Love in a Maze

Mr. Billionaire

Jake was having a headache and the day has just started. His meeting time was changed and so he had to wake up early in order to make it on time. If you count 9am early, but to Jake who didn’t get much sleep last night, that was way to early in his books.

He walked to his suit collection, were there were suits from various famous high-end brands. Jake picked at random, they were all the same to him. He pulled out a drawer and grabbed one of the many Rolex watches he owned. He looked into the mirror, combing his hair back, the pin strip suit he decided on fit him like a glove, emphasizing his wide shoulders. His strong eyebrows giving him a more domineering look. It was what was expected of him , as the heir to Walton Holdings, worth billions of dollars.

Jake walked out of his luxurious bedroom, his personal assistant Aries was waiting attentively as he recited the days schedule as he made his way out. The chauffeur opening the Phantom Rolls Royce for him. He got into the back of the car and settled down for the 20 minute drive. Aries sat on the front with the chauffeur. Etiquette. Always etiquette to follow, despite Aries being as close to a friend he could be.

Jake was massaging his head with his forefinger and index, in small circles trying to alleviate the pain. He didn’t know if it was all the wine he drank or the lack of sleep from last night. He sighed, “I guess it doesn’t matter” he uttered to himself. He closed his eyes, and placed his head to the window, thankful they were cold, that usually soothed his headache. Hopefully he would feel better when he arrived at the destination.

“Sir, we are here” Aries politely informed him. The male was dressed in an impeccable suit, as his personal assistant he had to look the part. He had been working for Jake after he fired his last personal assistant for selling information to the press on his whereabouts. He worked diligently and so Jake had no problem with him, constantly anticipating his needs, being like a friend despite their employee and boss hierarchy.

Jake groaned, opening his eyes and looked at were they arrived.

The Luz Hotel, a luxury chain hotel that was famous for the luxurious interior and appetizing restaurant. Jake's family owned the chain, and he could tell by the employees lined up in the front that they heard of his visit. He put on his game face on, the one that made him look intimidating, he needed to portray a certain image.

It was always about image in his world. Image was everything to the upper class, having to have a mask of perfection. His clothes had to be designer, and fit like a glove, had to be the newest of the season, never clothes from previous seasons. If you wore clothes from old collections, people and other rich ones would look down on him, thinking he couldn’t afford the latest fashion trends. Jake was raised in this world; he opened the door before his driver could.

He exited the Rolls Royce, his face not showing his annoyance that the staff was there waiting for him, he was raised in this world, and he was a damn king that would do what he pleased. Etiquette be damned, he was awake before 9 am and he had a headache. He wasn’t going to stay longer than was needed in this location.

“Mr. Walton” the manager called out with the widest smile he had. The man was way to happy, if they asked Jake. “We have been expecting you, please follow me” he gestures with his hands to the front. He quickly walked and babbled about the hotel profits and amenities. Jake tuned him out until he stopped to tell him this was the meeting point in a private area at the restaurant reserved for VIP.

“I’ll leave you to enjoy your day, Mr. Walton”. Jake sat down in the booth with a raised eyebrow. He hated when people kissed up, they were very obvious about their fake pleasantry. He doubted the man cared about him, he only cared of his surname attached to his name. The money attached to that surname. Walton.

He sat down and observed the place, it was clean and elegant. Jake waited and waited, getting annoyed that the man who requested the meeting for a project wasn’t showing up. He got a text from Aries saying the man had cancelled his appointment last minute. Aries preferred to stay outside waiting for him, instead of meeting clients with him. He clenched his jaw; he had gotten up early for nothing.

He closed his eyes trying to control his anger at wasting his time and massaged his headache that was getting aggravated by the anger. He felt eyes staring at him. This wasn't unusual but he didn't see anyone until he saw the tuft of fluffy black hair hiding behind a chair. Jake bit his lip, he wanted to laugh, the little boy must think he was hiding well. Jake adored kids but he didn't have any.

The media portrayed him as some party animal, constantly at events with other rich people.

