Ronald stood beside his son, staring down into his sleeping face. He looked so much like his mother, it made the older man feel melancholy. He glanced around the room at the empty beer bottles, his discarded clothes and the aroma of liquor, then frowned. The boy was bordering on alcoholism, and that scared the hell out of him. He’d seen what happened to men once they gave into temptation and he did not want that for Haden.

Closing his eyes, Ronald said a prayer that he was doing the right thing for his child. He fought the desire to take back all that he had told Haden the night before, mentally assuring himself that he was doing the right thing by the boy. In the silence of the room, he quietly began to pray.

“Oh, heavenly father,” he whispered, crossing himself as if caressing the savior’s cross. “Strengthen my son to overcome the corruptions of the world and to resist all solicitations to evil. Soften his heart and open his mind and forgive me for what I am about to do to him.”

He crossed himself again then drew a deep breath and reached down to Haden’s strong shoulder. He gently shook him, frowning when he grunted and tried to roll away. He again shook him, more forceful than before, and tried to smile as his son opened his eyes. He struggled to focus his blurry gaze on his father, then moaned and covered his face with his large arm.

“It’s time to wake up son,” he told the man, frowning when he grunted angrily.

“It’s too damn early,” Haden grumbled weakly. “Come back in a few hours.”

“I can’t do that. The ship is heading back to shore, and you and I still have a lot to discuss.”

Haden slowly uncovered his eyes, frowning up to his father. He had to concentrate hard, but the past evening’s conversation slowly began to drift through the haze of alcohol, and he groaned as if in pain.

“Come on, Haden,” Ronald said in a stern voice. “You need to get showered and dressed. I’ll meet you on the deck in thirty minutes.”

Haden struggled to sit up as his father turned and walked out of the room. He fell back against the pillow with a growl. There was no way in hell the man actually expected him to go through with this crazy idea. It was beyond bizarre, it was inexplicably weird.

Forcing him to work at a supermarket as a box boy was obtuse and obscene. There was no chance in hell he’d agree.

Pulling himself up out of bed, Haden struggled to stand on legs of rubber, then staggered into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and stepped beneath it, feeling the sting of the water against his tender flesh. He took a few long minutes to allow the moisture to wash his brain clear, remembering everything his father had told him the night before.

He could explain his actions over the past eight years, but he didn’t think his father deserved to hear it, and his own anger was too strong to allow him to tell him. Despite the money he’d spent, he could prove he wasn’t as bad as he was being accused of, but what was the point. Even if he wanted to object, there was no chance he’d win the argument this year. His father had his mind made up, and he was going to have to agree or find himself having to rely on his own resources, with little more than his looks and a name that no longer held meaning for him.

Ronald sat on the deck watching the stairs for Haden. Their conversation last night did not end as well as he had secretly hoped, but it was far from being finished.

He nodded to Franz who sat his plate in front of him. He’d already asked the others to leave him alone when Haden joined him for breakfast. He had to inform him of the rest of his plans and the conditions he set on him before they reached the docks. He knew, as angry as Haden had been last night, it was only going to get worse.

Ten minutes passed by, then fifteen. Ronald was about to go back down to his son’s room and dump a bucket of ice on him to get him up when the man stepped up the stairs. He was dressed, his hair wet and his beard trimmed neatly. The aroma of his cologne drifted among the breeze as he pulled the chair out and sat down.

Without looking to Ronald, he snapped the napkin open and placed it across his lap. As if by mental summonsing, Franz returned to the table with Haden’s breakfast plate. He sat it in front of him, ignoring the tense silence that embraced the two. He filled their coffee cups then politely excused himself and left the deck before fists began to fly.

“How did you sleep?” Ronald asked his son, concentrating on the French toast in front of him rather than the man.

“Wonderful,” Haden answered sarcastically. “In the span of twenty-four hours, I went from being the son of a caring man to feeling like an orphan cast out to the streets. But that was your intentions all along, wasn’t it? Snatch away my entire life because I told you no, one too many times.”

“I never meant to make you feel like that,” Ronald said with a frown. “I want you to live a normal life and be the man I know you’re capable of being. I love you and I’m worried about you.”

