The Banker and the Hooligan, Part Four
There was something deliciously wicked about making out with his boyfriend right in front of his grandmother’s front door, Jensen thought.
It’d been over a week since the rain storm and Jensen was already addicted to Jay’s kisses. It didn’t matter if they were long, short, deep, hard, or soft, Jensen wanted them all. All the time. It wasn't like him, he’d always liked kisses just fine, but more of a prelude to sex then just for the act itself.
Not Jay’s kisses though. They were intoxicating and always stopped Jensen in his tracks, world narrowing to just the two of them.
He whined when Jay pulled away.
"I need to get going, Jensen, or I’ll be late."
Jensen bit his lip in dismay, which caused Jay to whimper before leaning in again, mouths greedily sliding against each other as Jensen carded his hand through Jay’s thick hair.
"Why can’t I come with you?" he asked when the kiss ended, not letting Jay go. "I’m not due back at work till Monday."
"I already told you, it’s-"
"A boring, stuffing business dinner, yadda yadda. I know. But it’s not until tomorrow night." Jay had been oddly secretive about the dinner, distracting Jensen whenever Jensen brought it up. The only thing he would tell Jensen was that it was a stupid business thing that would bore Jensen senseless, and since it was in Dallas, wouldn’t Jensen much prefer to spend his time with family and friends?
"They want to meet with me beforehand and if I don’t go now, I’ll be late. Come on, go spend the day with Gramms. I’ll see you again on Sunday."
Jensen wanted to pout or cajole or whine his way into spending even a few more minutes with Jay - boring business be damned. He made it through Jim Beaver's sixtieth birthday party! How bad could this dinner be?
He didn’t do any of that though, only nodded and said, "See you Sunday." He didn’t watch Jay leave, turning around and letting himself inside the house.
"Gramms?" he called out as soon as he was in the door. No one answered and Jensen only then remembered she had bingo at noon on Fridays.
He unpacked slowly, hoping it would feel less empty as he got used to being home again. It was almost strange now, being able to walk around his bedroom and not knock into things. He felt so lonely, he decided to go back into work. Might as well put the afternoon to good use.
It was weird putting on a tie after not wearing one for two weeks. He'd never realized how stifling they could be - like he was being choked.
Jensen loosened the tie a little before grabbing his briefcase and car keys.
He noticed right away that something was different about the bank’s parking lot but it was only when he walked over to the far corner and saw the cracked asphalt repaired with a jagged line of sealant that Jensen got it.
His shoulders slumped and even the smiling faces of Alona and the tellers didn’t improve his mood. Alona mentioned something about the vice-president but Jensen wasn’t really listening, he just wanted to get inside his office and settle back into his routine.
The next hour passed with agonizing slowness as he read through the backlog of hundreds of emails that he'd stopped checking somewhere in the middle of his vacation. The computer screen made Jensen’s eyes hurt and the four walls seemed to press in closer and closer, all while the tie pinching at his neck. He loosened it enough that he could undo the top button of his collar, taking off his glasses and rubbing at his eyes before putting them back on and trying to focus on the monitor. He could have sworn the screen wasn’t this bright before.
Jensen was startled out of his email-induced stupor when he saw S. Gamble flash across the display, sweat breaking out over the back of his neck. Why would the VP be calling him?
He swallowed thickly before answering. "Good afternoon, Ms. Gamble. How may I help you?"
"Oh, Jensen, great! I heard you were back. Did you have a good vacation?" She didn’t sound upset, so Jensen let out the breath he was holding.
"It was great, thank you for asking."
"Oh, good. I’m actually calling to share some wonderful news. You remember the proposal you put together for JP Inc.?"
Jensen snorted. "How could I forget? They're only the largest accounting firm in all of Texas - not to mention the owner's married to the governor." Every bank in the Dallas region had been vying for that account as soon as JP Inc. had announced they were opening up a Dallas Branch.
Sera chuckled. "Yes, I guess you’re right. And speaking of its owner, Mr. Padalecki was just here to have a meeting with Ben and I."
