[Aaron]

*~*~*

I am a shadow.

I feel the need to satisfy others; With things...

I possess; things...

I can buy.

I believe everything has a price, a car, a watch, ;

I know that money can't buy feelings; Happiness, forgiveness, love. But none of it matters, for –

I have never felt them. Nor, will

I ever feel them.

*~*~*

"Good morning Mr. Solomon."

"Good morning sir."

"How is your morning, sir?"

To each, I nod and smile. The importance of my opinion is confined to the office, that is the start and end of that.

I am irrelevant in any aspect but my company.

"Mark, please take me to the opening of the new Knightingale." My CPO nods, looking at me through the rear view mirror.

The one thing I ever saw interest in is business. Making money, giving everyone in my company a job, paying them, providing a living. That is the purpose of my existence inside the company.

I don't have an existence outside the company.

The car pulls up at the new book store. 8:30 am on the dot. My father is close friends with the owner's father, therefore making me a family friend of sorts. I suppose sponsoring them is my obligation.

Because of the request from the owner that I should wear casual attire, I go in with skinny jeans and a jumper. The kid says 'he doesn't do fancy'. Neither do I honestly, but I don't have a choice really.

If I didn't show off my money, I'd be a shell.

But I suppose one day off the grid could be good for relaxation. I say my thanks to Mark and hop out, saying that he could have the day off since I'm going to be stuck in this, quite frankly, rather nice looking book store. Perhaps it won't be terrible.

I wear a smile, a fake one, as I step through the entrance, decorated with balloons and streamers. I spot the owner, speaking to... himself?

Oh. Twins.

The moment I take note of the twins I feel something warm emanating from the store itself. It feels homey and cozy. Cream colored shelves that are arranged expertly for optimal movement and display space, oak plank floor boards with no specific pattern, modern lighting. The hardware is nothing special, but somehow...

There is something special.

"Oh Good morning Mr. Solomon." The twins walk over, the more muscular one speaking first, the two's dress code are completely different. The taller, by quite a bit for twins, is wearing smart casual, dress shirt, skinny jeans; while his brother is wearing a simple hoodie with... cartoon characters, I am hopeless with children's culture.

Their facial features are identical, except one with a polite smile, the other... he must be breaking his jaw with that giant smile. Though I can't help but notice the bruise on his cheek, a small cut covered by... another cartoon bandage.

"Morning Mr. Cook." I shake both their hands.

"Hi! Do you want coffee or tea? I can make hot chocolate! Felix brought them over." He giggles. Who giggles? I guess I have my answer in front of me. The rolling ball of humanoid sunshine that seems to give off heat –

Oh. Is this why it's warm?

"Please, just Ryland and Skylar is alright. He's my bab- twin brother." Smiling down at his 'baby brother' that looks like he is about to vanish into thin air from mere excitement. "W-wait Skylar. He's –"

I wave Ryland off, I figured this would be entertaining.

Before I knew it I'm being dragged by the wrist through the books and into a café. The café that is shamelessly named after my father. 'The Solomon Corner' Such a cringe worthy name, he seems to have forgotten that the family name extends to me, therefore, embarrassment ensues. But I can't do anything about it since it's my father's decision.

"So... I can make you all kinds of coffee." Pointing to the menu that took on a very scrapbooked theme, with beautiful handwriting and all. "This one is my best friend, Felix's favorite. My mom loves a good latte so there's that too... Look it's even called the 'Grace Yourself'. You know, my mom's name is Grace, pretty cool, right?"

The man keeps rambling, I didn't mind it. I just know he is a beautiful man, deep blue eyes that I'm sure shine purple under low light. He sounds very... childish, but that's something I can handle, he seems very enthusiastic.

After he happily takes my order, I watch him over the counter making the coffee swiftly and expertly. Perhaps he is going to work here? I can't help but to notice the sway in his hips while he prepares my Mocha. Such a sexy little kid, but something tells me it's not out of seduction.

"Here you go. A medium Mocha with two sugars, skimmed milk and extra hot!" He places the cup down in front of me along with a slice of chocolate cake. "Complimentary chocolate cake! Because I baked it and you're our first customer! It reminds me of your eyes too." He said, squinting.

"Thank you very much." I take a bite of my cake and a sip of coffee. This shit is heaven sent. "It's really delicious! Wow..." I said, almost excited, but beyond seeing his expectant face I can't even try to compete with it.

"Sorry Cookie. I had to call someone for that interview." A low booming voice said, "There you are. Who the fuck?" I look at the man, same height as I am but more built. He was hot. The bad boy, covered in battle scars type of hot. But something draws me to Skylar more.

