If You Make a Deal With a Shadow...

Chapter 27

"'Cause you're the only one who makes my fairytale come true. How could someone make me so sad? But still I only want you to stay. I wanna' say I love you so bad but I don't wanna' scare you away."

- I Wished You Loved Me by Tynisha Keli

**********

"You sure you'll be okay?" Payton wondered as he stood at the door.

"Yea..." Aubrey trailed before turning around and looking at the other three girls. She truly dreaded days like these. "We'll manage," she turned back around, throwing him a faux reassuring smile.

Payton smiled back at her before grabbing her and kissing her forehead. He did the same routine with the other three with soft goodbyes. He sighed before grabbing his suitcase and rolling it out of the door. He waved one last time and shut the door.

Cyrus nodded at him, as he opened the back of the white 2014 Audi RS7 and closed it when Payton walked down the steps and climbed in. Cyrus quickly maneuvered through traffic and headed towards the freeway. Payton let himself fall deep into his thoughts. When Cyrus took the airport exit off the freeway is when Payton decided to strike a conversation. "How do you feel about Aubrey, Cy?" he quickly questioned.

Cyrus was taken aback. Payton never asked him what he thought of someone, especially what he thought of a girl. He still answered the question anyway. "I think she is a beautiful, young lady."

Payton groaned. "Ugh, Cy. No. I mean, what do you really think of her?"

"Mr. Hampton, I—"

"Man-to-man, Cy. Please," he practically begged.

"Okay. Man-to-man... What does it matter what I think of her? She's just another one of your Submissives. That question shouldn't even be asked," he stated, eyeing Payton the entire sentence, waiting for a reaction to his words.

"Cy, you already know why I'm asking. I know you can see that I actually feel more for this girl than the others. It's never happened before and you've been with me long enough to know that. I just... I don't know... Need advice, I guess."

Cyrus scoffed before chuckling. "The man I work for is asking me for woman advice. Can it get any better?"

"You've been with me since I was young, Cyrus. You work with me," he rephrased and Cyrus rolled his eyes. A smile played on Payton's lips. "Cyrus, did you just roll your eyes at me?" he held in a laugh and Cyrus smirked. That sent Payton into a laughing fit.

"But really, Payton. I like her a lot. She's the only one that seems fit for you. Yea, she makes some mistakes but no one is perfect. I see the way you look at her, and also the way she looks at you. And when I say fit I truly mean she's the woman I see having your kids and being your wife someday," Payton stopped his laughter and gaped at Cyrus through the front mirror.

"What—"

"We're here, Mr. Hampton," Cyrus announced as he pulled up to the Delta departure port. Payton sighed and shook his head.

"See you later, Cy. This conversation is nowhere near over, by the way," he said as he climbed out of the backseat. Cyrus smirked again.

"Of course. I'll see you in LA. Good day, Mr. Hampton," Cyrus said before speeding off. Payton watched him until he was out of sight.

-

After the big win against the Chargers Payton was persuaded into doing an interview for ESPN. He couldn't make it to Bristol, so of course they Skype'd him instead. Stuart Scott had him on his toes the entire time. Monday night football always consisted of the probing. "Mr. Hampton, when you're on the field, what do you think about most?"