabriel said. "And you don't tell me where to be and where not to be."

Noah slowly walked back until his back hit the stall door, clutching the white towel tightly against his hip. 

"Our contract is purely about the debt! It is a business agreement!"

Gabriel stepped closer, closing the distance until he was standing right in front of Noah. His tall frame towered over Noah. "You offered yourself as collateral to save your family. Did you think you were coming here to work as my secretary?"

"You were supposed to marry my sister!" Noah said, his voice rising as panic filled his throat. "You are not gay, Gabriel!"

Gabriel reached out and brushed a wet strand of hair away from Noah’s forehead. His hand was warm, but his eyes were completely cold. "My preferences just changed the moment you signed your name on my desk."

"No," Noah whispered, trying to push Gabriel's chest away with both hands. "You cannot do this."

Gabriel grabbed both of Noah’s wrists in one hand, pinning them firmly above Noah's head. He leaned down, his face just inches away from Noah's ear.

"When you submitted yourself this morning, you said you would obey my every command. So stop questioning what I say or do." Gabriel said softly, his grip tightening on Noah's wrists. "Drop the towel and head to the bed.”