Business and Pleasure: Chapter Six
tle: Business and Pleasure
Rating: PG-13ish for kissing.
Pairing: Brad/Ryan
Summary for the chapter: In which Brad reminisces, has a bad day and a dinner meeting with Ryan.
Overall Summary: Brad's running his own large business and has everything but what he wants the most: someone to be there for him. After 'purchasing' Ryan from the Utopia group to serve the purpose, he slowly realizes that he's breaking their most important rule: he's falling in love with him.
A/N: PLease leave a comment! I can't really se anything cuz I'm brekaing in my new contacts.... ^^;
Brad stretched out on his bed, clearing the last fog of sleep from his mind. There was a delicious scent coming from downstairs which he suspected was his breakfast but he didn’t feel like getting out of bed, something he hadn’t felt like doing ever since Ryan had moved in.
The thought about being in the house, even with Wayne around, was never an appealing idea, but right now, there was a tall, blonde reason whose taste still lingered on his lips. It had been just over a month but already he had noticed how his habits had changed.
The man who was up the moment his alarm rang now stayed in bed until he was running late just so that he could be woken up by the young man who had moved into his house and his heart. Whereas he used to eat out everyday, now he took lunch made especially for him by someone who was eagerly learning more dishes for Brad to try. The man who worked till the wee hours of the morning to avoid an empty house was replaced by a man who came home the moment he didn’t have work just to be greeted by a warm smile and a kiss.
Ryan had turned his house into a home.
He seemed to have completely turned his life around. He no longer felt the stress of his job or the feeling of inadequacy when a deal did not get passed. Ryan’s positive energy seemed to be sweeping through the household and Brad noticed that even Bruce, who normally always had a cool, impersonal face, was smiling more often. Wayne was also enjoying having Ryan around. It gave him someone to talk to when Brad was at work and he had been teaching Ryan how to play the various improv games and from what he had heard, the tall man was quickly becoming better than Wayne himself.
“Brad, better get up soon! You’ll be late!” Ryan’s voice came from outside the door, but he didn’t enter, quickly scurrying back down.
Brad sat there, confused for a short while, but then shrugged and went for a shower, realizing that he would have to hurry or risk being late yet again. After getting dressed, he headed down to the dining room to see his breakfast being packed away for him again. He stood outside the room for a second, just watching Ryan who had yet to notice him. The younger man had all his attention focused in wrapping the food and getting it into the box. Brad noticed that he was just clad in a t- shirt and sweatpants yet even that made him look like the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
At that point, Ryan finished his work and gave the packages to Bruce to place in the car. He then noticed Brad looking at him and smiled slightly before walking over to him and giving him a mock disapproving look, “Do you always need me to wake you up?” he chided gently, much like a loving wife would to her husband.
Brad smiled back and ran his fingers through Ryan’s long hair before saying softly, “There’s no better way.”
Ryan looked a little surprised at that, but then he averted his eyes to the floor, smiling shyly through a slight blush and brushing one long strand of golden hair behind his ear. Brad loved it when Ryan did that. It reminded him of the night after their first kiss.
Knowing that Ryan would have a killer hangover the next day and no idea what to do, Brad had decided to share the bed with Ryan but still kept a reasonable distance to make sure that Ryan wouldn’t get the wrong idea. However, even though they were on opposite ends on the bed when they had started, they woke up facing each with barely a few inches between them. Ryan had stared at him with half open green eyes, looking confused but completely unafraid. Brad knew that the last thing he had expected was to wake up in Brad’s bed yet he did not look cautious at all. That was the time he realized the extent to which Ryan trusted him and he couldn’t resist kissing him softly. Ryan had responded before pulling away sheepishly, tucking his hair back which Brad came to recognize as a gesture he always did when he felt embarrassed. Ever since then, he would purposely mess with Ryan’s hair just to see that gesture again.
He caught Ryan’s hand in his and leaned closer to him, watching as Ryan closed his eyes and leaned forward expectantly. Their lips were almost touching-
“Sir, you’re already ten minutes late!” Bruce interjected, smiling as the two men jerked apart and Brad gave him a small glare before heading towards the car waiting for him.
“I’ll be late tonight,” Brad informed Ryan, “I have a business meeting that I’m hoping will go well....the company head doesn’t like me that much.”
“Why not?” Ryan couldn’t imagine why anyone would dislike someone as nice as Brad.
“He thinks I’m a ‘ladies-man’ and that all I do is party all night,” Brad said bitterly, “Just because he caught me talking to a girl in Wayne’s bar once.”
“That’s unfair!” Ryan scowled.
