10. Garret

10

Garret

I was in my office when Carol knocked on the door.

"What?" I asked a little too abrasively, instantly wishing I could take back my sharp tone.

It wasn't my intention to bark at Carol, but I was just trying to stay in my office, away from people while I tried to sort out the mess with the fire marshal and the liquor license suspension.

The less interaction I had with others, the better because I was ready to bite anyone's head off who crossed me, even in the most trivial way. I wasn't normally like this. I hated the way the stress of the situation was playing with my emotions, and more importantly, I hated how poorly I was reacting to them.

"The fire marshal is here," she informed me meekly from the other side of the door without opening it. To be fair, I hadn't invited her in, either. "He's going to reinspect the issues and if everything looks up to code, he'll allow you to get the doors open and we'll be back up and running tonight."

Her voice sounded springy and hopeful by the end of the explanation, so I did my best to try and feed off that energy because God knew I needed a positive boost. I had a support system, but I wasn't being as receptive to them as I probably should have been.

"I'll be right out," I sighed after a pause.

I took a deep breath to gear myself up for this inevitably uncomfortable confrontation. I just hoped that if things didn't work out, that I wouldn't automatically react by punching the guy in the face.

Carol escorted me to the front lobby where the fire marshal was waiting. We did a run-through of the entire club. Everything had been fixed as he'd requested and there was nothing else that wasn't up to code.

He gave me a begrudging look, pulled up a screen on his tablet and told me to sign. "You can reopen your business at this time."

I could tell that it nearly killed him to allow it. I couldn't do anything but give him the smuggest smile I had to offer. I had won the first battle. I had to take the small blessings whenever they came my way.

I saw him to the door and resisted the temptation to kick him in the ass on his way out, but I knew what boundaries not to cross.

As I spun around, Carol was there with a huge grin on her face. "Thank goodness that's over. We got the club back."

I allowed myself to breathe a sigh of relief. "Yes, at least we can open our doors tonight, but the no alcohol rule is really depleting sales fast."

Carol looked at the floor. Her posture slightly wilted with chagrin. "Yes, I know."

"How many people have cut their membership from the club since we stopped serving?" I asked, not really sure if I wanted the answer, but I had to know in order to figure out a way to work around it.

Carol's face brightened a bit. "Not as many as you would assume, actually. Only about fifteen that I have canceled on record so far."

I rubbed my temples. "That's… promising, I suppose."

We had almost a thousand members, so even though I hated to see the fifteen go, perhaps they would be back once word got around that we were serving alcohol again.

"I still haven't heard any word from the investigator that is supposed to come by here," Carol said with regret.

I nodded. "Yes, well, maybe I should give them a call myself. They told me that they were going to expedite my request to get the restoration of the liquor license in place, but of course who can believe what the city tells you."

I groaned and rolled my eyes, prepared to return to the mile-high stack of paperwork on my desk when I received a call on the cell phone in my back pocket.

It was Felix. He was outside the club, asking to come in and discuss a few things.

"What a pleasant surprise," I said with a wide grin as I opened the door to let him inside.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," Felix said. His expression was serious.

"Sure." I glanced over my shoulder. Carol had been watching us, but she scampered off in the opposite direction as soon as I looked at her.

I took Felix gently by the small of his back and beckoned him into the belly of the club. "Why don't we, uh… go somewhere more private to talk?"

"I do have some information that you probably want to know about," he said. "You know, before we get to any other stuff." He whispered the rest of the sentence and looked a little sheepish.

I smiled. "That's not a problem. We can go upstairs. I have a room there that overlooks Lake Michigan. It has the most scenic views of the city too. Windows galore."

Felix looked grateful. "Yes, let's do that."

As I led him into the room a few short moments later, temporary contentment flooded me. There were a lot of reasons why I was going to fight to keep my club up and running, and this room was one of them. In fact, it was pretty high up on the list.

"Wow." Felix's eyes panned the room as he roamed deeper inside. His jaw dropped and his eyes flashed with impressed awe. "This room is incredible."

"I told you." I gave him a proud smile.

"This place is incredible," Felix said.

"It tends to melt the pressures and cares of the world away," I admitted.

Felix drifted over to the window. He glanced down, looking nostalgic and a little distracted.

"Did you say you had some information I might want to know about?" I asked. I stood next to him.

He glanced at me and his features went a shade darker. "Yes. I did a little digging into that Nelson guy."

I couldn't hide my surprise. "You did?"

"I did." He nodded and gave me a cautious look. "I hope I didn't step on any toes by doing that. It's just… I wanted to help you."

