“Well, I’m not going to get involved in that, I have to work for the guy, and you’re my cousin,” I said, cringing at any further conversation.
She laughed. “I’m due to meet him tomorrow, I’ll let you know how it goes,” she said.
I said goodbye and wondered if Mackenzie had mentioned a meeting or not. I didn’t expect to be invited to every meeting he attended, it was his business, but I wasn’t sure if I should be a little protective of Veronica. Knowing her, however, I wondered if it was Mackenzie I should be protecting. I chuckled to myself.
A voice said, “Something funny?” I look up to see him standing there.
“No, just a conversation with Veronica. How are things going upstairs?” I asked. He was meant to be in a meeting with another business owner.
“All done. Can I come in?” he asked, and I frowned.
“Of course, you don’t need to ask.” It surprised me to see him shut the door behind him. He sat opposite me at my desk and concern niggled at me. “What’s wrong, Mackenzie?”
“I don’t know. I feel a little bored with all I’m doing at the moment. There isn’t a challenge and I’m not sure why I feel that way. It’s all too easy.”
I wasn’t sure I knew him well enough to give the best advice, but he had opened up to me and I got the impression he didn’t do that often.
“What challenges do you think you need?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” He laughed as he spoke and shook his head.
“How about a round of golf?” I asked, having no idea what to offer.
“Jesus, Alex, I’ve never played, and never really had any desire to, but the one time I was taken for a game, I can’t remember where, it was excruciating.” He went on to explain every lost ball, every attempt to hit the ball straight that failed, and that eventually, his partner had suggested they skip the last few holes, which, he admitted, was a huge relief. “All that nonsense about business being done on a golf course isn’t for me. Anyway, this club that you took my best friend to, are we looking to replicate?” He was back to business, or so I thought.
“No, much better than that. The club in London is a nightclub with rooms, basically. Membership only, of course, and expensive, but the plans Veronica has are much more exclusive. It could be the challenge you’re looking for,” I said.
Mackenzie looked at me and frowned so I continued, “It’s not your normal type of business. You’ve sunk your time and efforts into communications mostly. This is a place that’s for relaxation and pleasure. Complete other end of the spectrum for you,” I said.
‘I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
“Maybe you need to leave me and Gabriella to manage things for a while and you concentrate on this club. It’s a money maker, Mackenzie, I can assure you of that. I pay fifteen thousand pounds a year for my exclusive club membership and it isn’t that high class.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Why, what?”
“Why spend that kind of money if it isn’t high class?” he asked.
I paused and looked at him. I viewed him as a friend, and it was only that reason that allowed me to confess. “Sometimes, I don’t want high class. I want whatIwant inmyway, and it’s available to me there.”
He nodded slowly. “Are they escorts?”
“Some, yes. They’re the one thing about the place that is high class. They’re very clean.” I cringed as I spoke, I was doing the women a disservice, but they were the only words I knew to describe them.
“Do we need those women at our club?” he asked.
“I don’t think so. I think we provide somewhere for couples, but I think we have a black book of telephone numbers Veronica can call upon if a client has aparticularwish.”
He laughed. “Yes, the club is the challenge I need, I think you’re right. I’m bored of communications. Thanks, Alex, I appreciate our friendship.” Mackenzie stood and smiled at me. “I might give Veronica a call.”
“I know she’ll be pleased to hear from you,” I said. He nodded and left the office.
I thought on our conversation for ages after he’d left. I had lived a lonely adulthood and began to wonder if he had too. As he said, we were very alike. I had half a mind to invite him to my club. There was a VIP section where we could just get a drink and people watch, or hook up for sex with one of the many women available. The women in the VIP section weren’t employed by the club, they weren’t prostitutes but members that wanted sex with a stranger as part of their fantasy. Of course, their membership fee was a fraction of the men’s because they brought in business, for sure.
I found it strange that prior to Gabriella, one thought of sex with a stranger would have seen my cock erect, but I had no desire for that at all. Nameless strangers, no matter how great the sex, or how experimental, weren’t what I needed anymore.
My office telephone buzzed and at first I stared at it. It was the first time it had rung. I laughed as I answered it.
