Nico was a sub and he took me to a club near campus one night. It changed my life for the better. Whenever I had a call from my father, I knew one session would help me escape the hollow feeling dear old Dad had left behind. I’d started out with Nico and we’d gotten closer because of it. We’d even started dating after we found out we were compatible sexually. But he needed a full-time dom, and I was only into it as an escape to forget. Nico’s needs couldn’t be met by me alone, so we continued having sessions, but weren’t exclusive. Luckily, for both of us, no feelings had formed between us, proving that we wouldn’t have worked out long term anyway.
Looking at my still ringing phone, I missed those simple college days. I would’ve seen Nico tonight if possible. But my old college was hours away, and so was Nico. I might have to go to one of those seedy clubs tonight, unless I fancied being drunk on a Monday. Which I very much didn’t.
Sighing, I accepted the call. “Took you long enough,” Father greeted.
“I just arrived at the office.” I knew he didn’t care for pleasantries, so I didn’t bother either.
“We had three new clients sign yesterday; they’ll all be your responsibility.” I rolled my eyes. He would never admit it, but he was getting forgetful these days.
“Briane being one of them?” I asked, knowing they were the same clients I’d gotten last week.
“Correct. Are you looking over them now?”
“I am,” I lied. No way would I tell him he’d forgotten something again. Last time I did, it only gave me the unpleasant surprise of him showing up here. I much preferred being cities apart, like we were now. Me dealing with his side business while he kept the big one in check. Maybe I should just quit and cut ties for good.
“I have more coming soon. Don’t let them wait before you call them.” Then he hung up. I’d already called them all.Lastweek. Maybe it was a good thing—him being forgetful gave me more room to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Because this wasn’t working anymore. Never had. But I wasn’t the scared guy I’d been in college. Back then I’d been free for the first time in my life, or less under his control was more like it. I didn’t have any family other than Father and Ida, and his comments about me never surviving on my own had terrified me. Still did. But now I was beginning to think thatI could survive, that maybe I didn’t need this job that I hated. I could work anywhere and be way happier than I was now. Even Mike had said so many times already. I was managing data and making sure our accounts weren’t in the red. I could easily do the same elsewhere, not that I wanted to, though. Finding a job that would be equally boring would be hard, finding a job I’d enjoy would be much easier. I hated numbers and sitting around in my empty office for hours looking at spreadsheets.
“Mr. Hanns?” Tya said, standing just outside my office holding what looked to be new client files. I actually preferred this part of my job. Adding their info to our system and calling them to ask follow-up questions. It might be the talking to people thing that held the appeal. Iwasa people person after all.
“Good morning, Tya. New clients?”
She nodded and handed over the files.
“I have five others coming in a few hours. Your father emailed me several files, though most are old clients we already have in the system.” She looked pointedly at me, waiting for my reaction. She’d begun prodding more, throwing hints around that my father was losing it. Not that she would ever say that. Tya was too smart torisk getting fired. But she seemed to trust I wouldn’t punish her for speaking the truth. She was, after all, the only employee here I could stand.
“Just send me the new clients and delete the other ones,” I replied, putting the papers down on my desk and booting up my computer.
“And the emails regarding the party we attended two years ago? He’s telling me you’ll bring Monica with you.” That had me sighing loudly. It was getting harder to cover for him, and I was yet again wondering why I even bothered. He should retire. But last time I’d even dared ask him about his retirement, I was yelled at and humiliated in front of my coworkers.
“I still can’t believe he tried to sneak Monica in as my date,” I said, focusing on that instead. Tya knew I was gay. I wasn’t about to hide it from my closest coworker. She was sort of my assistant, but also the one person who had the entire floor under control. She was working harder than anyone here and she knew it.
She shrugged. “She’s a beautiful girl and he seemed desperate to work with her mother. Makes sense he tried to force it.” I felt shivers run down my spine just thinking about that party. Poor Monica hadbelieved I was besotted with her or something. She’d been glued to my side all evening and it wasn’t until I was done for the night and tried to leave that she followed and seemed mad I’d just left her there. Her face had paled when I admitted to not knowing she was my date. She’d even cried when I told her that I hadn’t even known about her until she sat down next to me. And the fact that I was gay had her shaking her head and leaving the party herself.
Just then, my phone rang. It was an unknown number, and even though I had no desire to talk to sales people, I still took it for the distraction it offered.
It was a good thing I answered, though, because in the short time since I’d spoken to my father, he’d somehow collapsed at work and was now on the way to the closest hospital in an ambulance.
And that had me leaving work early and getting on a plane.
Chapter 3
Pete
I was looking at the clock and waiting for it to turn nine a.m. As soon as the numbers changed, I called Mike. It was my eighteenth birthday, and I was done waiting. But I loved my brother enough to know I needed his consent before continuing my Jackson obsession. I was a good little brother, so I waited for him to wake up properly. It was a Saturday after all.
“Hey, bro, happy birthday!” he greeted, sounding much more awake than I’d expected. “How’s it feel being an adult now?”
“Hey, it’s fine, I guess,” I said, moving on quickly before the nerves truly took over. “I um, need to ask for your permission on something.” I was so nervous. If he said no, I couldn’t do it, even if it would break my heart. I couldn’t ruin their friendship like that.I knew Jackson was gay, I had spent a LOT of time stalking him to know that. Even if it had hurt every time I saw a picture of him kissing someone else, I couldn’t get mad. He wasn’t mine, even if I wanted him to be.
“Sure, what’s up?” he sounded worried now, likely because he could hear how hard this was for me.
“I want to ask for your permission to ask Jackson out.” I held my breath, waiting for the yes or no. Please, please be a yes….
“Oh! um,” he started. I felt my insides crumble. He did not sound happy about it. “I fear you’re not the man Jackson is looking for, Pete.”
What?! “What do you mean by that?!” Wasn’t I good enough for his best friend? Shouldn’t he have said Jackson wasn’t good enough for his little brother? What the hell?!
He sighed. “Listen, and this stays between us, but he likes certain…thingsin the bedroom, and I don’t see, and don’twantto see you doing those things too. You’re too…innocent.”