Jensen’s eyes widened. A meeting with both the bank president and VP was big. "Does that mean… ?"
"Almost," she said and Jensen could hear the excitement in her voice. "Mr. Padalecki has requested to meet with you. He said he’s heard wonderful things about Edlund Back, especially your office, Jensen. Ben and I don’t know what you did, but we both knew we made the right decision in making you manager. You’re heading for big things, kid."
"That’s incredible news, Ms. Gamble." He was bewildered, he couldn’t imagine where Jerry Padalecki would have ever heard anything about the Lancaster branch. And an account the size of JP Inc.? It had to be worth millions. "Do you think he’ll pick us?"
"I certainly hope so! Ben and I are doing everything we can, but he’s asked to meet you."
Jensen sat up straighter in his chair. "Me? When?"
"Mr. Padalecki is hosting a dinner tomorrow night at the Ritz Carlton, in celebration of his company’s expansion into the area. He wants to meet with you beforehand, in one of the small conference rooms. I will be there, but it will be your show. We need you to seal the deal."
"Of course I will." This was a chance of a lifetime and he wouldn't screw it up. All his doubts about Jay’s leaving vanished. Coming into work today was going to be what launched Jensen’s career into the stratosphere.
He polished his shoes until every inch shined, had his most expensive suit dry-cleaned, and triple checked that not a single hair remained after shaving, that his face was as smooth as a baby’s bottom.
It wasn’t every day you met Gerald ‘Jerry’ Padalecki. Or any member of their family.
The Padaleckis were the most influential family in Texas, hands down. Beginning with Marvin Padalecki, Jerry’s father, a much loved Texas senator that made it all the way to president before suffering a fatal heart attack two years into his term. Everyone had thought his only child would follow in his political footsteps, but instead, Jerry had gone into business.
JP Inc. was now an empire, the wealthiest company in the state outside of oil, with offices all over and headquarters in San Antonio. It was there that he had met Mayor Sharon Kammer, who he married. Mrs. Padalecki was now Governor, the first woman in Texas history.
Jensen wondered if she would be there or if any of their children would be. He’d heard the oldest, Jack or James or something like that, had moved to Georgia and was currently running for congressional office.
It didn’t matter, he supposed, as long as Jerry was there. It sounded like he was already thinking about going with Edlund Bank so Jensen was already halfway there. Jensen was sure he if he could land the account, he could convince Ben and Sera to let him personally handle it.
But before he could do any of that, he needed to stop checking himself over in the hallway mirror and get his ass out of the house.
"Your tie can’t get any straighter," Gramms said, sounding exasperated at watching Jensen fiddle with it.
"Okay, okay," he turned toward her. "How do I look?"
"Hmm. Bend your head down."
He furrowed his brows but did as told, his grandmother reaching up and ruffling his hair. "Hey," he said, batting her hand away. "I spent half an hour combing it down."
She ignored him, giving his hair one more ruffle before pulling away. "There, much better."
Jensen sighed. "Okay, can I go now?"
"Yes, just-that is, Jensen, about this meeting, I don’t…"
"What’s the matter? Are you feeling okay? Your hip?" he asked, concerned.
"My hip is fine, I’m fine. It’s nothing, dear."
Only it didn’t look like nothing. She looked closed-off and sullen, as if she didn’t want Jensen to go.
"Gramms," he started.
She tried to smile. "I just want you to be happy. To get your happily ever after."
He looked at her quizzically. "This is my happy ending, Gramms. I have Jay and now I'm going to get the career of my dreams. It couldn't be more perfect."
He had only been to the Ritz Carlton once before, when Tom had booked a room for their one year anniversary. Jensen hadn’t been very impressed, not for the outrageous rate they charged and wasn’t terribly impressed now either.
There was nothing special about the conference room. A square table, some leather chairs, a painting that probably cost more than he made in a year, and a drink cart. The cathedral-like windows were nice though, overlooking the gorgeous gardens below.