“Do you even know the meaning of the word?” Haden asked, no longer guarding his words for the sake and respect of his father. “You don’t care what kind of life I live, so long as it’s lived the way you think it should be. Because I’ve turned down ownership of your company, you’ve decided to abandon me to a world I was never meant to be a part of. A box boy, Dad? What the fuck were you thinking?”

“I was thinking about a job that would provide you with stability. There is nothing wrong with manual labor. I was a stocker for three years, and it gave me a stable start in life. It taught me to respect the dollar and offered me an understanding of what work truly was.”

“So now you expect me to follow in your footsteps? Why the hell did I go to college, if you were just going to stick me in the backroom of a grocery store?”

“Because I had hoped you would learn what it took to make yourself successful. Instead, you learned how to create the ultimate alcoholic beverage that would make a woman want to take her clothes off.”

Ronald stood from his seat, tossing the cloth napkin on his plate and storming off down the stairs. He knew Haden was going to be angry, having had the night to consider all that he was doing to him, but he had never considered he’d be rude and insolent. He thought they understood each other better than that, but now he was beginning to wonder if he knew his son at all. After all, he’d said a few moments ago, Ronald was more determined now than ever to see his plans through.

The sound of footsteps on the floor behind him, made Ronald turn to see Haden step into the parlor. He was still angry, and it showed on his face, but he could also see the shame in his eyes. His son was many things, but he was never disrespectful. Until now.

“Dad, I’m sorry, but I honestly don’t know what the hell you want from me. Okay, so I’ve lived a life you would never have considered for yourself, but it’s what I wanted for me. I like traveling, I like women, and I love…well, let’s just say I enjoy what they can do for me.”

“Son, there’s more to life than sex. You have to understand what it’s like to work for a living. There is a fear of not having enough, not knowing when you’ll be able to afford new shoes, or when your next meal is going to be. I will never allow you to suffer, but you have to understand how the other half of life lives.”

“But a year, Dad? That’s a sentence worse than death. How the hell am I supposed to live like a bum for twelve months?”

Ronald drew a deep breath, then ran his hand through his grey streaked hair. Perhaps he was being a bit harsh. After all, expecting a man like Haden to live the life of celibacy and sobriety would be harder than forcing him down the aisle with the next woman he met.

“I’ll make you an agreement,” he said, at last, sitting down on the sofa. “If you can make it for six months, we’ll renegotiate the conditions. Survive for a full year, and I’ll give you back everything you had yesterday.”

Haden sat down in the chair across from his father and drew a deep breath. Like the older man, he ran his large hand through his hair and sighed again. If he was willing to renegotiate his own terms, perhaps he would be able to convince him to reduce his sentence to time served.

“What are the conditions?” he asked at last.

Ronald stared at his son for a long moment before walking to the desk he used whenever he had work to do. He removed a file and returned to his seat. He stared at Haden for a moment longer, then opened the folder.

“These conditions cannot be broken, or the deal is off, and I’ll be forced to contact my attorney and have my new will notarized,” he said sternly.

“You’ve already written to me out of your will?” Haden asked with a frown.

“It will only become official if you don’t follow my requests. Haden, you give me no other choice. I cannot continue to support you like I have the past year.”

“What are the conditions?” Haden asked again, fighting the urge to tell his father what he’d been doing all these months.

“First off, nobody can know that you’re my son,” Ronald began with another deep breath. “If they did, you could be at risk of criticism or even abuse or assault. I will not allow your safety to be jeopardized because some back-alley creep may think you’re the means of an easy paycheck.”

“Agreed,” Haden answered.

He wasn’t eager to have his neck put on the line for a job, and he wasn’t about to cause harm to his father’s name in the process. As angry as he may be right now, he still loved the man and he would protect his name at all costs, just as he always had.

“I’ll let you look over this list, and understand Haden, these conditions are not up for negotiation.”

Haden nodded, then accepted the paper his father handed him. He began to read the list of conditions, a frown pulling across his eyes. His father had seen into his mind and recognized several avenues of escape he’d been secretly considering.

