A Daddy for Damian by Joe Satoria

21. DAMIAN

I watched as Kristopher left, it happened so quickly. It was almost like he’d never been there at all. I sighed, coming between Theo and Emile as they chuckled together.

“Kristopher left,” I said. “Think bags are coming through.”

Theo scoffed. I could smell alcohol on him. I wondered if they were given an unlimited supply on the flight. Very different to the flight we’d been on. “Kris has his panties in a twist,” he said.

“Why?” I asked.

“Oh. Gossip?” Emile added.

Theo shrugged. “It’s his family,” he said. “They’re a bunch of assholes. I don’t know why he comes back to see them, honestly, I don’t think I would if I was him.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well,” he expressed, gesturing with his hands over each other. “You didn’t hear this from me, but Kris’s entire family are in investments and insurance, and there’s a big push for him to do well. But they don’t really believe in him, or something, so he came to the UK, and we got into business together.”

“Ouch,” Emile grumbled.

I didn’t know why he was telling me it didn’t come from him, there was nobody else I could’ve possibly heard any of that information from.

“I mean, I knew Kris from boarding school,” Theo continued. “So, I’ve kinda got the inside scoop. He’s actually a nice guy, even though he pretends he’s got a heart of ice.” He began laughing, chuckling to himself as he keeled with a hand to his stomach.

It made sense why he’d been like that. I wasn’t sure if I had the energy to manage being with him as a relationship and also being with him as his assistant. Two very different jobs, one of them I really enjoyed, and the other felt like I was out of my depth.

The thought sank in me like a heavy stone. I had a decision to make.

“Suitcases,” Emile called out.

Theo paused me, his hand on my shoulder. “Listen,” he said. “Kris is a nice guy when you get to know him. I mean, if you want to know him.”

“Is this where you say he’s just got issues?” I asked.

He scoffed, the smell of alcohol once more in my face. “No, no,” he let out. “I’m just saying, he’s got them, but he’ll take care of you. He’s caring. Kind. Sweet. And I’ve seen guys, maybe like you take advantage of him.”

“I’m definitely not taking advantage,” I spat. “I—I—” Turning on my foot, I marched toward the carousel where Emile was plucking his suitcase.

I hoped Kristopher didn’t think I was taking advantage. He was the one that was giving me all these things. He was the one who’d offered me the job, and given me a new phone, and then basically forced me into buying a new suitcase. I didn’t ask for any of that.

The one thing I did ask for was the sex, and that was amazing, but that didn’t cost him a single thing.

Outside in the arrivals area there was a man with my name on a piece of card. I had hoped Theo would’ve had his own, especially after what he’d said.

I stayed quiet, mostly in the back of the car as music played and I stared at my phone, half-expecting a text from Kristopher about why he left so abruptly, or just to say he was feeling some type of way about being here.

He didn’t know what I knew, especially not what Theo had told me. I assume he thought Theo would’ve kept quiet about his past, but I realised Theo had a big mouth, and I don’t think he could keep it quiet even if he tried.

We were staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Berlin, a large hotel. I just wanted to get checked in so I could do something to occupy my mind.

Inside it was covered in polished gold chrome and mirrors. Everyone had smiles on their faces, and suddenly in the clothes I wore, I felt out of place. This was a posh place for rich people, or at least people who’d saved the money.

Theo bumped ahead of me and Emile to talk with the woman on reception.

“My business partner checked in earlier,” I overhead him saying.

I replayed what Kristopher had told me. He booked the room under my name and his name. I looked around the foyer and noticed him sitting with his head in his phone.

“Kristopher,” I said.

He looked at me, a brief smile on his face. “I’ve got the key cards,” he said, presenting me with two cards. “One for you, and one for your friend. Your room is on the seventh floor. It’s a deluxe twin. View of the city. There’s room service, and there’s a bunch of amenities here too.”

“What’s your room?” I asked.

He blinked wildly. “I keep that to myself,” he said. “I’m going to be too busy.”

“Ok, but—”

“I should go before Theo sees me.” He held out a hand and touched my shoulder, squeezing it for a moment as we locked eyes.

That was as much affection as I was probably going to get.

“Damian,” Emile called me over.

I approached with my suitcase and key cards. “I just saw Kristopher,” I told him. “We’re already checked in.”

“Sir, check-in is at 3 P.M. there’s nothing we can do for you until then,” I overheard the receptionist telling Theo.

“Ouch,” I grumbled. “I don’t know how Kristopher did this then.

“I know how,” Theo clicked his tongue. “I told him I managed to get a room, and he didn’t even put in a word for me.” His eyes squinting together. “The general manager is a family friend of his, so he gets all the good things when he’s here.”

Emile wiggled his brows at me. “Well, you should come with us until you can check-in.”

“But—” I tried to think of a reason why he shouldn’t, and the only reason I could think was that Theo had been a dick to me earlier. “If you wanna wait around, maybe they’ll let you check-in soon.”

That didn’t work. Forced to take Theo with us, still smelling of booze. I wouldn’t have minded that, except he’d been rude, and I was trying not to focus on Kristopher.

It was a big room with a view of the city. I stared out of the large window for a moment, taking in the sights. I wanted to see everything all at once, and I wanted to just not think about Theo, or Kristopher, or any of this.

Turning, I saw Theo laid on one of the beds looking up at the ceiling.

“I feel underdressed,” Emile said. “Everyone here looks fancy.”

Theo chuckled from the bed. “That’s because everyone here is fancy,” he said.

And I assumed that meant I wasn’t fancy. I’d brought one of the suits that Kristopher had bought for me, and I’d also gone ahead and taken a couple of checked shirts with me, the casual types, the ones that made me look like I was a lumberjack of some sorts.

“How come you didn’t get all dressed up if this is so fancy?” I asked.

Theo shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “Fancy people dress like that so show they’ve got money, but I don’t need to dress like any way. My bank account is still my bank account regardless of whether I look rich or not.”

Emile nodded along to what he’d said, but I couldn’t care for him speaking, the more he spoke, the more he permeated the air with his smell. Emile, on the other hand, didn’t seem to mind it one bit.

Throwing my suitcase on the other bed, I opened it up and grabbed one of the checked shirts from the bag. “I’m gonna go see what amenities they have,” I grumbled back.

It was a rouse so I could leave them, and also because I wanted to see if I could find Kristopher wondering around. I needed to talk to him.