Dandruff

The office was empty now; it was long past closing hour. Richton Law Firm overlooked the busy city from its superior place in one of the town’s most expensive high-rise buildings. Only the best for the city’s oldest and most esteemed firm. Four plush, leather seats lined the pale green wall for clients to recline in while they waited. There were three partners in the building; Dreyfus, an old man with an air of arrogance and a steely gaze, Williams, a rather shrewd, brilliant woman, and then there was Scofield. Phoenix Scofield was much different when compared to his colleagues. For one thing, he was much younger, only twenty-seven years old. He brought life to the traditional way in which Dreyfus and Williams went about things, not to mention the fact that he was a damn good lawyer. He’d already done quite well for himself, already living in an affluent neighbourhood and married to a former model. But he did give back to the community; he donated funds to local charities and even allowed a kid from the ‘Reach out Program’ to have a part-time job; undertaking menial tasks around the office.

Said kid was still in the building, much to his disdain. He hated working in the stuffy office; too many judgemental, old farts with one foot in the grave. He had a real problem with authority. Not to mention Dreyfus would always point out his inefficiencies. It was a frustrating experience, but the guidance counsellor at his high school thought he could use a positive influence. He supposed he couldn’t blame her for thinking that, with his shitty attendance and behavioural records. Why he was still seated at one of the mahogany office desks, you might ask? His mother died a few weeks ago, heroin overdose. The electricity in the disgusting cesspool he called an apartment had been switched off two days ago since his mother wasn’t around to pay the bill with her waitressing job. That meant there was no way for him to finish his English assignment at home. Hell, he didn’t even want to go back to that dreadful place. A social worker had stopped by; the desire to place him in foster care was strong. He’d gotten his mother’s main squeeze to lie and say he was taking care of him. But that could only work for so long… As he stared at the computer screen, his thoughts were as far away from his assignment as possible. He was thinking of how he’d find somewhere to stay when the landlord evicted him. His mother’s men, while nice to him, wouldn’t let him move in with them; most of them were married anyway. He had no father and his mother’s side of the family had nothing to do with them. In short, he was screwed. He didn’t want to live in a fucking foster home. He had to find some way out of this mess. He just had to!

Once he saved his homework onto his flash drive, he packed his things into his ratty, plaid backpack. He ran a hand through his dark, unruly mop of hair and slumped back into the leather, office chair which just happened to be more comfortable than his bed. He didn’t want to go home. But it’s not like he could sleep here… Last time he tried that, the security guard thought he was stealing stationery… A yawn tore through his lips. He hadn’t realised he was so tired. A quick glance at the computer clock told him that it was 9:45PM. He shut the PC down before getting up and slinging his bag over his shoulder. As he neared the elevator to take him to the ground floor, a loud noise stopped him dead in his tracks. It sounded like something hitting against a desk. The sound came from Scofield’s office. As much as he hated the handsome, pompous dick, he couldn’t leave without making sure he was alright. He didn’t even know the man was still there! He thought Scofield had left when everyone else did, and at that time he was so absorbed with his assignment that he’d only offered a dismissive wave at the collective farewells.

A beam of orange, incandescent light peeked from beneath the crack of the closed door. As he poised his hand to knock, more sounds startled him; the constant thumping of something against a desk. His curiosity was getting the better of him now. So he pressed his ear against the door. His eyes snapped open when he realised the nature of these noises. He could hear harsh breathing, grunting, and the sound of flesh slapping against flesh. Unless that bastard’s wife was in there with him, he’d caught Phoenix Scofield cheating! Juicy information like that could be just what he needed; he could blackmail the man into helping him with his situation. He salivated at the thought. This was just too perfect! With great vigour, he opened the door, surprised that the man would leave it unlocked when he was carrying on. The scene he stumbled upon, however, was the last thing he’d ever expect.

The first thing he’d noticed was the tie wrapped around wrists so tightly that bruising was beginning to mar pale skin. Then there were the blindfolds and the ball gag. And the fact that Scofield was fully dressed in his pricey Armani suit, his pants unzipped and balls-deep in… A MAN! The blond’s naked, lean body was bent over the lawyer’s desk, his head now turned towards the direction of the door, having heard someone walk in and feeling his lover pause inside of him, but unable to see or say anything. Phoenix’s expression was priceless. He was always either aloof or smirking condescendingly, but now his blue eyes were widened in shock and his square jaw slackened comically.

“Jacob!” Phoenix choked the boy’s name out, as if not believing this was really happening.

“Hullo, Mr. Scofield!” the boy smirked wickedly, whipping his cell phone out and quickly snapping photos. Or at least that was the intention; the battery decided to die at that exact moment. Oh well, what Scofield didn’t know couldn’t hurt him. The man pulled out of the prone blond, quickly fixing himself.