He was sitting on one side of the table with Sera, waiting for Mr. Padalecki to arrive and tugging at his collar. Damn tie was choking him again.
Finally, the thick double doors opened and Jensen saw him.
Jay had just walked inside the room - but it wasn’t Jay. At least, not how Jensen had ever seen him before.
Standing at his full height, back ramrod straight in a dark blue suit that was clearly tailor-made to fit him perfectly and must have cost a small fortune, his shaggy hair gelled back so not a strand was out of place, and his eyebrow piercing missing. Cold-looking hazel eyes calmly swept the room, stopping a moment on Jensen before continuing, mouth set in a firm line.
Jensen furrowed his brows, eyes searching Jay’s, not understanding what he was seeing. No way Jay was here to take pictures.
"I know you were expecting my father," Jay said, not looking directly at Jensen, "but since I will be heading up the Dallas office, I will be handling this meeting." He set his briefcase down on the table, and that’s when Jensen finally recognized Jay’s face.
Jay was Jared Padalecki, youngest son of the Padalecki empire.
Oh, God.
"Jensen, are you alright?" He felt Sera grabbing his arm more than he heard her. "You’re as white as a ghost."
"I-I…" He couldn’t process this, couldn’t take his eyes off Jay - Jared. How was this even possible? "That’s…this can’t - I…"
He needed to get away. He forced himself to look away, to look at Sera. "I need to get some fresh air, please excuse me."
He didn’t wait for her response, turning away and darting out the nearest door, not caring were it led, just as long as it was away from here. It was the door to the balcony, and Jensen's flight was stopped by the railing overlooking the damn gardens. Jensen grabbed it, breathing in huge lungfuls of air in an effort to settle his stomach, which was busy twisting itself into knots.
Christ, he was a moron. How had he missed Jay being -
Jensen blinked up at the sky. Last time he had really seen Jared Padalecki was years ago, a tall and lanky eighteen year old, scrawny and pimply-faced, about to go off to college and making the local news because of his famous parents.
The kid had definitely grown up.
Into a lying asshole. Fuck. Why would he do something like this? Three thousand dollars must be pocket change to someone like him, there’s no reason he would need a loan. And even if he did, why the act? Any bank would have bended over backwards for him. And the roadtrip, inviting Jensen, why? It made no sense. Unless…
It all must have been one giant game to him, a joke or… maybe a test? To see… what? If Jensen was too gullible to be trusted with the Padalecki fortune?
Jensen’s blood ran cold, his heart turning over and aching in a way it never had before. He glanced down and was puzzled by seeing his knuckles so white. He had no idea he was gripping the railing so tightly, like he was holding on for dear life. He tried to pry his fingers away but they only tightened.
The door opened and closed behind him, the sound of footfalls coming closer. He didn’t have to turn around to see who it was. It could only be one person. Because the universe hated him that much.
The steps stopped directly behind him.
"Jensen-"
"No," he said, looking straight ahead. "You don’t get to talk to me. Please leave."
"Let me explain."
"No, no explaining, no anything." He shook his head, willing himself to not make another move. He couldn’t handle looking at the lying asshole right now. "I said please, which is more than you deserve. Just go."
"Would you just look at me then? Please?"
"No."
"Come on, man." Jensen felt Jay place a hand on his shoulder and lost it.
"Don’t touch me!" he screamed, spinning around and slapping Jay’s hand away. "You lied, Jay-Jared. Christ, I don’t know what to even call you anymore."
"Jay," he said quickly, raising both hands, palms out as if he meant no harm. "You should call me Jay. And I know you’re mad, and you have every right to be, but let me explain. You owe me at least that much."
Jensen’s pretty sure his mouth hit the floor. "Owe you? I don’t owe you one single thing." He shoved Jay away. "You lied to me. Your name, your age, about who you are!"
"No, not everything," he said, shaking his head. "My name and age, yes, but the rest? It was real." Jay stepped closer, right into Jensen’s personal space, eyes pinning Jensen. "The way I feel about you, that was all real. I swear."
