It was almost 10pm and Martin realized that their so-called important guests were not planning to leave the bar anytime soon.
Kevin himself was indifferent and Martin was frustrated. However, Martin knows that the money he'd receive in his paycheck would definitely be a huge sum.
Just as Martin grumbled and sulked about the time and how he was going to return home very late at night and resume work very early in the morning, Taylor suddenly barged into the private space for workers, surprising both men.
Martin would have likely reprimanded the man if not suddenly realizing that Taylor wasn't able to stand properly.
'He is drunk.'
But not to the extent where he'd misbehave. "Here, my card. You can swipe it as many times as you want."
Martin grabbed the black card and handed it over to Kevin who swiped the card twice.
But then, Taylor was offended.
"Twice? Maybe you did not hear me. I said, "You can swipe my card as many times as you want."
Kevin sighed trying his best not to be rude. "Swiping twice is enough for this prestigious bar. Thanks for patronizing us."
Kevin's smile was always charming.
Finally, the offended Taylor turned towards Martin and smiled. "Ah, yes. It's you. Can you do us the honor by dropping us off. I'll direct you."
Martin did not want to sit in the same vehicle as James so he scoffed. "No!"
Taylor smiled and said. "We're barely able to move. Do you want us to be in an accident?"
Martin wanted to refuse but suddenly realized that he could make some cash from these wealthy celebrities.
"Fine, but you'd tip me."
Taylor beamed and tossed the car keys to him which he caught gracefully.
Then he silently followed Taylor outside only to be met with six drunken men and no ladies.
'The girls ditched them, didn't they?'
Taylor reached the men and said. "I convinced him. He's driving us home."
Martin sneaked a glance at James Paxton, who did not even look at him once.
They got to the sports car parked in the garage and he sat in the driver's seat and patiently waited for these drunk men to enter.
But then, James entered the passenger seat alone— no one escorted him behind which surprised Martin. He turned his head towards the rear mirror only to see one of the ladies who had been in the bar earlier. She must have gone to get extra vehicles for them now, Martin was left driving this man.
"That bastard! He swindled me." Martin cursed, slamming his hands on the steering wheel and causing James to chuckle.
"He promised to tip you didn't he?" His chuckle turned into small laugh. "Taylor is quite stingy with his cash."
Martin massaged his forehead and said. "He asked us to swipe his black cards as many times as we want. Is that stingy?"
James blinked.
"He really said that? Damn, he'd regret it tomorrow morning."
Martin shook his head.
"My manager is an honest person. He swiped just twice. He felt like he didn't need excess money."
James leaned his back against the seat and said. "Drive to Le'snore hotel. It's pøpular, in the middle East of the city."
Martin obediently nodded as he turned on the ignition switch and the engine roared to life.
He pushed the throttle backwards which pulled the vehicle out of gear and the car drove out of the garage.
Suddenly, James leaned forward causing Martin to panic. It was his body's reaction, actually— they trembled as James fingers brushed past his hands on the gear causing Martin to instinctively withdraw his hands.
James noticed his reaction but chose to ignore it. He turned on the speaker which had been his purpose all along and soft music played within the space between them.
Martin tried to calm down.
After the death of his father three years ago, Martin realized the physical attraction he had to his fellow gender. At first he denied it, but then— he succumbed and got a boyfriend. However, this same boyfriend betrayed him, broke his heart and left almost as if he disappeared into thin air. After his boyfriend left, Martin decided to suppress his feelings. He thought it'd worked that he's no longer gay and he's been coping very well even interacting with boys, guys and dudes— especially Kevin, without feeling anything at all.
He had even dared himself last week to get a girlfriend, to ask a girl out, only that he did not have time to execute the plan.
And now—
These same strange feelings had resurfaced just for an annoying James Paxton.
Martin did not want to accept it but he would be a fool not to know what this implies. Martin did his best to pretend as if the handsome man wasn't in the car, but strangely, even his pretense couldn't save him cømpletely and that's because, James reeked of excessive stench of alcohol— beer, and his pheromones which dosed the entire car with a sweet fragrance that even Martin could not avoid.
Martin slowly turned towards James. The man's head leaned backwards, his eyes closed, however the way he breathed in and out, raggedly showed that he wasn't asleep yet.
In order to interrupt the awkward silence, Martin said grumpily.
"You're not supposed to sleep. I don't know the way to the Middle East of this city."
James opened his eyes, one eye first, and then a chuckle. "You don't have to worry. I'm not asleep."
He closed his eyes again, surprising Martin but Martin decided that he would focus on the road ahead of him, but the next minute, James suddenly unbuckled his seat belt and drew closer to Martin in such a way that their shoulders touched.
Martin's body jolted, the wheels of the vehicle skidded uncontrollably before Martin maintained momentum.
"What the hell are you doing?" He tried pushing James away but the man clung even closer.
"You know, when I saw you for the first time today, I didn't dislike you." James started in a low voice that made something to stir within the pits of Martin's stomach.
Martin scoffed. "And you had to frustrate me in order to show your concern?"
James leaned even closer…