This won't be a long story and I intended to have it finished before I published the first chapter but I thought I would just post it and see what happened.


CHAPTER 1

Dean walked tentatively up the gravel path to the house. It was a swanky palace with tall windows and columns by the front door. There were tall evergreens on either side of the windows and Dean felt very misplaced. If he wasn't desperate for money he wouldn't have taken this job. He had seen an advertisement for a babysitter in the newspaper a few days ago. Applicants had to send a picture along and Dean really hadn't expected to get an interview. Most people preferred girls when it came to finding someone to look after their offspring. But he had received a letter telling him to come for an interview at an office building in the center of town.

The interview had been a strange affair. The guy who was conducting it wasn't even the guy Dean was going to work for. He had asked Dean questions like if he would get up in the middle of the night if he was called for, if he would go to the shops if he was asked to no matter what time of day, if he could cook if it wasn't too complicated a dish, if he could be discreet and keep his mouth shut. Dean had said yes to all of it because he needed money.

Dean hadn't been asked if he had any questions but had been presented with a contract for a year's employment which he had signed. He figured maybe the kid he was supposed to look after was a special needs child since he was expected to be ready at all times. He didn't even know how old the child was but he figured as long as he didn't have to change any diapers he could do the job. He was also expected to do some tidying up but not any cleaning. The family had someone coming in once a week to do that. The pay was quite generous and Dean thought it probably reflected what was expected of him.

He rang the doorbell and had to wait a while before it was opened by a young blond woman in a white uniform.

"Hello, you must be Dean," she said and opened the door to let him in.

"Yes, I am."

The house was even more impressive inside. There was a large hall with a round table in the middle and at the back, below the broad stairs swinging up to the next floor, was a marble statue of Cupid and Psyche in an embrace.

"I'm Evian, I come to do the cleaning once a week. I'll show you to your room."

She started going up the stairs and Dean followed her while trying to take everything in. He wasn't an art expert but what was on the walls looked to be the real deal. The carpeting was thick and Dean felt like taking his shoes and socks off just so he could feel it. By the end of the stairs there was a hallway going in each direction and Evian made a u-turn to the right and went through a door that was hiding another set of stairs going up again in an E-shape, without the middle line. Then she turned right again and went to the end of the hallway. She opened the door on the left and Dean followed her into a small room with a bed, a wardrobe a small desk and a tiny TV. Dean guessed there was no cable.

"This'll be your home for the time you're staying," Evian said.

"Thanks." Dean plonked his bag on the floor. There was no thick luxurious carpenting here. "So does the family use all the rooms downstairs?"

"Family? Mr. Novak is a bachelor."

"So he has no kids then?"

"Kids? No, why did you think that?"

"Because the job was for a babysitter."

She laughed out loud. "Oh, that Gabriel. He must have written babysitter instead of assistant in the add. Well, babysitter is actually closer to the truth."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Mr. Novak is a demanding boss. He has had more assistants this year than we've had months so far."

"So I'm supposed to be his assistant not his babysitter?"

"Yes. Mr. Novak works from home. He invests on the stock market and keeps track of everything in his office. He's also somewhat of a germaphobe and wants someone to cater to his every need. His every need," she said and looked intently at Dean.

"Oh," he said, not realizing what she was actually saying.

Evian smiled and said she should be going.

"There's an intercom in every room. Mr. Novak will call you on that whenever he needs you. You can eat whatever's in the fridge, groceries will be delivered every Thursday. You only have to go and buy any special items Mr. Novak asks for."

"Alright," Dean said. This could turn out to be an even better job that he thought. No unruly children to run after and keep track of. And when people asked him what he did for a living it sure sounded a whole lot better to be someone's assistant than their babysitter.

When Evian had left he unpacked and went to explore the house. He didn't know where Mr. Novak was and thought maybe he should go and look for him and introduce himself. He came across the kitchen and since he was peckish he decided to find some food. The kitchen was big and had shiny surfaces everywhere. Evian looked to be good at her job.

Dean made himself a turkey sandwich and got a soda and a glass. He usually just drank from the can but in this house he felt like he should be using a glass. Just as he'd finished, the intercom buzzed and he went over to answer.

"Hello?"

"I'd like some lunch. A quiche from the freezer, a salad of tomatoes, lettuce and basil and a glass of white wine. Chocolate cake for dessert."