“Well, that’s the way it is. He apparently wants to give his company to a nice, honest, stable man with family values,” Brad rolled his eyes.
Ryan stepped in front of him and pressed a light kiss to his lips, “Then there’s no one better than you, Brad.”
Brad smiled and kissed him back, his thumb caressing the nape of Ryan’s neck before he pulled away, “Thanks for that vote of confidence. Wish me luck.” He sat in the car and it pulled away as Ryan waved.
“You don’t need my luck,” Ryan murmured, watching the car drive away, “You have plenty of your own.”
Dl
Dl
Apparently, luck wasn’t on his side today. Brad let his head thunk down onto his desk as he thought about the disastrous meeting with the owner of the company. The man had spent the entire time making subtle shots at him and shooting down whatever proposal he presented. It was only due to his partner’s efforts that he had agreed for another meeting in the night. Even as he left, the man turned back and delivered the parting shot, saying he “would be there with his wife” before exiting. By that point, Brad was ready to call off the deal and tell him to shove his company where the sun don’t shine.
He heard his phone ring and was half tempted to tell his secretary to get it when he recognized the number as his house phone.
“Hello?” Brad didn’t know what to expect. No one ever called him from that number except for Wayne and that too rarely.
“Hi! It’s Ryan!” the familiar, warm voice made him smile even though the black cloud of the meeting still hung heavily over his head. Ryan had a knack for that.
“I figured,” Brad heard the small chuckle and felt his heart lighten just a bit, “what’s the reason for this call?”
“Several reasons actually. Have you had lunch yet?”
“No.”
“Then you better have it now. I intend to make sure that you eat regularly and lunch is important,” Ryan’s voice was stern and Brad could almost imagine Bruce shaking his head and laughing as Ryan scolded him on the phone.
“I’m getting nutrition lessons from a walking pixie stick?” Brad responded dryly.
“You know very well that I can’t gain weight,” Ryan huffed.
“The meeting just got over, I’ll have lunch,” Brad knew that if they went into that argument, he’d never get any work done.
“How’d it go?”
“Horrible, abysmal, a bigger disaster than the Titanic, pick one,” Brad sighed and facepalmed.
“He still has the wrong idea?” Ryan sounded worried this time.
“Oh yeah. He’s agreed to meet me again tonight for dinner and pointed out that he’ll ‘be bringing his wife’.”
The other man was silent for a few seconds but when he spoke up again, there was a thoughtful tone in his voice, “What time are you meeting him?”
“Eight at the Bistro.”
“Cancel that. Invite him home.”
“What?” Brad was totally confused now.
“Trust me. Invite him home for dinner tonight and leave the rest to me. Come with him, okay?”
“Okay.” Brad didn’t know what to say or what Ryan was planning but he was sure that it would work out some way or the other. Even if his luck was questionable at times, Ryan never seemed to run out of the good supply.
“Alright, then I have work to do. See you tonight. Bye!” Ryan hung up quickly.
“Well, this’ll be interesting,” Brad muttered, taking out a food package.
Dl
Dl
“I’m not sure if I should have agreed to this,” the company owner grumbled.
“I’m glad you did, Mr. Chase,” Brad said with fake gratitude when inwardly, he was ready to throw the man out of his car.
“You better be. I don’t know what good this is going to do you, but never let it be said that I didn’t try.”
“More like never let it be said that you did try,” Brad muttered under his breath.
“What was that?” Chase glared at him.
“Nothing. Oh look, we’ve arrived,” Brad quickly changed the subject. As they made their way to the door, he began to feel s bit of trepidation but shoved it down. Ryan had told him to trust him and that’s what he would do.
“Ah, you’re right on time Master!” Bruce smiled as he answered the door, stepping aside to let everyone in, “May I take your coats? If you’ll make your way to the dining room, we can start the dinner.”
Brad lead Chase and his wife to the dining room and nearly stopped in shock. The table was laid beautifully with candles lending it a soft, calm atmosphere. There was a delicious smell coming from the kitchen and he didn’t have to guess who was in there cooking.
“Please have a seat, sir,” Brad offered.
“Brad, is that you?” a call came from the kitchen.
“Yes!” Brad answered back, well aware that Chase was giving him a questioning look.
“Right on time! I was afraid you would be late,” Ryan came out of the kitchen, smiling. Brad was sure that his heart stopped for a second as he took in Ryan’s attire. Ryan was dressed in a green button down shirt which Brad had had made especially for his lanky frame and fitted black slacks. He had even combed his hair down as much as he could, giving him a casual yet smart appearance.
