A/N: this was hot me like a blizzard! So enjoy and I'm going to bed for work, it's already 3am buy, enjoy everyone! 💜

Ryan spent forty minutes looking around them, another twenty discussing ordering and packaging with Diamante, all the while Ashton sat in his call watching them buzz about the warehouse and through the aisles.

When Ashton finally hung up, he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, needing a shot and a stress reliever.

"Finally done?" Diamante asked, pulling the chair out.

Ashton sighed again. "Finally. I apologize for not being attentive, I meant to head over to the office to discuss a few important matters with some members in the board, but they preferred a conference call instead."

"Must have been really important," Diamante said, seeing the down lines form at Ashton's mouth.

Ashton looked up at him. "Yes, to them. They want to introduce a foreign investor to the company ranks, and I strongly opposed."

"Why's that, wouldn't that help your company?"

Ashton scoffed. "No, I opposed based on the fact that the person they have in mind might as well be blacklisted. There are rumors that he deals in illegal deals that have caused some uproar in some companies. I'm not in favor of those rumors tainting my family's business. The board had to fold since I hold the most power on the board and my mother, father, and Ms. Hamilton too." He ran his fingers back through his hair, leaning forward.

"Good. You're the boss, so what you say goes. They should be smart enough not to overstep their boundaries." Diamante hummed, seeing how that call had put a bitter taste in Ashton's mouth. "Don't fret, and don't feel bad that you didn't join Ryan while shopping. He often likes to be alone while he looks around."

"Good, thank you, Diamante. So when can I expect the shipment?" Ashton asked, sitting back and looking at him.

"Two days, I need to have a few things picked up from my warehouse, and then the drivers will have them all packaged and delivered with care."

"Perfect. How much?" Ashton asked.

Diamante clicked his tongue. "Didn't I tell you what Ryan does? Or weren't you even—"

"Give me any price you need, and I'll send it," Ashton said, eyes meeting his.

Diamante closed his mouth. He wasn't pulling his leg. Maybe he was wrong about him. "He bought a lot—" he cut himself off... Ashton glared him down, and he scoffed. This man was rather fierce. "Ten thousand. I tripled it for you."

"Thank you." Ashton had the money arranged to be sent over to Diamante's account and stood. "Well, I need to get going, Ryan," he called over his shoulder, finding him sitting at the check-out counter on his phone. The younger man looked up, "are you ready?" He nodded. "Then, let's get going." He stretched a hand out to Diamante. "Thank you for your time and business. I'll be waiting on your call."

Diamante took his hand and stood. "Pleasure. Drive safely." The men exchanged a nod and started for the door. Ryan hooked an arm around Ashton's instantly, kissing his cheek. They were already so openly affectionate after only a few days, huh.

"Bye, Di!" Ryan let his fiancé go and hugged his best friend, kissing his cheek. "I can't wait to get my workroom all set up. I'll invite you over once I'm done. Will you come?"

He chuckled. "Yes, Ry, I will, if Ashton doesn't mind."

Ashton shrugged. "Not at all. My door's open. Just knock."

The pair left Diamante's Art Warehouse, and he chuckled at how Ashton opened the door for Ryan before making his way over to the driver's side. "Classy." He sighed, leaning his head back as the trees above rustled softly in the early-spring wind that blew by. His phone pinged as the car drove off.

He checked his bank account, and his eyes widened.  "That bastard." Ashton had sent forty thousand to his account, with a note reading, 'I tripled it and added something extra for the community. His lips curled upwards as he stared at the note and shook his head. "You're right, Ry. He's nothing like Jordan." He licked his lips and went back inside, chuckling at the odd encounter.

》》》》》

The ride was relaxing, the music low as classical violins played. "You okay?" Ryan asked.

"Yes, you?"

"No, you're lying. Something's bothering you, Diamante noticed. Tell me." He met Ashton's eyes momentarily.

Ashton sighed, "work called. It was frustrating. I didn't think they'd just take the initiative and call me before I got to the office."

"Is that why you're driving away from where your office is?" Ryan asked, arching a brow.

"How do you know where my office is? Why are you so concerned, anyway?" Ashton said, taking the next turn.

"Because I care, and we said no lies. Remember?"

"Yeah... sorry. My lawyer called, that was fine, and then my board members. I just—a possible deal with an investor was closed. I didn't want to deal with a man who has a shady past and nearly got several companies into legal issues or financial problems. I mean, I looked into that man's background and all. I even had Tia do a deep dive, and every line I read got worse and worse. He had a shaky start, and it just kept getting dirtier. They were so mad at me, but the veto power I held surely was enough to make them pissed to keep me away from assisting you with shopping."

"Ash, I like shopping alone. Plus, I was in artist mode." He sighed. This phone call had really worked on Ash's nerves; he was chewing his lip while he drove. "That sucks, baby, but look, you did a good job today. So don't let yourself sulk over this one conference call—"

"I didn't say it was a—"

"You didn't have to, Ash. I put the pieces together." Ryan sighed, "baby, I was born into business too; I know how vicious, stressful, and scummy it can be. The best thing to do is tighten your power and hold on to your morals because once you lose those, then you're pretty much a puppet to the ones behind the curtain." Ryan tilted his head towards Ash, catching his eyes from a moment. "Don't give into them, you know what's good business, and you know when to call out bullshit, so call it out and don't let anyone bulldoze you into a corner to agree to do business with a no-good, shady hack! Got it?"

Ashton's jaw slackened. Damn, he was good. He hadn't even gone into much detail about what was exactly said on the call, but Ryan had said the words that he needed to hear almost as if he were there. "Uhm, I do. You know, I keep forgetting that you're quite apt at the ins and outs of the business world."

Ryan chuckled. "Well, yes, with a man like me at your side, no one will even topple our reign."

Ashton opened his mouth then stopped, realizing something, "Wait, I think I have an inkling on why our fathers are pushing for our marriage." He came to a red light thinking to himself, trying to put it all together.

Ash didn't say a word as he sat there in his thoughts, Ryan free agitated to know what he could have possibly cooked up in that head of his. "Ashton, what is it?" Ryan snapped. Ash looked dazed for a moment while he sat there, "speak dammit! What did you figure out?"

Ashton turned to him, "I can't... I don't know it yet, I'm a little stuck, but I'm trying to put it together. We need to get some press out and also need to dig more into our fathers' dealings, okay?"

"Yes, Ashton, what's wrong?" Ryan said. This was so sudden he touched Ash's hand on the center console, running his thumb over the back of it.

"I hate unsolvable things. Let's have a date—no, an engagement party. We haven't even had the chance to really think about this, Ryan. We're supposed to be getting married." Ashton met those soft blue eyes, confusion laced in them as he spoke, or rather, rambled, "we—" a blaring car horn cut him off, but he ignored it, "You're right, we've just been dancing around each other, and my feet are beginning to hurt, Ryan. If we're to be married, then let's do this our way. Fuck following our fathers' next orders! Fuck abiding by their stupid conditions. We're grown-ass men—"

"Move, you jackass!" A driver swore, speeding by them.

Ashton swiftly ignored him and continued. "We don't need to have them do this to us. So let's not. Let's take back control, Ryan."

"Yes, we will. Baby, you need to drive. We'll get arrested." Ryan said calmly.

"Fuck that. We can post bail." Ashton reached out and caught the back of Ryan's neck and crushed their lips together, kissing him, making the younger man gasp and moan as he kissed him back. Ashton licked at his tongue, making the man groan as he deepened their exchange. Ashton broke their kiss and leaned back, smiling. "You need a ring." He took the wheel and checked to ensure the light was green, then drove on ahead.