“Now can I panic?” asked Eric as the three of them sat around their living room.
“No!” ordered Joey. “We do what we should of done in the first place and that’s go after him!”
*~*~*
“Cheer up Lance,” ordered Chris as the two of them at lunch together. “JC will be back sooner than you know it.”
“Yeah,” sighed Lance unhappily. JC had left that morning for a three-day business trip to LA and Lance was already missing him like crazy.
In the past month, Lance had turned down working for Chris and instead started working for Chasez Enterprises while taking correspondent classes from the local collage in business. After breakfast that first day, JC had told Lance the story on how he became so rich. Lance learned that JC was the sole heir to Chasez Enterprises, a company that had been in family for generations and owned the majority of five stars hotels, restaurants and other attractions in the Orlando area. JC had gained control of the company at eighteen when his parent’s tragically died in a car accident. However, he had no desire to run the company on a daily bases, but knowing the company had met a lot to his parents and grandparents, JC decided to kept it with overseeing all operations while his godfather, Tom Diamond, who had also been his father’s best friend, ran the company. Lance was currently training to be Tom’s future replacement.
“The first day is always the hardest,” replied Lance, forcing a smile.
*~*~*
The second day however was equally as hard for Lance however as it was the first morning in over a month that he had woken up alone.
Trying to take his mind off JC, Lance quickly showered and dressed before heading out in his 4Runner. At first JC had offered to buy Lance his own car, but Lance had refused saying it was too much money, despite the fact he knew it was pocket change to JC. They then however, decided that the silver 4Runner that JC barely used would be Lance’s vehicle but Lance knew he was allowed to drive any of JC’s cars if he wanted to.
That morning Lance was scheduled to meet with Tom and they were to visit a few of the hotels on a surprise visit to see if the managers were completing all their duties. Then in the afternoon Lance wanted to start working on a paper and he hoped that day’s activities would distract him from missing his lover.
*~*~*
“Follow my lead,” whispered Eric as he walked into the lustrous hotel with Joey and Randy. The trio had driven all night to get from Chicago to Orlando and Eric assured them that he would get them a fancy hotel suite for them to stay at while they searched for Lance.
“Can I help you?” asked the hotel clerk as Eric walked up to the front desk followed closely by Joey and Randy.
“Yeah, we’re the contest winners,” replied Eric. “And we’re really beat. We’d just like to go up to our room right now.”
“Excuse me?” asked the hotel clerk. “Contest? I’m sorry but I need to get my manager. I’ll be right back.”
A few minutes later a tall man returned with a nametag that read ‘Jake’ and ‘Manager’ under his name.
“I’m sorry sir, but you have the wrong hotel,” announced ‘Jake’. “We are expecting no contest winners.”
“What the hell are you talking about!” protested Eric, just as another man was walking over to the front desk. “I won this contest, two months ago! It was for an all expenses paid trip to Orlando, at this hotel, for me and two of my friends. We’re here and we want our room!”
“Give them a room,” ordered the other man to Jake. “Free of charge.”
“Lance?!?!?” cried Joey in surprise, recognizing his friend, but Lance ignored him, keeping his glaze on Jake.
“And who are you?” sneered Jake. “Whoever you are, don’t try and tell me how to do my job!”
“And if you want to keep your job you’ll do as I say,” replied Lance, wishing that Tom was there but Tom had informed him that morning that he wanted Lance to do the hotel expecting himself, so that he would gain a feel on how to run things, plus all the managers would recognize Tom right away when they did not yet know who Lance was.
“You can’t fire me,” smirked Jake. “I’m dating Cindy Diamond, the daughter of Tom Diamond who runs the hotel.”
“Good for you,” replied Lance dryly before turning his attention to clerk standing next to Jake. “Jennifer?” asked Lance reading her nametag. “Would you please show my friends to suite while I take care of matters here?”
“Yes, sir,” nodded Jennifer, unlike Jake, she actually paid attention to her job and had heard that, the owner, JC Chasez was dating a blond, young man, with green eyes who was now working for the company.