"Yeah, right. You must really take me for a sucker, that I would still believe your lies. I don’t know anything about you! I didn’t even know your goddamned name, Jared," he added, seething.
He turned to go but Ja-red caught his wrist, holding it firmly. "You know everything about me that matters," he said, voice soft. "You know more about me than most people do, more than my own parents. Please, Jensen, don’t go."
He stared at the door, wondering why he couldn't seem to get his feet moving right away. "No," he said, finally unsticking himself and making a move for the door. "Good-bye, Mr. Padalecki."
Jared’s hold on his arm tightened. "I can make you stay."
"No," Jensen said, ripping his arm out of Jared's grip, "You can’t."
"I can," Jared said, his eyes blazing in a way that Jensen should have recognized before. "You can't tell me you're really going to walk out that door without this account, in front of your VP. And don't think if you say yes, I am above blackballing you from every bank in Texas."
Jensen's mouth fell open. He was right, he didn't know Jared at all. This was clearly Jared Padalecki, member of the most powerful family in Texas, and Jay was nowhere to be found. "You'd do that," Jensen said flatly, crossing his arms. "You'd fuck me over like that?"
The cold façade broke and Jared looked pained. "I don't want to. That's not - I'm not like that! I just want you to listen to me. You have to hear me out." He broke out the puppy dog eyes.
Jensen was so relieved to see something familiar on Jay - Jared - 's face that he couldn't help giving in. "You have five minutes."
Jared nodded once, mouthed a quiet ‘thank you’ before clearing his throat and looking down, as if he had suddenly gone shy. "So, my family, they’re pretty rich-"
"If you’re just going to waste my time with stuff I already know-"
"No, sorry, you’re right," he replied quickly, putting his hands up like he was telling Jensen to wait. "There wasn’t a thing I wanted for growing up, nothing I had to work at. There was a maid to clean my room, a cook that made me anything I wanted, a chauffeur, a gardener, everything you could imagine. I didn’t go to school, my parents get us - my brother and sister and me, I mean - some of the finest tutors in the county. I aced every test, could speak four languages by the time I was eight."
Jensen tapped his foot and exaggerated a yawn. "Yeah, I’m really feeling sorry for you."
Jared put his hands up again. Just wait, they seemed to say. "Once my dad realized how good I was at math, he started planning for me to take over JP Inc. He’s had my whole future planned out for me since I was five. There was never any celebrating of test scores or degrees. Of course, I had a 4.0 and was captain of the debate and chess teams and won the national spelling bee - because they expected nothing less."
"I’ve lived my whole life doing want they wanted me to and do you where I ended up?"
Jensen raised an eyebrow. "Head of a department with a huge-ass corner office?"
"Yeah," Jay said, shaking his head. "Yeah, I had the corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows and a bathroom twice the size of the RV. But I was miserable, Jensen. What’s the point of having windows when you can’t go outside? I was working eighty hours a week, would come on weekends and spend my days pushing paper and going to meetings. I would look outside the window - there was a park across the street - and see people riding their bikes, playing tennis or soccer, kids laughing at the playground. They were outside, living their lives and being happy."
Jay gestured with his chin to the waning sun over the horizon. "I’d watch the sun rise and set almost every day from that office. I’d look out and see mountains in the distance and yearn to go hiking, to dust off my camera and take pictures. Photography is the only thing that’s ever been just mine. My parents let me take pictures - even bought me a nice camera - but it was always a hobby. Something to be well-rounded, not something you could make a living at."
He wasn’t looking at Jensen anymore, standing by the rail and staring out into the world. Jensen couldn’t help taking a couple steps closer to him. "So it wasn't a test," Jensen murmured. "Or a joke or-"
"No!" Jared insisted, turning around and looking at Jensen in dismay. "No, never. How could you think that? "
"What was I supposed to think? The person I know is a bad chef with horrible taste in shirts and an RV that should be condemned. He's a hooligan. You, you're…" Jensen waved his hands up and down Jared's body. "Everything I know about you is a lie."
