Chapter 27 – Richard
I hadn’t been surprised to be called into Charmaine’s office, in fact, I’d been expecting it.
With the decision being made that Dave would finally talk about his relationship status, I knew that we would need to come up with a game plan.
This news was going to be just as big as when Lars and Vincent came out, just not with the same flare that they did.
But what I wasn’t expecting was to see Vincent sitting there.
“Vin, what brings you here?” I ask him.
“Just something Charmaine and I have been talking about, but we’re awaiting David’s arrival. Do you mind waiting till he arrives, it should only be a few minutes?” Vincent says, and I’m not sure I like the tone of his voice, but I’m not going to push it.
“Yeah, no problem,” I say over to Vincent, before turning to Charmaine. “How is the press looking?”
“They’re not being as brutal as they were. The interview with Nicky aired over Christmas, that helped. I think showing all the injuries he sustained gave him that human edge, or they just felt sorry for him.”
“If they’re calming down, is there really any point with us having the press conference? I would prefer David not go through it,” I tell them both. He seems to be doing better, but I’m worried that the stress of Friday will set him back.
“I would love to say yes, but they’re not going away, and I hate to say it, but we have been quiet for so long that the Montague brand is now being affected,” Charmaine replies.
“Shit, Vin, I’m sorry.” I would never want to do something that affected Vincent’s business. He has worked tirelessly to get the team where we are today.
“Richard, we’re talking minor stuff. I wouldn’t worry. We bounced back after I came out, and I’m sure that it will happen again.”
Charmaine clears her throat at Vincent’s words, and when I look over to her, she has this odd expression on her face, that I’m just not able to read.
Charmaine is a tough cookie; she has to be in an industry that is mostly men, and over the years she’s learned to hide her emotions, making her very difficult to read.
“Guys, what is going on?” I know that I’m supposed to be waiting for Dave, but I need to know.
“David will be here shortly. Jasper has gone to find him for me,” Charmaine states, not giving any of the game away.
“How is Jasper’s training going?” Vincent asks, but I get the impression that he only asked so that we didn’t sit in silence.
“It’s um, challenging. Don’t get me wrong, but Jasper is a very opinionated young man, and there is an edge to him. His personality can be domineering, if that makes sense.”
When Vincent and I start laughing, there is no mistaking the confusion on her face. Oh, I hope Jasper forgives me for this.
“That’s because he’s a dominant,” I tell her. “Well, in certain situations.”
“Do you mean, like…” And, I do believe, a light blush touches Charmaine’s cheeks.
“Yep,” I confirm, giving her a smile.
“And how do you know this? I know you and David are close with Jasper, but I can’t see this coming up in a conversation?”
“Oh yes, please tell her, Rich. Explain how you know about Jasper,” Vincent says, the smirk playing on his lips.
“Vincent,” I start, but I think he’s doing it to get his own back for all my recent teasing.
“Richard, please tell me that this isn’t something I need to be concerned about?” Charmaine asks.
“Not really,” I start.
“Seriously, you guys are trying to put me in an early grave. Last year it was Vinent and Lars, and now you. You better tell me, and now, before David gets here.”
“David knows about this. In reality, he knew about Jasper before me,” I start.
“From where I’m sitting, this is sounding worse by the second, and I really don’t want another Jasper headache,” Charmaine adds.
“So, we both know that Jasper is dominant because we have both been in scenes with him,” I explain.
“Together? The three of you?” Charmine exclaims, “If the press….”
“No, Charmaine, not together,” I tell her, but she doesn’t seem to be calming down. “David knew Jasper intimately just before he joined our team. Whereas I used his services until I got together with David.”
“Services, what do you mean by services?” Charmaine demands.
Oh, I’m going to have to call Jasper after this meeting and warn him that Charmaine is going to want to see him again, and probably beg for his forgiveness. But I get a feeling that Jasper is going to find this so funny, and I’m not going to hear the end of it.
“Jasper used to...” I made sure that I used the past tense, and I’m also not going to mention that it’s his sister that runs the place. “Work for a special service that catered to the needs of men and women.”
“Please tell me, they didn’t pay for sex?” Charmaine adds.
“Umm…” I start, wanting to tease her. “It wasn’t just sex.”
“Vincent,” Charmaine says over to him. “I quit, effective immediately.”
“Don’t be dramatic,” I say over to her. “Vincent knows about it.”
