"What time is it? My phone is dead." Boss says, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"I'll continue. You should sleep." I reply, studying his profile.

He was on the venue for the whole day overseeing and checking everything. Whenever Ash has a concert out of country, Boss meticulously surveys the whole place before the curtain goes up. Today, the snow came without any fanfare. Concert got cancelled an hour before it was supposed to start.

We are in a secluded guest house somewhere in Iceland. I can't remember the city name or pronounce it without spraining my tongue.

"You're on duty for ten hours. Take a break."

"It's not like we are fighting off fans and press. I can manage for a few more hours." The other guys are stationed in the venue. Ash threatened to walk there by foot if Boss didn't come back to the guest house to keep guard. So Boss drove back in the freaking snow storm.

"Okay. Wake me up in two hours. What's he doing?" Boss tilts his head towards the closed doors.

"Sleeping."

"Good." His shoulders relax. "Thanks, Rob."

"It's alright, Boss."

He nods and walks away.

Ash hasn't accepted me like Henry predicted. Sure, Ash doesn't get irritated by me like before. He allows me to accompany him. However, he still demands that Boss stay with him all the hours of the day. But here and there unknown to Ash, I swap in his place and give Boss a breather. It's not much. Henry hopes we'll get there.

I don't know. Most of the time I feel redundant. An extra. I do try to make myself useful. Still it doesn't feel like Ash will let me be his guard for a whole eight hours without Boss in the picture.

Boss.

I thought it would be weird with Boss after the way it went down last night. But it isn't.

Back in LA, I accidentally found out that Boss likes men. He was taking a dinner break in City Mall after a show. And Ash was occupied with a pretty girl. If not, I wouldn't have gone to the restrooms. I wouldn't have seen Boss' legs jutting out in a closed toilet stall where someone was moaning.

I knew it was Boss on the knees, I would know those shoes anywhere.

It gave me hope. So much of hope.

I worried over it for a few weeks.

I finally made a move on him yesterday.

We came here yesterday evening and Ash right away shut himself up in his room, like he usually did when he was writing music. It was the best time for us, who had the duty of protecting him. He wouldn't bother anyone for hours and we don't have to worry about anyone bothering him.

That's how I got the perfect opportunity. The guys were out, scouring the neighborhood. Boss was free, I was free. I decided to try.

Boss was looking out the patio window, I was looking at him. I didn't have any words to express what I wanted. It's always difficult... with Boss it was even more so.

"Why are we staying here, instead of a hotel?" I asked leaning on the glass door next to him, closer than usual.

There, that was easy.

"Ash owns this house. Vacation home."

"Oh, wow. Nice. I read winter sports are famous here." I googled about it once I got the visa.

It's crazy how many visa stamps my passport got in the last year and half. I didn't even had a passport before joining the team. I also didn't know I needed visa and work permit and what not to travel. It's been real crazy. So much paperwork is required to travel as an employee.

Boss chuckled. "Ash hates snow. His dreams are fickle things. I don't know what made him buy this place, I wonder if he remembers it now."

"Hmm.. celebrities are a different breed, huh, Boss?"

"That's one way to say. Unlike us, they can afford to be fickle. Dreams are always easy to reach for them."

I sighed. I could hear him talk all night.

After taking up personal tier duty, I get to listen to Boss a lot. I'm falling deeper and deeper.

"Why Rob? Why the long sigh? What dream of yours is bothering you?" He asked, smiling.

I turned my head and we were close, so close. His warm smile heated my insides and melted my heart.

I couldn't, I looked away.

"Rob?" Boss asked, mildly. He somehow knew when I got nervous. He always made sure I was comfortable with what I did.

"Boss..." I clutched the railing in tight grip and focused back on him. This was my chance, to let him know that I was interested, very much. But I couldn't form any sentences to express my interest. I did something I had never done. I made the first move. I leaned closer with hammering heart.

His gaze landed on my lips, then our eyes met, his intense eyes studied me and then he leaned away. Putting a safe distance between us.

It didn't even take a second for him to decide.

Heat prickled my ears at the rejection. My whole body hurt. I swirled around to leave.

His voice stopped me. "Rob... Sorry..."

