Meeting James Morgan (Part 1).

Seeing the two men side by side very nearly made me forget that Luke was in his forties. He looked so young, almost like he was in his late 20s, especially with those bright eyes and cheerful smile. And when he stood next to the older gentleman with the wrinkled face and graying hair, no one would believe he was really any older than 28.

“Welcome,” Diana said with a short bow that I quickly followed up on with my own. “Can we serve you anything?”

“Before that,” Luke began as he and the older man sat down at the counter. “Diana, I told Dylan to leave because I really can’t have him here for this. And truth is, I would like you to stay since you’re this bar’s main attraction, but I’m aware talks of magic make you uncomfortable. Everything that is said during this conversation should be kept secret, so if you’d rather not be here, I’m sure Oliver’s drinks will more than suffice.”

Shit, so that meant I was staying whether I wanted to or not. But hold on… To mention magic so freely in front of this man meant that…

Diana let out a soft sigh. “My own comfort regarding the topics our customers talk about is of no concern. I would rather not be complicit to any shady deals, however.”

Luke chuckled. “Please, nothing of the sort. I simply wanted to invite Mr. James Morgan to a few high quality drinks at my new bar and take the chance to introduce Oliver to him.”

Diana’s eyes went wide for a moment and I didn’t know why. Was James Morgan a name I should know? Well, yes and no. I don’t pay attention to all that stuff, but people who read on current events or watch the news more would certainly know who James Morgan is.

You know how Luke Allen is one of the names that pops up when you dig around a bit and end up realizing that more than half of the big entertainment companies out there belong to him? Well, James Morgan is like that, too, only twice as big and with his hands in a lot more.

“Mr. Morgan, this is Oliver Brooks, my partner in the development of the new potion. It quite literally wouldn’t be possible without him. Oliver, this is Mr. James Morgan. It’d be hard to find a bigger big shot than him. From wines and whiskey to mining and construction, his name is there. He is my benefactor, and I owe him a lot for teaching me and helping me get where I am.”

I was paralyzed by indecision. I mean, what the fuck do I say? What should I do? Do I shake his hand? It felt… inappropriate.

“He’s certainly not what I’d expect from someone who tamed a Spirit of Lust. You’re telling me a meek, tiny kid has the power to make women submit to him? How many women have you fucked, boy?” the man asked me with a raised eyebrow and a subtle smirk, his voice rough.

I felt my chest freezing and frowned, suddenly disappointed. “I don’t see how that’s relevant, sir, so I would rather keep that to myself.” I kept my voice controlled, but his question and his tone irked me.

“Ah, so you’re a virgin, then? Hah! What a fucking joke! A virgin boy wielding powers of lust! What, too shy to slap the ass of that fine woman beside you?”

I noticed Diana tense up as she tried to keep any emotions from showing on her face, and that made bile rise up my throat more than anything he could’ve said to me. Still, I pushed it down and faked a smile. “Yes, I don’t think the spirit in me is very happy about it.”

“Say, kid…” The man put both arms on the counter, leaning forward on them as he stared at me. “How about selling that spirit to me? I mean, since you’re not using it. Name a price and I’ll triple whatever your unimaginative mind can come up with.”

“...” I closed my eyes and chuckled. “I’m sorry, sir, but you don’t have enough to pay for it.”

“Don’t I? Did you not hear what Luke just said?” he asked back. “The smallest of my companies is worth over 250 billion dollars.”

I reached under the counter and grabbed a rocks glass and a bottle of blue label scotch. I placed a single, large and clear ice cube on it and generously poured the golden brown spirit into it.

Both Diana and Luke looked at me with eyes shot open.

“Here, sir. On me. For the inconveniences. I cannot, will not, sell you the spirit,” I said, gently sliding the glass towards him.

Morgan stared at the glass in disbelief before laughing and shaking his head. “Alright, fine. I like him, Luke. He’s got balls, at least.” He took the glass and took a decent swig.

Luke let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you for holding back and not breaking his teeth, Oliver. Truth is, Mr. Morgan is an entirely normal human. He has no magic of his own. A single punch from you could send him to the hospital, or worse.”

I don’t think I was close enough to want to punch him, but…

“I was going to push him harder, but this caught me off guard,” Morgan said, raising his glass. “I’m not paying for it, by the way,” he said, giving Luke a side-eye.

Luke sighed. “Please forgive him. Both of you. He’s…”

“A crazy old bastard?” Morgan tried to finish for him.

“Eccentric, is what I was gonna say.”

“Sure you were,” Morgan said, rolling his eyes before looking straight at me. “But still. I do apologize, Oliver. I find that seeing how a person reacts when angry and offended is a lot more telling of their character than a conversation full of social protocols.” He then turned to Diana. “Apologies to you as well, miss. That said, I do not take all my words back. You ARE a fine woman.”

“And happily ‘getting fucked’ by my boyfriend here, thank you,” Diana said with another short bow and a hand below her chest.

My face started burning, first because of Diana’s comment then fueled by the shame of what I’d just done. What the hell was all that I said and did!? I really don’t work well under pressure. Do you have ANY IDEA how expensive that scotch is!?

Morgan, however, laughed loudly while throwing his head back. “Okay, so you AREN’T a virgin after all!”

Luke chuckled. “I assure you, sir, Oliver’s powers are strong and honed, and he’s only getting stronger and more skilled. His precision is outstanding, and his use of rune magic is quite unique.”

“Alright, now here’s a real question, Oliver. This is serious, so give me the truth,” Morgan said, narrowing his eyes at me. “Do you want to go deeper into underworld business or would you rather stay away from it all?”

Underworld business? As in… all the shady deals with magic and the like?

“I… want to stay away, if possible. I just want to live my life,” I told him.

“Done. Don’t worry about it. Keep working with Luke and we’ll handle the rest. But if you ever change your mind, well, I’d give you a card but that would prove we met. Just say the word and I’ll get you years worth of customers for whatever services you can provide.”

You know… I believe him.

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