“Why am I always the last one to know? This should have been brought to my attention the second you found out.” Oh, Charmaine is pissed, and the last sentence was directed straight to Vincent.
“I didn’t tell you, because I stupidly trust that idiot,” Vincent says, pointing to me. “Apparently, it’s all very high end, and shrouded in secrecy, and from some research, I happen to agree.”
“Vin, please tell me you didn’t try to find the place.” Rolling my eyes at him, but also knowing that he would. There is no way he would’ve found anything, especially online. I only learned of the place by accident.
“I needed to make sure that what you were telling me was right,” Vincent counters.
“Vincent, this is just backing up what I said,” Charmaine tells Vincent.
“Said about what?” I demand.
But before they’re able to answer, there’s a knock on Charmaine’s office door, before it slowly opens, and we all see Dave standing there, a surprised look on his face.
“Hey,” he says, as he walks into the room. I instantly go over to him, needing to help him over to the chairs that Charmaine has in her office, “Rich, I’m okay,” but he doesn’t push me away, all the same.
“I know, doesn’t mean I can’t worry,” I tell him.
Charmaine’s office is set up differently from mine and Vincent’s.
When decorating the office, Charmaine placed her desk at the top of the room so the window was behind her.
At certain times of the day, you can walk in and the light coming in would surround her, making her look like an angel.
Now, the office isn’t huge, so the rest of the space is made up of a coffee table and six chairs, all placed in a circle.
It could be quite oppressive at times, and I think that’s why Charmaine did it. Here she was always in control.
With Dave settled in one of the chairs, I take my place in the chair next to him and look over to Vincent and Charmaine who are sitting in the chairs opposite from us.
Vincent is suddenly looking a little nervous, which is getting me worried.
Either he doesn’t like what is about to happen or he’s scared of what my reaction is going to be.
“David, thank you for coming so quickly,” Charmaine starts.
“No problem. I’m guessing that you want to go over what I’m going to say on Friday,” He says.
“Yes, but there is also something else that I would like to talk to you about,” Charmaine adds.
“Oh, okay,” Dave replies, and looks over to me, and I just shake my head, letting him know that I have no idea what this is about.
“I know the plan is for you to confirm that the person in the photo is Richard and that you are, in fact, married,” Charmaine says.
“Yes,” I say.
“I think that it might be better not to,” Charmaine finally says.
“What?” I demand.
“Richard, please listen to Charmaine,” Vincent adds, and now I’m getting nervous; he knows that I’m not going to like this suggestion.
“Look, I’m completely behind David telling them that the person in the photo is his husband, but I’m saying that we don’t tell the world that the person is you,” Charmaine explains.
“No. Not happening,” I tell them, getting to my feet and turning to Dave. I have no intention of staying here and listening to them saying we need to stay hidden.
“Can you explain?” Dave asks, and I feel his hand on my leg as he pushes me out of the way to get a better look at Vincent and Charmaine.
“Dave, what? You aren’t, seriously, going to listen to this?” I ask not sure I believe what I am hearing.
“Rich, sit down,” Dave says, using a voice that I haven’t heard him use in weeks, and I do as I’m told.
“What?” Charmaine states, confused by my actions.
“Better off not knowing Char. Just go with it,” Vincent says, but I’m pissed and want to make them both squirm.
“Char,” Copying how Vincent shortened her name. “I’m submissive. David is my dominant. So, I listen to him.”
“Fuck, you had to, didn’t you,” Vincent complains.
“Yeah, I did,” I spit back.
“Richard, please, this isn’t anything against you or your relationship,” Charmaine starts.
“Then, please tell me what it’s about,” I demand.
“Rich,” Dave starts, and when I look over to him, he’s shaking his head. His way of telling me to stop it, and calm down, before reaching his hand over for me to take, and squeezing it the moment our fingers are entwined.
“Dave, you’re seriously considering this?” I asked him.
“I think we should hear what they have to say,” he answers me, and I feel Dave grip my hand tighter, because he knows that I was going to pull it away.
“No,” I say, but no one is really listening to me.
“Okay, tell me what you’re thinking?” Dave asks.
Looking over to Vincent, he turns to Charmaine, waiting for her to deliver the idea. He doesn’t even have the balls to tell us himself. For the first time, maybe ever, I would happily tell Vincent where he can stick his job. I’m sure that I could easily join another team.