I nodded without turning around and ran out of the room, eyes blinded by tears.

I know, I'm no catch. I was hoping for at least one time, to know how it feels to be held in his arms. One kiss would have been enough. But Boss didn't see me fit for that.

After all I'm trash from the gutters. My neat clothes and cultured accent won't erase that truth. But is it wrong of me to think that I am better than the stranger in the bathroom stall?

I didn't see that guy's face, but I know he was a stranger. He got blown and then he blew and then he left. There was no conversation. I was only a few stalls away, I'd have heard it if they had talked.

Am I not better than that?

It seems I'm not.

But that's okay. Boss didn't belittle me or make it weird, we are okay. He talks to me like last night isn't a deal breaker. He still treats me the same and I'm relieved by that. I don't know what I'll do if he asks me to quit or fire me. What—

"Buffy?" A disgruntled voice calls from the shadows.

"Yes, Ash." I turn on the light. I'm used to his nickname for me. Jonas and Tolan tease me for it often. I should have corrected him and told him to call me by my name. But the thought came too late, by then he was using it for weeks.

"I'm hungry."

"We have some frozen stuff. Do you want to check?" I get up from my post and walk closer to him.

"No. I want fries." He plops down on the couch.

It's two thirty in the morning.

"Sorry, I don't think it's there."

"Order."

"We're snowed in." The snow is nothing like at home. Phone lines aren't working and the heat is spotty. Back home this would have been declared as an emergency. Here though, all we were told was that it's gonna be a good snow.

"I want fries. Hot fat fries with spicy sauce. Right now."

I stare at him. Unbelievable. Most of the times that's the word I end up with when interacting with Ash. He is fucking unbelievable.

His pyjamas top goes askew as he tucks his knees and leans back on the couch. He is already half asleep.

Maybe he'll sleep.

"Buffy..."

No such luck.

"Yes."

"Fries." He says without opening his eyes.

"Tomorrow, I'll tell the cook when he comes in."

"I want it now! Where is Nick? Ask him. He'd know."

The fuck? It makes my blood boil whenever he treats Boss like his personal slave. He made Boss drive in this dangerous weather just so he can have his watch dog.

"He is sleeping."

"Wake him up."

"Why? You can't seem to keep your eyes open. Why should he?" I snap, irritated by his selfish, ridiculous demand.

Ash sits up. "Buffy... Are you dumb? I want fries. How can he get me fries if he's sleeping?"

My fists clench.

What does he expect? That Boss should go out at this god forsaken hour, in this fucking snow storm, to God knows where, to get his freaking fries?

I take a deep breath. It's useless to try to reason with him. He doesn't understand the word reason. Everything is to suit his wishes and whims. That's how it will always be.

"You want fries. You will have it. Leave Boss alone." I storm out to the kitchen, I'm sure fumes are coming out of my ears.

What a self serving asshole.

"What are you gonna do?" Ash comes in, as I slam the refrigerator door shut.

I lift the pan from the shelf. "Are you dumb? What does it look like? 5 quart, heavy bottom pan! Rings any bell? I'm making fries!"

I slap the pan on the counter, next to the potatoes.

"Why buffy, I didn't know you could cook. Hot fries, right out of oil... Wow..." Ash smiles, rubbing his hands together.

God, this guy is.... I shake my head. He is client. Boss will be upset if he catches me snapping at Ash. But fuck... It's really hard.

It's been close to a year for me in tier one. Ash hasn't done a single thing to make me like him or respect him. If anything, I loathe him.

"Why don't you wait in the living room? I'll bring it. Fifteen minutes." I say turning away from him.

"No way. I'll give you company."

I resist an eye roll. "Okay."

I pull out the board and set out washing and wiping the potatoes dry.

"Why is it this cold?" He rubs his shoulders, shivering.

"No heat." Half the house had no heat, thankfully the half didn't include the bedrooms.

"Oh. I'll bring my blankets." He walks out.

Good riddance.

I start cutting the potatoes. I've not been this angry in a long time. And it shows in the way I'm working. I'm done with the cutting and mixing by the time Ash walks back in.

"Wow. That's fast. Were you a cook before?"

