Chapter Thirteen
Teller
I was surprised my guts weren’t coming out of my asshole.
Briggs and I had been fucking like rabbits since that first beautiful night when I stayed at the white house with him.
Hell, the next morning, he carried me downstairs and made me eggs and coffee before we went to get the small amount of stuff I had at my apartment.
“Oh, do I need to let the management company know I’m moving? What about the other tenants?” I’d asked. There were eight units in each building, and everyone had to move somewhere, right?
Briggs was driving the Bronco to my building, and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face—at least until I moved and my ass spasmed in tenderness. The pain, however, was worth all the pleasure he’d given me twice that night and once that morning before we went to get my stuff.
“I’m management, and you don’t need to let me know.
It’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.
We’re moving the rest of the tenants to the empty units in the other buildings, and I’m only charging them half the rent the management company charged for their trouble.
Barrett went to a tenant meeting this morning to lay it out for them, and I’m hoping it went over well. ”
That had been a week ago, and everything was better than I ever imagined it could be.
I’d given my notice at O’Malley’s Pub because I needed more time for sewing.
I was making Maizie’s holiday baby-doll pajamas, and I’d been contacted by two of the other littles at the club to make some for them, thanks to Maizie spreading the word.
I had Valerie and Derek coming over on Saturday for me to take their measurements.
Thanks to Daddy, I had a bunch of fabric choices on hand.
He’d taken me to lunch the previous Tuesday and then to the fabric store.
He’d closed on the house purchase the previous afternoon and put keys to everything on the key ring with the Bronco keys. I kept pinching myself to see if I was dreaming the best dream I’d ever had. There were little bruises all over my thighs, and I laughed that morning when I got dressed.
The doorbell rang, so I rushed downstairs, unsure of who would be dropping by.
It was Friday evening, and Briggs and Barrett were having a conference call with all of their offices around the world before a cocktail party—or brunch party in the offices outside the US—because the offices would be closing until after the new year.
I thought it was quite generous of them to give their employees a month off.
I opened the front door to see a stranger dressed in a black suit with a garment bag over his shoulder. “May I help you?”
“Mr. York asked that I give you this gift and ask you to dress for an event and join him at the York Properties building.” That was shocking. I hadn’t expected Briggs to invite me to his party.
“Are you sure?” I asked the man.
“I’m positive, sir. I’m going to pick up Miss Maizie, and we’ll swing by in thirty minutes to get you. Is that enough time?” the driver asked.
“Uh, yeah. Yes. I’ll be ready.” He left, walking to a black sedan I hadn’t noticed before he drove away.
I quickly tossed the garment bag onto the couch and unzipped it, seeing a beautiful black leather jacket with a black shirt, a gray-and-black tie, and charcoal flannel slacks. It was a gorgeous outfit.
I grabbed the garment bag and ran upstairs to take a quick shower. Once I finished, I quickly dried my hair and dressed. I went into the shared closet to get my leather loafers, only to find them gone. I looked everywhere for them, only to come up empty.
I grabbed a pair of black sneakers and slid them on to run downstairs and look in the mudroom and the living room.
I didn’t make it a habit of leaving my things everywhere because it bothered me to make a mess.
But I couldn’t find my shoes, so I found a black marker in the kitchen junk drawer and colored the white soles so they weren’t noticeable—or so I hoped.
When the driver knocked on the door again, I headed out with him, locking the house and shoving the keys into my pocket.
When the guy opened the door, I saw Maizie sitting inside in a stunning rose-gold dress with a pink faux fur jacket that highlighted her golden good looks and sparkling personality perfectly.
“Wow! You look beautiful,” I said as I slid into the back seat next to her, leaning over to give her a kiss on the cheek.
“Barrett surprised me with the outfit. Did you have anything to do with it?” Her grin was contagious.
“No, but I wish I had. It looks stunning. Did you know we were being invited to the party?”
“No. I was planning to do a review tonight because I knew Daddy was going to be busy with a work function. When Daniel showed up at the house with the garment bag, I was shocked.”
“Is that his name? Daniel?” I whispered, pointing to the man in the front seat who seemed to be ignoring us. Maizie laughed and nodded.
I glanced at her feet to see that she was wearing a pair of pink Crocs with glittering charms stuck in the holes.
That’s when it occurred to me. Daddy wanted to give me a little moment by wearing my favorite sneakers to calm my nerves about his request for me to attend the party.
It seemed Barrett wanted the same for Maizie.
“So, you’re coming over tomorrow, right? I don’t know Valerie or Derek at all, so if you’ll be there, I’d appreciate it.” I was nervous as hell. It was my first time making outfits for someone other than myself or Maizie.
“Oh, by the way, Mistress Geraldine asked if you’d tailor a Santa suit for the party.
She has one, but she said the Daddy who is going to wear it is thinner than the Daddy who wore it last year, and this year’s Daddy doesn’t want the padding.
She said he’s vain.” We both laughed because I hadn’t met a Daddy who wasn’t.
“I’ll need to get the measurements,” I said.
“She’ll send them to you. Now, what do you want for Christmas?” Maizie asked.
I laughed. “I want to find my loafers before I go to work on Monday. I don’t think I can get by with these.” I twisted my foot to show her they were my sneakers and discovered that I’d missed a spot on the sole.
“They don’t look bad. I’m sure your shoes are somewhere you least expect them. My midterms are next week. I’m bringing my books over tomorrow, okay?”
“Sure. I’ll set up a workstation in my studio for you. I’ll get some donuts for us. How’s that?”
“Sounds delish! Oh, we’re here,” she said as she looked out the window of the sedan.
Daniel hopped out and opened Maizie’s door, extending his hand to help her out. Suddenly, there was another hand batting his away, and as I bent to glance out the window, I saw Barrett with a glowing smile as he helped her out of the car.
