2. Harrison
Chapter 2
Harrison
‘If it’s ten million to secure the site, then it’s ten million,’ I growl, squeezing my cell phone so hard it might just turn into dust. ‘Just make it happen. McPherson got the jump on me over the Rider Avenue site, I’m not about to let that happen again. Got it?’
I don’t wait for a reply.
My land purchases team need to make this deal go through for me, and I’m not going to accept anything less than a deal being sorted by the end of the week.
As I put the phone back into the pocket of my tailored suite trousers, I lean back in my chair and take a sip of my espresso.
I’m already on my third caffeine injection today – which actually isn’t that wild considering I’ve been up since four-thirty this morning.
But while talking business in the early hours with global clients is something I’ve been developing recently, my one and true passion will always be real estate.
H.H Properties is my baby, a business that I grew from scratch back when I was a fresh-faced twenty-three year old who was working the construction sites and doing whatever he could to save each and every penny.
I’ve come a long way in the ensuing twenty years.
At forty-three years old and with silver streaks of hair in my temples, I’m now far more likely to be found in the business suite than I am working on site. But I’m okay with that. I love putting deals together and making my mark on Los Torros and the wider area.
I know a lot of real estate guys get a bad rep.
And, honestly, I can see why.
Too many construction developments look as ugly as hell and typically fall apart quicker than a Lego tower built by the hands of a toddler.
But the one thing that comes as standard with a Harrison Harlow property is that the aesthetics are on point, and the build quality is rock-solid too.
I know I’ve got a fearsome reputation around town.
Everyone in the trade has heard about the firings, the demands, and my notorious temper too.
But what so many people don’t know is that this only happens because of my passion for erecting the best possible buildings for the people of this fine town.
I grew up in Los Torros, and I’m determined to see it thrive – just like it used to in the old days.
Anyway, after giving my land purchases team a crystal clear message, it’s time for me to finish my coffee and get my ass down to my private gym.
‘I’m coming!’ I shout, the sound of my buddy Reece already getting to work on the hack squat machine travelling up the staircase.
Reece is a retired soccer player with an eye for business.
We’re great friends – and the fact that both of us are Daddies too is just perfect. Whether we’re hitting the town for whiskies or heading to the beach with our other buddy Trent to surf some waves, we’re always there for one another.
I feel lucky to have such a solid community of Daddy friends in Los Torros. I know that the Daddy and Little community is growing across the country, but Los Torros has always punched above its weight when it comes to acceptance and an open mind.
Things didn’t always feel quite the same when I spent some time in the big city a few years ago. I was itching to expand my business empire and see whether life outside of Los Torros would provide me the right canvas to expand my property portfolio to the next level.
To say that things didn’t go to plan would be something of an understatement. I’m someone who hates conceding defeat or failing when I set out to do something. I’m not used to the feeling of failure, and I’m also not used to being treated poorly either.
Truly, stepping out to the big city was an experience that I’d rather forget about.
But I’m not going to allow myself to wallow in what went wrong and why – that’s not how I rock and roll.
No, I’ve been back in Los Torros for long enough now to know that I never want to leave this place again. Well, except for the odd two-week vacation if I ever get enough free time from H.H Properties to allow it.
Speaking of not having a second to myself…
Reece shouts again from the basement gym and even though I can’t make out what he’s saying, I’ve got a pretty good idea it’s neither complimentary nor a reassurance that I can take my time getting my butt down there.
‘Hey, I said I’m coming !’ I shout out again, removing my suit trousers and quickly slipping into my workout shorts. ‘I know you’re the Soccer Prince of Milan or whatever, but you can wait ten more seconds!’
With that, I grab a banana and make my way down the spiral staircase to the gym. It’s time to lift some serious weight with one of my best buddies and get a nice, juicy sweat on.
* * *
‘I’ll give it to you, you’ve still got the strength in those arms,’ Reece says, taking a seat in my steam room. ‘I guess your body still remembers working on the construction sites, right?’
‘I guess so,’ I laugh, taking a big gulp of water and breathing slowly as my body heats up from the steam. ‘Must be the same for you? You know, you’re probably still better than ninety-nine percent of soccer players out there.’