"Language Felix!" Skylar groans but greets his friend. They hug. Best friend. The guy glares at me and grabs Skylar's ass, he doesn't even flinch and just cuddles. Never mind, boyfriend.

And there I felt a flicker of hope vanish.

Hope that I had found some form of love.

"This is Felix. This... Drum roll please!" Skylar sticks his tongue out. "I actually don't know his name, Ryland called him Mr. Solomon." He proceeds to slam his forehead into his boyfriend's rib cage.

"Cookie. He's the guy that sponsored the building of this place." Felix groans, "It's called Solomon's Corner for fu-" Skylar shoves a bit of cake in his mouth and he starts chewing with a huff.

"It's super effective!" Skylar cheers. Then turns to me, "thank you for sponsoring! My brother and I really appreciate it. Felix too!" Tugging at his boyfriend's hand and they bow together, albeit a little reluctant on the tall man's side, but he let's the little kid of a boyfriend push his back down. It's a bow of appreciation nonetheless.

Appreciation of money. My mind scoffs.

"Cookie. He's supposed to be super important and rich or something. You can't go around dragging him anywhere you like..." Ryland shows up. "I'm so sorry Mr. Solomon."

"Aaron is fine."

"Aaron is a cool name!" Skylar cheers, feeding Felix a bite of cake, "I don't think I know an Aaron!"

"Cookie. Your professor was called Aaron. The janitor in high school is Aaron –"

"Oh. Right." Sticking his tongue out to one side and scratching the back of his head.

Ryland grunts in frustration, playfully I assume. I mean, who can actually get mad at Skylar. He's so cute and tiny, huggable and just generally really inviting. A text popped up on Skylar's phone, he goes to check it and excused himself.

I look down at the receipt, very elegant handwriting. The same as the one of the menus. So he manually scrapbooked a whole café menu? He must be a very dedicated worker.

"You know Felix, typically you don't go around grabbing your best friend's ass. Please tell me you don't do that to him in front of his class full of 6 year olds." He's a teacher? How does he have time to do the menus, last time I checked children are more draining than running a company.

Then I realized.

Felix was his best friend.

I almost fell out of my chair to chase after Skylar.

I felt that flicker of hope growing again.

Hope and expectation to find love.

~

The opening ceremony was... nonexistent. It was a very casual event opened to business friends. The majority of the event I spent looking for Skylar. I just needed to give him my number, then I could text him and pick him up for dinner, maybe bring him to an amusement park.

I stop when I reach a small office in the corner of the smaller second floor. Faint singing echoed. "... I know this never works, so lay with me so it doesn't hurt. Oh won't you stay with me, 'cause you're all I need."

Holy shit he has an angelic voice. He was laying on the floor with sharpies scattered around him. Drawing on a bunch of envelopes. When he's done with one he slides a gift card from the book store into the decorated pocket.

Not knowing how to greet him I knock on the door and clear my throat. To my complete dismay, he stops singing. "Oh hi Aaron. Oh wait no, Mr. Solomon." He stands and walks over to me.

"Hi." I breath out, or rather not breath at all. Although he has to look up at me, his stance never falters, he's a gorgeous man.

"Sorry I'm a no show downstairs! There were a few extra guests so I had to make a few more envelopes." He beams and shows me a few that were stacked on the table. "Oh this one is yours. It's meant to be a surprise, the envelopes. I'm not wealthy so making these is all I can do. Even my brother doesn't know about it. So I guess you're special! But I love my brother, and I want to be part of this amazing thing he's doing. He has 6 stores! 6! Isn't that crazy!"

Little did he know, I was the CEO of an architectural company. But I guess that doesn't matter to him.

He seems to see everyone as equals.

"I first thought you were one of those really rich guys from the photos I saw. So I used these special gold sharpies and stuck a couple of glitter thingies on. But I just added a few new things." He giggled again. A noise I can get used to hearing. "Here's a chocolate bar, because your eyes are like milk chocolate and you ordered a Mocha. And then here's a smiley face and weights because your shirt looks like it's going to rip apart."

He laughs heartily. Explaining how Felix, his best friend, got to remember that, used to wear tight shirts, and he thought they were going to explode because he never buys new clothes. So in the end Skylar dragged him to go shopping, and they ended up going to Disney land for 2 days straight.

I wouldn't mind shopping with him. I would buy him the sun if he wanted the damn thing.

"The smiley here reminds me that there's a ticket to the school fair! You can come alone or bring someone. It doesn't matter..." His own smile on full display.

"Because no matter how lonely you are. I will still be your friend. So we can have fun together."

And that is how I fell in love.

Funny how the one day I am not introduced as the CEO, the man with billions;

Is the day I fall in love at first sight.