Or would it?
What would Oliver do?
Oliver had always shown an interest in the new people he met. He’d ask them a bunch of questions to get them to talk about themselves and would listen to every word they said with a smile. The crazy part was that he genuinely cared. William had never understood it, but he was grateful for having witnessed itso many times before; now all he had to do was replicate Oliver’s behavior.
“So, Adathan,” William said as he sat down at the table, motioning for Adathan to take a seat across from him.
Adathan sat, his back straight and his hands on his knees, holding William’s gaze with an unwavering smile.
“Do you...” William began, taking a few seconds to sort through his thoughts. How was he supposed to make small talk with a brainwashed slave? “Is this, uh... your first time?” Fuck. That sounded so wrong.
“Yes! I completed my training last week. I was delighted when they told me they found me a home. I was worried it would take much longer, but life was kind to me. I’m grateful!”
William’s vision narrowed. A home.
“It appears to be your first time too, William?” Adathan remarked as he put his hand on the table and once again not-so-subtly slid it toward the manual.
Right. The company name.
“It is,” William admitted as he grabbed the damn thing. It was heavy, like it had at least a hundred pages. “Eden Serviteurs” was printed on the cover in sleek letters that reminded William of every single luxury brand logo he could think of. He leafed through the manual, almost immediately putting it back down as he remembered the mini-bar. “Hey, can you drink?”
“I can do anything you want.”
William had never needed a drink so badly in his life.
Wait.Was Adathan even of legal drinking age? He looked so young—fuck, was he a teenager? “How old are you?”
“I turned eighteen last week.”1
“You look really young.”
Adathan’s smile wavered. “I’m sorry.”
“What? No! Don’t apologize!” William bit the inside of his cheek and changed the subject with the subtlety of a drunkmoose. “So, it was your birthday last week, huh? Did you have fun?”
“Fun?”
“Y—never mind, it was a stupid question.” William cursed himself for being such an idiot. If Adathan wasn’t considered a person, surely he didn’t celebrate his birthday.
Screw this. He needed a drink.
William sent Oliver the company name as he headed to the small fridge. He opened it, gratefully finding it filled to the brim with various alcoholic beverages. He took out the business card Martin had given him earlier and sent them a text.
? William:Hey, this is William Mitchell. Is the mini bar included with the room or is it extra?
The reply was instant.
? FIS Poker:Good evening, Mr. Mitchell. The mini-bar and room service are indeed included in your package. You are welcome to use them to your heart’s content.
A wicked smile grew on William’s lips.
? FIS Poker:May I assist you further, Mr. Mitchell?
? William:No
? FIS Poker:Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. On behalf of Freedom in Spades Poker, I wish you a wonderful night.
William didn’t bother studying his options. He grabbed five bottles at random, figuring he could dump their contents in the sink and pick something else if they sucked.
