Six

Wednesday, December 31st, 2013

"How do they do this?" 

Harris, busy being a wallflower, looked to his right where now his redheaded friend was standing gaping at the crowd gathered in the spacious lobby. "Do what?" he asked, even though he knew what Jax was talking about. 

With the hand that was holding his ever-present glass of whiskey, the redhead indicated the suits in the crowd, which had grown in number in the past hour, and said, "Turn everything into business. This was supposed to be our opening night with our family and friends and our very first customers, not their first business meeting of the year." 

Harris knew it wouldn't sit well with his friends if they were informed from the beginning that this was going to happen. It was not exactly an accident that their opening night had coincided with the New Year's and Mister Stevenson's grand annual party. He had done everything he could to not let this happen, but he had to give in eventually since that is what businessmen do; grab every and any opportunity by the balls. 

"That's what's making you pout?" Harris chuckled, his eyes on the crowd gathered in the lobby. The crowd gathered to celebrate Harris' and Jax's success in establishing their own business apart from that of their families. Hotel Everland. 

A dream.

Their dream.

His, Jax' and...

"I'm not pouting," Jax drank from his glass. "I'm just saying, they have the magical power of fucking up everything for us. I mean, look at us. Six years ago if someone told me I'd get into business and co-own a hotel with you, I would have laughed right in their faces and called them all kinds of crazy. But here we are doing exactly what we've declared we'd never do. I'm sure it's a supernatural power. Some sort of black magic or something."

Jax had a point. It was supposed to be a celebration, not a business meeting but to their families everything was business. Even their children were a means to an end, to expand the business. It was always about the names, Stevenson, Corey, Owen. 

Harris from the Stevenson clan and Jax from the Corey clan had joined forces years ago to build the Everland Hotel. The idea was Harris's while Jax assisted him with designing the whole thing and then the rest of it just happened. Everland was a place with a hundred and ninety-five rooms each representing a country through some unique decoration belonging to the country they have been named after. In their hotel, there were no room numbers. The rooms had names; Mexico, Wales, Nigeria... It may have been a small hotel compared to many other international ones but it was very luxurious and unique.

"Well, black magic, voodoo, or parental power, there's no escape from this world. Not now anyway, or ever. So I suggest you forget about the suits and enjoy your evening, my friend," Harris pushed off from the wall and headed for the crowd. 

In every one of these parties Harris spent at least an hour as a wallflower; looking, staying, but not taking part. It was a way for him to rebel everything that has been forced upon him; running away without leaving. However, after his conversation with Jax that brought forth in his head memories he was escaping, he needed to interact with people or else. Or else those memories would wrap their slimy fingers around his neck and pull him under. He did not want to go there. 

He needed distractions and the people standing right there in the lobby were good enough. "It's time to mingle, so stop pouting and mingle away."

"I'm not pouting," Jax protested as Harris left him, chuckling.

The lobby was illuminated by the big, golden chandeliers, which made everything sparkle beautifully. It was furnished with furniture from all over the world. It was as Kaden had once said, 'like all the cultures of the world had thrown up all over the lobby in the most aesthetic way possible'. 

It was alive. 

It was colorful.

It was everything. 

Their guests came from the four corners of the earth. The advertisement had obviously paid off. The food and drinks were of no exception; international cuisines with the best quality ever. That was why everyone he saw had a cheery smile on and wanted to commend him for the big success. He and his crew and of course Jax had done an excellent job. 

Everything was good. 

Everyone was happy. 

Everyone but him.

Harris Stevenson, young and bold and daring, had dreamed big when he dreamed of building this place. He still remembered how excited he had been on the day project Everland began. That did not last long. Everything in life has a price and the price of Harris' dream was high. So high that now that he was living it and no longer just dreaming it, he could not bring himself to be happy. He was not sure if this place was worth the price. As a matter of fact, he knew it was not worth it. But what could he do? It was all said and done. After what happened, he had no other choice but to continue.

"You, dear mister Stevenson, had done splendidly," said a stout man with rosy cheeks and a huge smile. Alcohol. Alcohol made these events more bearable. Harris picked up one from the tray one of the waiters was holding. "The whole world was looking forward to this day, and I am sure you have surpassed everyone's expectations."

###

Everyone was thrilled. It was the New Year's Eve, and it was the best party in town; exceptional food, even better drinks. Though among all those happy faces, there was a young man standing by his father's side, uneasy. Definitely unhappy. He was an attractive, tall and slender man with raven hair that had taken hours to turn into the quiff he was gently and nervously touching every few minutes. Wearing a black suit and a striped, black and white, silky tie, he was the most gorgeous guy in that place. Or so his mother kept telling him in the intervals that it was just the three of them. His father gave him a grieving look, "It's okay if you want to go, son," he said for the hundredth time that evening. "You've done enough being by my side today."

Deciding it was time to take up the old man on his offer, the young man smiled gently at his folks and left for the special spot at the other end of the lobby, which was, of course, vacant.

Harris and Jax had promised them this spot. A place just for them and closed off for others. Ever since he had set foot inside the Everland, he had been itching to come hide here and breathe.

Seeing the grand piano in the corner the young man smiled and went to it, touching the keyboard smoothly. Lovingly. This was the added bonus; as much for him as for the rest of the guys. He never tired of playing. They never tired of listening. 

He had never thought there would come a time that he would give up on his dream of becoming a composer or a singer to be a businessman. It was always him and his piano. There was never a place for business in his life. His dad knew it. They never had a problem with that. However, life has ways of making shit difficult for everyone. So, of course, his dad ended up having a heart attack that made him retreat from his business responsibilities, and of course, Scott had to step up and take over. He felt sorry for himself and his lost dream. But family is family and it always comes first. For the Walkers anyway. Therefore, unlike his friends, who had no other options but to join the family business and let go of their dreams, Scott was forced into it by Fate. Funny how life works. 

Scott Walker, son of the most powerful banker Silas Walker, who was aiming high, for great arenas and huge crowds, was now stuck in a room all on his own on a daily basis while constantly looking at numbers and benefits and buying and selling and investing and whatnot. 

If it weren't for Kaden's presence in the bank Scott probably would have gone mad by now. God bless Kaden for standing up to his old man that one time. For the first and last time, Kaden had looked his father in the eye and said 'no'. 'I will listen to you and give up on music. I'll even throw away all my guitars and never touch one again, but I will not work for you.' Scott remembered those words very well. And when a couple of years later he found himself clueless and dumbly staring at the pile of files and papers on his desk, he thanked every known deity for that rare instance of bravery on Kaden's part. 

Silently he sat by the piano and started to perform a pleasing song. One of his own.

Kaden had shown him the ropes and stood by his side patiently when Scott could not bear the sight of numbers all day, every day. 

It did not take long for the muffled footsteps to approach him as someone settled down on the leather couch. Scott smiled. 'Speak of the devil,' he thought. 

The guy currently sitting on the couch crossed his legs and closed his eyes while listening to the music Scott was playing. It was just the two of them as the music drowned out the sound of the crowd.