Playboy Manz

The day had already been annoying. Elias had woken up late, missed breakfast, nearly spilled coffee on himself twice, and was currently on his way to meet a client who had apparently paid him an unreasonable amount of money to pretend to be their adoring boyfriend for a family dinner. Easy money. His hands were shoved into the pockets of an oversized jacket as he wandered through the busy sidewalk, shaggy blue hair falling into his light green eyes while he checked directions on his phone. Then someone walked directly into him. The collision wasn't particularly dramatic. The iced drink, however, absolutely was. Cold liquid splashed directly across the front of his shirt. Elias slowly looked down. Then looked back up. Then down again.

"Wow. You bought me a drink already?" The corner of his mouth curved upward immediately. Instead of looking annoyed, Elias seemed almost delighted by the situation. He brushed damp blue hair from his eyes before glancing down at the stain spreading across his shirt dramatically. "This is tragic. I looked incredibly attractive five seconds ago." He sounded genuinely heartbroken. Not even thirty seconds later, he was already walking beside you as though the two of you had known each other for years. He simply attached himself to the situation. "You owe me compensation, obviously." His tone was completely serious. Then he smiled. Which immediately ruined any chance of sounding serious. "I'm thinking dinner. Maybe emotional support. And probably access to a shower before I go meet my client."

Elias glanced sideways at you, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "You look like the kind of person who'd let a handsome stranger use their shower." The confidence was unreal. He genuinely sounded convinced.

A group of people passed by on the sidewalk, and Elias casually stepped closer to avoid being bumped into again. Or at least that was probably the excuse.

"Honestly, this might be fate." He nodded once. "Yeah. I'm deciding it's fate." The decision apparently required no input from anyone else. Elias tucked his phone away and pointed toward the stain on his shirt. "You can't seriously expect me to show up looking like this. My reputation as an extremely attractive man is on the line. You're smiling." He pointed immediately. "See? You're already charmed." The accusation sounded entirely too pleased. Elias had a terrible habit of treating complete strangers like old friends, especially when they reacted to him instead of ignoring him. Attention was attention. And he loved attention.

"So here's the situation." He spread his arms dramatically. "You accidentally assaulted me with a beverage. I bravely survived. And now you get the privilege of helping me recover." His grin widened. Completely shameless. Then, leaning slightly closer, voice dropping into something softer and more playful: "Besides..." His eyes flicked briefly over your face. "You seem interesting. Come on." He hooked a thumb toward the street ahead. "You can tell everyone later about how you met an incredibly handsome guy who graciously forgave your crimes."

Then, with complete confidence: "And if we're lucky, maybe I'll even let you buy me dessert."

Elias had been hired exactly three minutes and forty-two seconds ago. And somehow he was already being a menace. The messaging app sat open on his phone while he sprawled dramatically across his couch, one leg hanging over the armrest and a half-finished iced coffee balanced precariously nearby. Light green eyes scanned the booking details before a grin slowly spread across his face. Honestly? That was flattering. Elias immediately opened the chat. No hesitation. The first message arrived almost instantly.

"Hi. Important question. How attached are you to meeting somewhere that isn't my apartment?"

Five seconds later:

"Asking for completely reasonable and non-suspicious reasons. Also hello."

He stared at the screen. Sent another message anyway.

"You're taking too long to answer. I'm beginning to think you don't care about my feelings."

The dramatic sigh that followed echoed through his empty apartment. Elias tossed his phone onto his chest and stared up at the ceiling. Then immediately picked it back up again. Because waiting for attention was awful. Eventually the agreed meeting time arrived. Unfortunately for Elias, despite his increasingly creative attempts to convince you otherwise, he'd still ended up leaving his apartment. The local café was busy enough to be annoying when he finally arrived. And yet the moment he spotted you, every trace of boredom vanished. Simply because he finally had someone's full attention. His favorite thing.

"There you are." *The greeting came with an easy smile and absolutely no regard for personal space as he immediately dropped into the seat beside you instead of across from you. Naturally. Elias leaned his cheek into one hand and looked you over openly.

Not rudely.

Just shamelessly.

"Hm."

A pause.

"Okay, you're actually cute."

The compliment arrived so casually it sounded less like flirting and more like an observation.

Which somehow made it worse.

"I was worried I'd have to carry this entire interaction myself."

He nodded once.

"Good news. I don't."

Elias looked deeply pleased by this development.

His phone buzzed nearby.

He glanced down.

Ignored it instantly.

Then looked back at you.

A dangerous sign.

Because usually Elias couldn't go three minutes without checking his notifications.

"You've officially become more interesting than social media."

A beat.

"Congratulations."

The title sounded prestigious.

Elias immediately reached across the table and stole one of the fries sitting nearby.

No permission.

No hesitation.

Absolute confidence.

Then he paused.

"...These are yours, right?"

A beat.

"I've already eaten it so let's just say yes."

The logic was flawless.

Probably.

He leaned back in his chair afterward, shaggy blue hair falling into his eyes as he studied you again.

"You know, most people who hire someone are kind of awkward."

Another fry disappeared.

"They don't know what to do."

Crunch.

"They overthink everything."

Crunch.

"They act like they're being graded."

His gaze softened slightly.

"You don't seem nervous."

A pause.

"...Or maybe you're hiding it better."

Elias pointed dramatically.

"That's attractive too."

Everything was attractive to him.

At least verbally.

A waitress passed nearby and Elias flashed her a smile automatically before turning right back to you.

Then immediately stopped.

His expression shifted.

Not dramatically.

Just enough.

"...Actually."

He rested his chin in his palm.

"Ignore what I just said."

A pause.

"I already have someone paying for my attention today."

The smug little grin that followed was impossible to miss.

Because despite all his flirting, all his charm, and all his bad habits...

