Off The Books (A TayNew AU)

08 Connections

Tay

Monday. I dread Mondays. A lot could happen in the company over the weekend and it's on Mondays when I need to tackle all of them. Not to mention the several weekly meetings lined up to start the week.

But this particular Monday is worse. Today I have to face New, my assistant slash intern, after that unexpected encounter last Friday and my hasty decision to talk to him the following dawn. Who would have thought that in all places we would bump into each other, it would have to be in that low-key local bar I frequent on Friday nights? I could've just come up with an excuse on why I was there. but then Neo showed up and called me by my pseudonym. To make things worse, they know each other.

Neo is a friend – a special kind; the one with benefits. I first met him a couple months ago when I just wanted to escape from everything. I stumbled upon a decent bar a couple minutes away from the city center wanting to get drink my problems away. I never really remembered much from that night just that Neo woke me up because the bar was already closing. I wasn't sober enough to drive so I just sat outside thinking of all the problems I was facing that time.

"Are you okay, sir?" I remembered that that was all it took for me to finally break down and let go of all the tears I've been holding the entire week. He was kind enough to stay with me and comfort me even if I was just some random stranger to him. Even if it was just me bawling my eyes out and him silently rubbing my back, I found some sense of comfort in his company. I felt a connection.

I went back the following Friday night and saw him again. He didn't recognize me at first. He only remembered when I told him what happened the other week. It was just a short chat since I didn't want to disturb him while he's serving other customers.

"Neo", he finally introduced himself on the third week I went to the bar. "Shin", I gave him a fake name, of course. I didn't want to tell him who I really was. That's when we started having longer and more casual conversations. Right then, I could already tell he's a good person. But as much as I believe that I have a good gauge on people, I wanted to make sure that I could trust him.

I ran a quick background check on him. I then learned that he's real name is Joss. I also learned that he works three jobs to support his family and his ailing father – a good man indeed.

The more that we talked the more I got interested in him. Who wouldn't be with that god-like physique of his? But besides that, it's his warm personality that draws you. And he isn't like that just to me. I see how he treats every single customer and even his co-workers in that bar.

On one night, we were drinking together, and he opened up to me about his life; nothing that I do not know yet. After hearing his sob story, I offered him some financial support. At first, he refused telling me that he was not into that kind of business. I was confused by what he said. I just genuinely wanted to help him as a friend who has been very kind to me.

In my insistence he took the offer and did something unexpected. He planted a kiss on my lips. I was stunned as I felt him nibbling on my upper lip. I then understood what he meant by business.

I pushed him away saying, "Neo, please don't think that I'm doing this to earn favors from you. I'm not that kind of person."

"Please, this is the only way I know to repay you." I don't know if it was the alcohol in my system, or my long suppressed carnal needs that I eventually gave in and returned his torrid kisses.

It was exciting to be making out with someone as gorgeous as Joss, but at the back of my mind, it's kind of bothersome to think that essentially, I am paying him to do these things with me.