1. You cannot quit your job or cause yourself to be terminated.

2. You cannot transfer stores or ask for a transfer.

3. You cannot call in sick without a physician’s note or take off from work without prior notification.

4. You must arrive to work on time and follow the rules without argument.

5. You cannot fraternize with female coworkers in any fashion other than friendship, on or off the clock.

6. You cannot drink while at work, or over-drink on work nights or on the weekends.

7. You cannot get a woman pregnant, or get married, without permission and a signed prenuptial agreement.

8. You cannot deliberately destroy the apartment or car.

9. You cannot gamble.

10. You cannot accept money from Aaron Nielsen or any friend who may offer it.

11. You cannot take out a loan or pawn, hock, or sell any personal items.

12. You cannot move anyone into the apartment with you.

13. You can only purchase 1 new outfit a month, and 1 new pair of shoes.

14. You cannot purchase, or have friends purchase, more than one case of beer or 2 bottles of alcohol per month.

15. You cannot fall behind on bills or car insurance.

16. You can only have 1 date per pay period.

17. You cannot use any toy deemed off-limits.

18. You cannot post anything about your arrangements or conditions on any social media forum or email them to friends.

19. You cannot discuss your true identity with anyone.

20. You must continue good health maintenance.

21. You must continue a normal exercise routine.

22. You will be allowed a single cellphone with limited contacts and data and you must maintain the bill.

23. You must visit the mansion for supper every Sunday at 6:00 pm.

“You seem to have covered all the basis, except how many times I’m allowed to take a shit,” Haden grumbled, tossing the paper back to his father.

“There are reasons behind each and every item, Haden,” Ronald told him.

“How am I supposed to pay my bills without a bank account?”

“I have already obtained a pre-paid debit card for you, and you’re to give me your credit cards and cash,” he answered, handing a plastic card to his son. “Since you will be using your mother’s name, but you do not have ID under that name, it would be best if you had your check automatically deposited to the card. I’ll help you obtain a new driver’s license if you need one. I have put five hundred dollars on it to get you started, and to hold you over until your first paycheck. I have also arranged to have your apartment stocked with food, and since you don’t know how to cook, you have a fridge filled with microwave dinners.”

“That was very generous,” Haden told his father with a deep breath, though his tone was not as sarcastic as it had been a little while ago.

The sound of the engines slowed, and Ronald glanced through the open doors to see the yacht pulling into its berth. There were still a few things Haden needed to be told, but he wasn’t sure if he should just let him see them for himself, or prewarn him.

“Where is this apartment you’ve rented?” Haden asked, ignoring where they were, or what was happening around them as he pulled out his wallet and handed him the items he had demanded.

“It’s not as bad as you’re thinking. It’s a nice place with a pool, jacuzzi, and an exercise room, though it is much smaller than what you’re used to.”

Ronald took the large stack of cash and the plastic cards, then gave his son a copy of the rental lease, the account number of the utilities in his new name, and all the information on how to access his debit card. He handed him a basic cellphone in a flip-open style, then gave him two sets of keys and stood up.

“You’d better grab your things,” he told Haden. “I’ll take you to your apartment and help you settle in before you have to go to the store and meet with your new manager.”

Haden watched his father walk down the hallway before he closed his eyes and sighed. He only conceded because he felt bad for yelling at his father, but he still couldn’t help feeling like this was all just a nightmare.

A few short days ago, he had everything life could offer him. He had plans of catching a plane to Ireland and seeing how many young beauties he could lure into his web of debauchery and perversion. Now, he was trying to contemplate how the hell to stock a shelf in an overly exaggerated flee market.

Ronald was waiting when Haden joined him, his bag across his shoulder and his sunglasses hiding the sun’s glare from his eyes. He watched the younger man come up on deck, glancing at Sigmund and Franz who discreetly disappeared back into the galley.

“Ready to go?” he asked his son, his tone cheerful and filled with as much optimism as he could force into it.

“Do I have a choice?” Haden grumbled, and Ronald frowned.

There was only one time in his life that he could remember his son sulking, and that was when he was ten and was told he couldn’t go to Aaron’s house for the night. They had buried his mother the week before, and as much as Haden needed his friends, that was how much Ronald needed his son.

