I wonder if their policy of a cover charge or a promise to perform is hurting them.Briefly, I consider buying the place before I remember I don’t want that kind of responsibility.I’ve worked enough for one lifetime, possibly two.
Now it’s time to play, so I have my driver take me to the Tyler Analytics building.
Even though it’s pushing midnight, I know Kingston is still at work.Something’s going on with him—he just scowled the entire time we were at Vice, even when I pointed out the threesome that we’d seen on the dance floor—they’d moved up to one of the private rooms and I’m pretty sure the two men were fucking their woman on the balcony.Good for them.
Now if onlyIcould find a sweet little thing to fuck with my best friend, all would be in order in the universe once more.
Instead, he’s brooding like a piece of shit.And brooding is supposed to bemyjob.
I let myself into the Tyler Analytics building and go through security.They let me through without a fuss because they know me by now.
Then I’m in the elevator, traveling up to King’s office.I’m going to go in there, grab that man by his fancy CEO suit, and drag him to Vice.And then we’re going to find a willing woman, take her back to his penthouse, and show her an amazing time.
“Because that is how we do things,” I say to my reflection in the shiny walls of the elevator.
The chime sounds as I reach the top floor, and the door slides open.
And there, vacuuming in the hall, is a maid.And she’s singing while she works.
I stop in my tracks.I can hear her over the sound of the vacuum cleaner, and her voice is lovely.She’s singing an Arctic Monkeys song, and there’s a new resonance to it, coming from her.
She’s facing away from me.I’ve got to get a look at this woman.I could listen to her sing all fucking day.
I have to walk past her to get to Kingston’s office, anyway, so I make my way toward her.She turns as I approach, and the song dies in her throat.
“No, don’t stop on my account,” I say.
“I didn’t realize anyone was out here with me,” she says, blushing.
“You have a beautiful voice.”
“Oh.Well.”She presses the back of her hand to her face, probably trying to cool her blush.
Holy fuck, she’s absolutely perfect.Has Kingston seen her?He must have, at some point.Why hasn’t he told me about her?Maybe he’s not interested.Hmm.I’m too interested in talking to her to follow this line of questions.
“Have you worked here long?”I ask.
“A few weeks.I should probably get back to it.”She gives me a little wave and resumes vacuuming, and I can see I’ve been dismissed.
I like her.And she didn’t even recognize me, so bonus there.
I make my way down the hall and nearly slam into Joel, who’s stepping out of his office.
“Bastian, my man,” he says.
I hate it when people call me Bastian.I grimace at him.“Hey, kiddo.”
He frowns.Yeah, he calls meBastian, I call himkiddoin retaliation.So I’m a very immature forty-year-old, so fucking what.
“Is your dad around?”I ask.
Joel waves behind him.“He’s in his office.See ya.”
He passes the maid and she watches him from the corner of her eyes as he goes.Interesting.And he doesn’t even say hi to her or acknowledge her in any way, which just seems douchey to me.
I swear, if Kingston and been able to raise that kid, Joel would be a different guy entirely.Maybe he’d still be spoiled, because Tyler Analytics makes enough money to use as toilet paper, but he wouldn’t be an asshole.
As soon as Joel’s out of sight, the maid’s face transforms, very briefly, and I see pain there.
