2. Michael
‘Fuck, that was intense,’ Michael said, walking into his private members-only health club locker room. ‘I think we did well for a couple of old foxes though. Right?’
‘We put those younger guys to shame,’ Max laughed, high-fiving Michael. ‘They’ll be collapsing into their beds at seven tonight in a world of pain. Whereas we’ll still be going strong.’
‘I admire your confidence,’ Michael laughed, always happy to work out with his good friend and fellow Princeford University alumni, Max. ‘So, what’s new?’
Michael began to strip down out of his gym clothes as Max talked of his most recent success stories at the dog rescue center where he worked. Like Michael, Max had graduated from one of the nations most prestigious Ivy League schools in Princeford U. But Max’s life had taken him in a different direction, and he was now more than happy to be rescuing and caring for the city’s canine friends in need.
Michael admired how Max had found his way in life and had an air of true peace to him after a tough period in his life. It was great to see, and Michael even felt a little envious of how contented Max was.
Soon enough, the two Daddies were both as naked as the day they were born – and looking in great shape too.
Michael Dornan might have been forty-five years old, but his physique would put most men half his age in the shade. Coming in at a shade over 6’2” and with a strong, muscular body that was strong but agile, Michael was a formidable figure.
The only nod to his advancing years that Michael had on display was a single silver streak of hair that ran down the left side of his parting. Michael could easily have dyed the silver streak, but he didn’t feel the need. Michael was absolutely sure of himself and didn’t need to hide anything – a fact best shown in that moment as both he and Max stood in the center of the locker room utterly naked.
‘So… please tell me that you’re closer to finding a boy to use that big old thing on?’ Max asked, his wicked sense of humor showing no decorum as the locker room banter flew back and forth.
‘Jesus, you’ll get my membership revoked,’ Michael said, mock disgust on his face before breaking out into laughter. ‘But, to answer your question… no, not a sweet Little in sight.’
‘You know, with all your money you could take a damn vacation and find a boy?’ Max asked.
‘If only it was that easy,’ Michael said.
‘You run your own investment fund,’ Max said, a look of incredulity on his handsome face. ‘You could take a fucking month off and you’d still be raking in the dollars.’
‘Urgh. Okay, okay, whatever,’ Michael said, shaking his head. ‘Sure, I could do that. But… you know how long it took me to get the business firing on all cylinders. I can’t let it slip.’
‘Fair enough, my brother,’ Max said. ‘Even back at Princeford, you always had that killer instinct when it came to making the dollars. I respect it. You know I’m only busting your balls. You’ll find a boy soon. You’re too great a guy not to.’
Michael smiled and the pair of them walked into their own private shower cubicles.
As Michael caressed his fingers across the shower’s high-end touch controls, he was soon met by a much-needed cascade of hot water.
Fuck. I needed that.
Working out never gets any easier.
Much like meeting a boy…
As Michael washed his body with the health club’s expensive complimentary shower gel, he couldn’t help but wonder about what Max had said. Yes, it was most certainly true that he could take a month off work. Michael could probably take a whole year off if he wanted to.
But Michael also knew that he was married to his business.
Even taking a single day off work gave Michael the jitters.
The idea of taking an extended period of time away from his investment fund was something that Michael found genuinely scary. But that being said, Michael did know that there was truth in what Max was saying too.
How would it be possible to meet a boy and sustain a healthy, fair relationship if so much of his time was taken up with his business commitments. Work and relationships just didn’t seem to be a combination that went together as far as Michael was concerned.
‘Yo, Michael? Can you hear me?’ Max called out from the stall next to Michael.
‘Yup, and I think the whole gym can too!’ Michael laughed. ‘What’s up?’
‘I’m going to get out now and change quickly to go and see Louie,’ Max said. ‘You good if I leave you here?’
‘No worries,’ Michael replied, knowing that he had a few business emails he needed to send anyhow. ‘Have a good time. And don’t paddle his butt too hard!’
Michael smiled at the sound of Max’s raucous laughter.
As far as Michael was concerned, he needed to get his work emails done and dusted and then it was time to head across to the hipster side of town to meet a new company owner to potentially invest some of his fund into.
But before that, there was a small matter of a possible brand new sports car to test drive. Being single might not always be something that Michael was happy about, but as long as there were super-charged two seater cars to drive, he wasn’t about to start complaining any time soon…
The car showroom was almost like a home from home for Michael. Over the years, his interest in high performance and luxury cars had grown to the point where he was almost treated like family when he stepped inside the showroom.
‘Michael!’ the salesperson called out, striding over toward him with an outstretched arm and a smile on his face.
‘Brad,’ Michael replied shaking hands and nodding in approval at the new models on display around him. ‘There’s almost too much temptation here.’
‘We aim to please,’ Brad said, looking immaculate in his dark suit, white shirt, and red tie. ‘I’m thinking… this Ferrari. Over here.’
With the soundtrack of classical music playing over the showroom’s speaker system, Michael walked with Brad over toward an impossibly handsome red Ferrari that looked like it had been lifted directly out the Hollywood Hills.
There was no denying that the car was a thing of beauty.
‘I’m thinking… yes,’ Michael replied, a smile on his face as he walked around the car and drank in its sublime curves and powerful rear end.
‘I thought as much,’ Brad said, tossing Michael the keys. ‘We’ve made a clear path so you can literally drive it out of the showroom. See?’
