An Unexpected Gift (Lorie)
 

Thomas Acardi was a man of extravagant tastes, tastes that befit someone of his status and wealth. At six feet he wasn't the most imposing man, but his height coupled with his blonde hair and dark green eyes made him one of the most handsome.

The man lit a cigarette as he finished his business call and stood up to pour himself a glass of whiskey with ice. The glasses were a fine cut crystal and very heavy, the ice from a silver bucket on the small bar he kept in his office.

Thomas' office was often times his home away from home and because of this he'd wasted no expense when furnishing it. The large desk was a deep cherry wood to match the bookcases and overstuffed black office chairs.

Set away from the desk, at an angle to give it a feeling of privacy, was a dark red leather couch and reclining chair. A dark cherry coffee table was set in front and a small television was mounted on the wall. Sometimes Thomas spent the night on the couch or caught a quick nap in the middle of the day in the reclining chair with the TV droning quietly in the background.

The blonde man sipped his drink and took a slow, pensive drag of his cigarette as he looked out the floor to ceiling windows and down to the pavement below. He had one of the best views in the city, but that seemed of little comfort to him now, he was too stressed and if he was honest with himself, a little lonely.

His musing was interrupted by a knock at his office door and Thomas moved to sit back at his desk before calling out for his visitor to enter as he stubbed out his cigarette in irritation.

Jared Keefe was a beguiling young man with dark red hair the color of garnet stone and light brown eyes that had a hint of green in them. He was slight for his height of six feet two inches and would have looked stunning if he were dressed in better clothes. The man beside him, driving a car he couldn’t afford, had determined early in Jared’s life that this progeny of his now deceased wife and some other man was worthless. So what better to trade to the mafioso so he could wipe out his gambling debt. If Harold really wanted to give something of value to this mob boss he would have given over one of his daughters. “Ok.” Harold started with disdain clear in his voice, “you keep quiet. Just don’t talk at all until I’m out of there.”

Giving the man he had never called father a look that conveyed all of his hatred for the asshole giving him away Jared simply rose out of the car and started toward the entry. Up on the top floor of the well appointed building Harold reiterated his warning for Jared to keep his mouth shut before knocking on the door. The call to enter sounded irritated to the crimson haired youth which brought a smile to his face. “Mr. Acardi?” Harold started meekly approaching the extravagant desk measured steps.

With a sigh Jared took quick strides to the over-stuffed chair and seated himself across from the mobster he was being given to. “Asshat here has massive gambling debts as one of your casinos.” the almost eight teen year old started cooly, “he was hoping in exchange for me, his son, you’d forget that he owes you money and can continue to live beyond his means elsewhere...like buying another new car.”

Slapping the ginger brat upside his mouthy head Harold glanced to the very powerful man. “Sorry about that sir.” he stammered, “Jared is usually not this ill-behaved.” but he didn’t deny that he was offering his kid to the mob boss to wipe out his debt.

Thomas regarded the duo with slight interest. It would have been a lie to say he didn't find the young man beautiful. They way he'd simply sat himself down in front of Thomas and plainly stated the situation was intriguing, if a little arrogant. The blonde man hadn't ever been offered a deal like this, and he needed to gather himself from his shock.

Instead of answering he mulled over the young mans words as he slowly walked back to his bar to refresh his drink. Harold was an irredeemable gambler who owed money to Thomas' colleagues throughout the city, and perhaps even the country. The red haired boy was pretty, but mouthy and Harold seemed to be casually abusive to him.

Having thought through his options Thomas strolled slowly to stand behind the young man and gestured for Harold to leave.

"Wait in the lobby, I'll be talking to Jared on my own while I consider your offer." The green eyed man tapped Jared on the shoulder.

"Stand up and let me look at you." He ordered softly. The kid was stunning, or he would be if they could get him into some decent clothes.

Nodding into a low bow Harold slunk out of the room to wait in the lobby as told. Before leaving though the very average looking man gave his ‘son’ a meaningful look complete with narrowed eyes. The moment the obnoxious gambler was out of the room Jared gave Thomas a sideways look. Easing out of the chair he had placed himself Jared combed long fingers through crimson hair. “Want the oversized coat off.” he asked not waiting for an answer before sliding the army surplus coat off his shoulders letting it drop onto the chair.

Beneath the large coat was a long sleeved form fitting thermal shirt and torn jeans completed with muddy black combat boots. “Like what you see?” the teen asked with clear contemn coating his voice.

Thomas was admiring the young man until he started to talk. "I'd like it much better if I could enjoy it without your insolent mouth." He said softly, taking a step away from Jared and towards his bar.

"Are you thirsty? I have water or soda." He looked back from the small fridge at the handsome redhead.

"I have some questions for you, ones which I'd like you to answer calmly and respectfully." Thomas sipped at his own drink as he continued to look Jared over. "And before you think behaving rudely will get you off the hook, consider your Father's other debts and the other men he might offer you too. If I don't decide to take him up on his offer, what do you suppose will happen to you?"

