1 Chapter 1: Banishment and new beginning

"Dad, I don't know why I'm like this." I can't stop crying, my own father doesn't love me anymore.

"Don't tell me like that again, I'm not your father" he says with his cold look full of disgust as if I were repulsive to look at. "You will not have an inheritance, I already took you out, now you are free and your name will no longer be said in this house, you are dead to this family"

My mother cries without intervening because she can't do anything against this man who is no longer my father. I leave the room, my legs feeling heavy.

I look at a picture on the wall of us as a real family, this is just a hypocritical facade. My blood boils with the rage and confusion I feel, from now on I will be alone, I have no family, they are ashamed of me.

I take out the knife that my father gave me to cut the fabric of the wooden painting and take the paint. My suitcases are already at the door of the mansion, so I take all the photos of the frames I find along the way before I leave.

I drive to a nearby mountain to burn away all my past, I don't want to be tormented by this anymore. I sit and watch the photos turn into ashes and I can't stop crying. Is there something wrong with me liking men? It's not my fault that I was born that way.

My phone starts ringing, it's my mother so I take the call.

"Mateo son, I'm so sorry, I won't leave you, you will always be my little one" tears roll down my cheeks, just what I needed.

"Mom, I need you," he spoke very quietly.

"I left some cards for you in the trunk, that's not your father's money but mine, spend what you need," she said sadly. "There's also a number, call him, he'll take care of you." "I will give everything to protect you, trust me, my little prince" she says before hanging up.

My mother has always been very good, too much for my father, they married out of convenience. I head towards the trunk, there is everything mom said, including the number.

My hands shake as I dial each number, because I know my life will change forever.

 "Hello" I'm he very nervous, my heart doesn't stop pounding.

"Hello Mateo, I'll wait for you at the airport, the flight leaves in an hour, move or I'll leave you"

He didn't let me answer, he just hung up on me, his voice is very hoarse, it's kind of scary, but it would be even worse if he leaves me. I get in the car and start driving as fast as I can.

I wonder what it will be like, I hope mom is right.

...

I arrive at the airport and take my luggage out of the car, I look around. I didn't ask him where in the airport we would meet, I'm embarrassed to call him again, I cover my face in shame.

"Hello"

I let my hands fall from my face and look at him shyly, I can't help but blush, he is a man of high status, he can tell by his clothes. He looks very educated, surely he is a businessman, he has a cold and calculating look, black hair and beautiful eyes.

"Are you mute? "

His question makes me feel very embarrassed, I was so distracted by his appearance that I did not respond to his greeting. Now I can only shake my head.

He frowns at my response.

"When I speak to you, you respond, understand?" she says in such an imposing manner that it gives me chills.

"It's okay, I just..."

"The flight is almost leaving and you're all dirty, did you get into a fight with a rat?"

My eyes widen at my appearance, my blue pants are dirty with dirt and my white shirt is full of ashes. When I set fire to the photos, I didn't realize that.

"I'll get changed"

"There's no time for that," he says before taking my luggage.

In no time we got on the plane in first class seats. I took the window side, I like to see the scenery when I travel, I haven't asked his name.

"My name is Mateo, what's your name?"

"I know your name is Mateo, my name is Ezequiel" the way he talks to me bothers me, but he will be my only company, so I have to get along with him.

"Nice name, where are we going?"

"For now we are going to settle in Japan, then we will move to other countries" he takes headphones out of his pockets.

"That's great! I speak many languages, it will be very fun" he ignores me and puts on his headphones, but I have so many questions, that I touch his arm, noticing his muscles.

"Hey, how old are you?" He looks at me intently.

"Am 26 years old"

"You're older, I'm 16, and what are we going to do in Japan?"

"Could you stop talking for a minute? I'm trying to relax a little," says Ezequiel angrily.

"I'm sorry" I see how he turns up the volume of his music "What music are you listening to?" He gives me a dirty look, so I decide to stay he still and look out the window.

My life is going to change, I don't know anything about ordinary life, I have always had money, I have never lacked anything, since I remember, I got what I wanted just by asking for it. I hope I can live an ordinary life now, my eyes slowly close and I fall asleep.

I feel my hair being pulled, so I slowly open my eyes.

"We're here, get up already"

I get startled when I see where I am, I forgot I was on the plane. I get up quickly, almost all the passengers have left, I am disoriented.

"You're a heavy sleeper" he lets out a smile that embarrasses me and I quickly get off the plane.

I had not seen him smile, his smile is very cute. When I walk through the airport, I notice everyone looking at me strangely. It seems strange to me until I remember that I he am very dirty , my new life started very strange.

"Where can I change?"

"At home, move"

I try to ignore people's prying eyes until I get to the car, I get in quickly and on the way I am surprised by how beautiful the street in Japan is. I used to come with my father, that's how I learned the language, he took me to all of his businesses and, if he signed a contract, he didn't take me to the parties, they left me at the hotel.