"It's fine." I nodded, coaxing him along. My heart pounded in anticipation. "I appreciate you looking out for me. At this point, I need all the help I can get."

His face flooded with relief and he smiled, perking up a little. "Oh, good. I think that this info I snagged on him might help you… a lot."

"Well, what are you waiting for then?" I grinned. "I don't like being left in suspense."

"Nelson is basically the equivalent of a modern-day robber baron. If he wants something, he doesn't stop until he gets it. He'll steamroll over anyone and everyone that gets in his way."

"Do you have proof that he's behind the fire marshal and the liquor license thing?" I asked, intrigued.

Felix's expression was somber once again. "Not yet, but I have reason to believe that he's willing to stoop even further to get what he wants. He's not going to stop, Garret."

Felix reached out and took my hand, cupping it in his for several seconds with a worried look on his face.

"Are you saying that you think that I'm in danger?" I studied him.

He licked his lips, looking nervous as he shifted his weight. "I just want you to be careful."

"How do you know all this about Nelson?" I asked.

Felix looked confident. "I have connections. I used to work at a television station and I still have friends in the news department."

I was impressed. "Television station? Which one?" I arched an eyebrow.

"Just a local one," he said and shrugged humbly. "I did some editing back in the day, but I've kept in touch with a few people that are still there."

"Nice." I grinned and nodded, but I quickly went back into the zone. I needed to focus on the problem at hand.

"I want you to really think about what I'm going to say to you next," Felix said and took a step forward. He was still clutching my hand and squeezed it harder.

"Okay…" I trailed off with an unsettled feeling sinking into my gut as I stared at him expectantly.

Felix hesitated, looking slightly reluctant.

"Just spit it out," I commanded.

He inhaled sharply and released the breath slowly. "I think that you should consider selling the club."

I immediately unlinked my hand from his grasp and took an instinctive step backward. I shook my head.

"What?" My head was spinning. "Why would you say something like that?" My tone was accusatory.

Felix had a patient expression on his face as if he had expected me to react this way. Although, I did note that he looked slightly paler than before.

"Nelson is capable of much more than just taking down your liquor license and sending a fire marshal over here. I fear that this is only the beginning of what he's willing to do to get you out of here."

"I can't just cave to a bully," I said. "Do you not remember what I told you before? How I was bullied as a child? I'm a severe advocate against it now."

"I know you are," Felix said gently and attempted to take my hand again, but I swiped it away.

"You must not have understood," I inflected firmly. "I am not going to sell my club just because someone else wants the plot of land that it's sitting on."

"I didn't mean—"

"And another thing," I said, cutting him off. "I built this club by myself, from the ground up. I had to get private investors when banks wouldn't touch the idea of a loan. I've paid them all off, and it's left me strapped for cash. And now I'm bleeding everywhere because of these disasters popping up. I don't know how much more of this shit I can take. At this point, selling the club would be the last resort. For now, I won't entertain the idea at all."

"I'm so sorry Garret." Felix's eyes reflected that he honestly meant what he said.

"I will admit that maybe I moved too quickly to return the investments because I wanted the club to be mine, but there's nothing I can do to change that decision now." I felt like my behavior was being driven by frantic emotions.

I felt frustrated and beside myself with irritation at all the problems encircling me like a sticky web. I couldn't catch a break, but I didn't want to feel sorry for myself either.

"I know a thing or two about investing in property. I've done it before, and I think I have something to offer to you if you want me to help you. I can give you my advice to get you out of this hairy mess you're in," Felix offered.

"I know what I'm doing, all right?" I didn't mean to sound harsh with Felix, but I really didn't need him to give me his input. I could take care of myself. I had been doing it for a long time.

Felix looked taken aback by my reaction. He reeled back slightly. "I didn't mean to offend—"

"No, it's fine." I signed with resignation. "I am being a jerk. I didn't mean to be so stern with you. None of this is your fault."

"It's okay." Felix reached out and stroked the scruff on my cheek. "You are allowed to vent and break down sometimes. You don't always have to be Mr. Tough Guy."

I smiled. "That is my official name, however."

Felix gave me a tender look as if he saw right through me, but I wasn't going to cave that easily. Sometimes I made jokes to lighten a stiff encounter, and now was certainly one of those times.

"I appreciate you wanting to give me advice, but I assure you that I can fix this problem on my own."

Felix relented, immediately dropping the subject.

Part of me felt guilty for being so brazen with him when all he was trying to do was help me, so I offered a proposal for him.

