“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Being present. I’m aware. Who do you think has been with you all this time? I know all of your mantras, so you can save it.”
At one point, Kelly and I’s relationship was more than just friendly and professional. We went to high school together, and she was ultimately the person who helped me realize my particular…
Interests.
For a long time, she hung in there with me allowing me to discover what truly excited me about being a dom, but being a sub wasn’t for her. Kelly liked to be in control of most situations herself, so though she trusted me to take care of her—and I always did, not just because she was my sub, but my best friend—she and I decided to part ways sexually and just be friends and business partners.
“Well, I didn’t call for you to tell me how well you know me,” I said. “I wanted to know how your dinner meeting with Mr. Tanner went yesterday?”
“As good as it could, I suppose,” Kelly replied. “Punk’s tip was good, and he is, unfortunately, out of money to pay all of his subcontractors, including us.”
I frowned. “He had us design four buildings for this project.”
“Yes,” Kelly replied. “So I was sure to communicate our frustration with the circumstances, along with presenting him with a few options, a few of them unorthodox.”
“Did he bite?”
“He said he had to think it over, but I have a feeling he will.” Kelly snickered. “His only choices are to file bankruptcy and drown or take me up on our offer to help him out. I, of course, explained that time is money, so I expect to hear from him soon either way, and he guaranteed me he’d call by the end of the week with an answer.”
“Perfect,” I said. “Good work.”
“Thanks.” She sighed. “So you’ll be at work in, what, an hour? Do you want me to pick you up coffee?”
“A large Americano with an extra shot of espresso please,” I said.
“Youcouldjust get a few hours of sleep,” Kelly replied.
“Just the large Americano, for now, thank you.”
“Fine. I’ll see you soon.”
“See you soon. Bye.”
The line clicked as Kelly hung up, and I finished washing myself off and got out of the shower. My massive walk-in closet was connected both to my bathroom and my bedroom, so after styling my short black hair in my preferred swooped back style and running a comb through my goatee to make sure it was well-kempt, I walked in for a suit. I figured I’d go casual for the day, so I grabbed a pair of dark blue suit slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a set of matching dark blue suspenders. Socks, boxers, and an undershirt I pulled on before walking out of the closet, and then sprayed on my favorite cologne and walked back into my bedroom.
I was just finishing getting dressed and fastening my button-up shirt cuff with a set of cufflinks with a gold, embossed ‘R’ on them when there was a knock on my door.
“Yeah?” I called out.
The door opened and a familiar head of dreadlocks rounded the corner. Dariq, or “Milli” as he had come to be known in my family, was the man I worked most closely with in my personal and professional life. He started out as a loaner from the man who took me in when I was a kid but became something of a confidant as I got older, and from the time that I was eighteen until my current twenty-fifth year, he’d been faithfully by my side.
“Good morning,” he greeted as he walked in, his tablet already out. “I saw the woman you kicked out. She was beautiful.”
“Yes,” I responded. “A grinding defense attorney.”
He scoffed. “You always did like to play it fast and loose.”
I laughed back at him. “Keep your friends close…”
“I suppose.”
“I’m headed to KGP today. Was there something specific you needed before I left?” I asked.
He looked up at me with a tilt of his head. “That’s the third time this week you’ve got in.”
“Most people work five days a week, or have you forgotten?”
He shrugged, locking his tablet and setting it down at his side. “No. Are you planning to drive, or do you want me to prepare a car?”
