17. Olivier

Chapter 17

Olivier had woken up to a message from Bear. He was to go to the Ice Bears stadium for one final training session. Bear hadn't gone into any further detail, and a part of Olivier was nervous that this might not have simply been the final training session, but also the last dance between them as a couple too.

With the sound of the city being dimmed by the car stereo, Olivier looked pensively out of the window as they wove in and out of the traffic and headed toward the stadium, just on the edge of the old meat packing district.

On his way over to the stadium, Olivier sat nervously in the back seat of the Uber and typed out a message to his new Little friend Mac…

OLIVIER: Hey Mac. Just wanted to say thanks again for looking after me so well at your place. I had a great time. Maybe one day we can do it again. Things got kind of crazy for me and Bear on the way home. Maybe your Daddy Dante told you? Anyway, I just wanted to say that I think you're super-cool and thank you for making me feel so welcome at your house. Until next time, O xoxoxo.

Olivier hit send and smiled. In truth, he wasn't sure whether he'd ever get the chance to hang out with Mac again. But he wanted to let Mac know just how much he'd enjoyed spending time with him.

Mac and Dante's relationship was long established, and Olivier could tell that they had a pretty much unbreakable bond together. For a moment, Olivier had felt like this could be true for him and Bear too. But after overhearing the conversation about Dante's job offer, and then everything that had gone down since, Olivier truly had no idea what the future held.

But one thing that Olivier was starting to believe was that maybe his future might not necessarily be in hockey. It was true that Olivier was talented and had all the physical gifts to shine on the ice. However Olivier had enjoyed working alongside Bear so much that it was making him question where he'd rather be – on the ice or on the streets.

A life involved with the criminal underworld was a long way away from his celebrity offspring upbringing, but the truth of the matter was that Olivier felt more at home and focused when he was training at the academy or undergoing a field operation alongside Bear.

And as the Uber driver began to pull up toward the Ice Bears stadium, Olivier let out a long sigh. Hockey had been all he had known up until very recently. Well, alongside partying and having wild times. But suddenly hockey didn't fill him with the same excitement it used to, and neither did letting loose like he used to do with all his partygoing friends.

Something's changed.

Bear lit a fire inside me.

And I don't know if I can put the flame out…

As Olivier walked into the center of the ice toward Bear, he felt butterflies in his stomach and the kind of increased heartrate that would normally come during a big game.

‘Hey,' Bear said, a smile on his face but a serious look in his eyes.

‘Hey,' Olivier replied, unsure what to make of the vibe between them.

‘I wanted to bring you here to tell you something,' Bear said, his voice now firm but friendly. ‘I shouldn't have left it so long. But I wanted to know exactly how things were going to be first.'

Olivier could see that Bear had some big news to reveal. But in that moment, Olivier felt an unstoppable urge to make his own announcement. Bear might have been the Daddy Dom, but this time it was the Little who was going to do the talking…

‘No, wait,' Olivier said. ‘I've made a decision too. I'm done with hockey. I want… I want… I want to work in your business. I know it might sound crazy, but I've found my true calling. I don't know how it'll work, or if I'll be released from my academy contract, but I know that this is what I want. And I'd love to do it with you. If you'll have me.'

Olivier felt a huge surge of adrenalin come over him as he spoke. This was a big deal, any saying it out loud made it very real indeed. However as he waited for Bear to reply, Olivier almost felt dizzy from the magnitude of what he was proposing.

‘Boy, I'm speechless,' Bear said, finally breaking his silence. ‘But, and I can't believe I'm saying this, it makes total sense. You've got to follow your heart and do what gives you purpose. I've been going through the same thing myself.'

‘You have?' Olivier asked. ‘And that's why you brought me here, isn't it?'

‘Yup,' Bear replied. ‘I'm stepping away from the academy. But I'm still going to be working with Danilo. And Dante too. Well, I hope they both see it that way. Whatever. I'm bringing the old Bear back. And this time I'm flying solo. And given what you just said… maybe I'm about to make my first hire too?'

Olivier's face lit up with joy.

