Chapter Ten
Ishmael
As much as he would have liked to spend the rest of his day enjoying his pet, prior commitments called. There was the matter of going through applications for the club and having Jamal run a background check on them for suitability. He also had to check in with his contact within MI5 and, in exchange for feeding him the inside information about Sean’s connection to the drugs, make sure that nothing blew back on either himself or his associates.
Then there was having to sort out the matter of his pet’s change in employment and dealing with his family and former co-workers. The boy’s mother and his manager Lorraine both were potentially thorny problems.
He finished his eggs and bacon and fed the remainder of the strawberries to Kris. He smiled fondly at the sub. The poor dear seemed to be in a perpetual state of fear that he might piss him off and trigger his own demise. He’d learn. Ishmael was a fair and just man; he prided himself on that. His morals might not align with everyone else’s, but one thing everyone who knew him could hold as a constant was that he always kept his word and he never lashed out in anger.
It was too soon to leave the darling on his own to roam around the flat, and he didn’t have a suitable cage for him. Besides, he had the planned reward to give him for keeping his word about the shower.
And the more time he spends around me, the more comfortable he will be.
He finished his coffee and got up, leaving his dishes on the table. “Come, sweetheart. It’s time for us to get ready to go into the office.” There was no misinterpreting the look of naked fear that crossed Kris’ face. “No, not for punishment,” he quickly reassured him, placing a calming hand on the back of his neck. My official office downstairs, in the hotel.”
Kris relaxed a fraction. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it with a snap.
Ishmael smiled. The boy was learning. He needed to learn when to ask questions and what questions wouldn’t lead him into dangerous waters he’d be better off avoiding. That it wasn’t necessarily the fact that he spoke that was the problem. It was what he said. Still, he could throw the poor, confused mite a bone.
“You can help me read through applications for bar staff. We also need to have you formally sign your new work contract and fill in the papers for your visa. And if you’re really good, when we get home tonight, you can call your mother to let her know about your new job as my personal assistant and the hotel’s new Triborr liaison before I take you out for a celebratory dinner. Here at Deluxious, of course.”
“I’ll get to call home?” Kris asked in a small voice.
“Of course. You’re changing jobs and becoming my lover, not disappearing off the face of the earth.”
“Th-thank you. What if they decide to come to see me, sometime?”
Ishmael regarded him with mild exasperation. “Then, when you are settled and ready for such a visit, we shall make those arrangements.”
“Okay,” Kris said, following him into the bedroom.
Ishmael went to his walk-in wardrobe and pulled out Kris’ suitcase. “Ollie had security bring it up,” he explained. “Pull out something comfortable that you can sleep in.”
Kris looked puzzled, but did as he was told, pulling out a pair of lounge pants and a long sleeved t-shirt.
“Socks and shoes as well,” Ishmael said. “I assume you brought something suitable to wear with those.”
Kris pulled out a pair of Nikes.
“Ah, yes, those will do. Go, on, get dressed.”
Kris looked down at a pair of briefs inside the case.
“If you wish to wear underwear, by all means,” said Ishmael, a bit exasperated now.He’s a little too cowed. I need to dial it down a bit more until he’s got more experience.“While you do that, I’m going to brush my teeth.”
He was doing a final rinse with his water flosser when Kris appeared in the bathroom doorway, clothes on and hair neatly combed. He finished and gestured to the sink. “Use the provided hotel toothbrush for now and clean your teeth. We don’t abide by poor hygiene under any circumstances.”
Less than five minutes later, they were out the door. Kris gave a startled jump when he exited and saw Bjorn’s massive bulk standing outside the door.
“Kris, this is Bjorn. Bjorn, Kris.”
“Ollie said you’d taken a pet.”
“Yes, indeed. He’s preparing a brief for members of security and all senior staff regarding his position.”
Bjorn nodded, his face impassive.
Ishmael approached the lift and placed his hand over the security scanner. It beeped as a cover slid off of a keypad. Ishmael entered a code. That, in turn, unblocked a covered button to push to call the lift.
