Stuart Hatford's Auction Nemesis

Alex had not been expecting this kind of work day when he’d gotten ready this morning. It was an in-office day. There was nothing that needed to be picked up, picked off or picked on which was exceedingly rare. It was usually relatively relaxed in the office when they were all catching up on the actually insane amount of paperwork that goes into organized crime, even if most of that paperwork was doctored, coded, or destined for a secure shredding facility that they owned once the report was made verbally. He’d been looking forward to updating his litany of excel spreadsheets that showcased the completely legal profits of their various money laundering fronts. He was actually quite pleased with the profits coming out of an honest-to-goodness laundromat that he’d recently okayed renovations for. He’d just walk through the door when those expectations died a swift and painful death as he heard a very distinct, if not very out of character, “That PRICK.” Come from Stuart Hatford’s open office. He looked at the others who worked under Stuart and all of them were quiet. No one had a game playing in the background, there was just a sea of carefully blank faces aside from a couple of newbies who were looking worried. He leaned into Stuart’s office and, as always, took a moment for his eyes to recover from the eye-searing orange that was Neil Josten’s college merchandise collection that littered shelves and walls. Alex thanked every God he could think of that Neil’s professional team was a, far easier on the eyes, blue, though it did make the orange of Stuart’s obsessive college collection pop all the brighter. “Something the matter boss?” he asks aiming for casual but knowing he doesn’t quite hit it. If something’s riled Stuart up like this, then it’s either about Neil or it’s a serious family matter. He hears a few mutters from the newbies outside remarking about how casual he was being with Stuart Hatford but he ignored it. He had earned his right to be casual with Stuart, the man had puked all over Alex’s shoes when he’d gone to the Hatford Family’s celebration of Neil’s 3rd Exy Championship in his final year at Palmetto. Those shoes were ruined but his friendship with his boss was as cemented as any friendly relationship was when you’re in organized crime. “Alex,” Stuart’s eyes snap up to him and Alex stands straighter, “I need you to take this to the tech guys downstairs. I need this IP address tracked, get me a general location first so that I can start getting people stationed.” He hisses there’s a ping from his computer and his eyes shoot back to his computer. Alex blinks but walks further into Stuart’s office and takes the strip of paper. Stuart’s eyes remain back on the computer and he’s muttering various curses as he continues to click and type. He doesn’t ask questions yet. He makes his way down a floor to where all the tech guys were working and finds his preferred guy for this kind of thing. William takes the strip of paper and the accompanying orders without comment. He seems pleased to be moving away from creating the tedious workflows that he had been working on. It takes about 10 minutes, most of which was just making sure that he was getting the information securely, but Bill hands him the general location. “Whoever it is you’re looking for they live in New York City. Brooklyn to be more specific. I can get more details if you give me more time.” He adds. “Thanks, keep working on it. I’ll get this to the boss for now but send along the details once you get them.” He says. He thinks about the location and thinks about one of the two reasons that Stuart would get like this. Thinks about a very nice brownstone in Brooklyn that he’d been to once with Stuart. His stomach twists at the thought of there being a problem so close to the scarred face boy who lived in that brownstone with his boyfriend and 2 cats. He walks back up and can still hear Stuart cursing and the tension in the office has only gotten worse in the 15 total minutes that he was away. He ignores it, for now, Stuart usually doesn’t leave them stewing this long if it’s a real emergency. He walks back into Stuart’s office, “We’ve got a general area. Do you have any other information that could help him narrow down a location faster?” Alex asks. Stuart doesn’t answer his concentration is focused on the screen in front of him at the moment. He walks closer and places the information next to Stuart and this close he can see the reflection of the screen in Stuart’s blue light glasses. He sees a webpage. He sees a grey jersey. He squints to read what the title says backwards. Neil Josten High School Jersey - REAL Alex has spent enough time with the Hatfords, Stuart especially, to recognize Neil Josten’s name forwards, backward, in 4 different written languages, and in any number of Hatford Personal codes. The tension leaks from his body as he realizes what has his boss in such a state as his brain manages to decode the rest of the mirrored words. He looks around the office again taking in the exhaustive collection of Neil Josten memorabilia that litters the walls and shelves. Knows that Stuart desperately wants to be there for Neil, to be the family that his nephew had never had, and one of the ways Stuart does that is by owning every piece of Neil Josten merchandise. Stuart has even put an end to certain merchandise lines he finds distasteful and has personally bought out unofficial merchandise that he likes. Alex isn’t quite sure where Neil Josten’s Millport High School jersey falls in the realm of official and unofficial, but he can absolutely see Stuart getting this heated over a bidding war for the jersey in