Power Games

I wander up to Mitch’s apartment and knock on the door as he answers it shirtless and in a short pair of shorts “Sup man, you called with info?” I say surprised he’s dressed this way but not going to say no to any information that he has dug up already.

Wandering into his place, there is a big difference between his office with stuff everywhere and his apartment which is neat and tidy as I sit down on his couch. Mitch puts a loose tank on with open sides which lets me see his pecs and abs well and truly as he calls me over to his dining table and we sit down.

“Drink?” he asks he gets out two bottles of water and gives me one. “This is water right Mitch?” I ask concerned that he’s been filling up water bottles with Vodka like the stash that he has in his office. “Of course it’s water, honestly I only drink when I’m at work because it gets me through the fucking day there” A sense of pain talking about work before changing the topic about the information that he got for me.

“So without asking how I got the information, the car is registered to a company called Sunrise Enterprise Pty Limited” I shake my head not knowing the name at all “Don’t know the name at all” Mitch nods “Yeah, it’s a company whose asset is a car and a grounded private jet”.

I give him a confused look “Don’t worry, it’s just one of a myriad of companies that are making up “legal” tax dodges around the place he says rolling his eyes as he talks about it. “The thing that you need to know is that the registered parent company is registered as Alpha Delta Limited which again is a nothing company but the thing that I wanted you to see was this” Mitch says turning his laptop around to show me.

“Alpha Delta Limited registered directors, Mr. Brendan Keppel (Chair), Mr. Henry O’Sullivan (Vice-Chair), Ms. Sarah Keppel, Ms. Natasha O’Sullivan and Mr. Nicholas Keppel” I look at it not sure what to think right now “WHAT THE FUCK?” I say looking at the computer now realising that of course, the car that has been spying on me belongs to my family.

“Should’ve fucking known that my family was behind this” I say pretty damn annoyed by the fact that they are the ones who sent the car out to watch my place and then annoyed by the fact that I was dumb enough to think that it was someone else.

Mitch gets up and walks around and grabs my shoulders and starts rubbing them to try and calm me down “Look, Isaac, it’s alright because we know who they are watching now and you’ve got nothing to hide so there is nothing to worry about right?” he says massaging my shoulders, his hands having a firm grip on them.

“Yeah, I know but I just don’t want them hovering all the fucking time and just leave me alone” Mitch stands there behind me “We all know that but for the time being you’ve got to let them do what they want and don’t let it affect you, I’m the case of letting your parents' expectations bring you down,” he says letting go of my shoulders and coming back round to sit down.

“What do you mean by that?” I ask as I look across at Mitch who lets out a long sigh. “Well I never wanted to be a lawyer and I certainly didn’t want to live in Yellow Peak all my life,” he says forlornly “I wanted to get into Graphic Design and work in that but my family had it all set up that I was just going to follow in my father’s footsteps and take over his law firm here doing Wills and all that boring crap” I nod understanding what it feels like to be under the pressure of your parents.

“Ever thought about telling them that you don’t want to do this anymore?” I ask Mitch who shakes his head “It would break my Dad’s heart if I told him that I didn’t want to be a lawyer or be here in this stupid town, I want to be back in Eagle Bay or somewhere like that where expectations weren’t so damn important” he says starting to rant about the pressure he’s under.

“Guessing that’s why you enjoy that Vodka bottle that you keep in your desk?” I ask as Mitch nods, “Anything to get me through the damn day” he says as I pat his hand on the table. “You could always get yourself smashed and then smash up your car leaving a hooker inside,” I say trying to make a joke about the situation that got me into trouble getting a glare from Mitch before laughing.

“You’re a funny one Keppel, glad that you’ve fitted in with our little group,” Mitch says smiling at me before seemingly coming up with an idea “Why don’t we go over to that Resort in Sapphire Ridge, the one overlooking the Valley for the night and just escape this hell hole”. I look at him surprised “What the two of us?” asking Mitch as he nods.

“Why not man, just the two of us you know drop all the stress that we’ve got behind us and just enjoy a 5-star resort with all the treats,” he says as he looks at me, almost pleading in his eyes to say yes.

“I’d love to but I just can’t afford it, I don’t get anywhere near enough money to splurge on something like that as much as I would love to,” I say regretfully declining Mitch’s offer which I can already tell won’t be the final answer.

“Come on Keppel, you don’t even need to be Keppel tonight, you can be Zac Kennedy or Beau Kelly,” he says trying to convince me to go with him “You’ve got all this drama and then you’ve got your Dad’s visit coming this week, so take some time for you”. I sit there thinking that this is a bad idea as Mitch continues to talk me into it and eventually, I agree.

“Alright fine but nothing that gets me into trouble alright?” Mitch jumps back on his laptop and does something for about 10 minutes “Done” he says as he quickly grabs a backpack. “Mind if we stop at my place to pick up some stuff,” I ask as he shakes his head, “you’ve got enough stuff on now,” he says winking.