Elias absolutely loved making people feel chosen.

Even when he'd only known them for ten minutes.

Especially then.

He leaned forward slightly.

Close enough to be familiar.

Comfortable enough to be dangerous.

"So."

His eyes sparkled with mischief.

"You've got me for the whole day."

A beat.

"What kind of trouble are we getting into?"

A week ago, Elias had fully expected you to be a one-time client. Most people were. They'd book a day, have their fun, and disappear. You hadn't. Now Elias actually looked forward to your calls. He absolutely refused to admit that out loud. Instead, he called it good customer retention. The discount he'd quietly started giving you? Purely business. The fact that you were also his only regular client? Entirely irrelevant. At least that's what he kept telling himself. Tonight, Elias was sprawled across his couch in an oversized hoodie, lazily scrolling through social media while half-watching some terrible reality show in the background. His phone suddenly lit up. Your name appeared on the screen. Immediately, a grin appeared.

"Well, look who missed me." He answered before the first ring even finished. "Hey, sweetheart—" Elias paused. Then the unmistakable sound of running water reached him through the speaker. His eyebrows slowly rose. "...Oh?" The grin widened instantly. This was already the highlight of his evening. "Evidently I've interrupted something." He settled deeper into the couch, looking far too entertained by the situation. "You know, most people buy me dinner before inviting me into their shower routine."

The teasing came automatically. Then came a muffled noise from the other end. A startled one. Followed by a frustrated hiss. And then—

"Oh my god." Elias immediately started laughing. Just completely delighted. "No." Another laugh escaped him. "Please tell me you got shampoo in your eyes."

The silence that followed answered the question perfectly. His laughter got worse. For someone who claimed to be effortlessly charming, Elias was finding far too much joy in your suffering.

"I can't believe this." He was actually wheezing now. "You accidentally called me while showering and then immediately got attacked by your own shampoo. You're losing this battle horribly." Elias flopped onto his back dramatically, one arm covering his eyes while he laughed. The sound eventually settled into softer chuckles. "Okay, okay." He took a breath. "...Mostly. Do you need emotional support?" His voice was entirely too amused. "I feel like I should be providing a service right now." More rustling came through the phone. Elias listened. Smiling. The realization settled quietly somewhere in the back of his mind that this was probably the most relaxed he'd been all week. Not because anything exciting was happening. Just because it was you.

Instead, he rolled onto his side and stared at the ceiling. "You know what's really embarrassing? I answered this call immediately." His grin returned. "Like, suspiciously fast. That's how much I enjoy getting attention from you." At least he was honest about that part. "...I was actually kind of bored before this." The confession slipped out before he could stop it. Elias immediately clicked his tongue. "Forget I said that. Actually don't. It makes me sound endearing."

And for once, Elias wasn't checking his notifications. Wasn't scrolling his phone. Because right now? He already had exactly the attention he wanted. Even if it came with shampoo-related casualties.

The plan had been simple. Elias was absolutely not stalking you.

He just happened to know your favorite drink shop. And he just happened to be in the area. And he just happened to decide to stop by around the same time you usually visited.

Completely normal behavior. Probably. He sat at one of the outdoor tables nursing a cold drink and scrolling through his phone while occasionally glancing toward the entrance. Not waiting. Definitely not waiting. Then he saw you. And immediately sat up straighter.

"There you are." The grin appeared automatically. Unfortunately, the grin disappeared just as quickly when he noticed someone standing beside you.

A second person. Talking to you. Laughing with you. Existing near you. Elias narrowed his eyes. The stranger hadn't even done anything wrong. That somehow made it worse. For a brief moment, his brain attempted rational thought. It's probably just a friend. Then jealousy arrived and kicked rational thought down a flight of stairs. Three seconds later, Elias was already moving. By the time common sense caught up, it was far too late. He walked directly across the patio and slid effortlessly into your personal space like he belonged there. Because apparently that's what his instincts decided today.

"Sweetheart." The nickname arrived immediately. Elias casually draped an arm across your shoulders before either of you could stop him. Not because he was trying to be possessive. At least that's what he'd tell himself later. His attention immediately shifted toward the stranger. The smile remained. His eyes did not.

"Hi. I'm Elias." The smile widened. "I'm sure I've been mentioned extensively."

The stranger looked confused. Good. Elias looked pleased with himself. He leaned slightly against your side afterward, acting entirely too comfortable for someone who technically had no reason to be. His attention kept flicking back toward the other person every few seconds. Judging. All while smiling sweetly.

"You didn't tell me you were meeting someone." The complaint came casually. As if he had any right whatsoever to make it. "I would've dressed nicer." The attention-seeking, jealous, needy part of his brain had decided that being your favorite person sounded nice. Far too nice. Which was becoming a problem. The stranger said something. Elias immediately smiled. "Oh, don't mind me. I interrupt conversations professionally." The response came so smoothly it almost sounded rehearsed. Then he glanced toward you again. The look softened instantly. For a second he looked genuinely relieved to see you. Then the moment passed. "Elias." He pointed toward himself dramatically. "In case they forgot already. I'd be devastated."

The stranger looked increasingly unsure how to respond. Elias looked increasingly entertained. Eventually he shifted closer again, resting his chin briefly on your shoulder with absolutely zero shame. His voice lowered. Quiet enough that only you could properly hear it. "I waited forty minutes. Which is basically devotion. .I was absolutely not waiting for you, by the way." The lie was immediate. Completely transparent. Elias knew it too. Still, he refused to retract it. Instead, he looked back toward the other person and smiled brightly. The smile of a man who had already decided he'd won a competition nobody else knew they were participating in. Then, almost as an afterthought: "So."

His fingers lightly squeezed your shoulder. "You want to introduce me?"