question. Stuart lets out a gusty sigh of disapproval as he looks at the strip of paper, “This bastard is in New York. I’ve got plenty of guys there.” Stuart says eyes back onto the screen as there’s a ping. Stuart scowls again and swiftly types again. “They’re in Brooklyn too? Smarmy bastard.” He hisses. “Are you actually going to send some of our guys who are on Neil’s protection detail to go take out someone who is outbidding you on Neil’s high school Exy jersey?” Alex finds himself asking before he can stop himself. “This is for Neil’s safety.” Stuart dismisses not asking how Alex knew what was on the screen. Stuart had long ago accepted that his blue light filtering readers were a security risk, “I’ve already cleared it.” He says. “Neil’s safety?” Alex asks. “I’m Neil’s family and I got confirmation from Neil yesterday that this was the genuine article. Whoever AJamMacaron03 is cannot say the same. They could be an obsessive fan, they even live in Brooklyn like Neil.” He growls as there is another ping. “We’re not letting anyone else get in striking range of Neil.” He adds scowling as he typed another bid. AJamMacaron03. This is the screen name of Stuart Hatford’s nemesis. He comes around to look at the screen properly and there is Neil’s Millport High School jersey in all of its cheap glory. “Do you really need to win the bidding war? When we send someone to figure out what’s going on AJamMacaron03 won’t get to keep it.” He asks. “Yes, it’s important. I don’t want some freak defiling this jersey.” He hisses and there’s another ping as the amount goes up by $100.00. Bringing the total price to $12,300.00, “This is the beginning of Neil when he started becoming the man he is today. I won’t let some…degenerate defile something so important.” He says and the price jumps up by $100.00 again. Alex can accept that. Neil Josten’s tattered Millport jersey may as well be a christening dress for the Hatford family. Something precious and to be stored with careful attention. He was sure that this particular article wouldn’t be joining the wall in Stuart’s office. It’d be kept somewhere far more secure. “You know you could just wait to bid at the last second?” Alex tries. “It doesn’t work like that. It takes whoever made the most recent bid and there’s a timer for 2 minutes. If no further bids happen in 2 minutes, then the auction closes.” Stuart says and that explains why Stuart hadn’t gotten up once. He bids again. “You’re sure that the guy couldn’t just also be a big Neil fan?” Alex asks. It always gets messy when they do international hits. “The only people who know for sure that this is the genuine article are me, Neil, Andrew, and Neil’s old high school coach who is selling the damn thing.” Stuart snarls as another ping comes in. Andrew. Andrew Joseph Minyard. Andrew Joseph Minyard who likes sweets, who has been dating Neil for years, who lives in Brooklyn in a charming brownstone with Neil, and who was #03 both in college and professionally. “Are you sure it’s not Andrew?” Alex asks. Stuart stills before his eyes snap to Alex and then he’s pulling out his phone. He dials Neil, puts it on speaker, and returns his hands to the keyboard. It picks up on the 4th ring. “Neil.” “Wrong.” Comes from a voice that is not Neil. “Minyard,” Stuart says the name like a curse, and his scowl only deepens as he submits his bid and can hear the ping that had been plaguing the office all morning over the phone’s speaker. “Hatford.” Andrew returns, “One second, there’s something I need to do real quick.” Andrew says and there’s a rustling noise before AJamMacaron03 outbids Stuart again, “What do you want.” Andrew asks. “Why are you answering Neil’s phone? I need to speak with him.” Stuart stays but Alex can see the lines of fury coursing through his boss at the confirmation that he’d spent likely the better part of this morning bidding against his nephew’s boyfriend. “He’s sleeping,” Andrew answers. “Wake him up, I need to speak with him.” Stuart hisses. “This close to March 9th? I’m not waking him up, he needs his sleep.” Andrew says and Alex watches as Stuart’s face screws up in frustration. He vaguely remembers that this is the date that Neil had been taken to Baltimore years ago now. “So you’re going to have to talk to me instead.” He says. “What…do I need to give you for you to let me win?” Stuart asks and bids again. There’s the ping in the background of the call, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Andrew says and he must have had a bid ready because AJamMacaron03 outbids Stuart again. “I know you’re AJamMacaron03. Don’t play this game with me. I have people nearby who can keep you contained until this clock runs out.” Stuart hisses and bids again. A Ping through the speakers. “Neil’s asleep on my chest. You really going to trigger him like that?” Andrew asks idly, “He hasn’t slept for almost two days Hatford, you really want to feature in another bad memory?” he questions, and Andrew sounds as casual as he does cruel. For all that Alex knows Stuart, Andrew knows how to play Stuart because he knows just how weak the man, and the rest of the Hatfords are, to Neil. “Besides, I don’t know who AJamMacaron03 is,” Andrew says. AJamMacaron03 outbids Stuart again. “You-!” Stuart shouts but the words die in his throat when there’s a startled noise from the other end of the phone. “Drew-!” Neil’s voice came out fearful and Alex watches as Stuart seemingly shrinks into himself. Andrew shushes Neil and it’s always insane to hear how soft Andrew Minyard can sound when it is for Neil Josten. “Go back to sleep Junkie, there’s nothing you need to worry about.” Andrew’s voice is soothing and warm and there’s the unmistakable sound of a