"Sure. Mr. Novak, I'm Dean Win..." He stopped talking as he heard the intercom switch off. He sighed and went to turn the oven on. He was beginning to get an inkling why there had been so many assistants in this house already. He found a quiche in the freezer and judging by the labelling it was handmade from some fancy shop in town. He got the ingredients for the salad and started looking for something to put it in. He found a plastic bowl in one of the cupboards and then put the quiche in the oven as the light went out, signalling it was ready.

When he had everything ready on the tray he realized he didn't know where Novak was. He went to the intercom and pressed the button.

"Yes?" came the gruff reply.

"Err, I don't know where you are."

A sigh came through the speaker. "Go through the door next to the fridge, turn right and it's the last room on the left."

Dean didn't bother answering, he knew he wouldn't be heard. He picked up the tray and followed the directions. The office was in the far left of the house. He knocked before he walked in. The office was a big room with windows overlooking the garden. Dean spottet a swimming pool outside and wondered if he was allowed to use it.

Novak, who took no notice of Dean, was sitting behind his desk with three computer screens in front of him. His back was turned to the beautiful view of the lush garden. Dean hovered a moment, then saw a table with a chair and a silver salt and pepper shaker on a silver tray. He went over and put everything down then he turned to Mr. Novak to introduce himself.

"Err, Mr. Novak, I'm Dean Winchester." He walked slowly towards the man behind the screens and saw that his new employer was a stunning man. Too bad his behaviour didn't match. He gave Dean a quick look and stretched his lips in a smile that was anything but genuine and disappeared as promptly as it had manifested.

"Has Evian left?"

"Err, yes."

"Do you start every sentence with err?"

Dean caught himself before he answered. "No," he said.

"Come and clear the table in 30 minutes."

Dean was a little stunned. He turned around to leave then asked: "What about dinner?"

"I make my own dinner."

Dean nodded and left. When he'd closed the door behind him he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. What a character!

When the 30 minutes had passed he went to collect the tray. He knocked on the door and went in. As he was putting the plate on the tray he heard a voice from behind the computer screens.

"Next time I'd like a proper bowl for my salad."

"What?"

A sigh. "I do not eat out of plastic bowls. I'm not on a picnic."

"Oh. Right. Sorry."

Novak didn't say anything else so Dean left. On Dean's inner film screen ran a clip of Novak noticing the plastic bowl and with a puzzled look lifting it up to have a closer look at it. He couldn't help chuckling.


Dean woke up the next morning after having slept like a log. The bed wasn't too bad and the house was completely quiet. There were no noisy neighbours to wake him up by having an argument or loud sex. He went to take a shower in the bathroom down the hall and then he went to the kitchen to make breakfast. When he entered the kitchen Novak was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.

"Good morning," Dean dared and got a grunt in reply.

"Should I also be making your breakfast? I mean, I just haven't been told what my chores are."

"I'll tell what to do when I want you to do it."

Dean poured a cup of coffee with raised eyebrows. "Can I use the pool?" he asked. The sun was already out and it looked like it would be a warm day.

Novak thought for a moment. He looked at Dean for the first time, well, to Dean's knowledge, and asked: "Do you use briefs or the longer shorts?"

"Err," Dean said and hated himself. "I have a pair of shorts."

"You can only use it if you wear briefs."

"Why?"

"Shorts mean more fabric which means more chances of strange things getting into the water. Briefs are more sanitary."

That was the silliest thing Dean had ever heard but he remembered that Evian had said Novak was a germaphobe. "I can buy some briefs."

"Then you can use the pool."

Novak got up and started walking towards his office. "Have lunch ready at 1 o'clock. I would like a turkey sandwich, a salad of tomatoes, red peppers and cheese and some sparkling water. Apple pie for dessert. And this time bring me a napkin"

"Sure." Apple pie? Dean wouldn't mind some apple pie. He hoped there would be enough for both of them.

When he'd had breakfast he wanted to go and get those swimming briefs so he could get in the pool. Reluctantly he buzzed the intercom.

"Yes?"

"I thought I might go and get that swim wear if that's okay with you."

"Sure. Just hurry back." The intercom switched off. Dean shook his head with a smile and went to get his wallet.

The trip into town took him 20 minutes. He found the most comfortable pair of swimming briefs he could find which wasn't saying much. He felt selfconscious and naked in the dressing room. They would have to do. Anyway, they were just for the garden. Nobody would see him wearing them. He hurried back just in time to hear the intercom in the hall buzzing away. He sighed. He already wanted to smash it with somthing heavy.

