Heat Waves

The Agreement

Chapter One -

The alarm filled the silent room with repetitive whimsical notes alerting those within its wall's morning had arrived. It was in vain though; the owner of the phone had been awake for hours. His clothes rustled quietly when he leaned over to dismiss the notification letting out a deep sigh. The anxiety that often plagued him had kept his mind racing in fear of the unknown. It had been near impossible for him to sleep but he wished he had. He was tired and the heaviness from lack of rest would not bode well for the rest of his day. A knock interrupted his thoughts, and he shifted his gaze watching his secretary enter and bow.

"Good morning, sir." he greeted adjusting his round glasses to look at the tablet in his hands. "You have a busy schedule today so may I suggest no longer than thirty minutes to get ready." He smirked at his secretary's words sluggishly standing from his bed to stretch.

"I'm surprised to see you, Seungmin, I thought maybe you would be given a new position."

"Sir?" He rolled his eyes moving towards the bathroom Seungmin remaining by the door.

"Make yourself comfortable, no need to stand for thirty minutes." he gestured at one of the chairs in his room before entering the washroom and closing the door. 

Were his parents going back on their word? He wondered as he turned on the shower and waited for the water to heat up. They couldn't be. They signed a contract, something he demanded to ensure there was no betrayal, it would be a direct breach if they lied. Once again his thoughts ran wild with scenarios and he found himself curled up on the shower floor head in his hands and knees against his chest. Frantic knocks distracted him momentarily and he remembered Seungmin was outside.

"Sir, are you alright?" he said nothing as he breathed through the panic. "I can smell your fear, do you need help?"

"Fuck..." he cursed hating his biology and how easily anyone could discern his emotions. Weren't the treatments supposed to help with that? "You're a beta...how can you even tell." he mumbled, surprised Seungmin had heard him and replied that his scent had always been quite strong. A family trait, apparently, or so his secretary said. "I'm not anything like my family..."

"Sir...do you need me to call the doctor?" Typically Seungmin spoke in a direct tone, one that was matter of fact and lacking emotion. It was rare he added any inflection but he could hear now that he was worried.

"Concerned I won't be ready in 30 minutes?" he spat forcing himself up despite his shaking legs. He couldn't fail his morning tasks, and if Seungmin called the doctor his parents would certainly consider the contract null and void. He had to keep his terms and so he quickly finished the shower. Seungmin looked relieved when he emerged in a robe and briskly maneuvered to his closet. "How much longer?" he asked flipping through his options and sifting within drawers.

"Fifteen minutes." he nodded flinging a sweater, a pair of black skinny jeans, green converse, and accessories on the table within the closet. "Sir-"

"How many times have I asked you to call me by my name?" he looked up an eyebrow raised and irritation evident in his set jaw.

"It's inappropriate."

"How can someone so young be so inflexible?" he chided waving his hand to shoo the man from his presence. When his secretary was gone he quickly pulled the green sweater on, wiggled his way into the jeans, tied his shoes, and secured a beanie before styling his bangs. He checked the reflection in the floor length mirror a small smile appearing. In the past his stylists selected his clothes leaving them neatly folded for him each morning, but as part of the agreement now he was allowed to choose. The simple pleasure was enough to ease some of his worries as he admired his outfit.