A Friend In Need

Smith was timidly following Damien when his phone started vibrating in his pocket. Taking it out he saw an unknown number calling. Without further thought he swiped left and disconnected the call. Immediately it started ringing again. Frowning he glanced at Damien who was busy looking at the current profit chart in his laptop. Again Smith glided left to disconnect the call. Within a minute it started vibrating again.

"Who the fuck is this!" Retorted Smith in an angry whisper, his cautious eyes making sure Damien's attention was occupied elsewhere.

"Oh! Is it a bad time? Umm... I really didn't mean to bother you like this." Came a soft voice from the other end.

"Liam?" Asked Smith confused. From the corner of his eyes he saw Damien still absorbed in his work.

"Ummm... no.. no... I mean I was surprised that's all. Who's number is this?" He asked Liam.

"Damien gave this phone to me. He said I could talk to my parents or him from this number. He didn't specifically forbade me to call anyone else though." Said Liam, his voice unsure. "Is Damien with you?" He added.

Smith was clueless. If Liam wanted to talk to Damien he could have directly called him since according to Liam Damien gave him the phone himself.

"Do you wish to speak to Damien?" He asked Liam.

"NO... no I mean its not Damien I called is it?" Smith could hear the mild irritation in Liam's tone.

"What ruffled you feather hun?" Laughed Smith. He could almost visualise the pout on Liam's face. "Anyway don't answer that. Give me 10 minutes I will call you back when the devil is occupied."

"I will wait for your call..." said Liam, tension and hesitation seeping through his voice.

Smith didn't know what Liam wanted but the boy sounded upset. Somehow he had started liking the soft hearted boy. It takes courage and conviction to overcome the pain Liam had gone through. Liam not only recovered but he seemed to adjust in his new life quickly. He had thus earned his respect. And of course as a fellow twink amidst giant masses of beefy guards he felt a comradeship towards Liam.

It was more than an hour later Smith managed to get himself a little break. Away from the prying eyes of Damien he settled himself in a comfortable couch and called Liam back.

Just after a single ring the boy picked up his call. The voice on the other end sounded anxious and laced with nerves.

"Hey!" Said Smith soothingly. "Sorry I couldn't call earlier, you wanted to talk?" He asked.

"Ummm... ye..yes" stuttered Liam. Smith frowned. It had been a long time since Liam stammered. Initially when he met the boy he couldn't put two words together without being a scared, nervous mess. But recently for the past month he had been doing so good. He was a confident, jovial ball of sunshine. So what could be the reason for him being so jittery?

"Is everything alright Liam?" Smith asked.

"Yes...N..no...Ye yes" Liam stammered again. "I wanted to ask you so..something... I don't have anyone to talk to about these things... I.. I don't know whom to talk to." Said Liam. His voice trembling.

Smith felt a rush of fondness for Liam. They were just few years apart and he felt a brotherly affection towards the younger one.

"You can tell me anything Liam, I will always help you." He said.

"Oh Thank you! I didn't know if you would be annoyed, can we talk now? Can we meet? Where are you? Can you come now?" Liam said almost in a single breath.

"Whoa..whoa...whoa... hold your horses..."said Smith chuckling at Liam's eagerness. "I cannot get out now, but I will be there at the mansion tonight. May be we can talk before dinner. I know Damien has a private meeting at night and I wont be required then, we will be able to talk for at least an hour. Does that sound good to you?"

"But that's still four hours...." Whined Liam. "Okay, I will wait for you, you promise you will talk to me right?"

"I promise Liam," said Smith placating the eager boy.

A little over four hours Smith looked at the clock muttering a silent curse. The meeting was dragging on and on. The Italian diplomat was an cunning asshole who managed to counter all of Damien's proposals. Strangely Damien seemed distracted, almost passive. He was constantly checking his watch as if something (or someone) Smith was sure was more important than a million dollar deal. They were tediously going over the same point and arguing over and over. Without Damien's full concentration and potential this deal would likely drag out for more than an hour. It was already 5 pm, and Smith was in a dilemma.

'Alrighty bitch!' Thought Smith bitterly, 'there is no way am breaking my promise. That's not the 'twink code of honour'!!!!

"Oooouch, oh the Lord Almighty"!

Damien flinched as did the whole occupants of the conference room.

The shrill voice continued.... "O God! I need to poop so bad! Oooh... I can feel a big dump coming....."

Damien knew Smith had a flair for dramatics, but he usually reigned his over the top behaviour in-front of Damien. In fact he strictly stuck to his utmost professional conduct whenever Damien was around. Of course that was majorly because he definitely wanted to keep his head attached to his neck. But lately Smith was getting on his nerves. Armed with his very powerful 'Liam' shield he acted invincible even from the Devil himself.

The conference room was eerily silent, waiting with baited breath for Damien to quench his blood lust. There was no way Damien would let that kind of insolent behaviour go unpunished.

Smith kind of realised that too as he looked at the blood shot cold eyes of Damien. 'Oh dear Lord!' He thought. Now he had gone and finally done it. His mother rightly said that Smith's wayward impulses would cause his doom.

He looked at Damien almost forgetting to breath, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

Damien raised his brow at Smith, his face calm and serene while his eyes burned with a promise of retribution. Smith was sure he was already doomed as did the others present in the meeting. This was not only about Smith's insolence, but it was about showing others what disrespect to Damien Bishop meant. They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity and then Damien's lips twitched in an almost smile. Traces of arrogance and anger gone, Damien looked as if amused, "are you waiting for my permission Smithy?" Damien asked in a calm voice.

'Smithy...' he called Smith 'Smithy'. There must be something malicious going on in that cunning head.

"No...No sir, I think I can hold it, actually I am fine now...yes fine, absolutely fine." said Smith panicked.

"But you have promised someone to be there within the next four hours", said Damien looking at his watch in mock horror. "My My! You are late Smithy, are you not? Liam must be very anxious, after all he chose to call you not me for his problems." Said Damien smiling broadly showing all his teeth in a demonic sort of way.

'O fuuuuuck!' Smith chided himself. How could he be so foolish. It was sheer callous of him to believe Damien would willingly give Liam a cellphone without installing a vigilant app to monitor his calls. Now his stupidly would cost not only him but Liam would also face the consequences. There was no point in denying what Damien already knew, at least being truthful might save his ass for now.

Making a sad face Smith said, "yes sir, I believe Liam wanted to talk about his feelings, so he needed a friend."

Damien's smile morphed into cold fury, "feelings, Liam wanted to share his feelings with you?" He asked in soft whisper, chilling Smith to the core.

"He wanted to share his feelings WITH me, FOR you...." He blurted out in nervousness. The change in Damien was instantaneous as millions of expressions passed through his face in a fraction of second ultimately assuming a blank look.

"What are you waiting for then?" Said Damien clearing his throat, his tanned skin almost sporting a blush. "Off you go."

Smith didn't wait to be told twice. Collecting his belongings he left the room in a lightening speed.

Gawdddd!!! It was a narrow escape!