the hamptons | t.chalamet

03

"so who are we impressing this time?" i ask my dad in the elevator.

he fixes his hair in the mirror and teasingly dusts off terrence's suit.

"the president of vitro and sinclair."

"the guy who sweats cologne?"

my dad turns to me and smiles. he attempts to adjust the sleeves on my dress but only messes it up even more. "yes the man who smells like too much cologne. be nice. i'm trying to close a deal."

i nod. "yeah yeah i know the procedure."

he looks at me with his serious face. "caerus, this deal is very important to me and the company and i absolutely need you to work with me tonight."

i resist the urge to roll my eyes.

"got it." it's always a big deal.

"remember, on your best behaviour."

i nod stiffly and he smiles again. but it's not a real smile.

he boops my nose just as the elevator reaches the penthouse and i watch him transform into the great maximus johansen; all confidence with oozing kindness.

(alexander skarsgård as maximus johansen)

the kind of bullshit that made him a seven figure salary and built him an empire.

"show time."

the doors open and we're immediately greeted with servers who take our coats and then usher us into the gala where the party is.

i look at all the older people milling around with wine glasses in hand and try to find anyone my age. usually, the teenagers migrate towards the kitchen during these events to see if we can persuade a waiter to bring us a bottle. this is often how we spend our sunday evenings; playing picture perfect children so our parents can make more money.

but xavier isn't here and neither is gen so there go most of my friends.

i follow my dad deeper into the gala and smile politely at anyone who glances my way. i gratefully accept a glass of whatever they're serving and slowly down all its contents. when i'm walking next to my dad, no one dares questions anything. including the legal drinking age.

"maximus!" a deep voice booms in front of us.

my dad smiles widely and the two men meet in the middle to shake hands aggressively.

the president of vitro and sinclair: a guy in his early fourties, like my dad, with salt and pepper hair and cold blue eyes. and an inability to realize when he's sprayed too much cologne.

"how are you, leonard?"

"i'm doing alright, maximus. yourself?"

dad chuckles. "work is work but i'm doing great."

"tell me about it. it's like it never stops. follows me all the way into the bedroom."

both of them laugh even though it wasn't funny and i contribute a courteous smile.

"how is your wife doing?" dad asks.

"oh harriet is amazing. did i tell you we're expecting a third?"

"that's fantastic! happy for you pal."

dad has never said pal in his life and i can tell he couldn't care less about harriet. this whole conversation is so fake that i nearly burst into laughter.

"yeah it's been great. how is your family doing?"

i doubt he even remembers if dad has kids or not despite literally coming over to our house for dinner last year.

"well this is my daughter, caerus, and my son, evander, couldn't attend today."

lucky son of a bitch told dad he had a meeting with someone important at 10 in the evening on a sunday. but dad didn't really care anyways since it's hard to present a perfect family when your only son has no biological relation to you.

"caerus! my you've gotten so big." leonard gushes at me.

we met last year and i stopped growing in ninth grade.

he comes in for a cheek kiss and i try not to gag on his scent.

"you're so beautiful now. a young woman!"

i smile. "thank you, mr sinclair."

"oh no need for that. please, call me leonard."

i nod and keep up my smile. "alright, leonard."

"you've done a good job, maximus, let me tell you that." he jokes with my dad and they both laugh.

"how old are you now?" he asks.

literally just one year older than the last time you saw me.

"i'm 18, sir."

he whistles lowly and then pinches his eyebrows at me. "what an age. and what did i say you could call me?"

i nearly slip up and roll my eyes. "sorry, leonard."

he smiles again and continues marvelling at me in a way that makes my skin crawl. i'm glad i wore a dress with sleeves and a high neckline.

"so do you want a drink, buddy?" dad cuts in again.

he finally takes his eyes off me. "only if it's on you."

i don't get it but they both laugh again.

"of course." dad easily swings his arm over him with his 6'5 height and leonard's measely 5'9 height and starts to lead him off towards the bar.

obviously, i am not supposed to follow nor do i want to.

i watch them walk away until my dad turns his head back to see me. his concerned expression lets me know he caught onto leonard's creepy staring too.

are you okay? he mouthes discreetly.

i nod and flash him a thumbs up.

that's good enough for him so he turns back and the two of them disappear in the crowd.

i let out a breath i didn't realize i was holding in and let myself relax against the closest high table.

a yacht party is starting to sound alot more appealing now.