"Why don't you stay the night with me?" I asked.

"Tonight?" Felix looked both excited and surprised at my offering.

"Sure," I said and smiled. "Why not? You're already here. You can even help me around the club tonight and see how I hold down the fort."

Felix beamed. "I would love to."

I placed my arms around him and hugged him close to my chest. I wanted to be the one to do the soothing around here.

_______________________

Later that night, practically morning, after the club had closed, I climbed the stairs to my apartment above the club. Only this time I wasn't alone. I had Felix with me, and I was thrilled to be able to spend some quality bonding time with him.

I opened the door and let him in. I watched as he looked around, picking up trinkets and inspecting the place as any new flame would do. I didn't mind it. It was human nature to be curious about how others lived their lives behind closed doors.

"The bedroom is this way," I said to him and tossed him a flirty wink.

Felix grinned from ear to ear. "Wonderful."

"Would you like a glass of red wine first?" I asked. "I always like to unwind with a nice glass of red. It lulls my senses and helps relax me."

Felix nodded. "I'm on board."

"Fantastic." I plucked two wine glasses from the cabinet and poured us each a hearty portion.

"To taking down the bullies of the world," I said and raised my glass in the air.

Felix smiled but didn't offer his two cents again. "Cheers."

We clanked our glasses together and I gulped down a substantial amount of my wine in one swallow. I immediately felt flooded with a warm sensation that both relaxed me and enhanced my arousal too.

I led Felix to my bedroom and shut all the drapes to give us some extra privacy.

I wanted to just lie on the bed together, talking and seeing where things led.

"Come sit next to me." I plopped down on the edge of the bed with an enticing smile and patted the empty spot beside me.

Felix immediately took to the invitation and sat down. His knee brushed up against me. The contact made my heart pound. Blood rushed to my cock. I was officially hard and turned on.

I began to stroke his back with my free hand. "I just wanted you to know that I appreciate the wisdom you have on this subject regarding my club fiasco," I confessed. "I am sorry if I came off too aggressive earlier."

Felix was mid-sip of his wine. He nodded and swallowed. "I don't mind. I understand that the stress you are under must be reaching a peak."

"I'm at a limit," I said with a chuckle.

Felix smiled at me with sincerity glowing in his features. "Well, in my opinion, you are handling it very well. Better than I probably would."

"Thank you." I nodded and chuckled humbly, staring at the crimson liquid in my wine glass.

Felix began to rub his hands up and down my back. "Everything will work out."

I looked up and met his gaze. I was instantly hammered with an intense, raw sexual desire. I saw the passion swirling in his eyes.

"How do you know that?" I whispered.

He gave me a lust-stained look. "I just know." His voice was hushed and hypnotic.

I saw the yearning and desire burning in his eyes. His energy was sexually charged. I reached out and began rubbing his cock through his pants. It was already hard. I grinned, pleased to see the arousing effect I had on him.

"You tried to take care of me earlier, so I'm going to take care of you tonight," I said.

"You don't have to do that," Felix responded. "You can let me do all the work tonight if you want."

I tried not to laugh. There was no way I was going to let him get on top, but I wanted to ease him into sex if that was the direction we were heading. I wasn't in the mood for blindfolds, chains, and whips tonight. I was exhausted in my mind, body, and soul. I just wanted to enjoy the intimacy between me and Felix and watch as our relationship blossomed.

I didn't want to become emotional in front of him, but I felt hot tears stinging behind my eyes. I glanced up at the ceiling so that they wouldn't spill over and roll down my cheeks. If Felix noticed, he didn't say anything. I internally applauded him for his discretion.

"You are the only good thing in my life right now," I confessed.

Felix took advantage of my vulnerability. He stared intently at me for several seconds, then pressed his lips urgently to mine. I felt his hunger, his passion. I responded to it. I ran my hands through his hair, groaning as I nibbled on his sexy bottom lip.

We began to undress each other, moaning softly into each other's ears as things escalated and our kisses began to venture toward a southerly region on each of our bodies.

His embrace and his touch were both intoxicating and soothing to my frazzled mind. I needed balance, and Felix was where I was going to find it. I wanted to give him the best orgasm of his life. It would be my way of apologizing for my asshole behavior from earlier. We laid back on the bed together.

Our bodies became intertwined. I didn't need to use forcefulness during sex with him. I didn't feel compelled to guide and instruct him.

I just wanted us to share organic, sexual bliss. I had never behaved like that with any other man. Felix was leaving his mark on me and altering my mind. The confusing part was I didn't want to try and stop him from doing it.