At least it was Saturday, and my plans with Lorie would help.
Just as the sun was setting, we all clamored back into the limo and took it over to the CosmoCo Hotel, a glistening, glamorous resort hotel that was typically the host to tons of high-profile parties and engagements in the city. It was directly next to, and now connected to, the brand-new Apex Founders Technology building, the new headquarters of the security company that the entire state of New York had a standing contract with. Due in part to the fact that it was my dad’s signature on that contract, and in part to the fact that the company owner and my dad were old frat buds, my dad and brothers were close to being the stars of the show.
Fortunately, because everyone would be hanging on their every word, I would finally be able to slip away and just let them do whatever they were going to do. I was already dreaming of a drink at the bar as we got checked into the exclusive suite that had been reserved at CosmoCo for us to change and relax in before heading over to the party.
There was a nice basket of snacks and drinks sitting on the table, along with gift cards for several things we could do together as a family. The latter of these things was totally ignored, but Anton did pop open a bottle of champagne and poured four, hefty glasses. We took turns using the suite’s two provided bathrooms to get changed, and those who weren’t changing were drinking.
Once we were all in our evening attire and ready to go, my dad tossed back what was left of his champagne and then led the way out of the room, not even saying anything, just walking out and knowing we’d follow because we had no choice.
We stuck close to one another, laughing at my father’s stupid dad jokes as we walked across the skyline and to the elevator that would take us to the rooftop of the Apex Founders Technology building for the party. We were all smiles until the doors closed, but by the time the reflective, silver doors met, we were back to looks of disdain. We stayed that way until the elevator pinged on the top floor.
My dad wrapped his arms around us and threw on a cheesy grin. “Smile one last time for the cameras, kids.” His words were hissed in an ominous tone. “Everything changes after today.”
“Wait, why?” I asked.
But before he could answer, the doors opened, and there were a dozen people waiting to greet us.
4
GIO
I had to give Punk his props as I drove up to the valets in front of the CosmoCo hotel, which was hosting the party, although physically it was being held on the rooftop of the Apex Founders Technology building next door. It was a stunning building with a modernistic framework that had tons of windows for natural light, and atypical shapes and angles that were good for work and inspiration.
Some might not expect such an open and vulnerable-looking building to house a security company, it looked so fragile it could be shattered with a rock, but in reality, Punk was an expert at designing deceptive buildings. More likely than not, those things visible from the outside were intentionally designed to guard what was more central to the building.
He designed my estate much in the same way.
“Good evening sir,” the valet greeted me as I climbed out of my car. “Preferred lot for ten dollars?”
I reached into my wallet and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and handed it over to him. “Will this ensure my car is protected to the best of your personal ability?”
The valet’s eyes widened, and he gave a slight nod. “Yes sir.”
“Wonderful.” I handed him the key, tapped his shoulder, and then walked towards the front of the hotel where a different staff member was waiting with the door open. “Thank you,” I said as I passed.
So as not to give too many people access to the actual Apex Founders building, they were hosting the party by way of the skyway that connected the building to the hotel. Party guests were flooding through the skyway towards the elevator that would bypass any floor of importance and take guests directly to the top where the party was.
It was a highly classy and formal event, and people were dressed in their finest. Given that I wasn’t planning on attending the event, I didn’t have anything with me to wear. I ended up leaving work a little bit early to buy a suit and have it tailored. It was two grand I wasn’t hoping to spend today, but from the looks I was getting as I approached the elevator, I assumed it was money well spent.
A few women batted their eyes in my direction in the elevator ride up, and because I lost one of the women, I was planning to spend a little more time with just that morning, I eyed them back. I’d grown accustomed to telling how far someone was willing to go from the look in their eyes. In both my work and my sex life, usually, I could see from the expressions on their face how adventurous they were, and though the women on the elevator all looked reasonably fun and were good-looking, none of them excited me.
None of them struck me like the perfect sub.
I’d been on the hunt for a match to my maker. Someone who would truly trust me from the top of their heads down to the tips of their toes and let me show them the benefit of my world. Though I never planned on getting married or being in any kind of committed, romantic relationship, if there were one woman out there that would make my toes curl instead of the other way around, I’d certainly do what it would take to keep her around.
The elevator pinged as it reached the top, and I and the rest of the guests on the elevator stepped off and out onto the rooftop. It was immaculately decorated in navy blue, silver, and emerald-green decorations, Apex’s company colors. Though there was staff floating around the party with hors d'oeuvres and drinks on platters, there were two curved bars on either end of the party, with bartenders serving different, expensive-looking cocktails.
“You made it.” I looked over my shoulder and Milli was walking over with a drink in one hand, and some sort of tartlet in the other. “Took you long enough.”
As my right-hand man, I’d asked Milli to meet me at the party, and given that he didn’t get out much, he was happy to oblige. He looked rather dapper himself, in a fitted suit, with his dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail showing his striking jawline and hazel eyes that I’d seen lure many women to their demise.
“Have you seen him yet?” I asked.
“Yeah. He and the brothers arrived about an hour ago.” He pointed towards the stage. “They did their tour of speeches and are now all in different parts of the party mingling and schmoozing.”
“That’s what they do best, isn’t it?” I looked around to see if there was anyone at the party that I recognized or thought was going to cause me trouble, but everyone appeared to be strangers and was too busy soaking in the opulence to pay much attention to Milli and me. “I need you to get Curtis alone for a private conversation. Because he and AFT’s founder are pretty buddy-buddy, he’ll have his eyes on him all night. I can’t just waltz right up to him.”
“I’ll figure it out,” Milli said. “Go, mingle, drink. I’ll let you know when the meeting is ready.”