chaste kiss against nearby skin. AJamMacaron03 bids $3,000.00 higher instead of the $100.00 increases they’d been shooting back and forth. “Sorry,” Stuart says gritting his teeth and the other end is quiet for a long moment until there’s the sound of soft breathing. “I want to do something nice for my dear nephew’s partner. Is there anything that I could do or get for you?” Stuart asks and sends his bid. “The second week of September next year.” Andrew’s voice is sharp and immediate. Stuart blinks at how quickly the request comes out, he scowls as another bid from AJamMacaron03 comes in. “What about it?” Stuart asks and bids again. “I want the entire Hatford family free for that entire week next year.” He says and AJamMacaron03 bids again. “I don’t want there to be a single thing pulling the family away during that week unless it’s completely unavoidable like a death or a baby.” He says. “Why?” Stuart bids again. “You said you wanted to do something nice for Neil’s partner, didn’t you?” AJamMacaron03 outbids him again. “Fine. I’ll let the family know.” Stuart scowls and bids again. “You’ll also all need to come to the states. Figure it out in the lead-up. I’m giving you all the most warning.” He says and before Stuart can say anything back the line is dead. The two minutes pass. Stuart wins the Jersey for $16,800.00 which is still cheaper than it would have been to order a hit internationally. He’s not quite sure how the entire Hatford family is going to take an entire week off a year from now but it’s a deal made and the Hatfords won’t be the one to break it. Stuart chooses the most expensive and tracked shipping options for Neil’s jersey. It arrives 2 days later and Alex knows Stuart received it since the man had him checking the tracking data nearly hourly when he’d been nursing an eyestrain headache and couldn’t look at the screen. Alex never sees the Jersey in person but knows that it’s with all the other treasured family items that the Hatfords guard like dragons with a princess. He’s glad that a piece of Neil is finally home with his family.

****

It’s on March 11th that Alex is with Stuart when the man gets a breathlessly happy call from Neil that he puts on speakerphone so he can continue to work. “Andrew asked me to marry him yesterday!” Neil says voice bright, and his happiness is so obvious that even Alex finds himself smiling despite the dirty job he and Stuart were up to at the moment. “He proposed?” Stuart asks his own face warm with affection for his nephew. “Yeah!” Neil exclaims. “Well, congratulations Neil. He’s good for you, I’m glad he realizes that you’re good for him as well.” Stuart says and Alex doesn’t fault that the man has stopped digging for this conversation with his nephew. “Do you have any idea when you might have the wedding?” he asks. Alex lets out a laugh. Stuart looks at him and Alex doesn’t know how the man hadn’t connected the particular dots. “We’re thinking about a September wedding, but not this year. I kind of…want to be engaged for a little while.” Neil says embarrassed. Alex watches as Stuart goes still. “Uncle Stuart?” Neil asks. “If you invite us, we’ll all be there,” Stuart says and it always hurts Alex a little bit how Stuart never assumes his place in Neil’s life but knows that is 90% of the reason that Stuart has a place in Neil’s life. A place where Neil calls him to tell him that he’s engaged. “Of course, I want you all there but…will you all be able to come? I know with everything-” “Don’t worry about it. We’ll clear the calendar.” Stuart says as if there hadn’t already been a family meeting where they all marked that time completely off limits. “Really? Well then, I’ll make sure Andrew knows to send the invites.” Neil says and Alex can hear his smile, “I think Andrew might be kind of excited to plan the wedding.” Alex stifles a laugh. He’d be surprised if Andrew hadn’t already planned the entire event before he’d asked Neil to marry him. He’s sure that Andrew will go over all of it with Neil but everything Alex knows of Neil he’s sure that the other man will just be happy to do whatever Andrew wants. “He might be,” Stuart says diplomatically but the quirk of his lips lets Alex know that his boss has the same thoughts. “Let us know if you need any monetary support to have the wedding you want.” He adds. Neil laughs, “I think we’ll be okay, but I’ll let you know.” He says. “Good. Do you want me to tell the rest of the family or do you want to?” he asks. “Could you please let everyone know? I’d really appreciate it.” Neil asks. Stuart puffs up happily at the request, always glad to be Neil’s point of contact with the rest of the family, “Sure Neil.” He agrees. “Ok, thanks, Uncle Stuart,” Neil says. “Of course, Neil,” Stuart says back and hangs up. There’s a long silence as Stuart picks the shovel back up and resumes digging, “The little psycho could have just asked.” He huffs. “I think he didn’t want to feel like he or Neil owed you anything.” Alex offers because he’s finished digging his hole he stops. “I almost wish it had been a crazy stalker, then I wouldn’t feel like I had been played.” Stuart huffs but doesn’t mean it. “It’s not the worst thing.” Alex laughs. “No, I guess not,” Stuart says. “I’m going to get them a wedding gift that only Neil likes as revenge though. Maybe a very fancy treadmill or a lifetime supply of nicotine patches so he can quit smoking.” He huffs. Alex is not surprised the next day when he comes into Stuart’s office with a report to see the reflection of a large gift basket reflected in his blue light glasses. He’s even less surprised to see a large order of macarons placed for delivery to a cute brownstone in Brooklyn on the expense report.