"Yes." I was many things before.

"What's your specialty?"

"Fries."

"Oooh. What kind of fries?"

"The kind you are gonna eat now." I check the oil heat and slide in the potatoes.

"Why are you grumpy? Didn't have dinner?"

I turn around to study his figure sitting on the counter. He looks small, bundled in blankets, hair all over the place, eyes huge and innocent. Like a lost boy.

What a fucking, deceiving face.

"If you want fries, you're gonna keep quiet." I say with a sternness I'll use with a puppy.

The asshole grins. "Why buffy, you are like a totally different person tonight. I've never seen you talk more than what Nick asks you to. What happened?"

Fuck. He is correct. I don't speak unnecessarily. It's part of my duty.

I decide to keep quiet and fry the cursed potatoes.

"Buffy? Are you angry?"

I ignore him.

"This smells divine. Do you like fries?"

I don't even blink.

Unsurprisingly, he doesn't care. He continues. "Fried potatoes should be the healthiest food, you know. If I am God, that's what I would do. Make fried stuff healthy."

I scoff internally. Of course he wants to be God. Then he can torture the whole universe with his selfish demands.

"Think about it, Buffy. Chicken fingers, cheese sticks, donuts, fries, samosas all will be healthy, loaded with proteins and minerals and glucose. Oh pastries..."

He give a long sigh.

I almost smile at his wistfulness.

"Ice creams... they all will be full of healthy amino acids and easily breakable spices. They will keep your melabism and glucosis balanced. They—"

I laugh, abruptly cutting of his fantasy.

"What?" Ash pipes up.

I turn around, giving up on my silence.

"Metabolism and glycolysis. It's not spices, sugars. Were you by any chance reading the security team guide?" I ask.

Ash brightens up. "So you guys read it, huh?"

I know the whole one fifty nine pages by heart. All his talk about healthy amino acids are detailed in the diet section of the guide.

"It's our bible. Why the fuck did you read it?"

"I was bored and it was lying there." He shrugs.

I transfer the fries to a bowl and keep the sauce in another small bowl and put them in a tray.

"Where do you want this?"

"Couch?" He jumps from the countertop and follows me.

I place the tray on the coffee table and walk towards the patio.

"Hey, where are you going?" He asks.

"Right here." I point at the chair I placed near the patio glass door.

As I sit down, I hear a grunt and look up. Ash is trying to shake the love seat from its spot.

It's funny. He isn't built for moving furniture. He is one of those blessed species that never gains an ounce of extra flesh irrespective of what he eats.

I stand up. "What do you want?"

"To sit there. I too want to watch the snow."

I wasn't watching the snow but the front gate. But whatever.

Going back to the couch, I choose the single recliner and bring it close to the patio.

"Table too." He orders.

I bring that as well, with the fries.

"Perfect." Ash sighs and settles on the recliner, facing me not the window. The view outside isn't anything spectacular. It's just all white snow everywhere in the dim lighting.

I ignore him and watch the gate. The house is in an elevated foundation providing the full view of the winding road. I can see all the way to the faraway blinking tower from my chair.

"Mmm... yummy... want one?"

I don't reply.

"Oh, come on. How is it crispy outside and soft inside? It's a different taste. But good. Here." He leans forward and thrusts a fry in my mouth.

This kind of behavior is jarring. One minute he'll be all demanding and bitching the sky down. The next he'll be like the sweetest boy on the Earth, hugging and kissing and feeding his food. I have seen him act like this mostly with Henry or Boss.

I take the fry in my hand.

Maybe he's thanking me.

That's another thing I hate about him. He never thanks anyone. Even if they were doing something for him out of pure kindness.

Asshole.

"Why are you angry at me?" Ash asks after a few minutes of silence.

I'm surprised into looking at him by the sudden question.

"Why do you care?"

"I don't. It's just —"

"Rob?" Boss calls out, walking into the living room.

"Yes, boss." I stand up, relieved.

"Do you want fries? Buffy makes yummy fries." Ash says munching away.

Boss raises his eyebrows at me. "You don't have to."

"Nick. Don't." Ash groans.

"He is your bodyguard. Not your cook."