We stop at a cozy two-story traditional Japanese house. I get out of the car and stop to see the place, everything is so beautiful.

A beautiful ant passes on top of a stone, I sit down on my haunches to see how that small ant carries such a large piece of leaf. Another ant comes to help, I feel like I get a blow on the head when I turn around, it's Ezequiel with the luggage.

"What are you looking at?"

"An ant carries a leaf" pointed out the ant.

"Stop wasting time and help me with the luggage"

I'm going quickly to help him, he left me a very small suitcase. Upon entering the house I see how beautiful and spacious it is, everything is decorated in traditional Japanese style and has some paintings, it feels so cozy that it makes me feel at home.

"Which is my room?"

"It's in front of mine, over there" he points out a door and heads to the place, I follow him.

When we enter the room, it is not that big for my taste, it is small. He places the luggage on the floor and looks at me.

"From now on the game is different, I am not your nanny and neither is your father, you will have to earn things for yourself and you will work for me" my hands get cold, this is my reality, now I am a slave. "I don't want tantrums or anything, now you have to earn a living like an adult"

"I will work and behave well, I promise"

"I know you are good at business, you will be very useful to me"

"My father..." I was silent for a moment, he is no longer my father. "They taught me many things about finances and contract closing, I have been in it all my life."

"Perfect, get everything ready, see you at the table," he said, closing the door and leaving me he alone in that room.

I start to cry, I don't think I've ever cried so much for something. My mother sent me here and I trust my mom, I know he will keep me safe.

I start to unpack and put away my clothes, I look at myself in the mirror, red eyes, disheveled hair and dirty clothes. I undress and I'm left only in my underwear and socks, I take out of the suitcase the only photo that I didn't burn, the photo of my mother and me. We look so happy, I'll put it on the table.

This room makes me feel claustrophobic, I don't like very small places, I feel like they open the door and when I turn around there is Ezequiel looking at me.

"Get out," I yell at him as he covers my chest.

​"You know we're men, right? You don't have tits," she threw a pillow at him, which he dodges without problems.

"I know, but I don't like people looking at me, you have to knock on the door before you come in." I grab the sheet and cover myself.

"I just came to bring you your luggage," he places it on the floor and gives me one last look to laugh.

"Go away" I say very angry.

"I'm leaving" he leaves without closing the door.

"This idiot" I close the door tightly, I sigh a little to calm myself, he doesn't know what privacy is.

I go to bathe, the good thing is that I have my own bathroom, I turn on the tap and feel the water fall on my body. This is so relaxing, I see that there is nothing, no creams, no shampoo, just a soap. My stomach is growling, I'm so hungry, I don't know when the last time I ate was.

I get out of the shower, get dressed as quickly as I can and go downstairs. As soon as I go out, I smell a horrible smell, something is burning. I follow the smell and find Ezequiel with some burnt eggs and he is very upset.

"I'm going to order food," he says, resigned, dialing his phone.

"Don't worry, I'll cook" he nods and goes to the table with his laptop to work.

I go to the refrigerator and there is almost nothing, with the little that there is I prepare something.

...

"Prepare macaroni and cheese, the food is ready" I tell Ezequiel so he knows the food is ready.

Ezequiel gets up and looks at everything in amazement, he sits down to start eating.

"The food is very delicious" Ezequiel says while eating, he eats like a savage, it seems like he hasn't eaten in a long time.

"I'm glad you like it, there's almost no food, we should go shopping"

"Sounds good to me, tomorrow we'll go out for a bit"

After eating, she begins to explain to me what his business is about and what role I will play. I will be the partner, I am very excited about this.

"I would love to, I feel like we could form an empire" I he say excitedly as I lean back from the couch.

"You are different from your brothers, I thought you would be more arrogant and incompetent in business, I was wrong" Ezequiel says very calmly.

"I was raised differently than them, they always took me everywhere, and I helped, and I look more like mom" makes me feel nostalgic remembering my mother.

"It's hard to be abandoned by his family, I know what you feel" her gaze changes, I feel that his words are genuine, I let my head fall on his shoulder, I need a hug.

​"Sorry I asked, but why were you banished?" He places his warm hand on my head.

I hesitate a little to answer, I don't want the only person next to me to hate me, but I can't lie to him either.

"I'm... gay, my father doesn't accept that I'm different" I feel his arms wrap around me, it was just what I needed a hug, I hug him too, Ezequiel is so warm, I can feel his heartbeat, I could stay like this all my life .

"I don't care about your personal life, nor will I judge you for it, I just want you to be my right hand in business, in return I will protect you" stop hugging me" I don't want the hug to end and I cling to him.

"Stop hugging me" I need a little more love, I hug him again.

"Get away from me" tries to push me away.

"I don't want to," I cling to him more, he gets up and manages to get rid of me.

"I'm going to sleep, don't bother me" he says angrily and then leaves, although he seems very intimidating I think he is a good person, I still feel his warmth in my body.