AN: Enjoy this chapter! Happy Reading! :)
Eric's POV
"Northman," Sam greets, pulling me from my continued thoughts of one of said man's current employees. "What brings you to our neck of the woods?" he questions, instant suspicion lacing his words.
"I was hoping to buy some beer off you. Think you can spare a couple cases?" I question, seeing him quirk a brow at me before he's slowly nodding his agreement. "There's actually something else I need to talk to you about," I add then, glancing around to see the two of us have garnered quite a bit of attention from curious bar patrons. "Preferably in private," I add, seeing Sam run his gaze over the inquisitive crowd.
"Yeah…okay," Sam finally answers, looking more than a little apprehensive as he waves me towards the back of the bar. I follow along behind, feeling curious stares burning into my back before catching sight of familiar, bright green eyes from the corner of my vision.
Godric tilts his head at me, those stunning emerald eyes of his practically burning with curiosity and I find myself sending him a small smirk that, surprisingly enough, manages to bring a slight flush to his pale cheeks and dear God, if he isn't just adorable blushing like that.
"Northman?" Sam's voice breaks me from my trance, making me realize I'm just standing and staring at the same green eyed boy…for the second time in the same night. Fuck.
"Yeah, coming," I answer back, having to clear my throat before slipping into the office behind the fellow bar owner. Sam drops down behind his desk before motioning towards a set of pea green colored chairs set across from him.
"So, you've managed to peak my curiosity. What on earth could the mighty Northman want from a lowly bar owner like myself, besides beer that is," he questions, his strawberry blond head tilting curiously as I lower myself to one of the worn chairs with a small frown.
"Were you aware one of your employees was being accosted in your parking lot tonight?" I start straight out the gate, watching Sam's crystal blue eyes grow wide with surprise.
"What? No, of course not, God, who was it?" he questions anxiously, sitting up a bit straighter in his seat. Okay, so I really don't think he'd willingly allow anything to happen to any of his employees, but still, the fact that it happened right here under his watch…yeah, I'm not exactly impressed by this, not in the slightest actually.
"Godric," I inform him, seeing Sam's eye twitch; the gesture is subtle, yet manages to unnerve me instantly.
"Fucking Madden," Sam sighs out, dragging a hand through his auburn locks in frustration as I find myself sitting up a bit straighter, my attention caught completely.
"This has happened before?" I snap, my voice dripping with much more venom than intended.
"Yeah, unfortunately," he sighs out as my jaw ticks in anger. "Um, Eric? You alright there?" Sam questions, his gaze falling to my hands as I see his eyes widening subtly. I glance down, only then realizing I've managed to dig my nails into my fisted palms hard enough to draw fucking blood. Fuck.
"No, Sam, I'm really not," I answer honestly, absently brushing the moon crest shaped cuts against my slacks with a frown. "As business owners, we have an obligation to our employees; they shouldn't fear for their safety under our supervision," I state, seeing Sam's eyes widen as his jaw drops subtly.
"Wait, wait, you think I actually wanted this to happen? That I really don't care about my employees?" he questions, earning but a cocked brow from me. "Listen, I do all I can for every single person who works here, but Godric…," he starts with a tired sigh. "His situation is…a bit complicated, to be honest."
"Because of Madden, you mean," I reason, seeing what appears to be a mix of anger and guilt flash behind crystal blue eyes.
"You know what kind of guy he is, probably better than most," Sam sighs out, dropping back in his chair in defeat. "He's working to run every single one of us out of business; I just can't afford to make more of an enemy of him than he already is."
"Hm," is all I say in turn, my mind now completely made up. "I just so happen to be in need of some help at my own bar…," I begin, seeing Sam cock a brow at me.
"Are you really trying to swipe one of my employees from me, Northman?" he asks, the slightest of smirks pulling at the corner of his lips.
"I could just steal him, you know. I'm trying to be congenial about this; one businessman to another," I enlighten him, knowing full well he knows I'm right.
