Elijah
For the nth time, he released a deep sigh. He put on his uniform and after preparing all his essentials, he slung his backpack over his shoulders and headed downstairs.
It has almost been a week since he rejected Devon's invite to go for a ride. It has been a week since he started to avoid Devon, which was easy because it has also been a week since he saw the stoic man.
Elijah can't help but think that it's his fault. He was just being careful. He doesn't want Devon to be exposed to danger by being with him.
The memory of Elijah and his nanny's escape from that hellhole kept on resurfacing that it still gives him night terrors. He would always wake up in the dead of the night, his cheeks coated with tears, his body trembling, and feeling so cold and alone.
He shook his head to keep the bad thoughts away. Today is another day. He should embrace a positive attitude, especially later. Another branch of Enchaines in New York needs to augment its workforce since the branch was holding an exclusive event for its members.
"Hey, Eli! Good morning! I cooked us some breakfast," Mina untied and folded her apron, and placed it on the kitchen countertop.
Elijah waved at his friend and gave Mina a huge grin. He offered Mina a place to stay when Mina mentioned in passing that she's still searching for a place to live temporarily. He also asked permission from Stefan if Mina could stay with him, and Stefan agreed.
Mina has been staying with him for two days now, ever since he got discharged. During that time, she confessed that she was not an ordinary employee. He still gets amazed every time he recounts that day.
It was his second day of being admitted to the hospital. He was feeling a bit down because he rejected Devon the night before, causing him to lack quality sleep. Guilt was gnawing his insides, so instead of trying to sleep, he just watched Phineas and Ferb on TV.
He asked Mina to download all of the seasons for the amazing animated show, including the crossovers, special episodes, and movies. Mina was sleeping in the other room, so he had to lower the volume.
Indeed, he was entertained, and for a while, was distracted from the small pang in his chest from rejecting Devon. He actually blinked twice to make sure that he was not seeing the look of a rejected puppy in Devon.
He was right because when he looked at Devon again, the stoic man was back to his usual expression. He can't help but wonder what made Devon that way. He can't force people to smile, but there must be a reason why Devon's deep browns flashed pain and sadness when he voiced his rejection.
"Eli, what do you think about secrets?" Mina asked him out of the blue, her eyes fixed on the apple she was peeling while he paused his favorite animated show to glance at Mina.
He scrunched his nose and pouted his lips. "Hmm. I don't like it. Secrets are very dangerous, Mina. I prefer that people are honest with me because I would also do the same. Why do you ask?"
He looked at Mina with a soft smile and grabbed a slice of peeled apples, his eyes widening at the sweet taste and juicy texture. "Wow. This is so good! You should try one too, Mina," he offered and Mina shook her head.
He placed his fruit back on the plate and narrowed his eyes towards his friend. Mina gulped hard and her shoulders tightened. Is something wrong with her? She looks so... nervous.
"Mina? Are you alright? Are you mad that I ate the apple without your permission? I'm sorry if that's the case. I... I w-won't do it a-again..." he promised in a soft voice, slightly shaky. His eyes were now teared up and his fists clenched his hospital gown.
It's coming again; the bad memories. When he was seven years old, his nanny forgot to lock his door. Even so, he usually doesn't go out, because his adoptive parents are scary. In fact, he prefers to be locked up because he feels a sense of safety that way.
Unfortunately for him, almost twelve hours have passed and his nanny still hasn't come for his dinner. Unable to take it anymore, he stealthily went upstairs, scanning his eyes around the floor for any guards, and ran to the kitchen with his light feet.
Each step was careful and calculated. When his stomach growled loudly, he had to sweep his eyes around the kitchen and release the breath he didn't know he was holding when he saw no one.
He gingerly walked towards the huge fridge and very carefully, grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. The fridge lit up and his eyes widened when his eyes feasted on the abundance of food items inside. Eggs, fruits, vegetables, meats, cakes, juice, sodas, ice cream, chocolates-- the choices were endless.