“I think I should go now. I was just making sure you were alright… But you seem to be doing incredibly well,” Jacob started to back away, shoving the phone back into his pocket. “Although, I had no idea you swung that way!”

With an animalistic growl, Phoenix Scofield lunged at him. The boy let out an embarrassingly high-pitched squeak of surprise before darting down the corridor and out into the reception area. He could hear Scofield’s heavy footsteps behind him, but he was too terrified of falling to look back. For once, luck was on his side because as soon as he reached the elevators, the doors to one of the lifts slid open, revealing the building’s old, crotchety janitor and his cleaning supplies. Usually, he wouldn’t get into a nuclear bunker with that man, but he made an exception and slid right next to him, hitting the first floor button immediately. He couldn’t help but grin victoriously when he heard the barrister crash straight into the closed doors.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, kid?!” the janitor squawked indignantly. “I’ve got a job to do!”

“This is an emergency, okay?” Jacob snapped as he narrowed his green eyes in what he hoped was an intimidating manner. People tended not to get too afraid of skinny, seventeen year old boys. The janitor just grumbled expletives under his breath, folding his arms and leaning against a wall.

To say the ride down was awkward would’ve been the understatement of the year. It managed to kill the adrenalin which had been flowing through Jacob’s veins. The elevator music wasn’t helping matters much, either. The janitor had started singing along to ‘Girl from Ipanema’…
Finally, they landed on the ground floor. Unfortunately, Scofield was waiting in the lobby, looking as cool and collected as ever. It was like nothing had even happened. Damn lawyers and their poker-faces… Before Jacob could push the button to close the doors, he was roughly yanked out by the collar of his Motley Crue T-shirt. The janitor gazed disinterestedly as the doors glided shut. He never liked that mouthy brat anyway…

“I think you and I need to have a little chat, Jacob,” Phoenix said slowly. He had yet to release the boy’s shirt, so when he started to walk, Jacob struggled to keep up with him.

“Where are we going?” the boy demanded, deciding not to put up a fight for now.

“To a nearby café. I figure we can handle this situation like mature adults, don’t you think?”

“How do I know you’re not going to kill me or something?”

“Because you have my word, for now.”

“I’m sure your wife had your word, too! Isn’t that whole ‘I will not have kinky, BDSM sex with a man behind your back’ in the vows you took? If not, then it should be!” Jacob knew he was pushing it, but he didn’t care. He hated Phoenix. This was the best day ever, in his opinion.

“Be quiet!” the man’s grip on his shirt strengthened. “This isn’t something you can talk about at the top of your damn lungs.”

“You should’ve thought about that before. I didn’t even see that guy come in…”

“He used the stairs ‘round back.”

“You don’t seem very embarrassed about any of this. Aren’t you the least bit scared that I’m a violent homophobe?”

“Didn’t you get suspended for sucking off another student in the library? Besides, I’m bigger than you.”

Jacob’s face whitened at that. “…You know about that?”

“I talked to your guidance counsellor and I have a copy of your record, you know.”

“Fuck. Well, how do you know I’m not going to laugh at your small penis?”

“My cock is anything but small.”
Jacob honestly had no opinion on that one; he didn’t get a good glimpse of the thing. Not like he wanted to, anyway. He’d let the argument drop for now. He glared at the tall man’s broad back. Who would’ve thought Phoenix Scofield, the shining beacon of the community, was a closet gay? A freaky one at that! ‘It was kind of hot, though,’ a traitorous voice in the back of his head whispered conspiratorially. He paused at that thought. What the hell? His mental dispute was cut short by Phoenix tugging extra hard on his shirt. He wouldn’t be surprised if that asshole tore it by now…


The café was a cosy, little place. It was a ten-minute walk from the law firm. Jacob had never been there before, but it seemed to cater to the crowd that liked to spend money on fancy pastries and coffee with long names. He was more of a Burger King guy… And he could barely afford even that. The café’s ambient lighting and cosy atmosphere made it oddly romantic. There weren’t many patrons; who drank coffee at 10PM anyway? Phoenix chose the farthest available table. The man placed him under a calculating gaze, not saying a word. Jacob couldn’t help but squirm uncomfortably.

“So… How long has that been going on?” he leaned closer to the older man.

“That’s none of your business,” Phoenix snipped curtly.

“What the fuck! You’re the one who wanted to talk! And I have dirt on you… AND pictures. You might want to remember who’s holding all the cards here.”

Phoenix sighed in that way people did when they were talking to complete morons. “I’m not in a relationship with that boy.”