"He must have made some impression on you," Sam remarks then, his smirk widening to a full out grin as I find myself having to clear my throat in an attempt to keep my cool as, yes, the green eyed boy in question certainly has made quite an impression on me…somehow…yeah, I'm not looking to closely at that one just yet.
"Yes, well, I do have rather rigorous security set in place. I seriously doubt something like this would happen under mine and Pam's watch; whether it be with Madden or otherwise," I insist, seeing Sam's eye flinch subtly. "No offense," I add, more as a means of keeping things congenial as I really do intend at least some offense in all honesty.
"Right, right," Sam answers back, seeming to comprehend my irritancy at his lacking managerial skills. "Well, I suppose there's just one thing left to do then," he remarks, standing from his desk before ambling over to the office door. "Godric," he calls as I find myself sitting up a bit straighter and absently straightening my dress shirt. "Yeah, can you come in here a second?"
Footsteps sound and soon, those same mesmerizing, emerald eyes come into sight, beset within that soft, innocent face that finds me staring for what must be the hundredth time tonight. Damn, Northman, cool your shit! What the fuck is wrong with me tonight, I mean really!
"Look, Sam, I'm real sorry I was late, but-," Godric starts before Sam's raised hand abruptly cuts him off.
"Not what I needed to speak with you about," Sam assures him as I see emerald eyes slide my way. "I understand Madden was giving you a hard time again tonight?" Sam questions, his voice falling softer as it's now laced with obvious concern.
"Oh…yeah," Godric answers back softly, his gaze dropping to his shuffling, sneakered feet. "Sorry, Sam," he whispers, bringing instant frowns to both mine and Sam's faces. Damn, what is it with this kid that has me suddenly wanting to do literally anything within my power to see that frown wiped from that striking face of his?
"Don't apologize for that fucking asshole…ever," I state firmly, watching Godric's face raise once more as those emerald pools go wide with surprise. "I mean it." I add, watching the boy nodding his dark head slowly in understanding.
"Y-yeah, alright," Godric answers, his head tilting curiously. "So why did you wanna talk to me?"
"Mr. Northman here has something he'd like to ask you," Sam answers before the two of them turn their gazes towards me.
Godric's POV
My eyes widen, having fully expected my unanticipated hero of sorts to have gone his own way by now. What on earth could he want with me? I find myself staring into deep, cobalt eyes once more this night, more than a little intrigued by this striking, blond stranger.
"I'd like to offer you employment, that is, if that's something you might be interested in," he claims, making my eyes go wide with shock.
"Me?" I answer back; a bit dumbstruck as I see a positively glowing smile light up the stranger's chiseled face that I'd swear should be gracing magazine covers, not stuck in the back of some backwoods bar in the middle of the Louisiana bayou.
"I don't see anyone else here, well, except for Sam, but as he has his own bar to run, I suppose you're the more promising candidate," he teases, instantly bringing a warm flush to my cheeks before I send Sam an inquiring glace.
"It's up to you, kid," Sam remarks with a slight shrug. "We'll all miss you of course, but with Madden coming down on you the way he is," my boss sighs out with clear concern shining behind pale blue eyes. "It might just be for the better is what I'm trying to say."
"I see," I answer back softly, glancing back towards intense, cobalt eyes. "So, what? You're looking to be my bodyguard or something? Because I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself," I insist, even as a part of me knows that might not be exactly true. But still, I do have some pride, dammit! I'm not some helpless fucking damsel in distress who needs rescuing!
"I'm actually looking to be your employer. I really am in need of a new personal assistant," the blond answers, tilting his head at me as he seems to be studying me closely. "And I'm not questioning whether or not you can fend for yourself, but based on what I saw tonight, I can't help but think you might be in need of some self-defense training; something else I'd be happy to offer, that is, if you'd be interested," he goes on to say, once more making my eyes widen in surprise as a wave of guilt rolls in my gut, realizing he's obviously just trying to look out for my best interests.
"Right, I might just have to take you up on that then; thank you," I answer back, earning a firm nod in turn before seeing him stand to tower over me with his impressive, six foot, plus height. Wow.
