Chapter 3: Welcome Home
Inside, Kieran still couldn't believe he met the richest man with no connection. They sat knee to knee to cups of sugarless coffee - none of them take sugar. The music was deafening: Rage Against the Storm by Francis Wellarman. Much like Kieran's cup of tea.
The walls screamed wealth, plated with gold. Kieran could swear cool new notes were sleeping inside the two cupboards on either side.
Mr. Holland placed the cup back on the table, his hand movement swift and otherworldly, as if there were a special course taught on how to do so. Kieran forced a smile right away when the man looked his way, trying to hide the fact that... he actually admired him. Of course, not in gay terms, but he had always admired the rich.
"Tell me about yourself, Kieran," Mr. Holland said, his voice escaping the lungs as though on autopilot.
Kieran's jaw dropped slightly in shock, and he touched his chest. "You want to... know about me?!"
Mr Holland raised his brows. "You'll know soon."
Kieran smiled. "What can I say? I have just been surviving alone. Parents died early, I dropped out of school at 17 and pushed through boxing until 23. And here I am, 25, working..."
"... part-time at Mister Blake's convenience store, lives on the fourth floor in Wavermoth District and the playboy type. Favourite movies are Black Mirror and Game of Thrones, and you always take the 8:15 pm bus after work," Mr. Holland listed everything, leaving Kieran staring at him with dropped jaws.
Kieran frowned, cleared his throat and sat right up. He chuckled, looking here and there in wonder, "I'm surprised you know that much about me, Mr. Holland. How come someone like me piques the interest of a wealthy tycoon?"
"... Tell me what I don't know about you, Kieran," Mr. Holland asked him with interest. He took a moment to sit back on the couch, cross his legs and throw his arm over the couch's shoulder like a typical billionaire. He signalled to Kieran, "Come on, Kieran. Tell me something I don't know about you."
Kieran held a chuckle for a few seconds before looking him in the eyes. "What can I do for you, sir? Maybe... I'm getting a job here, that is...?"