"Water please." Jared returned allowing his tone to soften. It wasn't this man's fault Harold is a jackass all the way around. The attractive teen had simply been venting the left over aggression he had for his sister's father and that wasn't fair to Mr. Acardi. Waiting for the order to sit again, because when you are faced with your possible new owner you wait to be toldd to do anything, hazel eyes took in Thomas.

At the mob boss' statement Jared nodded with a self-deprecating half smile, "honestly the worst case scenario for this daytrip is I end up going back with Harold to resume my Cinderella-esk life." He said softly. Expecting absolutely no sympathy from the blond assessing him Jared aimed his gaze up and out the window at nothing in particular and waited the barrage of questions he was sure Mr. Acardi needed to ask.

Thomas looked at Jared and felt the unmistakable desire to comfort him in some way, he wanted perhaps to pat his head or squeeze his arm. Clearly he hadn't been the target of the brown eyed boys frustration. The man instead shook his head to rid himself of the thought and handed over a bottled water.

"Jared, why don't we sit over here." Thomas gestured to the comfortable couch over near the television and lit a cigarette while he considered what to ask Jared. What need could he even have for someone who he had total ruler ship over?

"Can you cook and clean? Are you a good typist?" The blonde man moved to sit down as he asked his simple questions. "Do you think I could trust you with keeping track of a schedule and answering phones in a polite manner?"

Closing long fingers around the cool bottle Jared nodded stepping around the chair so he could cross to the couch and sit. As directed. Sitting beside Thomas the young man gazed longingly at the cigarette held in Mr. Acardi’s hand. Having been a smoker, secretly, for three years Jared was thoroughly addicted. Still the seventeen year old refused to ask as he had given his perspective owner enough to reconsider Harold’s offer.

Instead long fingers fidgeted with the bottle as Jared considered the question posed to him. “I’ve been cooking for ten years, learned how from my mother, and the only ‘housekeeper’ in Harold’s home for almost six years.” he answered honestly. The office questions were a little harder to answer because Jared’s experience was unofficial. Bitting his lip the crimson haired boy thought a moment, “I’m average at typing, I guess,” for all the money Harold was willing to through around he didn’t like buying things for his wife’s bastard. Even if it was to benefit himself. The computer Jared used was antiquated and the keyboard had malfunctioning keys.

“I was responsible for Harold’s office affairs as well as the house work.” Jared admitted. It was probably one more reason Harold was trying to get rid of him. If the one person that knew you were stealing from your clients was no longer able to talk to police...well Harold could kill two birds with one stone. So they say. Light brown eyes looked directly into green as Jared added a little shamefaced, “I only have a seventh grade education.” that wasn’t to say Jared wasn’t smart. He had been convinced to drop out of school shortly after his mother passed away. When his role at home had increased ten fold. But Jared was naturally good with numbers.

Thomas smiled softly as he listened to Jared rattle off his credentials. The blonde reached up and gently turned the younger man's face in his hand, considering him. He nodded thoughtfully, dropping his hand to cup the back of the others neck. If Jared was going to stay around then Thomas wanted to be able to touch him, at least casually.

"That's very good Jared," he said quietly and set his drink down on the table. "Well your education is of no consequence, you can shadow someone here for awhile to get your bearings with a computer and such." He waved a pale hand. "At home is where I'm looking for help anyway."

Obviously the young man was neglected and stifled at home, but Thomas felt that he had a diamond in the rough situation on his hands and he didn't want to let the opportunity pass him by.

"If you stay here with me I'll expect total obedience from you," green eyes locked onto brown as Thomas tried to gauge Jared's reaction. "I have rules, and I enforce my rules with impunity. You may end up spending many nights a week on your own and I won't tolerate whining. I work long hours so I'll expect you to keep up with me to the best of your ability." He set his glass down and stubbed out his cigarette with finality. "Can you handle that?"

When Mr. Acardi’s hand came to rest on him Jared’s natural reaction was to shy away from the contact but the blond man’s hand was different. There seemed to be actual desire in the action, not the possessiveness the young man expected. Relaxing onto the masculine hand cupping the back of his neck Jared nodded in response to Thomas’ offer to allow Jared to acquire the skills needed to preform office tasks. As the boss stated Jared would be of greater importance at home and he had mastered those skills under the tutelage of his mother.

Raising an elegantly sculpted eyebrow the redhead couldn’t help but ask, “and if I prove to be less than totally obedient?” expecting the answer to be similar to Harold’s method of controlling his not-son. Jared wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Acardi just tossed him out onto the street to fend for himself awhile. He was entirely to used to living with that fear. But that aside Jared was certain he could handle what Mr. Acardi expected of him. If it meant getting out from under Harold the teen would work himself ragged.