“Guys, come back down in a few minutes after you see the room,” ordered Lance and his three friends nodded their heads speechless before following Jennifer away.
“You can’t do this!” cried Jake as Lance walked behind the desk and into the small office behind it wanting to continue his conversation with Jake in private.
“Get this straight,” hissed Lance. “I don’t care who you date, if you’re not doing your job you will be fired!”
“Fuck you, faggot!” spat Jake. “Get your gay ass out of my hotel and go get fucked in the ass!”
“You’re fired,” replied Lance coldly. “Because I’m sure that Joshua Chasez would love to know that he’s paying the salary of a person who just called his boyfriend a faggot.”
“Fuck you!” hissed Jake again before storming out of the office and out of the hotel.
When Jake had gone, Lance collapsed in the nearest chair and tried to hold back his tears but it was hopeless.
“Are you okay sir?” asked a voice after a few minutes and Lance looked up to find that the girl, Jennifer had returned and was now standing in front of him in the office with a concern look on her face.
“Yes,” nodded Lance, clearing his throat and wiping his eyes. “Can you tell me when the assistant manager is going to be in?”
“I doubt that he will be,” answered Jennifer. “Whenever a spot opened Jake would hire his friends for the job but then they would never show up.”
“Then do you thing you could handle being acting manager until a replacement can be found?”
“Yes sir,” informed Jennifer. “I was manager at another hotel owned by Chasez Enterprises before I became sick and had to quit a about year ago. When I was over my illness, six months ago, Mr. Diamond offered me this job since it was the only one available.”
“Good,” nodded Lance. “I’ll inform Mr. Diamond on what happened here today once I leave. Did my friends enjoy their room?”
“Yes sir,” replied Jennifer. “They’re waiting for you in the lobby.”
“Thank you Jennifer,” smiled Lance. “And none of this sir stuff, you’re probably older than I am. I’m Lance, Lance Bass.”
“Nice to meet you,” grinned Jennifer. “I hope that you and Mr. Chasez are happy together.”
“We are,” replied Lance softy before exiting the office to meet his friends.
“Lance!” cried Joey and Eric happily, wrapping him in a tight hug.
“Hey Lance,” added Randy, slightly more calmer than the other two.
“What are you guys doing here?” asked Lance happily forgetting Jake’s words.
“Looking for you!” cried Joey. “You left without telling anyone a month ago and haven’t bothered calling since!”
“What are you talking about?” asked Lance. “I called Eric’s voice mail every week!”
“You did?” asked Eric while Joey and Randy glared at him. “I guess I should start checking it huh?”
“That might be a good idea,” nodded Lance with a smile.
“So what have you been up to?” asked Randy. “You had authority in there.”
“I’ve been going back to school and working for Chasez Enterprises,” replied Lance shyly. “They own the hotel. I’ve been expecting various hotels and restaurants morning.”
“Lucky us,” grinned Eric.
“Yeah since Eric almost got the cops called on us for that little stunt in there,” laughed Joey.
“So when do you get off work?” asked Randy.
“Now actually,” replied Lance. “This was the last place I had to check. I was then going to head home to work on a paper, but I guess I can hang with you guys for a while though.”
“Cool,” grinned Eric. “You can show us all the hot spots to pick up chicks!”
“I really don’t know where those places are,” admitted Lance while blushing.
“That’s right Eric,” added Joey, smirking at Lance. “He has a girlfriend remember? At least that’s what he told Abby, aka, the girl of his dreams.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” sighed Lance.
“So she dumped you?” asked Eric. “I know what that’s like, but women is like the train. You miss one and there’s another one along in five minutes.”
“Look guys,” sighed Lance as he led them towards the 4Runner and hopped in with his friends close behind him. “There’s something I have to tell the three of you.”
“What?” asked Joey as Lance pulled out onto the street.
Before Lance could answer a car came out of nowhere and sped full speed, slamming into the driver’s side of the 4Runner, before racing off again.
The force of the impact, threw the 4Runner onto it’s side and the last thing that Lance remembered before blacking out was the glass cutting into his flesh and thoughts of JC.