A Daddy for Damian by Joe Satoria

5. DAMIAN

I don’t know how it happened, but I accidentally blurted out to him that my twin brother worked at Pink Paws, and somehow, that made him chuckle. He didn’t seem mad, not after the way both him and Grant made it seem like Kristopher was the worst person on the planet.

And I didn’t think he was, not in this car, and not after being nice to me. He liked my dino socks and the pen I had. Although I’d forgotten it was covered in a dinosaur print. It wasn’t professional at all, but he didn’t seem to mind that. I think he liked I wasn’t like everyone else. I think he liked I was so inexperienced.

“I tried investing in that one,” he said. “They weren’t going to budge. It’s fine, I take many meetings, especially with places that are so new they don’t even have a presence in the scene.”

“I’ve never been though,” I said. “It’s not something I’m into.”

Kristopher looked me in the eye. I caught a whiff of the cologne on his skin as the air conditioning in the car pushed it to my nose. “Have you tried it?” he asked. “Dressing up can be freeing. The place we’re going to will have a lot of things, mostly ropes. It’s called the Brink Club. I think they have a catchphrase like—” he looked me over, his eyes pinched together. “You want to write this down?”

I panicked, reaching into my bag to grab at the notebook. He’d told me to buy one yesterday. I bought a plain diary for the year, and a matching black notebook. “Ok.”

“Brink Club,” he said, once more. “Catchphrase is something corny, like, taking you to the brink and back. Add these as bullet points. Rope play. BDSM. Control. Breath play.” He waved a hand in the air as he listed them off. “Those are buzz words, the keywords. If you hear anything like that come up, make a note of it.”

I nodded. “And what other notes do I make?”

“If I mention a monetary figure, make a note. If I talk percentages, make a note. If I say something specifically and I want it noted, I’ll try to nod. You don’t take notes for Theo, my business partner,” he said. His eyes scanned across me as he smiled. “I don’t like to share.”

“Doesn’t he have an assistant?” I asked.

“He does,” he answered. “And you can meet her, she’s called Nina, but, honestly, I think it’s better if you stay at my side. At all times. I don’t want you to get lost, accidentally finding yourself tangled in some ropes.”

I’d never done anything like that. I’d seen videos, sometimes when they came up on the porn sites, I’d seen those little previews when you hover over the video icon, but I’d never clicked on one. “Ok.”

He gave me a lot to think about on the drive. I felt so out of place, in what I was wearing, even if it felt amazing on my skin, and the car I was in. I’d never been inside anything so expensive before.

The car pulled up to a stop and the driver, Carl climbed out. He opened Kristopher’s door first.

Outside a building with the signpost Brink Club. It was noted on the pad I’d written on. I clutched it close to my chest, whipping my messenger bag around my shoulder.

“No,” Kristopher said. “Take that off. Leave it in the car.”

“What off?”

“Sorry, the bag, it—it clashes with everything,” he said. “Take your pen, your notebook, and your phone. That’s all you’ll need.”

I wasn’t keen on the idea of leaving my things, but this was his car—at least for today. I left the bag on the chair.

Once we were outside the place, the car took off. Preoccupied with where it was going, I missed Kristopher as he opened the door to the club.

“Come on.” He snapped his fingers.

Inside, it was bright. There was a lot of concrete and exposed brick walls. It was also empty as far back as I could see. Kristopher was already several paces ahead of me, approaching two men and two women at the centre of the space.

“Theo,” Kristopher said. “Hope you’re not starting without me.”

I didn’t know who was who, or what was happening. I walked faster, perspiration forming on my forehead.

“Kristopher,” his name was called out.

I stood behind him as he turned to face me, gesturing with a hand. “This is my assistant, Damian,” he said. “It’s his first day.”

I smiled and nodded around at them. Quickly being able to identify the people. There was a woman making notes, I assumed that was Nina, and beside her, a man in an expensive suit on par with Kristopher’s. That must have been Theo. The other two, a man and woman, perhaps a couple, the owners, probably. They wore dusty and dirty clothes, possibly from construction or painting this place.

Kristopher shook hands with the man and woman as I tried to listen and catch their names.

“Fiona,” she said.

“Harry,” he said.

I made notes of both names, scribbling them down, trying to make it feel effortless.

“I didn’t think you’d start without me,” Kristopher chuckled. “I’m glad I could make it. I remember when the Brink Club would host those nights in those underground scenes. I’m surprised you’re even looking for investments.”

Fiona and Harry shared a look with each other. Almost disappointed.

“We were just talking about that,” Theo said. “One of the things they didn’t mention earlier was that two investors pulled out at the last minute.”

Kristopher clicked his tongue. “Well, we don’t pull out.”

I wondered if that was a sign he wanted me to make a note of what he said. Either way, I made a mental note of it. Kristopher doesn’t pull out. I suppose, it was good to know, given his history of sleeping with his assistants.