‘I don’t know about that, but I’ll take the compliment anyway,’ Reece laughs, his naked torso looking like a work of art. ‘I’ve been trying to teach Xander some tricks and skills, but soccer just isn’t the boy’s strong suit.’
‘Ha!’ I bellow. ‘I can imagine. He’s a big, strong boy who could outlift you… but nimble footwork is never going to be his thing though.’
‘And I love him just the way he is,’ Reece says, the look in his eyes telling me everything I need to know. ‘So, how about you? Any boys on the scene right now? And don’t give me that bullshit about being too busy. It’s the lamest excuse in the whole damn book.’
‘No, lame is what I’d call your attempt at a Romanian deadlift earlier,’ I reply, rolling my eyes.
But Reece has got a point though.
For too long now I’ve put my lack of a boy down to how busy I am with the business. And it is partly the reason. Rarely a week goes by where I’m not working for six or seven days at a time. I’ll typically finish work at around seven, and then maybe hangout with some of my Daddy friends.
All in all, it leaves barely any room for finding a boy.
Hell, it’s not like I can instruct my property team to go and find me the sweetest, sexiest, and most downright loveable boy in town… is it?
Jokes aside, I’m beginning to feel like what my life is missing is a boy to look after, to nurture, and to put in his place when he’s naughty too.
I might not seem like I’m longing for a boy to an outsider, but in reality I feel like it’s beginning to eat away at me. I know I’ve made mistakes in the past in relationships, and my work has placed a big strain on pretty much every relationship I’ve had since I set up the business.
But…
I think I could be a great Daddy.
It’s just a question of finding the right boy.
‘Hey, no, you’re right,’ I say, smiling wryly at Reece as the sweat drips off my rock-hard pecs. ‘I can’t keep using the whole work thing as an excuse. It’s just…’
‘Just what ?’ Reece says, arching his eyebrow.
‘The connection has to be there,’ I say. ‘Honestly, I know there’s a hundred different boys who’d willingly put themselves across my lap or get on their knees for me. But… I need more than that. I want the kind of electric connection that you and Xander have. Or like Trent and his boy, Mikey. You know?’
Reece smiles and takes a long drink from his bottle of water.
‘I know,’ Reece says. ‘I was exactly the same. And when you find that special boy, you’ll just know it’s right. You’re one hell of a catch, and everyone knows it. Maybe that’s part of the problem? There isn’t a boy in Los Torros who doesn’t know who Harrison Harlow is. I know Daddies who’d kill to have the same problem, but it’s all about context.’
I laugh and nod along as Reece speaks.
We’ve been through a lot together, and no matter what my mood or what’s going on in our lives, we always feel better after a good Daddy hangout.
‘Anyway, back onto business,’ I say. ‘How do you feel about potentially investing in the Dovetail Street site? That sonofabitch McPherson is going to make a play for it, but I think if I can get it locked down then I can build something special there. Something that would benefit the whole of Los Torros.’
‘ Urgh , fucking McPherson?’ Reece says. ‘The last thing we need is him building another block of cheap apartments that he’ll flip for profit and not put a single second of thought or care into. Get the deal done and consider me an investor.’
‘My man,’ I say, reaching out and fist-bumping Reece.
With that, I set a timer on the steam room wall and the pair of us lean back in our seats and let the steam envelop our bodies.
We’ve worked hard.
We’ve talked hard.
And now it’s time to relax… for now .
* * *
The drive over toward my Las Malvinas Avenue site is one that I always love to make.
With the top down on my vintage Maserati and the wind blowing through my hair, I remember just how fortunate I am. Not everyone gets to do what they love for a living, and even fewer are rewarded so well.
I’ll never become complacent about my success, that’s for sure.
And a big part of my motivation now as I get older is to put some of my success back into the community.
That’s why my Las Malvinas avenue site is going to become a community skatepark, outdoor gym, and soccer center for the local people.
I could have easily purchased the site and built three or four mansions on it and turned them over for a profit that would significantly add to my net worth.
But… where would the fun in that be?