"Yeah," he exclaimed when he reached the button.

"You certainly took your time. I've been buzzing for ten minutes."

"I don't have a car. I had to walk t-"

"Nevermind. I'd like a cup of coffee. Cream, not milk, no sugar."

"Okay." He turned around to go to the kitchen.

There was another buzz.

"Yes?" He suppressed a sigh.

"And bring me some biscuits. The butter ones on the top shelf."

"Okay."

He waited to make sure it wouldn't buzz again. It stayed silent and he went to the kitchen to find the right coffee cup. He wondered what to put the biscuits on. He figured it wouldn't be welcome if he brought them in the packet so he opted for a saucer. He went to the office, knocked and went in. He placed the cup and the biscuits next to Novak and glanced at the computer screens. Two of them showed a lot of graphs and numbers in different colours and the third had what looked to be a list of companies. He couldn't make heads or tales of it.

"Is it okay if I go swimming for a while?" he asked.

"Sure," Mr. Novak said absent minded.

Dean quickly left and went to change and find a towel.

The water was perfect and he ducked under, shutting all sounds out. When he emerged he could hear the birds sing, the wind russling the leaves and felt the warm sun on his face. He swam a few laps, then latched on to the edge and floated for a while.

"Dean!" he heard a voice call and he almost wanted to scream. Well, at least Novak had bothered to remember his name. He got out of the water and grabbed the towel, drying himself off as much as he could on the short trip. He had gone through the doors in the kitchen so it wasn't long before he was opening the door to the office.

"What?" he asked, when he entered.

"More biscuits," was the answer.

Dean almost couldn't believe it. He had called him in because he couldn't be bothered to get biscuits? He grabbed the saucer and went to the kitchen with a "Wash your hands" ringing after him.

He filled the saucer with angry movements and went back to the office, placing the saucer back on the desk with a clank. That made Novak finally look away from his screens.

"Are you angry about something?" he asked.

"No, not at all," Dean said with poorly hidden annoyance.

Novak looked him over and Dean remembered he was wearing those ridiculous briefs.

"Good," Novak said, his eyes resting a little too long on Dean's crotch to what Dean thought was normal. "Because I pay you to be my assistant. If you don't live up to my expectations I might have to..." he stopped.

"Fire me?"

"Punish you," Novak said with a slightly hoarse voice.

Dean felt goosebumps all over. That guy was weird, like really weird. He apologized, saying it must be the hot weather that made him cranky and quickly left. He went up to take a shower and put some clothes on.

He prepared lunch and made an effort to find the right bowl for the salad. He knew he had been behaving childish. All he had to do was wait for Novak to give him odd jobs. He got a good salary and didn't have to pay any bills.

Exactly on the dot he knocked on the door to the office and went in to put the food on the table. To his surprise, Novak was already sitting at the table, waiting. Dean felt like a waiter as he arranged the plates. He took the tray and made to leave.

"Napkin," Novak said.

"What?"

"Napkin. In my lap."

Dean was stunned. He took the napkin and unfolded it, then placed it in Novak's lap like he'd seen them do in the movies. He thought Novak was sniffing in his scent as he leaned down but it might just have been his imagination.

"Anything else?" he asked before he left.

"Yes, when you've had your lunch I'd like you to iron my shirts. They're in my closet, the first door on the left upstairs."

"Alright." Dean went to eat his own food and even had some apple pie which he ate with his eyes closed and a cup of coffe by his plate. That was good apple pie.

When he opened his eyes he started when he saw Novak standing in the door, looking at him.

"Good food?" he asked with a hint of a genuine smile.

"I like apple pie," Dean explained, feeling a little embarrassed.

"I'm done eating, I'll be in town for the next couple of hours."

"Okay." Dean got up and cleared after lunch. Now that Novak was out of the office he could have a closer look around. There were two Chesterfield leather chairs in the corner furthest away from the windows with a small table between them and some Whiskey and Burbon on a tray with some glasses. A real gents lounge.

When he was finished clearing up he went to do the ironing. The 'closet' turned out to be a room with a wardrobe taking up an entire wall and a chaiselounge in the middle of the room. Dean couldn't help huffing out a laugh. This guy was absurdly rich.