I smile at his winking “I really need to get my phone charger and some other stuff” I say as Mitch agrees “Alright fine, but I get to decide on what happens tonight” he says winking at me which makes me laugh and blush.

I drive back to my place and pick up some fresh clothes and something to go swimming in as Mitch followed me in his car, whilst I’m inside he goes and talks to Adam. A few minutes later the pair come out of Adam’s place “I hope you get a relaxing night Isaac, you deserve it and Mitch don’t get him into any trouble ok” he just says that he won’t and I ask Adam to keep an eye on my place.

We get into Mitch’s car and start to drive off towards Sapphire Ridge “So you a top or a bottom?” Mitch says rather bluntly as we’re driving along the highway. “What do you mean?” I say acting confused for a moment before realising what he meant. “Top, always the top,” I say resisting the urge to mention anything about having sex with Danny.

“Yeah doesn’t surprise me, to be honest, you just don’t seem to take orders well so you’d be a pretty rubbish bottom,” he says laughing at his own comment. “Hey, I could bottom if I want to, and let me guess you’re a top too?”.

Mitch laughs “Maybe, maybe not,” he says driving towards the resort as I shake my head “Alright what is going on here?” I ask wanting to know what Mitch is planning right now for this drive. “You got me alright, we’re not going to a resort I’m taking you out to the Valley and pushing you off the cliff to get you out of town and everything”.

I sit there panicking for a moment feeling stupid for just getting into the car “W…what the fuck?” I say almost getting ready to bail out of the moving car once we have to slow down as I curl my fist.

Mitch looks at me “Fucking hell Isaac, I was fucking joking alright” he says laughing quite hard at his joke which I don’t appreciate that much. “I just head out to the resort every so often when I need to just need to recharge and take a mental break about things”.

I nod “So why are you bringing me, honestly?” I ask looking over at him as he keeps driving, not sure if he thinks that I’m just going to be a fuck bud or something. “I just wanted to help you take a break man, I can see how hard you’re trying, and just with everything coming up I thought you could do with a recharge”.

Smiling I nod “But like I said, I can’t afford any of this” Mitch puts his hand up “It’s fine like I said to you about getting the information, I have many tricks up my sleeves to get good things,” he says smirking to himself, as I’m far from convinced that what Mitch is doing is totally legal.

We get to the resort and Mitch parks the car and we head into reception, I go to wait for him in the seating area of the lobby but he pulls me over and walks up to the counter with me following him.

The young lady behind the counter looks at Mitch “Mr. Webster, how are you this week haven’t seen you for a while” she says with a beaming smile and looking and smiling at me.

“Everything is bought and paid for Jake so you’re Suite is free now, I’ll give you and your friend the cards and you can have a good night,” she says giving Mitch the cards as I look confused but nod along as we walk away.

I turn and look at Mitch as we head into the elevator “Jake… Mr. Webster?” he just smirks and winks at me “What is going on Mitch?” I ask as he just stands there telling me to be quiet for a while until we head into the suite with amazing views over the valley and a spa that sits on the balcony. “I just hack into their booking system and know how to bypass their systems and get what I want and well I’m not going to use my real name am I Beau,” he says winking at me as he flops on the bed.

“Where’s the other bed?” I ask realising that there is just one bed, “There isn’t, why do you think I did it the way that I did Beau” I nod along trying to play along, now panicking that I am going to get into trouble. “I better not get into any sort of trouble for fraud or anything like that because of this”.

Mitch lets out a massive sigh and I get the sense that he feels like I’m not appreciating his kindness “Fucking hell man, I’m not doing this for any reason other than the fact that I needed a break and I thought that you could use one as well alright” he says clearly angry, “Not everyone has an ulterior motive alright Isaac; I was just hoping you could feel good for at least a day alright”.

I sit down on the bed “I’m sorry man, I’m just don’t want anything to happen so I’m just a bit paranoid with the car following me around and my dad’s campaign visit on Tuesday you know”. Mitch hugs me tightly and I can’t help but hug him back tightly, his body firm against mine as he looks at me.

We let go of each other and I look at him “So what’s the reason you go with Jake Webster?” I say looking at Mitch curious about what he does. “Honestly, it’s just one of a couple of weekend names that I have really when I just want to escape from everything”. I look across at him and nod “Fair enough and so what’s my story?”.

“Well that’s up to you really Beau, but I was thinking that we’re a young couple from Eagle Bay who are business professionals that are taking a romantic weekend,” he says as he pours himself a glass of champagne that is sitting on the counter. I don’t have any and sit there smiling “So you think that I’m going to get it on with you tonight?”.

Mitch doesn’t say anything but gives me a cheeky grin “I mean if you’re up for non-Hookers at 3 am” he says winking at me. My mind thinking whether this is a good idea but once Mitch smiles and takes his shirt off, I know I’m not going to be able to help myself from getting it on with him.