Chapter 24

Chapter 24 — Dinner With Devil Incarnate

Liam would've barged into Aaron's office and demanded for answers when he got to know that he and Jason were invited for an ominous dinner but Jason stopped him before he can do so and made him promise that he won't ask him any questions. His boyfriend is a nice man, but Liam worries that he is gullible. How can he easily accept an invitation from their boss with no doubts or queries? Maybe that's why he even apologised in the first place. Maybe this is all part of his brand plan, and they are just falling for it like stupid ducks.

Liam keeps eyeing Aaron like a hawk all through the work hours, hoping (although he knows it's very unlikely) that the latter will break and admit that it is a prank after all. But he doesn't. Instead he even smiles at him a couple of times as if to intentionally taunt him further. Liam does keep an eye out for anything suspicious from him, but there's nothing — he can't find anything.

When the day ends, Aaron even stops by his desk and clears his throat, his hands stuffed into his pockets. Liam looks up at him — he was about to just turn off his desktop and take his leave.

"I guess Jason already told you,"

Liam neither nods or shakes his head.

"I was hoping the two of you could join me for dinner,"

He purposely waits for a few seconds before replying, "Okay, sure,"

"Cool,"

"Text me the address?"

"Oh, it's my house. Jason knows where it is,"

"Dinner at your house?"

"Yeah. Any problem?"

A lot of problems, yes, but because of the stupid promise he made to Jason he cannot admit that out loud, and so he just says, "No, just... why the trouble. We could just go to a restaurant,"

A small smile creeps on his lips and it stirs something weird inside Liam — he's going to ignore that for now; that weird thing happens whenever they have a normal, decent conversation. "You're suspicious," he doesn't even ask and simply claims as if he knows Liam very well. How presumptuous of him, although it is true.

"No, I'm not," Liam scoffs, crossing his arms, "Fine, we can have dinner at your house,"

He laughs, shaking his head, "It's fine. I'll make a reservation and text the both of you. See you later, Liam,"

"Whatever," Liam mutters, rolling his eyes, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to later tonight, not for dinner, no. He just can't wait to see what Aaron has planned for them, because if there's one thing he was sure of right then, it's that Aaron has definitely planned for something for dinner.

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"You're early," Liam accuses Jason as he invites him inside the house.

He's nowhere near ready, standing in a tank top and shorts, while Jason is clad in an olive green shirt and a pale brown pants. That is a combination Liam thought would go well, but Jason has pulled it off.

"Well, I haven't been to your house and wanted to spend some time here,"

"Give it a five minutes and you'd regret it," Liam smiles at him as he gestures at his nephew and niece running around the living room.

"I doubt it. I love kids,"

Liam smiles, and introduces him to the kids, "Hey, guys. This is my friend, Jason. Come say hi,"

Both of the kids have always been curious ones, so they do not waste any time in approaching him and looking up at him inquisitively. Jason doesn't know how any information is passed to these kids, but the second they open their mouth, he facepalms himself.

"You're actually uncle's boyfriend, aren't you?" Claude asks first, followed quickly by Tania with:

"Do you guys kiss?"

"Wh–"

However, Jason does not in the least bit seem fazed by their questions and just laughs, "Yes, I am your uncle's boyfriend, and yeah, we do kiss?"

"Eww, that's–"

"Okay, now that's enough. Shoo, go away," he quickly directs Jason towards the kitchen and apologises to him, grimacing.

"It's fine. They're cute," he assures him, still smiling fortunately, "What are their names again?"

"He's Claude, and she's Tania, and this–" his sister steps into the kitchen right then and he introduces her as well, "–is Rylee, my sister and their mother. Ry, Jason,"

"Hello, a pleasure to meet you," Rylee smiles at him and although Jason only extends his hand for a shake, she goes in for a hug.

She has been doing quite well recently, and it's honestly satisfying to see Rylee slowly back to being her old, bubbly self.

"So, I'll let the two of you talk,"

"She's nice," Jason says, "And the two of you look alike a lot,"

"I mean, we do share genes,"

"Oh, no. I didn't realise," he deadpans

"I knew you were all just muscle and no brain," Liam squints his eyes at him playfully, "Oh well, I guess we have to–" but before Liam can complete that sentence, he yelps, stepping away since Jason has started to tickle him.

Liam has to cover his mouth to keep himself from making any noise and raises a hand at Jason to make him stop, slowly peeking over at the living room to make sure that they haven't caught the kids attention.

