Dani stepped into the fancy café with a big smile, his long hair tied back in a loose ponytail that swayed with each step. The place smelled like fresh coffee and sweet pastries, and sunlight poured through tall windows, making everything look bright and happy. He spotted Jalen Carter right away at a corner table, the famous music star looking even hotter in person—tall with smooth dark skin, a sharp jaw, and eyes that sparkled like they held secrets. Jalen stood up when he saw Dani, giving him a warm hug that lasted a bit too long. "Dani Voss, you look even more beautiful than your pictures," Jalen said with a grin, his voice deep and smooth like one of his hit songs.
Dani laughed it off and sat down, used to compliments like that from fans and friends. "Thanks, Jalen. Let's talk about the painting for your wedding. I have some ideas sketched out." He sat down and pulled out his notebook, getting right into work mode...this was afterall what they were there for...hr flipped to pages filled with colorful drawings of love and music notes twisting together. Jalen leaned in close, his shoulder brushing Dani's as he looked at the sketches.
"Come on darling aren't you going to order something?" He whispered to Dani and from the corner of his eyes, Dani shot him a condescending glare that sent a heavy message instantly, he wasn't really in the mood...but Jalen Carter wasn't going to go back down that easily...if he was someone to...he never would have gotten to the top of the chain and so he leaned in again for another flirting session
"These are amazing. But seriously, your eyes are like art themselves— so pretty and full of life." Dani nodded politely, focusing on the details like colors and sizes, but Jalen kept slipping in more flirts, calling him
"gorgeous" and "irresistible" every few minutes.
At first, Dani didn't mind—it happened a lot with people who admired his work or his looks. He sipped his orange juice and explained how the painting could capture Jalen's love story with his fiancée, making it special for their big day. Jalen nodded, but his eyes stayed on Dani's face more than the notebook. "You know, Dani, you're the kind of beautiful that stops hearts. I could stare at you all day." Dani felt a tiny twitch of annoyance but kept smiling, steering the talk back to the job. They agreed on a big canvas size and some gold accents to match the wedding theme.
As they ate their brunch—fluffy pancakes for Dani and eggs for Jalen—the flirts got bolder. Jalen reached across the table to tuck a stray hair behind Dani's ear, his fingers lingering. "Has anyone told you today how stunning you are? Because you are." Dani pulled back a little, his smile fading. He was used to attention, but this felt too much, like Jalen wasn't listening to the business part. "Let's focus on the contract," Dani said firmly, pulling out papers to sign. Jalen chuckled, signing his name with a flourish, but his eyes never left Dani's.
The talk turned to payment and deadlines, but Jalen leaned in closer, his voice dropping low. "Dani, I have to be honest. I'm bisexual, and my fiancée knows all about it. She's cool with it." Dani blinked, surprised, but stayed quiet as Jalen kept going. "We both think you're perfect. We want to add you—to make us a throuple. You'd have everything: money, wealth, trips around the world. Whatever you want." The words hung in the air like a bad smell, and Dani's stomach twisted with shock.
Dani felt his face heat up, not from shyness but from anger bubbling inside. How dare Jalen think he could buy him like that? He pushed his chair back, standing up tall. "That's not funny, Jalen. I'm here for work, not to be your toy." Jalen's grin faltered, but he tried to laugh it off. "Come on, it's a great offer. Think about it—you'd be set for life." Dani shook his head, grabbing his notebook and papers. The flirts that seemed harmless now felt like slaps, disrespectful and gross.
"I don't need your money or your weird ideas," Dani said, his voice steady but sharp. He felt insulted deep down, like Jalen saw him as something to collect, not a real person with his own life and love. Frederick might have his flaws, but he never treated Dani like a prize to win. Jalen reached out to stop him, but Dani stepped back. "The deal's off. Find another artist." He turned and walked out, heart pounding but head high, the café door swinging shut behind him.
Outside, the fresh air hit Dani like a cool wave, calming his racing thoughts. He pulled out his phone, ignoring the buzz of missed messages, and hailed a cab. Part of him wondered why people like Jalen thought they could have everything, but he pushed it away. He was proud of who he was—queer, talented, and not for sale. As the cab drove off, Dani leaned back, letting the city blur by, feeling stronger for saying no.
Back at the café, Jalen sat alone, staring at his half-eaten eggs, the contract papers crumpled on the table. He hadn't expected that fire in Dani's eyes, that firm rejection. Maybe he'd gone too far, but offers like that usually worked. He sighed, picking up his phone to call his fiancée, wondering if they'd find another painter in time.
Dani arrived home later, kicking off his shoes and flopping onto the couch. Frederick wasn't back yet, so the quiet let him think. The brunch had been a mess, but it reminded him of what he valued—respect, real love, not flashy promises. He smiled a little, pulling out his sketchbook to draw something new, turning the bad day into art. Life went on, one brushstroke at a time.