Ease [Cashton/Muke]

Chapter forty two

"What do you mean I can't get in?" Calum scoffs at his building's security guard, positioned in the entrance foyer. He and Ashton had finished their contract and decided they would get Maggie and Carla to proof read it and be their signatory witnesses.
"We're all under strict instructions not to let you through Mr. Hood. I don't make the rules." The bulky guy defends himself.
"She- I can't believe this." Calum mutters, dropping Ashton's hand he had a light hold on to reach for his phone. "I own this building. I'm the reason anyone here has a job."
"I- I'm sorry Mr Hood." The security guard shakes his head.

Calum - Maggie: Fuck you.

Maggie - Calum: What's up your ass sunshine?

"Can Ashton get through?" Calum raises an eyebrow at security.
"Um..." He thinks about it a moment. "Yeah, I don't see why not. It's just you that was blacklisted."
"For fucks sake." Calum rolls his eyes.

"What is your problem?" Calum scoffs through his phone as soon as Maggie picks up the other end of the line.
"My problem?!" She sputters defensively. "You just texted me a 'fuck you' with no explanation. All the problems seem to lie with you."
"Maybe if I tell you that I'm currently in the foyer, stuck in the foyer, that will explain things to you." Calum adds impatiently.
"Ohhhhh." Maggie sighs in realisation. "To be fair, I did warn you. It's not my fault you thought I was kidding." She shrugs.
"Can you please just let me in?" Calum sighs exasperatedly.
"I don't know..." She says skeptically. "Can you and Ashton write a relationship contract?"
"If you hadn't blocked me then you would know already that we came so that you could proof read our contract." Calum says semi faux bitterly.
"Why didn't you say so?!" Maggie cheers. "Your wish is my command."

Maggie is quick to hang up the phone with Calum and page the security team, informing them that actually Calum isn't blacklisted from the office anymore.
"Have a nice day Mr Hood." The security guard smiles as he allows Calum and Ashton through and into a lift.

"I really can't believe she did that." Calum sighs with a bit of a chuckle when the lift starts going up.
"Yeah..." Ashton says awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. He's not exactly sure how to get out what he's trying to say.
"What is it?" Calum frowns, loosely wrapping his arms around his sub's torso.
"You-" Ashton stops a moment to consider his words. "You've always had all this right? Like, before you owned Hood, your father did? It's always been in the family?"
"Yes," Calum replies, as puzzled as ever. "I'm confused by what you're getting at."

Ashton seems to consider dropping the matter altogether but Calum gently urges him on with a look.
"When you said you owned the place... that you were the reason people had jobs... it came across as... like..."
"Oh my god I was a complete wanker." Calum's face drops in realisation.
"Sorta yeah." Ashton chuckles, relieved he didn't have to say it out loud.
"Well," Calum starts matter of factly, "I'm glad you told me." The older finishes by melodramatically planting a kiss on Ashton's lips as the doors ding open at the top floor.

"I wanna see it!" Maggie screeches as soon as she catches sight of Calum and Ashton.
"What do you think that high pitched noise was? Did you hear it? Sounded obnoxious." Calum asks Ashton airily as they walk into his office.
"I heard it but I don't know." Ashton giggles as he follows his dom.
"You." Maggie narrows her eyes and points a finger as she strides across the carpet.
"Me?" Calum asks as if he hasn't got the faintest idea what on earth she could be talking about, or to.
"Show me the contract." The oldest demands.

"You know," Calum starts as he flops into his leather desk chair. "I have every right to blacklist you from the building."
"Please," Maggie rolls her eyes. "You have the right to but that's gonna harm you more than me."
"It will not." Calum shoots back defensively.
"I'm an assistant. I'm technically apart of the admin team. And yet, I got you -the company's owner and CEO- security blacklisted from everything other than the carpark and foyer. But no, go on. Tell me how my absence won't affect things." Maggie sasses.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a bully?" Calum scowls, showing her his laptop with the contract document open.
"My boss might have mentioned it once or twice." Maggie grins, taking the laptop and starting to read.

"Can I-" Ashton starts, breaking the silence that he found uncomfortable. He knew that Maggie reading over the contract was the logical thing to do and he wasn't against it but sitting next to her while she did it felt awkward. Calum and Maggie both look over with raised a brow and wait for him to continue. "Can I leave? Just go catch up on some school work or something?"
"You don't wanna be here?" Calum frowns.
"You know what I want. I trust you. I'm out of my depth and I just don't know." Ashton tries to keep his voice clear as he speaks but it wavers for his final words, "I want your guidance."
"Okay. You can go to your office. We'll let you know when we're done and need to talk more." Calum agrees, standing up to walk towards Ashton and plant a calming kiss on his lips.
"Thank you." Ashton mumbles as they pull apart.
"Bye Sweets."

"Okay so that was a bad move." Maggie pipes in as soon as Ashton's out of earshot.
"No it wasn't. He would've sat uncomfortably, and silent, the entire time and not have been as helpful as you would like. He said he wants my guidance. He's naturally submissive but because he's only just allowing that, he's easily overwhelmed. He needs the space right now." Calum explains, refusing to let Maggie think he made the wrong call.
"Regardless of anything else, both parties always need to be present for all contract talks. If he's overwhelmed we stop till he's ready." Maggie stands her ground.
"Mag-" Maggie cuts Calum off with a dangerously low whisper, she doesn't want any living soul hearing her next words.
"A sub not being in contract talks is a red flag for domestic abuse. No one can know you just let Ashton walk out of this room and the conversation ends right here."

A/N: Hey! The start was fun and it ended a little darker but don't worry, lots of resolutions of these issues in the coming chapters. I'm excited. Thank you all so so much for the love and support :)

-Grace Williams xo