It was food heaven for him. He reached for the red and fresh apple, wiping the skin with the clean part of his shirt, and bit into it. He never thought that apples could be so delicious. He has never tasted it, but books don't lie. The apples were so tasty.
He was about to get his second bite when a thunderous voice echoed, making him drop his food.
"What are you doing here, you useless piece of shit?!"
After that was torture for the seven-year-old Elijah. His adoptive father removed his belt and used it to his whip and hurt him. Welts after painful welts carved on his skin, only to be stopped by his nanny who had a horrified look on her face.
Ever since then, he learned his lesson. Never eat, unless someone offers you some.
He was snapped back to the present when he felt Mina's fingers on his cheeks, wiping it softly but mumbling incoherently.
"Eli, it's not what you thought. Why are you crying? He will kill me. Fudge!"
Through his eyelashes coated with tears, he could see Mina trying his best to soothe him, but once bad memories kept pouring in, they couldn't be stopped. All he could do was cry until he passed out.
"I'm a secret agent!" Mina blurted out, then covered her mouth with widened eyes.
At the same time, his tears stopped. He reached for the tissue and wiped his tears, letting the information sink in. When it finally did, his jaw dropped. With eyes wide as saucers, he squealed.
"Oh my god! You're a... secret agent?" The last two words were a whisper when he finally got a hold of himself. Mina's life could be at risk if someone found out that she's a secret agent. Phew, that was a close one.
Mina bit her lips and nodded hesitantly.
He grinned and bobbed his head up and down. "That's so cool! You're like Perry! He's a secret agent too!"
He clapped his hands in excitement. He couldn't believe it. Mina is like his favorite character in Phineas and Ferb.
Mina creased her forehead. "Perry who?" I hope it's not some rival, or Devon will slit my throat.
He gasped out loud, disappointment in his face. He shook his head slowly. "You don't know Perry? We're not friends anymore, Mina. You don't know Perry the Platypus."
Ever since that day, Mina joined Elijah in binge-watching all of the seasons of Phineas and Ferb; as if the woman did not disclose very risky information.
Mina was relieved that Elijah took it in a stride. She found it difficult to lie to Elijah, especially when the boy was truthful and kind to her. She was also relieved when she found out that Perry was not some man that his boss could rival for Elijah's heart.
"Wow. This is so tasty, Mina!" He sliced another bite of the fluffy pancake with a hum and occasional giggles.
He was definitely having the time of his life. Mina offered to cook their meals in exchange for her stay, and Elijah couldn't be more thankful. He couldn't cook to save his life.
"Eli, are you sure that you want to come with me to the other branch? You could still back out. I don't want you to be uncomfortable."
He understands Mina's concern. After all, Stefan put him in the day shift, where it's less busy and he didn't have to encounter a lot of people. The night shift is different, especially on the other branch. Mina has been doing her part of dissuading him from coming, but he had to.
He heard from Mr. Gray that Devon will be at the other branch, and he wants to take that opportunity to apologize and ask for a second chance. He couldn't explain, but he missed the guy.
Even if Devon was expressionless and stoic, he can't stop his heart from fluttering, especially when Devon's brown eyes turn a shade darker, boring into his soul.
"I'll still go, Mina. Don't worry about me," he offered his friend an assuring smile and reached for his glass of almond milk. The moment he got a taste of the milk, he couldn't stop. It was so good, and Mina told him that it's also good for his health.
"But Eli..." Mina whined her lips in a pout. "You know what kind of club the other branch is, right? Stefan will kill me if he learned that I brought you there. Never mind Devon, that fucker will dance on my entrails when he sees you there," the last statement was so soft that he wasn't able to hear it.
Mina, out of frustration and owing to his stubborn nature, blurted out that the other branch was a BDSM club. The branch he's working at was not the same. He is working at Bar Enchaines, while the BDSM club was named Club Enchaines.