"Not everything," Jared said again. "Not the important stuff. Not the stuff that matters."
"Look at you, man," Jensen said, the anger building again at the same time as the realization that Jared was hot in his perfectly tailored suit and gelled-back hair. "You're going to head up the Dallas branch? Where's photography now?"
Jared looked down at himself, huffing out a disgusted noise. "So I know how to wear a suit. I've been wearing them since before I can remember. And photography will always be with me. If the only thing I can take pictures of for the rest of my life is you, then I can live with that."
Jensen sucked in a breath. That was not what he expected for an answer. "But… heading up the Dallas branch of JP Inc.?"
"Is for you," Jared said with a familiar eyeroll. "You want to be a big-name banker. I'm pretty sure that's something I can help you with. And listen, Jensen," Jay said, his piercing eyes looking right at him, "photography makes me happy, but not as much as you do. And I want you to have everything you've ever wanted. If I have to go back to the corner office to make that happen, then," he shrugged, "I will. My camera will be my hobby and we can camp on weekends and take those two weeks' vacation in Cibolo Creek…" Jay stared at him, whispering softly, "Please."
The pleading was so familiar, bringing back memories of Jensen on his knees in the mud. Jensen was starting to see Jay in this Jared. "Jared, I-"
"Jay. Call me Jay." He cautiously closed the gap between them, slowly raising his hand towards Jensen’s face, giving Jensen plenty of time to draw back. Jensen didn’t, closing his eyes for a moment when Jared cupped his chin.
Jensen couldn’t look away, losing himself in the green and gold depths of Jared’s eyes, eyes that held so many promises, if only Jensen would let them. His heart was beating so fast he wondered if Jared could hear it. "I… I don’t know what you want from me."
"Just you. Nothing more. I want just you." He nuzzled against Jensen’s ear, weakening Jensen’s knees as much as his resolve.
"Jare-"
"Let me be your Jay again, please." Jared’s voice was soft, and it broke something in Jensen. "I love you."
Jensen pulled back, gasping. "Love? You’ve known me a month!"
"Your grandma told me she got married after only two months," Jared chided.
"That was over sixty years ago, it was a different time. Things are different now."
Jared grinned, cat-like. "And she told me your mom proposed to your dad six weeks after they met."
Jensen narrowed his eyes. "And what else has my grandmother told you?"
"That your brother asked his wife to move in with him-"
"-three months after they started dating," Jensen finished.
Jared - Jay, he was Jay - smiled, dimples and all. "I’m pretty sure we got them beat though. I fell in love with you the night of the fair."
"The fair?" He widened his eyes. "That was-wow, really?"
"Uh-huh," Jay answered and went back to nuzzling the side of Jensen’s face, pressing kisses on his ear, under his eye, cheek. It was distracting. He tilted his head when Jay reached his neck, giving Jay room for more kisses.
"I think I love you too, Jay," he whispered, feeling the smile against his neck and Jay’s breath as he was seconds away from pressing their lips together but Jensen leaned back, wanting to clear up something first before Jay’s kisses took him away. "You quit JP Inc.," Jensen said tentatively.
"Well…" Jay pulled away and rubbed the back of his neck. "Technically, I told my old man I was taking a five month sabbatical to work on my Master’s thesis but really, I just wanted to take pictures. To prove that I could do something for myself, without my parents' help."
"The five months are almost up, aren’t they?" he asked.
Jay nodded. "Just a few more weeks."
"And you're going back to your dad’s company?"
Jay looked away. "I admit, I wasn't planning on it." The good humor in his face disappeared. "But it's what you need to get what you want, so I accepted my dad’s offer to head up the Dallas branch."
Jensen tried to smile, but couldn’t. It could be a wonderful opportunity for Jay, not to mention make Jensen's career, but the idea of Jay going back to a life that made him miserable chafed. "But you don't want that life."
"You told me you wanted to be a big-name banker," Jay said easily. "This way, you will."
