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“What do you mean the mocktail contains alcohol? It’s a mocktail for goodness sake! The whole point of it is to pretend to be alcohol.”
The waiter stares at Will like he’s stupid.
“Then it’s not a mocktail, is it?”
“The refreshments’ table labeled it as a mocktail though!” Will exclaims. He then proceeds to go on a whole rant about the importance of labeling a drink as alcoholic, and the amount of people who die from alcohol poisoning a year.
Cecil blinks at Will, worry creasing his face. For once, he feels concern for his best friend’s mental health. How can it be declining so quickly?
“Please tell me you’re not actually worried about a mocktail.” Cecil begs. Maybe there’s still hope for Will.
Will sighs, and fidgets with a lock of his blonde hair.
“Cecil, I don’t think I’ll be securing a deal with them.”
Will glances around the ballroom where the gala is being held. There were historic paintings and sculptures displayed everywhere, which Will thinks is quite stupid considering the handful of drunken fools stumbling around, and spilling champagne everywhere.
He wonders if they too, were also tricked into thinking the mocktail did not contain alcohol.
Cecil (aka the waiter), shakes his head with disbelief. “Dude, I literally took this job just to make sure you’d get the deal. You cannot disappoint your dad by just giving up.”
Will takes a sip from the not-mocktail. “Underworld Corporations already dislikes Olympus Inc., which my family’s business is literally a shareholder of.”
Everyone knew the story of how Underworld Corp. and Olympus Inc. came to be rivals. Zeus didn’t think Hades fit well with their business between them and their other brother, Poseidon, and kicked him out.
So, out of spite, Hades started his own business. Long story short, his business became just as successful as Olympus Inc. and Hades became rich. He even managed to sway the daughter of another Olympus Inc. shareholder, Persephone, to marry him after his last two wives died.
Truly an inspiring story.
“Oh my gods Will, you’re such a quitter.” Cecil groans. “Who were you planning to talk business stuff too?”
"What makes you think I know, Cecil? My dad just said go be friendly and get the deal! Oh gods, I'm not made for this! I don't even have a business degree, and I don't think my MD is going to help me negotiate whatever the fuck my dad wants with Hades!…” Will continues to babble on until he feels a light tap on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but you just seem a bit out of it. Is there anything I can help you with?” Will stares down at a short man with large, dark, doe eyes. His crow colored hair hangs in his eyes a bit, but is pulled back slightly with a pomegranate shaped clip; the symbol for Underworld Corp.
Oh, fucking hell.
There is no way Will can deny this. He has attracted the attention of the son of Hades.
Nico di Angelo.
He then hears the tap of footsteps as Cecil slowly backs away holding up a thumbs up to support Will.
“Cecil you son of a bitch!” Will mutters under his breath. He then turns to Nico, with the fakest smile plastered to his face.
“Hi Nic—er Mr. di Angelo, I had no idea I was being loud. Um, please forgive me.” That had to be the lamest apology Will’s ever done.
Yet, Nico seems to find it amusing. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“You can just call me Nico; and there’s no need to apologize. I’m just curious about what you’re…stressing over.”
“What! Me, stressed? What’s there to be stressed over! Except, you know, making a pretty important deal with big companies, and stuff…” Will continues to babble on about everything under the sun, more or less giving away whatever the hell he was going to do to secure said deal.
Huh, maybe he’s more drunk than he gave himself credit for.
Nico glances down at the breast pocket on Will’s suit. The symbols for Olympus Inc. and Will’s family business, were pinned there.
“Olympus is getting lazy about their employees these days. I’m betting you don’t even have a business degree.” Nico scoffs. He no longer seems amused.
Will most likely said something that gave away whatever motives Nico doesn’t like. Or maybe he’s just disappointed in Will for cracking under zero pressure.
“It’s that obvious, huh?” Will mumbles, smiling sheepishly at him.
“Very.” Nico nods his head with sympathy.
“Um, can I at least try to strike a deal with you?” Will did awkward finger guns at Nico, trying his best to rid of the awkwardness.
Nico grabs the other man’s hand and guides them to his waist, before leaning in and wrapping his own arms around Will’s neck.
“Hm, I don’t really feel like talking about stocks and whatnot. How about we dance instead.” He murmurs, a coy smile playing at his lips.
Oh fuck.
How did Will get himself into this mess? Surely it’s not too late to save his dignity.
“Haha…you sure you wanna dance? I’m not exactly great at the…tango?” Will’s mind feels slightly cloudy. It can be due to nerves, but he suspects that not-mocktail contains a higher alcohol percentage than he thinks.
Nico laughs lightly.
“Good thing we’re dancing to the waltz then.” Nico starts to sway to the beat of the music, trying to make Will comfortable with it.
And it is working. Will can slowly feel the nerves in his stomach unknotting, and his shoulders loosens up.
Until the complicated footwork starts happening. Will watches Nico’s black dress shoes start side stepping or whatever, as he tries to force Will to lead them through the dance.
Much to Nico’s dismay, Will just keeps stumbling and stepping on his feet.
“How drunk are you?” He asks. Will coughs. How can one be so bad at the waltz their dance partner thinks they’re not sober.
Realization spreads across Nico’s face when Will does not respond. Is it such a surprise he’s this bad at dancing?
“You know there was a class held for waltzing a few weeks before the gala.”