But this was different. He was actually pouting about having everything arranged for him. Ronald knew Kelly’s boys would have loved to have what he was giving Haden. What kid wouldn’t want a guaranteed job, their own apartment – complete with food to last a month – furniture, and even a cellphone? If he had been anyone other than the son of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, he would have been delighted, and Ronald knew it.

“Cheer up,” Ronald told his son as they walked off the ship. “It’s not going to be as bad as you think. Your apartment is filled with good-looking single women, and it’s close enough to the store that you can walk when the weather is nice. It’s even close to the beach.”

“Great. I’ll be able to visit it every weekend when I’m not cleaning the house or having supper with my rich father.”

“You’re making this out to be worse than it is. Who knows what the next few months will bring for you. You may find yourself a lucky man and discover the woman you’ve been searching the world for.”

“Only if you approve of her, you mean. I’m almost afraid to bring a woman around you. The next thing I know, you’ll have me at the alter with no way out.”

“Marriage isn’t as bad as you think. I had twelve amazing years with your mother, and I wouldn’t trade a single memory for anything.”

“Mom was different,” Haden said as they walked up the wooden planks toward their cars. “She had the smile of an angel and the patience of a saint. She had to, to put up with you.”

“Do you understand why I’m doing this?” Ronald asked, stopping his son and turning to him, a deep frown pulling his brows down across his eyes.

“Because you want to control me. What other reason is there?”

Ronald sighed. His eyes took on a haunted expression as he turned and continued walking. He had hoped his son would understand that he was doing all of this to help him, but instead, all he saw was what he was giving up.

The two made their way up to the parking lot in silence. Ronald saw his Tesla sitting in the reserved stall beside the dark blue Honda. Haden looked around the parking lot and frowned. With everything else that had happened over the past twelve hours, the last thing he needed was to find his car stolen.

“Where the hell is my Lamborghini?” he asked, ignoring the Honda sitting in his parking stall.

“It has been confiscated under the description of any toy deemed off-limits,” Ronald told him. “I bought you the Honda HRV, which is economical, safe, and perfect for a man on a limited budget.”

“You have got to be joking?” Haden asked, staring at his father as if he’d just sprouted a second head. “You replaced my six hundred-thousand-dollar cars with this…this…POS?”

“It’s a good car, Haden, and right now it’s all you can afford. Be thankful you don’t have a car payment.”

“I’m living in a nightmare from hell. My father has lost his mind, and I’ve lost my car.”

“Try driving it before you throw a fit. I’ll escort you to your apartment. I’ve already had your clothes and shoe collection taken over, and after you’ve finished with your interview, you can relax at your pool.”

“This is all just a joke, isn’t it?” Haden asked, praying that his father was pulling some kind of prank on him. “None of this is real. It’s just your idea of a birthday hoax.”

“I gave you the keys,” Ronald answered with a deep sigh. “I’ll show you the way to the apartment, but you’d better hurry. You only have an hour and a half before your interview and being late or skipping it will not change my mind.”

Haden watched his father unlock his sleek black car and climb in behind the wheel. He deposited his satchel in the seat next to him and started the engine, then stared out the windshield to his son.

Reluctantly, Haden walked to the small blue car and removed the keys his father had given him. He hadn’t even bothered looking at them at the time, but if he’d paid attention to them on the boat, he may have thrown the old man overboard.

Pressing the remote on the key fob, he listened to a soft, almost feminine beeping, then rolled his eyes. He opened the door and glanced around at the upholstered seats then tossed his bag into the back and sat down. The seat had already been adjusted for his height, but the car seemed like a shoebox as he looked around to familiarize himself with the console. He slipped the key into the ignition and turned it, growling at the soft purr-like noise of the engine.

Glancing once again at his father, praying he was laughing and begging a cameraman to materialize from behind a tree, he watched as the Tesla pulled out of the stall. With a disbelieving grunt, Haden followed his father, fighting the urge to run him off the road.

He had a horrible feeling this was just the tip of the iceberg his father had led him to, and things were going to get a lot worse. There was no hope in sight and no end to the hell that had been forced on him. The most he could hope for was to die in his sleep before his father could think up another form of torture for him to endure.