“You can’t tell anyone,” I whispered once Serenity and I were alone in a spare office.
“Did you hire him because he clearly resembles Skylar? Outside of the color of the hair and the fact that Bas has the most beautiful eyes I have seen in my life, they’re nearly identical.”
“Well, I…”
Serenity flicked me on the forehead and I smacked her arm away, “Oliver, that is so stupid to do. Did you even take the time to check his qualifications? If he could even do the job?”
“I did,” I hissed, “after I offered him the job but still! He has top marks in high school and college. Graduated early. I know he’ll be good for the job based on that alone. It’s not as if being my assistant is difficult.”
“But how will you keep your feelings in check?”
“Prioritize the business and slowly get to know him over time. He made me feel safe in the small conversation we had last night. He’s beautiful. I know it’s a crush I ain’t stupid. Maybe he’ll let me take him on a date down the line.”
“Well he’d be stupid if he said no when my brother is the sweetest, most gentle, most loving man on the planet but… God, Sebastian’s so cute and small. I’ve never seen a man so tiny.”
“He uh… is like Skylar,” I rubbed the nape of my neck, “I signed an NDA statin’ I wouldn’t tell people but you’re my sister so…”
“Oh! That makes sense then never mind. Not that I could tell but I just meant because he’s what like 5 foot 4?”
“Probably? I can’t tell. You’re all so small to me. Nita, please for the love of God keep it to yourself. Everythin’. Lauren knows his legal name because it hasn’t changed yet but…”
“I know how protective you are,” she groaned, running a hand through her hair, “I won’t tell. It’s not my business to share.”
“Thank ya. Now,” I opened the door and we left the office, finding Lauren and Sebastian at her desk as she slowly began to teach him what he needed, “why do ya have a meetin’ at Streamline?”
“They’re interested in creating a contract with us for advertising. About three hundred thousand a year, if we add a blurb on both the website and at the end of the books we print.”
“Non, that is too little,” Sebastian called and we both looked at him, “sorry. I am a finance major. They are asking to pay far too little for the amount that they want you to share with their information. For that much advertisement,” he closed his eyes, counting something on his fingers, “for the website alone I would charge the 300 thousand. But for the books? With the mass amount that you publish and print a year? That would be at least 750 thousand. I would write a contract back with these terms. They are trying to use Parallel for mostly free advertising.”
“Bas? You figured that out that quickly?” Lauren gasped, looking up at me.
“Oui. Why? It was not difficult.”
“It’s been taking the finance department at least 2 days to write up proposals for contracts on smaller projects let alone large ones. They struggle…”
“Ah, that means their programming isn’t optimized and they aren’t properly trained to see how much advertising is truly worth.”
“Then,” I looked at Serenity and she nodded excitedly, “we need a CFO. Someone to overlook the financial aspect of projects. We have a floor manager but they sometimes miss things before it gets to us and we have to fix it. Bas,” I went over and sat on the desk, looking down at him and he tilted his head, “I would like to offer that to ya as well. Chief Financial Officer of Parallel. All projects would be sent to not only me, Serenity, and Garett, but you as well. I have the overall say on what is published, what we stamp our name on, but I allow Serenity to find what she thinks is good for the company as well as what is trendin’ among readers, Garett ensures that the website stays up, that our projects are sent to the correct distributors, and I would have ya to tell us if we are spending too much or too little on… well everythin’. Advertisin’, production cost, anything like that. It really won’t add much to what ya do now as my assistant. Lauren already gets all of the emails from the finance department and forwards ‘em to me so that I can adjust and ask questions. You would be able to negate my need to be involved other than authorizations after explainin’ it to me.”
“Oliver,” he whispered, looking at Lauren and Serenity who nodded excitedly, “I accept. Merci. I won’t let you down.”
“It really isn’t that much more work and I will always put your job as CFO over my needs. If ya have meetings to attend or things to do, please let me know. I can handle things just fine. Or ya can block my calendar during that time so that I can’t be contacted. Either way what works for you will work for me.”
“Okay. I would like to meet with the finance department while we’re still here in New York. I know a few programs that will help and can find why they are struggling.”
“Whatever ya wish to do. We leave in two months so take the time to learn what ya need from Lauren regarding being my assistant then you can take over the financial department.”
“Very well. Whatever you ask of me,” he smiled and I gripped the desk behind me, my knuckles white.
Ah, shit.
Hold it back.
Fucking kink I swear.