"Buzz kill. Try this and tell me." Ash extends the bowl to Boss.

Boss ignores it and addresses me. "Did you at least teach him how to make it?"

"No. Should I have?"

"Definitely. Next time, he'd do it himself." Boss says with a smile.

An answering smile peeps on my lips.

I love these moments when he jokes and smiles. They are rare occasions. His rejection hasn't dampened my love for his smiles.

Ash launches himself on Boss. "I would. Do you wanna bet? Ten bucks says I can."

"Zero says you can't." Boss pries Ash's hands from his chest. "I'll make a round." He tells me before walking away.

"You wanna take the bet?" Ash asks me when I sit back.

I shake my head and watch outside. Boss is steadily moving around the gate looking for intruders.

Boss always gives his one hundred percentage to his work. Even when his client is snowed in– in a deserted guesthouse where no one will try to look– he takes his surveillance seriously. I don't think he'll find any intruders.

I'm scared that he'll slip on the snow. He's still in his night pants, his jacket reaches only to his hips. He must be freezing his ass.

"Nice ass." Ash murmurs.

"What?"

"What?"

"Did you say something about ass?"

"No?" Ash's eyes were glued to Boss. "Fuck. Look at that." He says making me to turn to the gate.

Boss is bent down, checking something on the snow. His soft pants hugs his back in a very proactive way.

My cheeks are instantly warm.

"I want to eat that ass like it's the only food left." Ash's declaration shakes me out of my thoughts.

"WHAT!!" I stand up, shocked to my core.

"Shit. Don't shout."

He pulls me back to sit. "I'm just saying. Isn't it the perfect ass?"

I can only guess how my face looks. Because Ash whistles.

"Yes or no?"

There is no way I can hide my flushed face. So I decide to be objective. "Yes." I mumble.

"Hmm.. so you have the hots for your boss."

"I just answered your question as an opinion in an obj—"

Ash grabs my hand.

"Come on. Look.. he's flexing. I want a piece of him. I want to beat the fuck off his dick. Gag on those balls."

I stare and stare at Ash. Unable to believe his words.

"Shit!" I get up again suddenly realizing that something isn't right. I pick the sauce bowl and sniff.

I made the fries myself so there's no chance that it got any drug in it. But the sauce was store bought, did someone mix something?

There is no other reason Ash would talk like this. He is straight. He fucks girls left and right with no concept of relationship. They are interchangeable for him. He isn't gay. Or bi or anything else. If he is, he will fuck guys too in the same way.

The only reason he's drooling over Boss right now is because he is drugged.

That's the first thing we get to know about Ash when we enter this security detail.

Ash and drugs are a bad combination. Dangerous even. For some bizarre reason it makes him hyper horny. I have never witnessed it before of course.

But it is said that, that's how Boss got this job. He saved Ash from public humiliation or something.

"What are you doing?" Ash asks as I taste the sauce by dipping a finger in.

"Checking if it has anything. Boss will kill me."

Oh my God. Maybe I should have woken him up instead of making the fries.

"What's wrong with it?"

"Why don't you go to bed? I think that would be a good idea."

If he goes to sleep, then we don't have to put up with his... his very sexual remarks. But will he be able to sleep? My mind reels with hundred questions.

It's better I inform Boss. He'll know. If he's upset with me, that's okay. I should—

Ash shakes my arm. "I just told you a very big secret, and you are licking sauce! What's wrong with you?"

I blink. "Secret?"

"I'm pan."

"Pan?" It doesn't make any sense.

Ash rolls his eyes. "Yeah, five foot six, heavy bottomed, versatile. Rings any bell?"

"Oh." I'd have, never in a million years, guessed that. Ash Minor is a closeted pansexual asshole.

"I want Nick."

"Oh."

Of course he wants Boss. If he can have anyone why will he settle for anything less than the best?

Dreams are easy for them. Boss' words come back. They are fickle.

"Don't." I say with a spreading dread.

Ash gapes. "What do you mean?"

We both turn around at the sound of Boss striding in, dusting his jacket.

"It's all clear. Go sleep, Rob."

"Yes, Boss." Without a glance at Ash I leave the room.