And, hey, if I can get some tax breaks off building a community project, then I won’t say no to those either.
Seriously though, this project is very much one for the community and not for my own gain.
I’m using a relatively new, local construction crew to do the work too. They’re called the Blue Collar Boys and they come highly recommended by Reece and Trent – well they would do, seeing as Reece and Trent’s boys are a key part of the crew!
Jokes aside, I’ve been wanting to use the Blue Collar Boys for some time, but I plan my projects quite far in advance and this is more or less the first chance I’ve had to utilize them.
The Blue Collar Boys are building quite the reputation too, so it hasn’t been as easy as me clicking my fingers and getting to work with them either.
But, either way, we’re working together now and I can’t wait – the only caveat being that both Reece and Trent know that despite our friendship, I won’t go any easier on their boys than I would any other crew.
This may be a community project, but I’m treating it as seriously as any build – and if that means calling someone out or firing them altogether, I still won’t baulk at pulling the trigger.
I pull into the site and drive through the ornate metal gates that have stood the test of time – and after some refurb work will still mark the entrance to the site for generations to come.
‘Hey, Xander, good to see you,’ I say, turning the engine off and stepping out of the car.
‘Wow, I love it,’ Xander says, his eyes flashing over the sleek lines of the Maserati. ‘I should have known that my Daddy’s best friend would have a car like this!’
‘Yeah, and you can tell your Daddy that my vintage sportscar could still kick his 2023 model Porsche in a race too,’ I laugh. ‘Come on, let’s get down to business. Let me show you what I need, and where I need it. I take it you got the email from the architect?’
‘Yup, sure did,’ Xander replies, a confidence in his voice that I love to hear – so many construction guys will wilt under pressure, but I don’t think that’s going to be the case with Xander and his crew.
We walk down toward the central area of the site.
There is a crumbling old building that will need to come down soon, and I’m keen that Xander and his crew do this in the least invasive way possible. After all, I don’t want to make an enemy of myself amongst the local residents on day one of the project.
‘Yeah, that’s not a problem,’ Xander says, his eyes looking over my shoulder momentarily.
‘Something I should see too?’ I say, a little perturbed by his apparent break in focus.
But as I turn around, I’m met by a sight for sore eyes.
Who… the… hell… is he ?
‘Hey, Taylor!’ Xander chuckles, come on over. ‘All good with the forklift?’
I watch as Taylor strides toward us.
He’s a little bit older than Xander, but when it comes to size and physique he can definitely put himself in the same league as any boy on this crew, that’s for sure.
With his cropped hair and electric-blue eyes, Taylor is making my cock grow faster than I’d like – after all, this is a business meeting not a late night booty call.
I might think that this boy is the hottest piece of booty I’ve ever clapped my eyes on, but I need to play it cool right now. If Xander sees me turning to mush over a damn boy, then how the hell is he going to take me seriously as a boss?
‘Hey,’ Taylor says, flashing me an undeniably wonderful smile.
The boy’s got the whole wholesome but with a serious side of sexy down to a fucking tee. With his crisp white t-shirt and rugged jeans looking like their packed with all of the good stuff, I can feel my heart thumping and my cock growing.
I knew that the Blue Collar Boys was full of rugged and masculine boys, but Taylor is something… extra.
‘Hello,’ I reply, my voice calm and in control. ‘It’s great to meet you. But Xander… we need to discuss business. Can your talk with the boy wait until you and I are done?’
‘Yeah, sure, of course,’ Xander says, smiling subtly and motioning for Taylor to take a seat over by his truck. ‘I’ll be over soon, Taylor. Take a seat. Or feel free to have a look around. This will be your base for the next couple of months after all, so make yourself comfortable.’
‘No problemo, you’re the boss,’ Taylor says, a hint of sass in his voice that I can’t help but think is being aimed in my direction.
But I can’t rise to it.
I keep eye contact with Xander, but every inch of my mind and body is desperate to turn and look at Taylor again.
I have to play it cool.
I must stay focused on business and business only.
This isn’t the time to be distracted by the hottest boy in Los Torros… or is it?