‘So your proposal is to subject my son to military correction?’
‘Only field training, sir.’
Alistair considers it.‘There would be conditions.’
Of course.‘Yes, sir.’
‘No excessive muscle or weight gain,’ Alistair explains smoothly.‘No undue exposure to the sun, and any instruction must be capped at a level consistent with casual juvenile engagement.If you agree to those terms, I will allow it.Although,’ he adds, rising to stand.Lachlan does the same.‘I would brace yourself for a fair degree of resistance.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Any further requests before I leave tomorrow?’
‘No, sir.’
A single glance towards the door tells him he is dismissed.
Lachlan wants very much to go, except— ‘Oh, one last thing.’
For fuck’s sake.Lachlan looks back.‘Sir?’
‘Should my son’s adolescent curiosities begin to manifest sexually,’ Alistair remarks lightly, as though discussing paperwork, ‘you will ensure they are managed discreetly, safely, and without any external complications.I trust your judgement as to what that may require and remind you that your contract raises no prohibitions in this regard.’He gives a bland smile.‘Thank you, Lachlan.You’re doing a good job.’
Much later, Lachlan leaves the Estate for the second time.
He only drives a few miles away to a payphone where he calls Margot and hopes she’s not too mad about it being five AM.
She was definitely asleep, that much is clear.‘What the fuck is up?’
‘It’s me,’ he says.‘I’m sorry for calling so early, but—’
‘Lock?Is it your mom?’
‘No.’He closes his eyes.‘Margot, I need you to get me out of this contract.’
?
But the contract is airtight.
No way out unless he’s fired and if he’s fired, he’s in for aworldof hurt.Margot makes no effort to mask her frustration that he didn’t implement or at leastrequestany of the amendments she suggested, all of which would have gone towards helping him get free or at least refuting the morality clause.
Lachlan is stuck for four years, eleven months.
After the old man leaves, Julian is confined to his room, and it falls on Lachlan to ensure that he stays there.He expects the kid to pull out all the stops trying to get free, but he doesn’t.After three days of silence between them, Lachlan knocks on the door and is granted entry.
‘Can we talk?’
Julian was sketching on his tablet, but he sets it down when Lachlan comes inside and sits up on his bed, cross-legged.‘You’re in charge.’
‘Julian—’
‘Jules.I fucking hate “Julian”.Jules or nothing.’
Lachlan accepts it readily.‘Jules.I’m sorry for hitting you.’
The kid frowns warily, like it’s a trick.‘Why?’
‘Because I hit you.’