He pecked a kiss on her lips and whispered something into her ear. She threw her head back and laughed before he put her on her feet and threaded her arm through his as he escorted her up the stairs.
My best friend was happier than I’d ever seen her. It was beautiful to witness.
I stepped out of the car, adjusting my leather jacket as I started up the stairs. At the top, I saw my silver bear wearing a big grin. He met me halfway down the stairs and hugged me. “You look gorgeous, baby.”
His comment had me flying. “Thank you. You picked out the clothes, but I couldn’t find my good shoes.” I stepped back and twisted my ankle so he could see what I’d done to my sneakers.
“We’ll talk about that later. Come inside. I want you to meet everyone.”
I nodded, and Daddy Briggs led me up the stairs and into the building.
We got on an elevator and went to the top floor—no surprise—and when we got off, there was a whole party going on.
There were television sets around the large lobby where people in other places were having parties as well. It was truly unbelievable.
We made the rounds, Briggs introducing me to many people, but most importantly, I met the queen, Madeline. “This is my partner, Teller. Teller, this is Madeline.”
“Oh! It’s such a pleasure to meet you. Da—Briggs talks about you all the time. I know you make his job so much easier,” I said, hoping I didn’t sound like an idiot.
Madeline gave me a hug, which was really nice. When she pulled away, she smiled at me. “With the two of us working together, I think we can maintain our sanity and keep him in check at the same time.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. She definitely had his number.
“I’ll do my part,” I told her as Briggs wrapped his arm around my waist.
“Don’t plot against me, please. The two of you are a force I can’t overcome.”
We both laughed just as Barrett tapped a knife against a water glass, Maizie standing next to him. Everyone turned in his direction before Briggs led me to the stairs, and we stood next to them. I had no idea what was happening, but I put on a nervous smile, as did Maizie.
Briggs took the microphone that the DJ handed over before smiling at the crowd. “Hello to all of the personnel in the offices of York Properties, LLC. Happy holidays.” Applause erupted from the room and the monitors around it.
After a minute, the crowd was silent. Briggs held up the mic again.
“I know you’re all worried about what’s happening with the company, but I wanted to assure you that none of the offices will be closing.
We will be selling off some older properties, but that doesn’t mean we won’t acquire newer ones.
None of your jobs are in danger of disappearing, so don’t worry, and please, don’t go job hunting. ” Another round of applause.
“You’ve all spoken to or heard about my new business partner.
He and I will share the load of running the company so we can each have a life outside of the job, which I highly recommend to all of you.
If you haven’t met him yet, you will soon, but let me officially present my co-president, Barrett Tarry.
” Briggs held out his arm toward Barrett, who stepped closer and waved.
I moved over toward Maizie and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “The two of them joining forces makes me believe we’re going to be friends for a very long time.”
Maizie kissed my cheek in agreement. I was very happy we were experiencing some of the best times of our lives together.
We’d shared our dreams with one another when we hung out at our old apartments in the old building, and now it seemed a lot of them were coming true.
I made Valerie’s pajama gown—the material was from a Grinch blanket I’d found at the Thrifty Shopper when I dropped by there on my way to work my last shift at O’Malley’s.
The gown was a mid-ankle flannel job with an old-fashioned red and green tulle ruffle at the bottom.
Valerie had a gushing fit over it with Maizie’s encouragement. I was relieved.
After meeting Derek, only a union suit would do.
It was made from red terry knit with the back flap made of several layers of tulle to give a hint of his butt, though not too slutty.
I wished I’d have thought of something similar to wear with my footed onesie, but the black jock Derek wore under it would be enticing to any Daddy, I was sure. Except mine, I hoped!
When our friends left together, I turned to Maizie. “You wanna try on your gown?”
I’d been working on it in the mornings before I picked her up for work. Since Daddy had created my design studio, it was hard for him to get me out of it, but I still loved spending time with him—naked when I could.
Briggs and Barrett were busy restructuring the offices of York Properties, LLC, and I did my best to give him an environment to relax in when he came home from the office.
Daddy would play with me in my basement playroom when he had time, and I wanted to be in little space, or he’d work down there while I played.
It was so satisfying to be able to sit on the floor with my sippy cup of chocolate milk and some action figures while Daddy was busy doing other things.
He’d reach over and touch my head or skim the back of his fingers over my neck to let me know I was still there, and it never failed to calm me.
Maizie pulled me from my daydreams of Daddy and me racing cars on the orange track we put together on a special table with green astroturf. “You need to work on the Santa suit. It needs to be ready for the party on the eleventh.”
The Santa suit was an ugly mess. Making it look halfway attractive was a huge ask of Mistress Geraldine, but I had given my word to try.
“Have you seen it?” Mistress Geraldine had it sent over to the white house, and I actually cringed when I saw it.
Maizie shook her head, so I went to the closet in my studio and pulled it out.
I hadn’t touched it because I wasn’t sure what to do with the damn thing.
The white faux fur trim was dirty, and the red crushed velvet was cheap.
The vinyl belt with the foil buckle was trashed, and the red hat with the white snowball at the end was beyond repair.
Whoever Santa was the previous year, he’d been a destructive bastard.
“Holy crap! That’s what she sent you?”
I nodded.
“Well, we can’t use that ugly thing. We have until Wednesday night to get the suit done. If I buy you the material to make a new suit, can you pull it off?”
Could I? Could I make a beautiful Santa suit with new fabric in four days?
I was definitely up to the challenge. I’d taken a week off from the store, and I was prepared to work twenty-four hours every day to ensure the Santa suit was ready in time.
It would have my tag inside, and everyone would know I’d made it.
It had to be perfect for whoever was playing Santa.