Mr. Cal Xavier

Embarrassed, Liam was timid at Cal's sudden appearance. He saw that the man had become rich in a short time, and this embarrassed him even more, for his poverty was even more conspicuous.

After modestly tasting a couple of dishes, he silently drank his hunger with tea. Cal spoke first:

«Your uncle came to see me recently,» he began his speech, «telling me what you do here.»

«Uncle?» Liam couldn't believe that anyone cared about him, much less someone following his business... And why had Cal come here?

«My factories have been generating good profits lately, but there's a need for manpower,» Cal continued. «Since you're interested in the prosperity of the town, I want to offer you a deal.»

Liam finally came to his senses and became interested in Cal's story.

«What's the deal?» He asked with interest, and Cal laughed.

Liam's uncle gave him a guarantee that a way to make money and help the town would make young Mr. Glinier very happy.

«Weaving looms,» Cal said meaningfully, «let me put my looms within the castle walls and let the local women and men go to work. This industry is booming and is now at the peak of profits. I get my cotton straight from abroad and my fabrics are the best in the kingdom. Join this, and your little town will be rich and prosperous.»

Liam didn't even take a moment to think about his answer.

«It's a deal,» he blurted out.

After breakfast, they discussed a few details, and Cal prepared to leave. He had left some servants to prepare his lodging, for he planned to stay in town and personally set up the factory.

Liam felt uncomfortable but quickly got over it. He had a lot to do, too. The main hall in the castle had to be cleared out for machine tools. After bidding Cal farewell, he set out to break the good news to the townsfolk.

Within a month the factory was officially up and running. The town was alive. Every day cotton was brought in and the fabric was taken away. Liam hardly ever went into the weaving shop, dealing with other pressing matters. He still lived modestly, like a hermit.

When Cal brought him money, saying it was the rent for the room, Liam took the funds carefully and immediately bought what he needed for the next sowing operations and hid the rest.

The young man didn't ask Cal how he got rich, he just thought he was lucky. As long as he stayed out of his way, Liam wasn't going to take any interest in his business partner.

The factory was really booming, and soon new people were streaming into town. We had to allocate some of the funds for the development of the residential areas. By spring the whole town had been rebuilt, but now there was a shortage of workers.

The upcoming crops were getting closer by the day, and Liam went to the neighboring settlements to hire helpers. After housing the men in the barracks and providing them with what they needed, he prepared for the spring work.

***

The year flew by unnoticed. On his way to the factory owner's business, Liam stopped at a popular bakery and bought some fragrant cream buns. Cal loved these pastries, and he was often seen buying one or the other here.

A pretty girl wrapped the purchase in wax paper and handed it to Liam. Everyone loved the young gentleman, but respecting his wishes, did not flatter or single out Liam Glinier.

He lived in a simple house and wore the same clothes as the factory workers. People even saw him washing and darning his own clothes. He ate modestly and hated honors.

When official visitors came to town, it was Cal who negotiated. He made a good impression on people and knew how to express himself, unlike Liam.

But no one in town thought of Cal as head of the town; everyone, including the factory manager, counted with Liam and left the last word to him.

Almost four years had passed since the tragic events that took the life of his parents. Not to say that Liam had forgotten that night, but the memories faded a little.

Stepping into the beautiful house, he took off his shoes and went straight up to the second floor. A young girl jumped out of the master's room and Liam froze, not daring to take a step. He had often entered this house and Cal's bedroom without thinking that an awkward situation like this might arise.

Swallowing down the approaching excitement, he pulled himself together and pushed the door open, wondering if he knew the girl he was seeing now, and what she might have been doing in this room early in the morning...

Upon entering the room, Liam found that the heavy curtains were still closed and there was semi-darkness. A streak of light shone through the thin slit, and Liam could see a figure on the bed.

The man was sitting with his back to him, his long hair pulled back over his shoulder. He was about to throw on a robe, but he still hesitated. Instead, he languished languidly in the semi-darkness of the room, exposing his heated body to the cool breeze.

Liam froze for a moment, unable to tear his gaze away from the beautiful sight. The chiseled muscles rolled softly under her snow-white skin, the lines of her ribs were slightly visible below her shoulder blades, and her hair touched her thin waist. The only thing missing from the image seemed to be a pair of wings...

Liam faltered.

«Since when had I become a connoisseur of male beauty?» Shame and bitterness filled his heart. He tossed the bundle of scones onto the bed, strode noisily to the corner of the room, and flopped down in an armchair.

Cal turned smoothly and snatched the muffin from the bag, sinking his teeth into it. Still naked, he looked at Liam and smiled. Rolling gently across the bed, he finally threw on his thin silk robe.

As he walked across the room, the flaps of the robe parted slightly, spectacularly showing off his long, slender legs. Liam sat completely frustrated. He thought it was unfair to be so perfect.

Cal was good at everything: at business, at winning people over, at love affairs, at beauty. By the time he was twenty-three, he was as rich as a king and possessed tremendous influence. His enterprises grew like mushrooms, and he could have bought his own castle long ago.

But this scumbag kept living under Liam's nose, taunting him every day like this. It wasn't that Liam envied him, no, it was just that Cal always knew how to piss him off. He seemed to flaunt his success and beauty on purpose.