“This was out of our control,” Harry said. “They had a clause about timelines, and we missed it, so, I think they had to pull out. It’s a shame. My wife.” He nodded to the woman. “She gave birth.”

“Congratulations,” Theo and Kristopher said together.

I mumbled it, like I was in the chorus line.

“Well, let me ask you,” Kristopher began, “what is your current timeline for getting this place off the ground looking like?”

“The new year,” Fiona said. “It’s not what we wanted, but with everything going on in our lives, and we’re doing all of this ourselves, we want to open in the new year.”

“You have your customer base,” Theo said, “and, how can you be sure they’ll wait until the new year to continue coming here and visiting?”

They looked at each other, like couples did. “Our nights across the country have garnered a loyal fan base,” Fiona said. “They will come, from all over, I’m sure of that.”

“Good,” Theo said. “We just wanted to be sure of that. I have actually prepared an offer.”

“You have?” Kristopher questioned. “Because I don’t recall us talking about that.”

“We definitely have discussed this,” Theo continued. “And we are working on the assumption you’ll be opening a club in London too, right?

“Eventually,” Harry said. “Right now, focus is here. We want to make sure this is the central location. Since we’re both from Liverpool.”

“What offer have you written up?” Kristopher asked.

“Fifteen per cent,” Theo said, “and we’ll invest fifty-thousand.”

I made notes, even though they didn’t come from Kristopher, they were still figures, and he had told me to make notes of those. The couple looked at each other once more.

“We’re valued at half a million,” Fiona said. “Since we own this building, and we’ve built the reputation on our name. I know we said we’re looking for investments of fifty-thousand, but that would mean buying in at ten per cent.”

“Since we also have established businesses in this same area,” Kristopher began, nodding to Theo. “We think fifteen per cent is a great place to start.”

I underlined the percentage.

“And how do we know this isn’t a conflict?” Fiona asked.

Kristopher looked back at me. He winked. “Well, I’m not in the business of losing money. If there was a conflict, you think I’d want to take the risk that I could lose my investment?” he shook his head in their direction. “You see, I’m aware you know of my reputation. But I’m a number guy. I see numbers. I see figures. I see potential. But at the minute. What I see here is an empty space you need filling, and each month you don’t open, is a month of lost income. Now, I could say, the investors who pulled out did what was right, but I don’t think they did.”

“Yes, but we have the people,” Harry said.

“Right now,” Kristopher began. “But I did a little research.” He gestured with his pinched fingers. “And I know you’ve not had one of those famous Brink Club parties in—six months. I also know that your social media hasn’t been gaining much traction since. So, yes, you might have emails, and people might remember you when you open in—four months’ time, at a minimum, according to you. But if you think clubs and nights like this aren’t opening up and down the country, replacing you in some cases, then you’d be wrong, because that’s exactly what’s happening.”

“Twelve-point-five,” Harry said.

“Thirteen, and we’ll help speed things along,” he said.

“Thirteen,” they agreed.

I made the note. Watching Kristopher do that blew me away. He didn’t miss a beat with anything he said, almost like he was punching out the words, and hitting each blow.

They shook hands, all four of them. I noticed Nina, she glared at me as she scowled and glanced at her notepad.

“I’ll get the contract drawn up and have the money in your account,” Kristopher said.

The couple appeared happy by the news.

“A word,” Theo said, nodding to Kristopher.

That left me, standing with Nina and the couple as they spoke about compromising what Theo and Kristopher had to give and how it was the best decision.

“I thought he was going to stop hiring twinks,” Nina said, smiling.

“Sorry?”

“I’m Nina,” she said, extending a hand for me.

I shook it, juggling the notepad as I pressed it under my arm. “Damian,” I said.

“I see Kristopher did what Kristopher does best,” she said quietly, glancing at the couple who weren’t paying attention to us. “Like a bull, he comes in and takes over. I’m sure you’ve heard the stories.”

Briefly, I’d heard people talk about him. “But it worked out, right?”

Nina smiled. “Sure, if that’s what this is,” she said.

Kristopher was back seconds later, his wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “We’re going for lunch,” he said.

I glanced around at everyone. “Well, ok, where are we—”

“No, just us,” he said. “Welcome you to the job, and a celebration for what just happened here.” His arm around my shoulder, the intense cologne smell was heavenly on me, almost intoxicating. “Theo, you ok to sort out the contract. I have another meeting to get to.”

Theo nodded.

“Another meeting?” I mumbled.

I could see Kristopher attempt to narrow his eyes and squint, but his brows barely moved. “Our meeting,” he said. “I’ll call ahead so we have a table. You’ll love this place.”

“Don’t forget,” Theo called out to him, “this time it’s different. That’s what you told me.”

He nodded, removing his arm from my shoulder. “Let’s get going.”