“Well obviously I didn’t attend it!”
“No shit.” Nico mutters.
Will can feel the heat creeping up his face as people starts to stare at the two. They’re all probably thinking the same question.
Why is Nico di Angelo dancing with this nobody?
‘It’s okay! Who’s actually going to remember you stumbling over Nico’s bajillion dollar shoes!’ Will thinks hopefully.
He then hear the snaps of cameras and glances to his right. And lo and behold, a fancy camera Will cannot name, snaps photos of everyone on the dance floor. The photos will then be published on some social media platforms and articles; exposing Will’s bad dancing skills, and start a rumor about him and the short man he is dancing with.
But that’s just what Will thinks is going to happen; since things like that always happened at these types of event. Will would know since he’s usually the one gossiping to his friends about it.
He’s never going to hear the end of it from his friends and family if that does happen.
Which it totally won’t.
Right?
The two continue to try and dance before ultimately giving up after bumping into several other dancers.
—————
Nico grabs two actual cocktails, and hands one to Will.
“Oh, thanks.” He says, carefully taking the drink from the latter. Nico nods his head, and takes a sip of his.
Awkward silence settles between the two.
“So, I know you said you don’t want to discuss ‘stocks and whatnot’, but I really need this deal.” Will says. Nico doesn’t seem to be listening.
“Uh huh.” He murmurs, “My question is why your family sent an uneducated fool to strike such an important deal. A little stupid of them, no?”
Okay, ouch. Uneducated fool seems a bit harsh.
“Maybe they expected you to show grace on me since I, you know, saved your life.” Will suggest.
Nico froze. His whole demeanor changes from flirty to cold. He then clears his throat and straighten out his suit.
“So, you still remember that?”
“It was kind of a wild night. Quite hard to forget you bleeding out on my FUCKING OPERATING TABLE!” Will’s voice raises as he says the last part.
“Okay, okay. Lower your voice, will you? The public doesn’t exactly know about that.” Nico utters. Pink creeps up his neck as he glances around nervously.
“Yup! You’re right, sorry.” Will apologizes, yet again. He hesitates before asking, “You’re doing better now, right?”
“I—um, yeah. Everything’s fine now. Best if you just forget anything ever happened.”
Will snorts.
“Yeahhh I’m not forgetting that. You’re lucky I didn’t send your ass to rehab, actually.”
Nico blinks at him, shocked by his shift in tone.
“Excuse me?”
“In fact, I’ve been meaning to check up on you, but apparently you think you’re to goddamn important to check your emails, or DMs, or any social platform I’ve tried reaching you on.” Will gulps down the rest of his cocktail, and snatches Nico’s from his hand. He practically chugs the whole thing, and shoves the glass back into Nico’s hand.
Nico opens his mouth to protest, but then decides being quiet is most likely the better option.
Will continues his rant.
“And then suddenly, you appear out of nowhere, pretend not to know me and be all flirty and ask me to dance and all that jazz! You can do all that, but typing a simple ‘I’m okay’ for your emails is too much for you to do?” Will’s words slur together slightly as he talks.
“I—well, um—“ Nico stammers.
“And don’t even get me started on the way you called me an ‘uneducated fool’! Do you think an uneducated fool could’ve stitched up your sliced up arms? Oh! Not to mention that night. Do you know how scary that was? Knowing you did that to yourself on purpose? Knowing that I had to pretend to look the other way because apparently an ordeal like this is too big to hide from the public. Bullshit!” Will hisses.
Finally, he stops talking; now awaiting a response from Nico. He glances around nervously as he twists the skull ring on his finger. After making sure no one’s listening to their conversation, Nico speaks.
“I don’t understand why you care so much. Not even my father’s as concerned as you are.” He mumbles.
Will snorts a little too loudly than what would be considered polite. “Well, Hades doesn’t have to worry about losing his job does he?”
“What? Why would you lose your job?” Nico asks, confusion spreading across his face.
“For purposely lying about a patient’s known condition. Look who’s the uneducated fool now.” Will rolls his eyes, acting as if this was common knowledge. He then tries to reach for a glass of champagne, but Nico slaps away his hand.
“Alright smart guy, I think you’ve drank enough. Maybe it’s time for you to go home.” Nico mutters, pulling him away from the drinks table, and towards the exit.
“N-no, I still need the deal…” Will stutters, his eyelids seem to droop a bit.
“I’ll discuss an agreement tomorrow, now let’s get you home. Where’s your car at?” Nico says.
“My brother drove me here….I think?” Will replies.
Nico raises an eyebrow. “You think?”
“It could’ve been my father…”
Nico takes a deep breath, wondering if he should really do what he’s about to do.
“You know what? You’re spending the night with me. Yay! So fun, right?” Nico forces a smile onto his lips. The pain in his eyes are quite obvious.
Will blinks at him. The shock seems to rid of a bit of his drunkenness.
“Actually? I can just call my family…” He reaches for his phone in his pocket only to find nothing.
He left it in the car.
“Too late, we’re already at my car.” Nico says. Huh. Will didn’t even notice they were walking.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Will asks.
“Hey, you said you wanted to check up on me. What better way to do that than seeing my current living condition?” Will nods his head in agreement before promptly passing out in Nico’s arms.
“What a weird guy.” Nico mutters to himself. He shoves Will into the passenger seat, and then drives off into the city night.