The soft glow of the flickering television was the only source of light in the room. The atmosphere was calm as the pair laid together watching the news. Alfred was laying on his back, two fluffy pillows supporting him, and was holding Francis close. The younger was on his side, head resting on the older's chest. Both were sleepy and relaxing in a comfortable silence.
A news report started playing about the head of Jones Manufacturing passing and his memoir service. A clip of Alfred's speech started playing.
"The passing of Alfred Jones Senior is a tragic incident. Hundreds attended the exclusive event earlier this evening which saw the passing of the torch to twenty-eight year old Alfred Jones Junior. As he knew his time was slowly drawing to a close, the previous head of the company began grooming his son to take over two years ago. This did not seem to sit well with many of the company's senior officers who believed that they were better suited for the job. All of these doubts seem to have been erased with the poignant speech Jones Junior gave."
A picture of Francis and Alfred dancing together appeared on the screen.
"Look, darling," Francis murmured with a small smile, pointing at the television. "It's us."
"The most interesting part of the night for many was the mysterious guest that danced with the young company head. No one seems to know who this woman is but he certainly seemed to know her. Has the unapproachable millionaire finally found someone to settle down with? I wonder what Daddy Jones would have thought of her?"
Alfred glared and turned off the television.
"Daddy Jones," he spit maliciously. "Did not approve of my love life, that homophobic old man. I wouldn't have been seen as 'unapproachable' if Daddy Jones had just allowed me to bring my boyfriend to a party or two."
Francis smiled up at him and gently touched his arm.
"He's gone now, love. He can't try and separate us anymore."
Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on his boyfriend.
"You're right." His movement caused the blankets to fall down their naked bodies and Francis to shiver. "Sorry, baby doll," he apologized as the pulled the covers back over the younger.
Alfred had learned quickly that taking over for his father meant plenty of late nights as he attempted to adjust to being the president of a company. No matter what that news anchor had said, many of the senior officers still did not approve of him running the company and were attempting to subtlety sabotage him. He was trying his hardest to prove them wrong as he put his ideas in place and worked more than sixty hours a week in his new position. Since the memorial service, a few senior officers had started to show some faith in him but he had a feeling that had to do more with his dance partner than his speech or actions.
The men who had come to his side had started out friendly enough. However, as time passed they started asking where he had met such a beautiful lady, how serious they were, if he could find them a woman like her. He had answered their questions politely and said he would talk to his 'girlfriend' about whether or not any of her friends were available.
He glanced around the ornate office that had been his father's until just a week ago. At this height, the lights of the city didn't reach the office through the large windows behind him and he hadn't turned any of the lights in the room on which left the room nearly pitch black. However, he knew this room by heart and even in the dimness, he could see his surroundings nearly perfectly. Whether that was because he could see them or he could remember them, he wasn't sure when he was this tired.
The massive desk he sat behind was crafted from the finest mahogany and perfectly matched the chair he was resting upon. Decorating the surface of the desk and the thick shelves of the room were several trinkets from the many international trips his father had taken and gifts he had received from clients. A lamp nearby illuminated the room enough for him to see the paperwork directly in front of him and not much else. A picture rested on top of the desk of a little boy that his father had sponsored for the publicity. Alfred's own picture used to rest beside it until the day he brought Francis home. Soon he would redecorate and make the room look like himself but he had more important matters at hand.
With a long sigh, he laid his head on the many papers covering his desk and closed his eyes, completely exhausted. He had told Francis that he was going to be exceptionally busy in the upcoming weeks and the other had graciously understood. He had promised to spend as much time with him on the weekends as possible to make up for it.
A sudden creak from his door made him raise his head enough to see who had entered his office, unbidden, at such a late hour. There appeared to be someone in his doorway but it was so dark that he could not see much. Had his assistant come back? Or had his butler shown up to drag him home and force him to get some sleep in his own bed?
"Good evening, Mr. Jones."
That was not a voice that he recognized. Confused, Alfred sat up to properly regard the man.
"I'm sorry," he began politely. "I do not believe we have met."
Shadows kept most of the man hidden but Alfred could see a shadow of a smirk slide onto his face.
"Oh we have not. And I intend to keep it that way." Alarm started to creep into Alfred's tired body and he began to reach for the panic button under the desk. Something was off about this mysterious man and he was unwilling to reveal more about his name or his appearance which did not sit well with him. "I would not do that if I were you," the man said suddenly. "You see, I am here about a business proposition and if things were to go sour for us, I would not be able to promise things would not go sour for him."
A photo dropped onto his desk and suddenly Alfred was wide awake as all the blood drained from his face.
Francis