#rivulet027

Zeb turned back to Alex, eyes a little wide.  “I’ve, uh, never done this before,” he admitted.

Alex nodded.  “That’s fine.  I see quite a few first-timers.  This is the longest amount of time I’ve drawn a contract up for, however, so I’d us to lay down the ground rules now.”

“That works.”

Reaching into his messenger bag, Alex pulled some paperwork out of a manila folder.  “This is the official form, but the basics as Roy told me are that you need someone to pretend to be your partner during a week-long family vacation.  Is that right?”

Zeb scratched the back of his neck and winced.  It sounded so pathetic put like that.  “Yeah,” he said.  “Just want them off my back for once.”

“That’s absolutely fine,” Alex said.  “Roy told you my fee?”

“And that he gets a cut.” Zeb glanced at the bartender and rolled his eyes.

Alex gave a half-grin. “He finds me clientele, I give him a kick-back.  It works out well for us both.”

“How d’you know Roy?” Zeb asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

“Law school,” Alex said. “He dropped out but I stayed in. Which is one of my selling points: I’m an associate at Pryce & Thrawn, so you get to show me off as your successful boyfriend.”

“You’re a lawyer?” Zeb was a little surprised.  His gaze flitted to the bar, where Roy was obviously eavesdropping.  “And wait. Roy went to law school?”

Alex’s half-smile burst into a full one as Roy scoffed, insulted.  “Believe it or not.”

“Huh.”  Zeb leaned back in the chair.  “So what do we do?  I sign something and give you a check?”

Kallus placed a hand on the paperwork, tapping one long, thin finger on a signature line.  “Yes, but first I want us to both agree on the parameters.  Read through this and we’ll discuss the line items.”  He slid the papers across the table.

Zeb scanned the contract and was pleased to find it appeared pretty straightforward.  He would be hiring Alexsandr Kallus – that must be Alex’s full name – to accompany him on vacation for solstice week and pretend to be his boyfriend.  Alex would engage in some public displays of affection in front of family members to cement that image, but only for show.  He’d take on the desired–

“Personality?”  Zeb looked up at Alex, curious.

Alex leaned forward against the table, propping his chin in his hands, a sultry look on his face. “What’s your perfect partner like?” he asked, voice even smoother than before.  “Do you want a submissive sex kitten?”

Zeb swallowed, eyes wide at the sudden change.  “No.”

Alex nodded and sat back up, carrying himself more confidently, looking stern.  “More alpha, then?”

Blinking quickly, Zeb shook his head.  “I dunno,” he said quickly.  “Just be yourself?”

Alex cocked his head, taking on a more comfortable-looking pose.  “Myself?”  He chuckled. “That one’s new.  If you’re sure – this is your chance to fulfill a fantasy, you know?”

“I know,” Zeb said. “I don’t– I mean, I’m not asking you to fit a fantasy.  This is for a whole week, so won’t it be easier if you’re just yourself?  Less to juggle, right?”