Liam had given up wealth and fame, choosing the path of humility to redeem himself. But Cal lived by the principle of getting everything out of life. That was where they differed. It annoyed Liam the most. If Cal had been less pathetic or handsome, if he had found more soulfulness and simplicity in him, he would have called him a brother and a friend.

But that kind of Cal: arrogant, lecherous, and derisive, made Liam angry and sore.

Cal preferred to sit on the armrest of the chair in which Liam sat.

Though they were both slim, still the chair was designed for one. Liam wanted to get up, but Cal stopped him with one arm around him.

«You're at it again,» the righteous Liam grumbled, wrinkling his nose in frustration.

«What did I do?» Cal finally took the muffin out of his mouth. «No matter what I've done, you're always displeased.»

«Mm,» Liam turned away, feeling the crumbs from the muffin fall into his lap, «you're just unbearable, could you not chew the muffin above me, I'm covered in crumbs?!» almost squealed the irritated young Mr. Glinier.

«Mg-mg-mg,» Cal replied with his mouth full and clamped his bun in his teeth and began to brush away the crumbs that had fallen on the other's thighs and knees, but somehow that made Liam even angrier.

He jumped up and stood three feet away from Cal. The shameless man, on the other hand, slumped back in his chair and put his foot down. He didn't care at all that the flaps of his robe had slipped down, exposing his beautiful knees. Liam inhaled noisily and turned away from him to the window. Finally remembering why he had come, he reported:

«A messenger arrived last night from ****. You and I have been invited to the annual banquet in honor of the royal family. I don't know what this has to do with me, but you should go...»

I'm sure it'll be full of girls your type.

Cal leisurely considered Liam's proud back. If the young man had turned around, he would have noticed the insolent gaze sliding down his back.

But a righteous man doesn't think about such things. He tries to develop virtues and Liam would give everyone a head start on that. The only thing he had not yet mastered was anger control, and Cal took great pleasure in provoking it.

The offer to go to the ball piqued Cal's interest, and he immediately agreed. Liam was about to leave the room when Cal detained him.

«I think you should go after all,» Cal said.

«Why should I?» Liam answered unfriendlily.

«Well, if only because your uncle will be there,» Liam frowned, «and because, by sucking up to the right people, you'll finally get this town strategic and free security.»

Cal knew just the right pressure points to get Liam to do something he didn't want to do in the first place. The young man hesitated for a moment and then nodded in agreement and walked out.

On the way out he thought painfully about the fact that he had to dress decently for the ball, which was an unnecessary expense and basically a problem.

After standing in the hallway for a while, he decided he couldn't go back to Cal now and would rather ask him tomorrow. But Liam forgot. Not on purpose, of course, he was just busy with his routine, and the trip to the ball caught him off guard.

Realizing his blunder, he was upset and indignant. He rushed to the only clothing store, but it was late and closed. What was he to do?! He bowed his head and realized there was no way out, that this time he was destined to become the laughingstock of society or go bow down to Cal.

Thinking soberly, Liam decided that his pride was worth nothing compared to the well-being of the city and went to the factory man's house. As usual, armed guards stood at the entrance. Only when they saw Mr. Glinier the men did not make a sound, and quietly let him inside.

Music was playing in the house, and women's laughter could be heard. It was the worst situation. Walking into a room full of beautiful women whose attention was focused on Cal-what could be more humiliating? On the other hand, so what, was Liam interested in a relationship?

No way; he was disappointed in his ability to understand the opposite sex. He even developed a fear of girls.

He honored his mother's memory and decided for himself that she would be the only woman in his life. Thus, Liam declared total celibacy.

As he pushed open the door, he prepared to see the utter debauchery. But instead, he witnessed a nice party. A few girls were dancing, apparently with their fiancés, all in equal parts, not the way he'd imagined it would be, with Cal all over the hotties.

By the way, the host wasn't in the room. Surprised, Liam looked around, and couldn't find him. Suddenly someone's hands were on his shoulders, Liam shuddered, and jerked to the side, freeing himself from his grip.

Cal was standing in front of him. For a moment Liam thought he saw the genuine joy in his eyes, but then he turned mocking and smug.

«Looking for me?» he asked kindly, seeing that Liam had already lost his temper and not wanting to provoke him.

«Yeah, I... need your help, I messed up,» Liam confessed, «I didn't have time to buy a suit, I just forgot...»

Cal nodded understandingly and led him to the far room at the end of the hall. It was a fashionista's paradise. Cal didn't skimp on buying clothes, wanting to look his best, which was legitimate. Representing the textile industry, he was supposed to impress as a man who understood fashion.

Liam looked at the shades and styles at a loss. If he had been asked to choose, he would have taken something unsightly, just as long as it was clean and in his size. Drawing attention to himself with clothes was something he abhorred.

So, everyone would look at him or meet him, and what? People would immediately find out how boring and shallow he was, that nothing was interesting about him. No, it's better not to stand out...

With these thoughts he stood on the threshold, hesitant to enter this temple, while Cal carefully went through the outfits with his thin, long fingers. He glanced at Liam and tossed him a look:

«Get undressed!»