“I won’t ask much,” I laughed, using it to calm myself, “you’ll see.”
“Yeah, working for Ollie is the easiest job I’ve had,” Lauren shrugged and I smacked the top of her head.
“Stop callin’ me Ollie!”
“No.”
“Ollie,” Serenity poked my side, “I have to go have the new contract written and head to Streamline. We should go to dinner tonight.”
“Ah. Maybe.”
“You, me, Ret, and Bas. It’ll be fine! Did you even tell him that weird part of being your assistant?”
“Shit,” I whispered, “Bas? I ask that my assistant eat meals with me or I will literally forget to feed myself. My brain moves too quickly to be bothered with things like food and I won’t realize I’m hungry until late into the night at which point I’ll just go to bed.”
“Oh that will be simple,” he smiled brightly.
“Just order from wherever for meals. You’ll have the company card, please use that. It’s a tax write-off. I also cook occasionally when I get a cravin’ for somethin’.”
“He has the most amazing kitchen,” Lauren sighed happily, “oh I’ll miss it.”
“I can’t wait to see,” Sebastian giggled, and it took everything in my power to not push one of his waves behind his ear to get a better look at his face.
“We’ll meet ya at One if by Land, Two if by Sea at 7 okay?” I turned to Serenity, “I’ll call the owner and see if we can get a table in the corner. I’m sure if I mention Silas it’ll be easy.”
“Thanks,” she kissed my forehead, ruffled Sebastian’s hair, and ran off.
“My God you’d never know she was as high up in a company as she is,” Lauren snorted.
“She’s a ruthless businesswoman but she knows she can be herself around us,” stretching, I scratched Aldo between the ears as he had been laying on the couch the entire time, watching all of us talk, “Hello my baby. Were ya good for Auntie Lauren?” I kissed his snout.
“He peed on my car,” Lauren huffed.
“I did forget to take him onto the roof before we left this mornin’. Sorry. Did you pee on Auntie’s car? Huh?” I cooed at Aldo and he rolled onto his back so I could scratch his stomach, “Oh what a good boy.”
There was a snort followed by laughter and I turned my head to find Sebastian watching me, his chin resting in his hand.
“What?” I muttered.
“Rien,” he shook his head, still smiling, “it is just cute to see someone as big as you be so gentle with a welpe.”
“He’s my baby. All I had for a long time.”
“How old?” Sebastian joined me, squatting down to pet Aldo who barked before licking Sebastian on the nose and making him giggle.
“Three.”
"Oh, he is still a baby. Yes, you are. Quel beau garçon tu es! Je n'ai jamais été autorisé à caresser un chien,” he smiled as Aldo tilted his head to the side, clearly enjoying Sebastian’s attention, “we’re going to be best friends.”
“Don’t steal my dog,” I huffed.
“I will be living in the penthouse with you. I cannot steal him if we live in the same home,” he bumped me with his shoulder and a jolt shot through my arm.
Ah fuck.
He smells amazing.
“I… yeah,” I smiled.
“Oliver,” Lauren called, pulling me out of the little world I had fallen into with Sebastian, “you have a few phone calls to make today. A couple video meetings. I will continue to teach Bas what I can before I leave for the night.”
“R… Right.”
“Bas, I swear to spend the next two months teaching you as best I can.”
“I believe you,” Sebastian jumped to his feet and stretched before sitting with Lauren at the desk again.
“Work hard,” I headed into my office, my heart racing, and locked the door behind me, moving to lean against the wall, my forehead on my arm, “ah fuck…”
Adjusting my pants as I was failing to keep the fact that I was somehow turned on suddenly, I headed to my desk and sat down, taking deep breaths to calm myself.
Bas is perfect.
Aldo adores him.
So do Serenity and Lauren.
I’m going to get possessive.
Obsessive.
I have to keep it in check as best I can.
I’ve never been good at that.
“Lauren?” I yelled and she came into my office, “call Dr. Schubarum for me. Tell him to refill my medication.”
“Are you struggling? You haven’t had an anxiety attack in years.”
“Please just do what I ask.”
“Of course. Right away.”
Lauren left and I flopped into my computer chair, turning to look out of the window behind me for a few moments, my heart calm, my body finally relaxed and I was able to get back to work, fully absorbed before Sebastian quietly walked into my office, his new employee binder close to his chest.
“Excuse me? Oliver?”
“Yes, what is it?” I smiled, setting my phone down.