"My card," he says, stepping closer to slip a thick business card into my hand, his long, nimble fingers grazing my own softly to bring yet another slight blush to my cheeks. Damn, knock it the hell off, Goddy! "I want you to take some time to think over my offer; it's not a position to be accepted lightly, you'd be my right-hand man, taking care of different tasks for the business as well as seeing to my personal affairs," he explains, nearly making my jaw drop to the floor in shock.
"Wait, what? You're really offering me a position like that? But why? You don't even know me," I argue, seeing cobalt eyes alight with humor as a slight smirk forms over that striking face.
"Call it intuition," he answers back with a shrug. "Besides, it would just fucking kill Madden to know you were under my personal protection, which really, is just the fucking icing on the cake," he adds as a malicious grin spreads across his face. A smile comes to my own face then, having noted the obvious apprehension this man was able to instill within Madden without so much as trying.
"Alright then, I'll definitely be giving it some serious thought; and again, thank you, really," I insist, earning me a megawatt smile from the man who I finally have a name for, thanks to an idle glance down to the business card in my hand; Eric, Eric Northman.
"Just don't take too long making up your mind; I wasn't kidding about needing a new personal assistant," Eric enlightens me with a warm smile that I find myself instantly returning.
"Yeah, yeah, of course," I answer back readily, earning a firm nod in turn before Eric settles his gaze upon Sam.
"Now, for the intended reason I stopped by tonight; I still need those beer cases. Pam's probably losing her shit about now; she'll never let me live this one down," he sighs out, earning low chuckles from Sam before the two of them step towards the office door together. "Talk soon, Godric," Eric calls back, those cobalt eyes shining with…hope? Maybe? Or is that just my imagination playing tricks on me? Jesus, Goddy, get your shit together already!
"Yeah, of course, Eric, and thanks again," I answer back, watching his smile widen before he and Sam disappear from sight completely.
"Damn…and I mean damn," I hear a familiar voice sound that instantly manages to break me out of my mini stupor. "That boy is sex on a stick!" my friend exclaims, sending me a wicked smirk as he steps into Sam's office.
"Uh, yeah, I guess he's pretty cute, huh?" I answer back, earning a cocked brow from my bestie.
"Ya guess? Boy, I'd do unspeakable things fo' tha' man, truly shameful, debasing things," he enlightens me, earning a snort of amusement as my friend is, well, okay, so I do love him, but he's just a bit of a man-whore to be honest.
"Of that, I have no doubt, Laff," I snort out just before said man reaches out for the business card still held in my hand. "Oh, yeah, he, uh, sort of offered me a job," I explain, watching chocolate brown eyes go wide with shock.
"That perfect slice of man meat ask you's ta work fo' him?" he questions, earning an affirming nod from me.
"Yeah, I mean, he told me to think it over a bit, but yeah, I guess he needs a personal assistant or something," I expound, seeing Lafayette's dark eyes begin to sparkle.
"Oh, you's takin' that job, Baby Boy, do doubt," he informs me. "You do know who dat' is, don' ya?" he asks then to leave me tilting my head in question.
"Um, Eric Northman, the bar owner?" I try, earning humored laughter from my friend as he pats my shoulder whilst shaking his head at me.
"Yeah, yeah, he a bar owner aight," Lafayette chuckles out. "He also the mos' eligible bachelor this side o' the Mississippi; mens ands womens alike all after that fine ass, have been fo' years too," he enlightens me.
"You mean he's actually single?" I question incredulously, knowing I must have heard that wrong. "But why? I mean, he's damn near perfect so far as I can tell," I muse thoughtfully, feeling my friend wrap his arm around my shoulders to pull me into a half hug.
"That, Baby Boy, may be the biggest mystery of our time," Lafayette sighs out, staring wistfully out after where Sam and Eric only just exited together. I can only nod slowly, letting this information sink in, right along with the implications of this wholly unexpected job opportunity. Damn, what an interesting night this has turned out to be.