Before he knew what was going on, Olivier found himself wrapped up in Bear's arms as the two of them embraced. It felt like a truly magical moment, one of new beginnings and full of so much promise and hope for the future.

‘I love you Daddy,' Olivier said, a single tear rolling down his cheek.

‘And I love you too, boy,' Bear said, his own eyes watering. ‘I love you forever.'

‘Forever, forever, forever!' Olivier squealed, jumping up and almost losing his balance on the ice.

Olivier knew that he would never, ever forget the moment when he declared his true love for his Daddy, but they also became partners in crime too.

The only question now was how Danilo Doni was going to react to losing not only his academy instructor, but one of his academy players too…

A nervous couple of hours passed before Olivier and Bear found themselves in a room in the stadium's executive suite alongside both Danilo Doni and Dante Chiellini.

As Bear began to explain his full plan to Danilo and Dante, Olivier listened in awe. Bear had clearly given everything a lot of thought and it was clear from both Danilo and Dante's responses that they were impressed with what they were hearing too.

But there was one thing missing.

Neither Danilo nor Dante had actually given their blessing to Bear's plan yet. And that included releasing Olivier from his Ice Bears contract. Olivier was realistic enough to know that while Bear was a powerful man and true Daddy, he simply would never be able to go against either of these men – they were both too connected and had long histories of eliminating anyone who crossed them.

As Bear brought his presentation to its climax, Olivier took a deep breath.

The moment of truth was coming, and Olivier knew that whatever was said now would have huge consequences for his own day to day life.

I'm so nervous.

Daddy was fantastic, and so is his plan.

But these are two Mafia men…

Olivier felt Bear take his hand underneath the table. The moment of truth was almost upon them. Whatever Danilo and Dante said next would potentially ring in their ears for the rest of their lives – and Olivier could only hope that it was good news…

‘Bear, Olivier,' Danilo said, exchanging a glance with Dante. ‘They say that timing is everything. Your timing in New York City was perfect… you tracked down the rat who was causing my family untold problems. And then, by coincidence or fate, we gunned the same sonofabitch down in the diner. Right place, right time. For us, but not for him of course.'

‘And that very same gift of perfect timing has struck again,' Dante said, taking up the mantle from Danilo. ‘Because today signals the first day of the Mafia Daddies NYC and Doni family formal cooperation agreement. We're still two different families. This isn't a merger. But from here on out, we will be bonded together, working toward a shared goal. And we're going to need men like you fighting in our corner along with us, Bear. And you too, Olivier.'

Olivier and Bear exchanged a brief look of sheer joy.

This all sounded like it was going to work out perfectly for Bear and his new business. But one thing that hadn't been covered was the problem of Olivier still being contracted to the Ice Bears…

‘But what about me?' Olivier said, a slight tremble in his voice as he spoke up. ‘I meant no disrespect when I said I wanted to be released from my contract. But I know what I want from life. And it's not hockey anymore.'

‘I admire your courage, and your instincts,' Danilo said, standing and offering his hand to Olivier. ‘You're the perfect partner for Bear in his new venture. And I look forward to working with you in that context. No one player will ever be bigger than the Ice Bears, they will continue to thrive, even without you. I'll see to it that your contract is formally annulled in the coming days.'

‘Thank you, Mr. Doni,' Olivier said, his heart racing and a million possibilities flowering in his mind. ‘and thank you too, Mr. Chiellini.'

‘And if you'll excuse us, we have some pressing matters to deal with,' Danilo said, making it clear that the meeting was officially over.

Olivier and Bear stood and left the room together.

This was the first day of the rest of their lives and Olivier couldn't have felt happier. He might not have been pursuing a career on the ice any longer, but he had found his true passion in life – and the fact that it also came wrapped in one man mountain of a Daddy simply made it all the sweeter.

‘I love you, Daddy,' Olivier whispered as they walked down the corridor together.

‘And I love you,' Bear chuckled. ‘But don't for a second think that this means the spankings are going to get any lighter. If anything, now that we're working together I'm going to have to keep that butt glowing even brighter from here on out… and I might just see to that when we get home.'

Olivier giggled and felt a surge of electricity over his body.

Suddenly, this most perfect of days had just gotten even better.