“Joshua?” Dan called as he entered his more or less
prisoner’s room. He met Matt instead.
“Where
is Josh, Matt?” Dan asked, not concerned at all; there was nowhere for him to
go. He couldn’t disappear.
“He’s
in the shower boss, he’ll be out in just a sec” Matt informed his boss.
“Good”
Dan nodded before turning towards the guest he’d brought along.
“Mr.
Daniels, please take a seat, Joshua will be here in a short while. Can I offer
you something to drink in the meantime?” Dan asked politely, waving the man
further into the room. The man came in with a shake of his head.
“No
thank you, I’m fine” he declined before sitting down in the living room.
“Okay,
if you’ll excuse me, I’ll check on Josh. I’ll be right back” Dan excused
himself. Mr. Daniels nodded before crossing his legs, setting his case next to
the chair he was sitting in.
Dan
wandered into the bedroom and adjoining bathroom. He didn’t expect Josh to be
in the bedroom but he was; sitting on the bed, idly staring out in front of
him.
“What
are you waiting for Josh?” Dan asked slightly irritated Josh was deliberately
making them wait.
“Nothing”
Josh shrugged.
He’d
been here a week and a half and he knew the wedding was getting closer, only a
week and a half left. He was afraid, afraid Dan’s plan would succeed and so
nervous Justin’s wouldn’t. He could only hope and pray Justin and Chris would
somehow find a way for him to get out of it but he knew it must be difficult.
He was hoping for some kind of miracle and he was afraid it wouldn’t be spend
on him.
“Then
come on, we’re waiting for you. I hate to wait Joshua and do I really need to
go over this again?” Dan warned and threatened in those short few sentences.
“No”
Josh denied, shaking his head.
No,
Josh didn’t need him to go over this again. He knew what was going to happen
now and he knew what was expected of him. Mr. Daniels was a tailor, he did a
lot of weddings. He was coming over to customize his suit, the one Dan had had
someone buy for him. Josh had been stunned when they showed him the suit and
now Mr. Daniels came over to make it look as if the suit was made especially
for him. Well actually it was but Josh could care less about the whole thing.
It seemed very important to Dan though.
“Good
then get a move on” Dan said motioning him to follow which Josh finally did.
“Ah
good afternoon” Mr. Daniels acknowledged jumping out of his chair to greet the
groom.
“Looking
forward to the big day Mr. Chasez?” Mr. Daniels asked friendly.
“Very”
Josh said but it came out rather sarcastically and when he saw the frown on Mr.
Daniels’ face Josh knew the man had heard it that way too. Josh smiled to fix
the frown and it did to some extent.
“Shall
we begin?” the man asked, he wasn’t here to judge. Mr. Treydson had paid him a
lot of money not to and so he wouldn’t question or judge anything as long as he
got the other half of the money he’d been promised.
“Alright”
Josh agreed, taking the suit from Mr. Daniels before going behind the changing
curtain that had been set up especially for this. Josh came out minutes later,
dressed in the black suit. It was a beautiful suit and it looked stunning but
Josh didn’t care. He admitted that it was a nice suit. The jacket, pants and
the vest were black with a white blouse and a black tie. Mr. Daniels inspected
the suit, tugging here and there to see if it fit properly. He started
measuring immediately and held the piece of paper nearby. Josh stood still with
a bored and indifferent look on his face.
“Turn
please” Mr. Daniels’ voice asked.
“Just
go around me” Josh countered, he really didn’t want to turn. Dan’s warningful
glance made him sigh and turn but ever so slowly. Mr. Daniels continued to tug
here and there, check if everything was alright and when he was done he placed
the paper on the table to his left and turned to Dan.
“The
sleeves are a little too long and it’s a bit wide around the waist, we need to
take a little bit off the pants”
“Okay,”
Dan nodded.
“If
you say so” Mr. Daniels smiled.
“Josh
go change” Dan said as if it wasn’t a command.
Josh
nodded before stepping off the platform and going behind the curtain, taking
the suit off and changing back into his comfortable clothes. He put the suit on
the coat hanger and placed it back in the bag he’d gotten it in before walking
out with the bag in his hand. Josh walked towards Mr. Daniels who was busily
talking to Dan and he simply handed the bag over with a small but friendly
smile. Josh walked away without hearing a word that was being said. He really
didn’t care, it was not like he had a say in anything anyway so he left the
room, going into the bedroom with Matt following right behind him.
***
“Josh”
Dan addressed him a little while after he’d heard a door shut.
“What?”
Josh wondered, turning around to face him.
“What
the hell is wrong with you” Dan demanded. Josh frowned bitterly. He stood
abruptly.
“You
want to know what’s wrong with me?” Josh asked incredulously while he inwardly
said, what the hell is wrong with me? What the hell is wrong with you!
You’re the one keeping me here against my will!
“No
actually I don’t” Dan said with a smirk.
“Listen
Josh. Mr. Daniels will come again in a few days to see if the suit fits
properly…” Dan started but Josh cut him off rather harshly.
“It’ll
fit alright!”
“Don’t
you dare use that tone with me” Dan scolded.
“Ah,
shut up” Josh said exhausted all of a sudden, exhausted of the threats and the
demands. Dan laughed at him, shocked by the response the young man gave, but
pushing him up against the wall a moment later; the laughter gone completely.
“Watch
it Josh because I might not hurt you but don’t forget about your brother” Dan
threatened.
“Just
leave me alone” he whispered defeated, slumping in Dan’s grip.
“You
will behave yourself Joshua or there will be consequences” Dan cleared.
Josh
nodded in understanding.
“And
you will behave when Mr. Daniels returns, I don’t want a smart answer from you
and you’ll do what he says” Dan told Josh what was expected of him once again.
“Why
can’t you just leave me alone? It’ll fit, he took my measurements. I’ll put the
damn thing on and marry her but please leave me alone till then” he requested
softly.
“No
Josh. You don’t set the rules here. You will listen to me; you’ll try the suit
on, you’ll listen to Mr. Daniels and no smart answers. You will marry my sister
and remember Josh; you are in no position to make demands here, do you
understand me?” Dan demanded once again. It was always the same. Josh slowly
lifted his head, looking at the man in front of him, sullenly, exhausted and
miserably.
“Yes”
“Good
boy” Dan mocked, patting his cheek before stepping back and leaving the room.
Josh
didn’t respond; he watched him go and then stumbled to his bed. He heaved a
sigh as he lay down, laying on his back and his eyes settled on the ceiling
above him. He wearily closed his eyes while he prayed, please help me
Justin, please get me out of this.