“You just tie him up and ream him whenever you please, then?” Jacob was getting way too into this. And somehow this topic was getting him a bit aroused.

“That’s not what I meant. I… I pay escorts to spend time with me.”

“Really? Why? You’re hot enough to have whoever you want… Not that I find you hot or anything, but you have that cliché tall, dark, and handsome shit going for you…”

Phoenix scoffed, “Because of who I am, jackass. I have to pay them for confidentiality.”

“Hey, no name-calling! I haven’t called you a vain asshole, even though I really want to. Anyway, does your wife know about this?”

“What do you think?”

Jacob shrugged. “She could be kinky.”

“She doesn’t know.”

“That’s too bad. So you’re gay then? You’re just with your wife as a cover-up? You’re so unoriginal.”

“No, I’m actually bisexual. I love my wife dearly… But there are some things she won’t do… And I prefer to do what you saw with men anyway.”

“Why did you even get married? You’re trying to have your cake and eat it, too. Even I’m above something so… low!”

“Is that why you’re blackmailing me?”

Jacob smiled. “I forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me!”

“How much money do you want to keep your big mouth shut?” Phoenix cut to the chase. Jacob’s smile faltered; Phoenix was taking the fun out of this. But the idea his brain was conjuring up made his smile return five times brighter.

“I’m afraid I need more than that, Mr. Scofield.”

“Just call me ‘Phoenix’. I’m not some old man.”

“If you say so.”

A glare was the only response.

“I want to move in with you and your wife.”

The man’s back went rigid and rod-straight at those words. The expression on his face was almost as hilarious as the one he’d had when he was caught with his pants down… literally.

“What kind of request is that? Fuck no, you can’t live with me!”

“But Phoenix,” Jacob’s tone was mockingly dulcet, “It’s the price you’re paying for the pretty life you have! I’ll be out of your hair by the time I turn eighteen. I just need some place to live or I’m going to be put into a foster home… No one’s going to adopt me at my age. And I don’t think I can take those awful conditions.”

“Why would you go to foster care? Don’t you live with your mother?” Phoenix was truly puzzled.

“For someone who’s as in touch with the community as you claim to be, especially someone you’re supposed to be mentoring, I thought you would’ve heard my mother died a couple weeks ago. I didn’t show up for a few days… did you not notice that?”

“I just thought you were sick or something… I’m sorry.”

Jacob shrugged. “We weren’t necessarily that close. But I’m hoping the orphan thing is enough to garner your sympathy…”

“How did your mom die?” Jacob had to resist the urge to smirk at the guilt and concern on Phoenix’s face. He had the lawyer right where he wanted him.

“Heroin overdose. She died in the bathtub while I was asleep… I didn’t even get to say ‘goodbye’…” that was actually a lie. He bought the heroin for his mother because she’d asked him to and he’d grown indifferent to her drug use after years of enduring it. He didn’t think she’d OD watching Oprah while he downloaded music in his cramped bedroom, though.


“I didn’t know your mom did drugs.”

“It’s not something I wanted to tell people. They know now, I guess.”

Phoenix went silent. Jacob might have been a nuisance, but did he really want the kid to end up in a worse situation? He had the money to help him out… The only problem was his wife. He doubted she’d agree to suddenly let a troubled, teenage waif move in with them. Especially with the explanation being what it was…

He sighed. “I’ll talk to my wife. But I have no idea what I’m going to tell her.”

Jacob’s grin was blinding. “You’re a good lawyer. You’ll think of something!”

“Who do you live with now?” Phoenix obviously didn’t share his enthusiasm.

“No one. I’m staying in our apartment until the rent is due… The electricity’s already been turned off.”

“Fuck…”

“You’re stuck with this guilt now,” Jacob said cheerily.

“So I see. You just keep rubbing it in… Can I see those pictures you have?” Phoenix asked suddenly.

Jacob’s blood ran cold at that question. He didn’t anticipate his bluff being called out.

“The battery’s dead.”

“Let me see.”

He rolled his eyes but handed the phone over anyway. After attempts to turn it on failed, Phoenix was satisfied with this excuse and gave it back. They sat in silence, Jacob unsure of what to do now, and Phoenix wondering what the fuck he was getting himself into. He should’ve been more careful… Even the janitor could’ve walked in on them…

And then he remembered something…

“Oh shit, Kyle’s still tied up on my desk!” he exclaimed.

“Don’t worry… I’m sure the janitor found him,” Jacob smirked. He was enjoying having the upper hand on Phoenix Scofield SO much. This day couldn’t get any better! This was even enough to make him say he’d had a good life if he were to die right now!

“Fuck…” Phoenix groaned, burying his face in his hands.

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