Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Darsh
An inheritance from an uncle I never knew I had, led to an entire new phase of life.
Until the attorney acting as executor contacted me, I’d been under the impression my late alpha father was an only child, but it turned out, he’d only been estranged from his brother.
My omega dad reluctantly shared the fact with me when I called to ask why I had an uncle Edward who nobody ever mentioned.
Vague on detail, Dad said my father had implied his brother was dead, and that’s as far as it even went.
“Well, he’s dead now,” I replied. “A shame we never got to know him.”
The will the attorney sent me expressed the same sentiment. My uncle never had children of his own, and he regretted never meeting his only nephew. Unmated, he’d dedicated his life to his career as a character actor in the human world, investing his earnings and building his fortune.
My fortune.
I would have preferred to get to know Uncle Edward.
But since that was not possible, I chose to accept his gift and use it as he requested in his private note to me.
To my nephew,
I would have given you my time, but you always had my love. Don’t spend your time on regrets. Spend what I have squirreled away on whatever brings you joy.
First, I began with what did not bring me joy.
My job. It paid well enough and had been a godsend when I finished school.
A good salary, vacation, 401k. Enough money to buy a small house and live comfortably.
I wore suits, took clients to the finest restaurants and bars, and even flew overseas a few times a year.
It was exciting at first but quickly became a lonely life where I was too busy to keep up with most of my friends who had moved on to mated life and families.
While they were eating dinner with their pups, I was either still at the office or heading out for an evening with a client.
My human friends from university were just starting to marry, but most of them were working as hard as I was, so we didn’t really socialize much.
The one place I did go when I could find time was Cuffed, the kink club where I could be myself without apology.
Visit with those who understood my needs in a place where they could be met.
And where I could help omegas with theirs.
Once or twice a month was not enough, but with my working hours, I could spare no more.
And then, I received the phone call that made me stop and examine my life and how I lived it. Well, not right away. At first, it didn’t sink in, the possibilities, but about a week after receiving the inheritance, I was sitting at Cuffed, chatting with Bronson, one of the owners, when it hit me.
“I can quit,” I blurted out. “Can’t I?” The second part sounded less confident, but Bronson’s confusion reminded me that I hadn’t told him or anyone about my legacy. As if I was ashamed of it or something.
“Quit the club?” he asked. “What did we do to make you want to leave?”
I shook my head. “Not the club. My soul-sucking job.”
“That sounds bad. A lot of the members complain about their work, but you never have.” He grinned. “But if it’s soul-sucking, you should run as fast as possible away from there.”
“Okay, maybe I’m being overly dramatic. It’s not bad as jobs go. Checks all the benefits/salary boxes and such. But I feel like a hamster on a wheel or a rat in a maze, just moving on and on and on and never pausing for breath.”
“Okay.” He paused while a server placed our cocktail orders on the low table between the high-backed leather chairs we sat in.
The conversation area, a collection of chairs and sofas and various coffee and occasional tables, was one of my favorite parts of the club, and I’d heard the new additions also featured such areas.
“Now, tell me about this rodent prison you work in.”
“Give me a second.” I pulled out my phone and sent a text. “You mean the rodent-hamster prison where I used to work.”
He blinked but quickly recovered himself and held up his glass. “To freedom.”
“In two weeks. I gave notice but I am so excited, and now, I have to decide what to do next.”
“True. My pops always said don’t leave one job until you have another, but you probably have some funds put by for a rainy day. You’ve always seemed practical to me.”
“Until now, you mean.” I read the reply from HR.
My company’s headquarters was in Asia, so they were open.
“Really now. Their policy is not to have people work out their notice, so I am officially at loose ends. They are actually giving me twenty-four hours to consider my decision, and if I stand by it, they will have my things sent to me.”
Talon made his way from the back hallway that led to some of the private rooms and others like the little and pet play areas. “Evening, gentlemen. Anything interesting happening?”
“You have no idea.” Bronson glanced at me, and I nodded. I had nothing to hide. “Our friend here just texted his notice and no longer has employment.”
“Oh yeah?” Talon sat on the sofa opposite us, crossed a leg over his other knee, and stretched an arm along the back. “You’re sober, right?”
“Yes.” I held up my glass of bourbon. “First one tonight, and barely touched. It was just time.”
“Oh, okay. In that case, congratulations. What are you going to do next?”
I shook my head slowly. “I haven’t the foggiest idea. But before you both lose your regard for my sanity, I recently inherited enough from an uncle to never work again. But I can’t imagine lounging around. I need something to do.”
“You just quit,” Bronson pointed out. “Maybe take a few weeks’ vacation?”
“Maybe.” I considered for a moment. “Or maybe you’re looking for more investors now that the club is growing?”
By the time I left that night, we had a gentleman’s agreement and the details would be handled by our attorneys.
They asked me more than once if I was sure, but I was.
I’d never considered such an investment before because I’d never had the funds.
But I didn’t want to just sit around. My biggest problem with my job in finance was the lack of meaning.
Cuffed was my sanctuary, and I would be able to come here every day if I wanted.
While Talon was telling me a bit about the business end of things, an omega passed nearby. He wore black jeans and a T-shirt with an apron tied around his waist. And he had the most beautiful green eyes framed by sooty lashes the color of the fade highlighting his elegant head shape.
“Darsh?” Talon said. “Did I lose you?”
“What?” I was discussing my entire future and showing my seriousness by ogling staff? Not good. “Yes, sorry. It’s just been an exciting night.” Highlighted by the omega. Who was probably off-limits now.
By the time we parted and I looked around, the omega was nowhere in sight. Likely for the best.