"You better stop. The kids love tickling, and won't stop even if you beg for mercy,"

He puts but drops his hand, "Okay, fine," and then a moment later, "So, I've been meaning to ask–," he clasps his hands together, leaning against the couch, "–do you probably have anything to do with the sudden change of location,"

I have promised not to lie anymore, Liam has to forcibly remind himself before replying, "Maybe,"

"Maybe?"

"Okay, yes. I'm not going to risk our lives by going to his house which may be in the middle of nowhere for all I know,"

"It's actually not that far away from here," Jason informs him.

"It's not? Anyways, no, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying it's like stepping into a devil's lair. Who knows what he might do to us?"

"Devil's lair, Liam?" he's trying so hard to not laugh out loud.

"He's devil incarnate," he exclaims, "You don't know him,"

"And you do now, do you?" he teases him, raising an eyebrow.

"We– well, I am his assistant, and I am around him a lot. You get what I say,"

He cups his chin and pulls him in for a kiss, "I was just teasing you. Go, get ready before we're late,"

Liam playfully throws his arms around his neck, pulling him close, "No, but what if we're–"

"No, we're not going to be late, Liam,"

"Fine," he rolls his eyes, stepping back, "I had to try though,"

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"Oh, such a show off," Liam grumbles.

Jason laughs from beside him, "If you say so,"

"No, seriously. Making a reservation at such a fancy-nancy restaurant — he is definitely showing off. And who is even trying to impress?"

Jason simply shrugs, "Our first date happened at a place like this too,"

"See," he waves his hand as if to say I told you so, "Showing off,"

"Liam. Jason. You came," Aaron suddenly appears before them, startling them.

"As if we had any other choice," Liam says before he can think twice and Jason nudges him from the side.

"Be nice," he mutters to him.

"So, shall we go inside?"

Liam bites his tongue before another snarky comment slips out of his mouth while Jason nods, and grabs him by the arm, pulling him along.

"You can at least smile a little, you know," Jason whispers to him.

"I'm trying my best. Don't push it,"

Aaron leads them across the restaurant to the furthest side and leads them into a small closed cabin.

Showoff, Liam thinks again but doesn't say.

They order their foods and wine and yes, Liam does think it's all a bit too much but he'd by lying if he said he wasn't enjoying it. Who doesn't enjoy luxury really?

He doesn't waste any more time and he tries his best not to sound curt when he asks, "What's the purpose of this dinner really?"

"Um, I was wondering the same thing actually," Jason chimes in from beside him much to Liam's surprise — he was sure he would shush him.

"I thought we could get to know each other better," Liam claims with a sheepish grin.

"What?"

"Just as..." he drawls and then shakes his head, before starting again, "I haven't been very nice to you from the start," he says to Liam and then to Jason, "And to you too. I didn't treat you right like I should have. So consider this as my apology,"

"Or you could've just said sorry," Liam stated.

"I could've," he nods, "But I don't know, I just felt like inviting you guys for dinner,"

He was ready with another question but they were interrupted by the waiters serving them with their food.

"This is not very awkward, is it?"

Jason places a hand on his knee, before he can say anything, "No, it's not. It's fine," and he continues with a new topic of conversation, probably in effort to dissolve the awkward tension between them, "Did any of you manage to catch the soccer game yesterday night?"

"You watch soccer, Jason?" Liam turns to him, surprised.

"For fun. Yes, I do,"

"I don't get the hype behind it to be honest," Aaron comments, "It's just literally kicking a ball to a corner with some people blocking you,"

"That's the hype," Jason exclaims, "You have to get the ball to the goal past all the people blocking you. Do you know how hard it is?"

"Nah," Liam shakes his head.

"I don't like any sports really," Aaron admits, and Liam regards with a newfound interest.

"You don't?"

"No. Why?"

"Nothing. You just look like the sportsy type,"

He shrugs, "I enjoy mind work more than body work,"

"I find that hard to believe,"

"It is what it is," he shrugs, "What about you?"

"Hmm, it depends. I do love a good sport, but sometimes I can be lazy,"

"Oooh, I can play all day and not get lazy," Jason joins in.

Liam stifles a chuckle, "Right, I think we should talk about something else before this topic ventures into another natural area of its own,"

"What?" Jason asks confused, but Aaron immediately agrees, laughing as well.

"Do you need me to explain it to you, my innocent child?" Liam takes the chance to tease him, while Aaron snorts.

"No," he pouts, "I'm fine,"

Surprisingly or maybe not so surprisingly, the rest of their dinner flows smoothly with no awkward silences or tensions between them. And Liam doesn't even realise it till later that night how much he actually enjoyed spending time with not only Jason but also his boss.

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