BDSM was a new concept for him. Mina gave him a brief orientation about submissives and Dominants, about the SSC (safe, sane, and consensual) principle, and that he would be placed in the most wholesome part of the club.
He just nodded. It's not his right to question other people's lifestyles, so he just dropped the subject and listened to Mina's reminders. Until he heard Devon's name.
"W-What?"
"Devon owns that club, Eli. He was a Master Dominant there."
"Was?"
Mina gasped, realizing that she was running her mouth and corrupting the boy's innocence, the one thing his boss told her never to do. But Elijah was so persistent. No one can deny those innocent baby blues and charming grin.
Mina just sighed and prayed that Devon will have some mercy on her. "Devon decided a few days ago that he will just be managing the club's finances and other business matters. He was done with the lifestyle."
That made him curious. Rather than the fact that BDSM was such a curious subject, he wanted to know more about Devon. He was inquisitive by nature, but recently, all of his curiosity was fixed on one person-- Devon Slane.
Mina did not speak after that. He asked again during their breakfast what made Devon quit the lifestyle, but Mina kept her silence. As long as it doesn't have anything to do with Devon and the stoic man's lifestyle, Mina entertains all of his questions.
Club Enchaînés, Private Suite 00
"You look ravishing, Elijah! He will definitely kill me," Mina added softly, and this time, he was able to hear it.
He reached for Mina's hands and squeezed it softly. "Are you sure you're okay, Mina? We could ask Stefan for help." He was now getting anxious. He can't sit still, knowing that someone will hurt his friend.
Mina cupped his cheeks and stroked them softly. "Hey, hey. Breathe, Eli. Come on, follow my lead. Inhale... exhale." They did that a few times until he found himself calming down.
"Better?"
He nodded and smiled at Mina. "Thank you."
"Aww. Don't worry about it, Eli. By the way, it was only an expression. No need to fuss, okay?" Mina's bright smile in the mirror placated his nerves.
Mina was now fixing his hazel-colored wavy hair. Earlier, Mina dressed him up in tight leather shorts and a white, silky, sheer shirt. Yes, it felt good on his skin because the material was soft, but he can't help but feel scared.
It was uncomfortable exposing so much skin, but when Mina assured him that she will always be by his side and that Devon will come to his rescue if ever, he relaxed and let Mina do her thing.
As for his friend, Mina was dressed in tight leather pants, a fit, leather tube top, and her hair was styled in a messy bun. Overall, she looks so fierce and gorgeous.
It was now thirty minutes past five, and they had prepared enough. "Okay, Eli. Do you remember what I told you?"
He nodded. "One, stay close to you. Second, never stare at the Dominant's eyes. Three, keep your head down and be polite. Four, report to you if someone is harassing me. Lastly, push the alarm button on my bracelet for help," he recited Mina's reminders perfectly, earning praise from her.
"Good job, Eli. Now, we are going to head for the bar, and just hold onto me if you feel intimidated. That blue bracelet on your wrist is an indication that you are under Devon's protection," Mina explained and a warm feeling swelled in his chest.
Something about being under Devon's protection made him feel warm and safe. He stroked the bracelet softly. It feels like Devon owns me.
Mina was downplaying it, but the blue bracelet basically screams 'This boy is mine. Mess with him and you're dead.' A blue bracelet is Devon's way of warning people not to mess with his property, and in this case, Elijah. Even Jamie never received a blue bracelet from Devon.
"Are you ready, Eli?" Mina reached for his hand and squeezed it gently.
He nodded. "Let's do this, Mina. This will be in my Book of Life Experiences." Also, I miss Devon, he wanted to add but decided against it.
Devon was the main reason why he stubbornly came with Mina. One week is enough. If Devon is stubborn, then he is on another level.
His principle remained solid. If he wants something, he needs to work hard for it.
Since Devon was avoiding him, he needs to find ways to apologize to the big guy, and perhaps, invite him for dinner, as an apology.
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