Cliffs

“No, no thanks, I think I’ll pass on this one.” Tyler backed away from the older man, who was beckoning to a point where one could see over the infamously deep Jinka Cliff.

“Are you sure? It’s quite the experience, quite the experience, and very safe, naturally…as an aside, there’s a lovely little tourist shop-“

“No, thank you, but I think I’ll just wait here.” The man looked at Tyler bemusedly. He had been hoping the boy would come up, look at the cliff, buy some things from the shop…incidentally, the man’s wife worked there, and the man had already made up his mind that this rich boy would be the one to sell the crystal cliff sculpture too (ridiculously overpriced), since he was obviously loaded.

“Are you sure?” the man’s question died away as he felt a cool hand grip his shoulder and he turned to face two piercing green eyes.

“Mr. Bates has made it quite clear that he has no interest in your stupid little tourist trap. I would encourage you to run along now, or I could help you run along, and I’m sure you don’t want that.” The man gave a gasp, but not because of the threat. His mouth fell open.

“The Mr. Bates? Mr. Tyler Bates? Of Bates Incorporated?” The man stared at Tyler curiously, as if looking at some prehistoric creature. One more look from the piercing green eyes silenced him again, and he ran up to the shop on the cliff face to tell his wife about the important person he had seen.

“Jake, there was really no cause for that. “ Tyler spoke quietly as he turned to face his advisor and friend. His voice held a quiet authority, assured, without being pompous.

However, his the confidence that usually covered his face like a mask kept flicking away with his eyes as every now and again he would turn to the Jinka Cliff.

“I certainly got a laugh out of it. Did you see that fat old man? He’s probably running up to his tiny wife or something, to tell her all about the big, important person he saw! Pathetic.” Jake looked a lot different from Tyler. His body was more streamlined and muscular, but he walked almost hunched, as if he was trying to hide himself. Or something else.

Tyler liked his friend, but it always unnerved him to see Jake’s crueler side. They had grown up together, under the shadow of Tyler’s billionaire father. Jake had been adopted at a young age, almost as a publicity stunt, to show Bates senior’s ‘concern for other countries.’ Jake had been promptly handed off to the nanny. Tyler, on the other hand, was the apple of his father’s eye. Tyler was always in the limelight with his father, while Jake stood behind if he stood at all, hidden in the shadows, virtually unnoticed by the stream of press who asked thousands of questions about business policy, plans for the future, and all the usual crud.

“Tyler, mate, you really gotta get over this fear of heights you have. What’s so scary about looking down a cliff face? It’s supposed to be majestic and whatnot.”

“I’m not scared of heights!” Here they were, back to that same old argument. Ever since they were little, Tyler had been afraid of heights. And ever since Jake had become aware of it, he would ask why, only to hear Tyler deny the fear that was plain to see in his widened eyes. Each time, Jake would dare Tyler to prove it. Never once had he been able to.

However, today was different. Tyler sat up straighter. He was not that little kid anymore. He had not been since the death of his father, when he had inherited the company. Now, the time had come to finally prove it. He looked to Jake, waiting for the age old dare…

“Prove it.” Jake said. He waited a few moments to see Tyler’s reaction, then laughed when he saw what he thought was a look of defeat. Tyler recoiled from the laughter, visibly upset.

“Fine then. I will prove it.”