They never would think of the donations Jake contributed to the orphanages or to the hospital for sick children. The media had an image of him, their own narrative to portray of him. He was never just Jake. Jake is startled when he feels a slight tug on his sleeve, and his attention drifted on to the cause of the disturbance.

The little boy had gotten closer to him, when Jake was lost in his thoughts. Jake stared into the eyes of the cutest kid he's ever seen. He had wide soft brown eyes, downward tilted making him look like a puppy. His cheeks were so round with baby fat, and had plumb lips only making his cheeks look even puffier. The little boy stared at him with curiosity, his eyes wide eyed, his chubby cheeks puffed out, shyly pulling his tiny hands away from his sleeve.

Looking down clutching a little cat plushie tightly, as he looked up at him suddenly determined. Jake was pulled out of his thoughts of thinking of him like a little puppy, when a soft voice asked him, “Would you marry my papa?” with innocent eyes staring at him full of awe. Jake blanked out for a second, wondering if he was still drunk from last night. That he had heard the little boy ask him to marry his dad.

Jake blinked. Tommy blinked. The little boy continued as if what he was saying was a normal thing to ask a stranger. "I saw that you have an owieee! He pointed to his head with one little stubby finger, “Papa can make you feel better!” he puffed his chest up and looked at him with those brown eyes that seemed to sparkle at him with honesty. Jake sat shocked, a little kid just asked him to marry his papa, he chuckled. Surprisingly this wasn’t the first time someone had asked him for marriage but never one to marry their dad.

Not by the cutest child he's seen. He looked like a puppy, all squishy. It made him want to put him in his pocket and take him home. Then as if struck with the realization that this little boy was wandering the hotel alone. Where was this papa? Did he wander off? But first he had to ask his name. “What’s your name little guy?” Taehyung asks attentively, not sure on what to do in this situation.

“Tommy Clark” he responded, shyly looking down at his shoes. Jake smiled at his cuteness, asking him “Tommy” he paused and gently took his hand, trying not to startle him. He was a stranger after all.

" I'm Jake, Jake Walton " he responded softly giving him a smile. "Where is your papa, can you take me to him or do you need help?”

Tommy looked up in shock, his little lips parted, “ Oh no, papa will get upset if I am not there” he gently pulled Jake to follow him. His little feet walking quickly to the hallway he took to push the door open. Jake was pulled towards a waiting area, there seemed to be holding some job interviews, judging by the many men and women in suits waiting for their turn. Jake looked around to see if their was any man that looked like Tommy's father. Tommy sighed in relief that his papa was still inside the room. He sat down at a chair, Jake sat next to him.

“Papa is still not out yet” he turned towards Jake, and asks again “ will you marry my papa?” He clenched his little toy bear to his chest, " Papa will rub your tummy when it hurts and make pancakes with smiles when you are sad. " He nods his head, his chest puffing up in a bragging way. Jake lips curled up in amusement, the little boy was very cute. Jake heart melted at the boys speech. Jake says back to him with fondness, "He sounds amazing, but why would you ask me to marry your sweet papa?"

Jake was curious about the boys response, it was unusual for someone to ask a complete stranger after all. The little boy was standing right in front of him, Tommy looked at him with his puppy eyes seriously. Jake was getting nervous at his serious eyes, his lips into a pout as he thought over his answer. His little brows furrow as he spoke his answer. “You are pretty”. Jake was amused. Such a simple reason. Tommy continues, “and you look tough, like you can punch somebody" he exclaimed with his tiny hand punching the air. "Papa needs someone to love him and protect him”. Tommy pouts making his chubby cheeks more prominent he continues with a lisp "He seems sad, that's why you shouth marry papa!"

"He needs someone strong to protect him and give him lots of kishes” he whispers, “ like he does to me” . Jake notices that as Tommy gets more excited he has a little lisp, slurring his words. He sits down on the chair, waiting his response, but before Jake could say anything, he heard a voice that sounded like warm honey dripping call out, “ Tommy”.