MAX
And Michael was keen to report that a friend of his in the Los Frisco Police Department told him that they were very close to locating Judd and then putting him behind bars for quite some time.
‘Don’t listen to him,’ Michael replied. ‘I think it’s a dog gone great idea!’
That asshole needs to be taught a lesson.
No one messes with my Channing.
Kyle Peters needs to be put in his place…
As Max rounded the corner that would take him directly to Green Sky Future, his mind had drifted away from thoughts of Kyle Peters and back onto Channing.
Max knew that he had been on quite a journey. With his shoulder now almost fully healed, Max recalled the feeling of how much it hurt in the hours after waking up in his crashed car.
For so long, Max’s life had been about living on the edge and not giving two craps about the consequences. But that was changing now, Max could sense it.
Having Channing back in his life truly meant something to Max. Yes, Channing was younger and his commitment to all-things health and eco could be irritating at times. But Max had learned a lot from Channing too.
The kind of education that Channing had given Max wasn’t the kind you would get in college or in an office. It was a lesson in learning to be happy with a calm life, one based on enjoying simple pleasures and not needing to seek the most dangerous, out-there thrills.
Max felt a sense of tranquility as he stood near the entrance to Green Sky Future. It was a building that looked like many of the Los Frisco business quarter blocks. It was tall, mostly glass, and was surrounded by lush greenery.
As Max looked up to the top floor, he imagined Channing in the CEO’s chair, running the organization and loving every second of it as he helped to change the world.
Channing is the true wild one.
The boy’s got what it takes to reach the top.
And nothing will stop him…
But just as Max was indulging himself in a little fantasy of the kind of explicit naughtiness that he and Channing could get up to in the CEO’s office, he caught sight of something far less appealing.
‘Well, I’ll be damned,’ Max muttered under his breath. ‘If it isn’t the man himself.’
It was Kyle Peters.
Even if Channing hadn’t shown Max a photo of Kyle online, Max might have guessed it was Kyle. Maybe it was his ultra-flashy suit, his smug grin, or his extravagant electric scooter that gave him away.
Whatever it was, Max knew it was time to have a word with Kyle – and make it a word or several that Kyle wouldn’t be forgetting in a hurry…
‘Yo! Kyle?’ Max hollered, immediately drawing the attention of the man. ‘Yo! Wait there.’
Max began to walk toward Kyle with a look of cold vengeance on his face. The thought that he was approaching the man who had put his darling boy through so much unnecessary pain was making Max’s blood boil.
Don’t lose your shit.
Stay in control.
This is just a warning shot…
The closer Max got to Kyle, the more he could see that Kyle looked nervous.
Did Kyle know who he was?
Whether Kyle did recognize him or not, Max knew that he was in total control of the situation.
‘The name’s Max Manchester, and we need a serious talk about Channing,’ Max said, his voice gruff and firm. ‘I don’t like how you’ve been treating Channing. You need to wise up, and wise up pretty fucking fast.’
Max could tell that Kyle was panicking.
‘I… um… who the hell are you again?’ Kyle said, clearly trying to worm his way out. ‘Channing? Um… I don’t think I know a Channing?’
Max was seeing how much of a sneak Kyle was.
Of course Kyle knew who Channing was.
If words weren’t going to work, then Max considered that he might have to get a little more physical…
‘You’ve got one more chance,’ Max said, stepping closer to Kyle and putting his hands on Kyle’s expensive suit jacket. ‘Are you going to be nice to Channing or not?’
But before Kyle could answer, Max felt a hand on his shoulder.
The hand however wasn’t a Green Sky Future security officer, it was in fact Channing’s…
‘It’s okay, I’ve got this from here,’ Channing said, a look of steely determination on his normally so sweet and angelic face. ‘As the new Future Organization Development VP, I want to have a real serious chat with one of my employees.’
‘W-w-w-what?’ Kyle said, a look of shock and horror on his face. ‘But…’
‘Of course, I welcome you onto my team wholeheartedly,’ Channing said, a cold, calm control in his voice.
‘But I’d understand it if you wanted to consider your future too, Kyle.
Whatever you choose, I’m cool with. Just know that I’m here to stay and I’m not going to tolerate any negativity or selfish behavior from my staff.
We’re in this to help the world, not look after our own interests.
Why don’t you take the morning off to have a think about what you want to do Kyle? ’
Max stood with a big smile on his face.
It was impressive to hear Channing talking with so much authority and confidence – so much so that it was clear that Channing was born for this role.
‘Screw you!’ Kyle blurted out, prompting both Max and Channing to chuckle. ‘You can take that as my formal resignation letter!’
With that, a seething Kyle turned and ran back to his scooter, never to be seen at Green Sky Future again.
It was no loss.
And it meant that Channing would be able to bring in a new hire who cared about the work over their own career ambitions.
‘Thank you, Daddy,’ Channing said, turning to Max.
‘Hey, you did that all by yourself, Mr. Vice President,’ Max smiled, bringing Channing in close and kissing him softly on his forehead.
‘Okay, sure. But thank you for being there for me and giving me the belief that I could do this,’ Channing said. ‘Not just confronting Kyle, but making my voice truly heard at work. I love you so much, Daddy! So much that my heart feels like it might explode and shoot out rainbows!’
‘And I love you,’ Max replied, planting a kiss on Channing’s soft lips. ‘Now, tell me something…’
‘Yes, Daddy?’ Channing replied, curiosity in his voice.
‘As VP, does that mean you can duck out of work for an hour or two?’ Max said, more than a hint of intrigue in his voice. ‘I’ve got a special surprise in store for you that I think you might just love.’
‘Well, it is my first day as VP,’ Channing said, a little uncertain. ‘But, yes, of course I can!’
As the pair of them walked away from the office, Max felt a warmth inside him that he hadn’t known in many, many years.
Without doubt, he had become the Daddy that deep down he always knew he was.
All that was left was to show Channing exactly what this surprise was.
And if Max knew Channing as well as he thought he did, there was no way that Channing was going to be anything less than incredibly excited about what was in store for the both of them…