“You must be Mr. Chase,” Ryan smiled at the man and held his hand out. To Brad’s shock, Chase actually smiled a bit and shook Ryan’s hand firmly, “I’m Ryan.”
“Good to meet you,” Chase shot a look at Brad but it was too quick for anyone but Brad to pick up.
“Is this lady your wife?” Ryan asked. Mrs. Chase smiled and nodded, raising an approving eyebrow as Ryan bowed and kissed her hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
“Pleasure’s all mine,” she laughed.
“Please have a seat,” Ryan gestured to the table, seating himself after everyone sat down.
“So what do you do Ryan?” Chase asked, curiously.
“I’m actually a performer,” Ryan lied smoothly, having well anticipated that question.
“Really? Where?”
“At Caritas. You may have heard of it, Wayne Brady’s bar?”
“Yes, I’m acquainted with it,” Chase shot a look at Brad who gave Ryan a ‘what the hell’ look which he ignored.
“That’s where I met Brad, really,” Ryan smiled softly, taking Brad’s hand in his own.
If Chase was surprised then, he was shocked now. His wife, however, looked absolutely delighted.
“So you’re a couple? That’s so sweet!” she gushed.
“Thank you, Mrs. Chase,” Ryan grinned charmingly at her.
“Oh please call me Helen!” she smiled back.
At that moment, Bruce came in with the prepared dinner and placed the plates on the table before leaving. Ryan continued to make conversation with both husband and wife as they ate, making sure to keep his voice and manners polite and sophisticated. Brad had to admit that, even though Ryan had no idea of business, he managed to fake it well enough that he had to wonder if the man had ever considered becoming an actor. What astonished Brad even more was how Chase had warmed up to him over dinner. Whereas earlier the man would make subtle barbs and shots, he talked politely and seemed to actually listen to him.
“I must say, that was a marvelous dinner!” Helen remarked, “My compliments to the chef!”
“Thank you,” Ryan smiled and bowed his head slightly.
“You made this?” Chase asked, eyeing the leftovers of the meal.
“Yes, I cook for me and Brad every night,” Ryan answered.
“Really? I thought Brad normally went to bars,” Chase eyed him. Brad felt his anger surging up again at the man’s rudeness, but Ryan just laughed.
“We go out together occasionally. We’re always together at night, whether we’re at home or out.”
Chase nodded and there were no more unpleasant mentions for the rest of the night. As Chase and his wife prepared to leave, he pulled Brad away for a second.
“I may have been wrong about you, Sherwood,” he smiled slightly, “I thought you were a bar-frequenting womanizer but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Anyone with a partner like yours cannot possibly be that bad. Send me the contracts, I’m prepared to sign them.”
Brad’s eyes widened in shock and he stuttered out a thanks, watching as Chase went back to where Ryan and Helen were talking enthusiastically. He drew his wife away after she told Ryan to call her to talk about more recipes and tipped his hat once in Brad’s direction before leaving.
For a few seconds, no one spoke, then Ryan turned to Brad with a ‘I told you so’ look on his face, “He seems like a nice man.”
“How did you do that?” Brad blurted out.
“I have my ways,” Ryan preened, pretending to file his nails on his shirt.
Brad let out a laugh and strode forward, grabbing Ryan’s upper arms and pulling him forward, kissing him deeply. Ryan moaned and responded, freeing one arm to wrap around Brad’s neck.
“Thank you so much,” Brad mumbled against his lips.
“You’re totally welcome,” Ryan drew back, “I would have done it for you anytime.”
Brad smiled and tilted Ryan’s chin up to kiss him again, softly this time. He could feel Ryan’s smile against his lips and couldn’t help but brush his tongue against his lips, asking for entrance. Ryan hesitated but then his lips parted and their kiss was flooded with passion. Brad wrapped his arms around Ryan’s waist, pulling him tightly against his body, shifting to kiss and nibble at Ryan’s neck. Ryan moaned and twirled his fingers in Brad’s thick hair before tugging slightly.
“Brad,” he let out a gasp as he bit down on his pulse, “Brad!”
Brad pulled back and looked at Ryan who was flushed and trembling, “Are you okay? Did I go too far?”
“No, no,” Ryan quickly shook his head, “It’s just....if it goes on, I won’t be able to stop and I’m not ready for that.”
“That’s okay,” Brad soothed, brushing Ryan’s hair back and placing a soft kiss on his cheek, “Take all the time you need.”
“Thanks,” Ryan smiled and hugged him, “Thanks a lot.”
Brad grinned and hugged him back, kissing his hair, “You’re very welcome.”
.