“It is half six. I thought you were going to dinner with your sister?”
“Ah! Thank ya. I absolutely forgot. Come on,” I grabbed my things and walked out of the office, “oh where are Lauren and Aldo?”
“She took him home. I told her I would wait for you.”
“Thank ya,” smiling once again, I pressed the call button for the elevator, “would ya like me to take ya home or do ya want to come to dinner with us tonight?”
“Dinner would be nice,” he covered his mouth with the binder, a small smile on his face.
“Then we’ll go. Start lookin’ up restaurants around this building and the one in Denver. Find places you’d be interested in tryin’. Make reservations or tell me when it’s time to eat and I am more than happy to go wherever ya wish.”
“Really?” he bounced excitedly.
Oh, you are so fucking cute…
“Absolutely. Whatever ya want.”
“Merci, Oliver.”
“Absolutely,” I rubbed his arm gently and Sebastian’s face grew red.
Ah.
Okay.
He’s attracted to me at the very least.
Good.
“What kind of food is at the restaurant we’re… oh putain de merde!” he shouted when he saw my car.
“What?”
“This… is a brand new Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster… I…”
“Ya like cars?” I smiled, popping open the trunk to set our things in, having to pry the folder from Sebastian as he was still admiring my car.
“Very much so,” he whispered, running his hand along the door handle, “oh it’s beautiful.”
“This is the car I have in New York. I’ll ship it to Denver,” I unlocked the doors and he immediately climbed in, looking around excitedly, “in Italy, I drive a 2017 Ferrari Portofino. In Switzerland, I have a Škoda Enyaq iV. I love that car. Then there’s Montana where my F-150 is. Not my favorite but it’s good for the snow. Finally, Hawaii. I have a Jeep Wrangler there. Sits at my beach house. I don’t drive when I go to Japan. I like taking the trains or renting a car.”
“You have homes all over?” he smiled, resting in his seat.
“Hm. I suppose. Yes. Three chalets for skiing, one beach house, a villa in Italy, and what used to be a castle in London. Oh and my apartment in Tokyo. I also own both the building I live in now and the one in Denver.”
“You are so wealthy,” he whispered.
“Perhaps. But I worked hard to get here. I come from very little, Bas. My father is a carpenter. We didn’t have much growin’ up,” I started the car so that we could head toward the restaurant, “we weren’t poor, my parents worked hard to ensure we always had what we needed, but there are four kids all close in age. The fact I have what I have now was my own dedication to get here to help give back to people. I paid off my parent's house. I send ‘em money every year to ensure that they’re cared for. I’m buyin’ Serenity and Garett a home here. I plan to pay for Lauren’s wedding and the home she and Enzo want in Italy. Silas only managed to open his restaurant because I gave him the money to do it. Winnie doesn’t ask for anythin’ though. But I still send care packages. I have no need for my money. I give it away essentially. If I do buy things for myself, it’s vehicles, real estate, nice cologne, and clothes. Even then, I hate buying things for myself. It makes me feel selfish.”
“You are humble, I can see that. Do not worry. I do not judge you for the life you live. It is simply strange to me. I will have to adjust.”
“And ya will. We all do. It took me a long time to realize I was worthy of things after… after my ex-boyfriend.”
“Was it… I do not wish to be nosy. Never mind.”
“It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt to talk about Skylar anymore. I know he’s happily married with 9 kids. Which is intense. I wouldn’t know what to do with that many children running around. He’s effectively been pregnant the entire time since we ended our relationship.”
“Ah, he is trans?”
“Mhm.”
“Is anyone else you know?”
“Besides you? Lauren. My sister Winifred’s husband Sidney.”
“How interesting. I know nothing of my family. I was abandoned with a note that held a name for me but I tried finding my relatives and never managed to. I have abandoned the search at this point. I would rather create my own family someday.”
“That would be lovely, wouldn’t it?” I smiled as we reached the restaurant.
“Oh yes. But I agree. Nine kids? No, thank you! That sounds exhausting,” he made a disgusted face and I started laughing, unable to hold it in, “why are you laughing at me?”
“I’m not. That was cute is all.”
“Oliver,” he grumbled, his cheeks pink.
“Come on. I’m sure they're already here. I’ll help ya order.”
He’s precious.
Wonderful.
I have to fight myself but I already know I’m going to fall for you.
I’ll give you the world, Bas.
My heart.
My soul.
My love.
If you choose me someday.
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