【 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ━━ 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 】

𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲, shadow, shadow, shadow
𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 - 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

❝ GOOD MORNING. ❞ I SMILE, already moving to the elevator. Greeting me a good morning herself, brows furrow together in the process, "The respective emergency outfit." B notes, "What's the occasion?"

"It's my first day shadowing Bart. Have fun with the shoot." I tell her.

"Good luck everyone." I call, "Bye, Eleanor." I wave, "Good luck, honey!" she calls as I step into the elevator.

Arriving at The Palace, Mister Bass' immediately gives me his thoughts, "First thing about business; don't write it down." Bart tells me as I was writing and walking, "I won't—" I nod, taking the notebook from me.

Trowing it to his assistant who barely catches it before it hits her face, "I'm not teaching you business one-o-one. I'm teaching you how to run a multi-billion corporation." Bart clarifies.

He clarifies, slowly nodding for me to understand, "Pay attention, and one day you will too." he tells me. Nodding at his words, he turns around, me a step behind him.

Following him everywhere; all his meetings, debates, and phone calls for the day, "Buy yourself something."

Waving his hand to the chair across of him, "I'm sorry?" I ask confused. Taking out a paper he hands it over to me. As I don't take it, he waves it around. Taking it, my lips part at the amount, "That's just the start. I really think you can come places, Valerie."

Standing up, he opens the door for me. Rubbing my shoulder, "As long as you keep your eyes on the prize and don't get distracted. You'll make it." Bart encourages me. Smiling softly at his words, he walks out of the office, not quite knowing what to do I follow him.

"Tom."

"You were totally right about, Valerie. A great businesswoman." Bart smiles at his son. Making his cheeks flush, "Uhh..." he trails off, "Connections, another thing." Bart tells me as my watch beeps, "Punctuality, also important." he nods, "Tomorrow, eight sharp. Be in front of my office."

Getting my notes handed back, I smile softly at the Bass' man before leaving. Watching the girl leave, Bart places a hand on his sons' shoulder, "She turned out more beautiful than you described her." future man of the year tells his son.

"Hey, Val!" the youngest Bass calls — catching up with me, "Thanks again, Tom." is the first thing I say.

Waving his hand, he shakes his head at my words, "That was nothing." he denies, "If I can't help you shadow my old man. Then what are friends for, right?"

"Right." I nod, "See you tonight? Let's say... for dinner?" I ask. Making the boy nod eagerly, "Yes! I- I'm mean yeah. Totally." he tells me slower. Chuckling softly, biting my lip, "See you then."

"There I will be." he grins, "Okay..." I trail off. As soon as the girl out of sight, he slaps his face, groaning — realising what he just said, "There I will be?" he asks himself. Not being able to dwell on it further as a second voice, voices their opinion, "You won't." making him look up, "You want Valerie, right?" Bart asks his son.

"Right."

"Then be a man. Not a boy."

Making my way over to The Palace Hotel — after waiting for two hours — I take the elevator to his suite. Having a girl walks out, my brows furrow as she just looks awkward while passing me.

Moving further into the room, there is no one there but him. Opening the door to his bedroom, he lays on his bed face forward, "You ditch dinner with me to sleep with some girl?" I ask annoyed. Groaning he, he raises his arm, "Stop screaming." his words muffled by the pillow.

"Are you drunk?" I ask, "I don't know. Am I?"

Scuffing at his act, I leave the room. Taking a glass of water, I return to his room, the boy now laying on his back, his eyes still closed, "Val—" Tommy starts, as I trow the liquid in his face.

Gasping at the cold, "What the Hell." he barks, "Yeah, I can say the same. I waited for two hours for you!" taking the ends of his shirt he dries his face, "Well, I called." he retorts, "To say you would be there in five." I snap.

Placing my bag better on my shoulder, I shake my head, "You know what." I start, "You do whatever you want. I'm not participating in this childish behavior."

Moving to the door, "Wow, wow, wow. Wait." Thomas calls. Opening the door, he pushes the door close. Trying it again, the same thing happened. Shifting my gaze from the door to him I narrow my eyes, "Let me out." I tell him slowly, "Just let me explain."

Rolling my eyes at his words. He still doesn't let me go, leaving me — more but only letting me come up — with one childish option; squeezing his nuts. Which I did, making the boy cry out, "I said let me by, idiot."

Taking that as my cue to leave, Chuck walks passed me into the suite. Confusion written on his face by the angry look on the girl. Seeing his brother hold onto his manhood, growing, he takes out a sack of ice but before they could go in-depth as to what happened and why, their father walks in, "And I'm out."

Not really listening to his father ongoing monologue, he rolls his eyes, "You told me to act like that. Now she hates me." Tom reminds his dad, "That's because you shouldn't just do what people say, Tom. You need to do what you think is right." teaching his son a lesson in arguably the worst way possible.

"I just got a chance with her, and you thought that was the time, to teach me a lesson?" Tom snaps before groaning at the throbbing pain.

"Why do you—" Bart Bass' start to ask, wanting to know why his son is holding on to a sack of ice like his life depends on it, "She squeezed my nuts." making the older man wince — at the thought.

"Yeah."

Ignoring the pain, he dressed himself, going to the girls' home, "Miss Valerie, Mister Thomas is here to see you." Dorota tells me.

Sighing softly at her words, I smile softly at the older woman, "Thank you, Dorota."

Standing up, I glance at myself in the mirror, before leaving my room — still wanting to look good — walking down the stairs the boy looks up, "I'm sorry."

Humming, I cross my arms, "If that's all. You know your way out." I sigh, looking at the floor instead of him, as his words were followed with silence, "I didn't sleep with her."

Looking up from the ground, I chuckle bitterly, "Yeah." I hum unconvinced. Taking my hand in his, he pulls me closer to him, "I didn't, okay? I couldn't." he stutters, "Why not?" I ask. Seeing him struggle to formulate an answer, I shake my head instead.

Placing my hands on his shoulders, he takes a deep breath, "It's fine, don't worry. Just..." I sigh, "I believe you." I reassure. Nodding at my words, he sighs relieved, "Can you maybe show me why not?" I ask tracing my fingers over his arms.

Tracing my fingers over his dress shirt. Making a soft chuckle escapes his mouth, "That I can do." pulling me closer, softly presses his lips against mine. Tilting our heads, I wrap my arms around his shoulders. His hands trail over me, squeezing my ass, earning a soft moan.

Pulling him closer, he walks up back, leaning on to the couch. Holding his face in mine, I don't ever want to let go of him. Ever not having his lips on mine.

"V?"

Pulling away, we look up, "Tom?" S asks — still surprised — even though had seen the sighs and kiss, "That's not really the surprise."