Chapter Seven
Russell
Ilookedat the clock in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. 5:10. Time to wrap up. I had spent too many hours staring at the computer screen today. I had been looking forward to this evening all week. It was club night with my best friend, Nick, and his girl,Sadie.
I met Nick and Sadie at our favorite restaurant for dinner. Our weekly routine included the three of us having dinner together, followed by a trip to the club. The nights we went varied but were usually later in the week, like Friday. But I was going to be giving Ryan another impact session when he got off work the next day, and I was not going to rush that withhim.
“Good evening, Mr. Moore,” the hostess smiled at me as I approached. “They’re already seated at your usualtable.”
I winked and headed in the direction of our perfect table. It amused me that they had menus in their hands; as if either of them deviated from their usual dinner. Someone new must have seated them and were clueless as to menus beinguseless.
I slid into the booth and raised my eyebrows atthem.
“Looking to change things up?” Iasked.
Nick closed his menu and tilted his head sideways atme.
“Not at all, just waiting on your ass,” Nick smarted back atme.
I flipped him off jokingly and greeted Sadie as I reached for themenu.
“Sadie, how was your day,dear?”
“It was good, Russell. I heard back from the production company and I think they’re going to make me an offer for the Damaged Souls script,” she saidexcitedly.
I stopped scanning the menu and looked at her. Sadie had been writing scripts for movies and TV shows for years and had had some smaller projects that she contributed to, but nothing like this for a major productioncompany.
“Sadie, that’s wonderful, sweetheart! Do you know when you expect to hear back fromthem?”
“Sometime this week, Ihope.”
She brimmed with excitement at her accomplishment, and I thought I even caught a stray tear as it streaked happily down her cheek. As best as I could in the booth setting, I stood and leaned across the table to kiss herforehead.
“That’s my girl, Sadie. I’m very proud of you,darling.”
I had immense pride and satisfaction with how far Sadie had come. She had once been a very lost soul. Nick and I met her nearly fifteen years ago as she had been coming out of a toxic relationship that had left her barely intact. Nick and I had been much older than Sadie, and we both had needs deep within us to meet the needs of others. Nurturing Sadie seemed to be an obvious move forus.
“Thank you, Russell,” she repliedsweetly.
I winked at her just before the waitress came to take our order; all of us ordered our usual dinner. During dinner, Nick and I talked about a new client of mine that had less than realistic expectations regarding their new mainframe. Nick was in the same line of work and understood my frustrations. When I glanced at Sadie, I decided that I needed to table my work discussions for now. I could see a very familiar look on her face; doubt. Whenever I saw it appear on her face, I tried to curb it quickly. Doubt was destructive when it was left tofester.
I had always been able to read Sadie like a book. We connected easily and it was easier for me to help her all those years ago than Nick. Of course, being a psychologist hadn’t hurt theeffort.
“What has you so quiet, littlegirl?”
‘Little girl’ was a term of endearment that I’d used with Sadie since day one. Nick and I had introduced Sadie to the BDSM and kink lifestyle as well. With that introduction came the explanation of a “DaddyDom.”
“Hmm?” I promptedher.
“I’mnervous.”
“About?”
“The production company. What if they don’t offer memuch?”
I glanced at Nick to see if he wanted me to proceed or if he wanted to pick it up. As expected, he picked it up and I knew to bring up therear.
“Sweetheart, it’s going to be fine. You need to think about what figure you have in mind and then what the lowest figure would be that you’d accept,” Nickencouraged.