Jensen stood speechless for a long moment. "You’d live a life you hate for me?" he asked, voice small.
"It’s you that makes me happy, Jensen," Jay said, his smile sad but genuine. "It’s you that makes me the man I want to be. I just want you to be happy, too."
"But you'd be in a job that made you miserable," Jensen said. He thought about Jay's plans for a while and said, "Tell me what you were going to do, if you'd never met me."
Jay smiled ruefully. "I was going to keep working events, hoping to save up enough for a better RV so I could visit every state park in the country," he answered, quickly adding, "but that doesn’t matter now. You want to stay here-"
"I don’t," Jensen said suddenly, reaching up and loosening the tie that was still choking him. He didn't want to sit in front of a computer screen, he didn't want to answer endless emails and argue with Mrs. Garlington every other week. "I want to see the state parks with you."
Jay's eyes widened, studying Jensen like he had done so many times before and finally, smiling hugely, like a kid at Christmas time. "Yeah?"
Jensen nodded, grinning out of control. "Only… what are we going to be about money? I have some savings, but not enough for years on the road. Are you just going to keep on doing birthday parties and weddings? And what about me, what am I supposed to do?"
"Always so practical," Jay said, grinning
"I’m a bank m-"
"Manager. I know. It’s one of the things I love most about you."
"Being a bank manager?" Jensen asked, confused.
"No," Jay said with a smirk and quick kiss. "Your practicality."
"You didn’t answer my question," Jensen prodded. Living Jay's dream sounded wonderful - but not if they had to spend all their time taking gigs to make ends meet.
"You were supposed to say that being impractical was one of things you love most about me," Jay replied, pouting.
Jensen poked Jay’s chest. "I’m being serious."
Jay snorted a laugh. "No, okay, I don’t plan on us working birthday parties for the rest of our lives. Just for the next year and a half."
Jensen turtled his head back. "What happens then?"
"That's when I get access to my trust fund. Forty-two million dollars, to be paid out on my twenty-fifth birthday."
"Forty-two million?" And, no, Jensen did not squeak out that last word. Absolutely not.
"Yep," Jay said. "I figure we can see the world, look at the stars in every continent, and I could take pictures of all the parks."
"All the parks… there must be hundreds. It’ll take years."
"I was counting on it taking a lifetime, actually," Jay said softly, taking Jensen’s hand and linking their fingers together. "What do you say?"
Jay’s eyes were bright even in the dim light, voice filled with so much hope and want that Jensen blurted out the first thing that came to mind, "Under one condition."
"What?" Jay asked suspiciously.
"We get a better RV now. My back can’t do another night in the Winnebago."
"Um," Jay said, dismayed. "I don't think I can count on my parents for something like that, and I've been told I'm too great a risk to get a loan…"
Jensen shook his head, making a face at Jay. "I will buy it with my savings - as long as I have a say in which one."
"Deal!" Jay hooted, dimples out again and white teeth flashing. He leaned down, kissing Jensen, happiness seeming to radiate from his every pore.
Jensen hated to put on dipper on it but he couldn’t resist. He broke away right as Jay’s tongue sought entrance into his mouth. "And it has to have a real bedroom, big enough for at least a queen bed."
"Whatever you want," Jay rasped, going right back to kissing Jensen.
Jensen kitten-licked at Jay’s lips, flicking his tongue inside once, twice, before he pulled back. Not getting more than an inch or two away as Jay’s hands fisted his jacket, keeping Jensen close.
"And we don’t only visit parks. I still like cities, Jay, and I’ve always wanted to go to Chicago. Sydney. Tokyo. Mos-"
"Anywhere. We’ll go anywhere you want to go, Jensen," he promised with a groan, mouth seeking out Jensen’s again.
It took all of Jensen’s willpower to keep a straight face.
He let Jay reel him in for another kiss, letting himself get lost in it, in Jay, for a minute or two before pulling away. "And I-"
Jay whimpered. "Anything, I swear, anything you want. Just shut up and kiss me."
And Jensen did.
Thanks for reading!
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