Michael looked on in amazement as there was indeed a clear path out through the electronically opening floor to ceiling window at the side of the showroom.
‘I think this is going to be fun,’ Michael chuckled, taking his seat inside the car and turning the engine on to an almighty roar. ‘Wow. This beauty might be a beast too…’
Michael carefully pulled out of the showroom and hit the streets.
By now, Michael was growing far more accustomed to this kind of crazily expensive car. He was used to getting looks on the street as his engine thundered past pedestrians and fellow motorists.
It wasn’t always this way though.
Michael had built his business from nothing, and growing up the best car his mother ever drove was a rundown saloon that had more miles on the clock than a rocket that had returned from a two way journey to Mars.
Michael dropped the car down a gear as he weaved between the traffic and made his way in a loop back toward the showroom. But as fun as driving luxury cars was, Michael was beginning to sense that the feeling of joy he got from it wasn’t quite hitting like it used to.
Does this make me happy?
I mean, it’s great and all.
But… do I still need to prove myself like this?
Michael thought back to his childhood and how as a freshman in high school he was a bit overweight and would come under fire from some of the bullies in the senior years. Michael had never been badly bullied, not like some unfortunate kids. But still, Michael had faced enough taunts about his weight in his younger years to leave a lasting impression.
Even as Michael grew and developed into a physically imposing senior in high school, he never forgot how poorly he was treated by some. On the one hand, it meant that Michael would never, ever bully someone himself.
But on the other hand, Michael had always carried the pain of the name calling around with him and used it as a motivation to become as successful as he possibly could in life.
And it was beginning to dawn on Michael that perhaps his love of expensive cars and luxury watches was maybe a throwback to his early years and the determination he felt to prove the name-callers wrong.
‘Hmmm, this car’s not for me,’ Michael grumbled, turning the corner and pulling up to the showroom. ‘Not today. And maybe not another day either.’
After parking the Ferrari and saying goodbye to Brad, Michael got into his own car and set Google Maps for downtown. With all of his recent memories of being an overweight kid still fresh in his mind, it felt kind of strange to be going to meet the owner of a candy business to talk about a potential cash injection.
But Michael wasn’t going to let that put him off.
After all, when there were profits to be made, Michael was made of much more pragmatic stuff. Childhood insecurities or not, Michael was determined to go into this meeting with an open mind and hopefully reap the rewards too…
The door to the workshop was partially open on arrival, and Michael’s emerald-green eyes were drawn to a handwritten note just above the door handle:
Please come inside – a veritable candy treat awaits! AA
‘Intriguing…’ Michael said, taking the note off the door and stepping inside.
The very first thing that Michael noticed about the inside of the studio was just how happy and vibrant a place it seemed. With some cheerful but soft music playing in the background, and a myriad of colorful mood boards and design ideas arranged around the space, Michael could tell that this was someone who was committed to their craft.
Of course, this didn’t mean that the business was a good investment. Far from it. But it was a good early sign to say the least.
However as cute and sweetly impressive as all the design elements were, Michael was beginning to feel somewhat irritated at the lack of a business owner…
‘Hello? Is anyone actually here?’ Michael barked, his gruff voice seeming to spark some movement from a small storage room on the other side of the studio.
‘One second!’ the voice called back, a lilting voice that seemed both breezy and a little bit sassy too. ‘I’ll be right with you.’
Michael frowned. This wasn’t exactly professional.
He wants me to invest my money in his business.
And he’s too busy to be actually greet me?
I might be wrong, but…
However Michael’s train of thought was brought to an abrupt halt as just about the most adorable young man stepped out of the storage room and practically skipped over toward him.
‘You must be Michael?’ the young man enquired. ‘I’m Korben.’
‘I gathered that,’ Michael replied, raising his eyebrow and trying not to give away the fact that his heart was beating at a thousand beats a second.
Damn it. He’s beautiful.
And confident and quirky too.
I’m guessing this might be an interesting business decision ahead…
Michael listened as Korben began to show him around the studio. There was absolutely no denying that he knew what he was talking about when it came to candy.
But what was also striking was just how incredible Korben looked. As much as Michael wanted to focus solely on his business knowledge and plans for expansion, his eyes were drawn to Korben’s colourful t-shirt and his perfectly slender arms as they wafted and waved around with enthusiasm.
‘Stop,’ Michael said, his voice stern and focused. ‘I’m hearing a lot of good things here. But what I’m not hearing is precisely why you want an investor. I mean, if everything is going as well as you say it is, why do you need me?’
Michael waited for Korben’s response.
He could tell that Korben was thinking things over, and as Michael waited for his to speak his eyes were drawn to what appeared to be a shark stuffie over in the corner of the studio.
‘Oh, don’t mind Jazz,’ Korben said, a slightly embarrassed redness in his cheeks developing. ‘He just keeps me company here.’
‘I’m sure he does,’ Michael replied, his mind now suddenly running wild at the potential that Korben was a Little. ‘But you still haven’t answered my qu-’
‘I was just about to answer!’ Korben giggled. ‘The reason I need your investment is that I want to keep control of the business from a creative standpoint. If I take my candies to a major retailer, I know that they’ll try to start bossing me around and telling me to change the packaging to make it cheaper. Or they’ll try and tell me to use different ingredients or make new flavors. It’s just what happens in the industry. But with a private investor, I can keep the power on my side.’
‘You mean you’ll be able to negotiate from a position of strength,’ Michael said, nodding his head in approval. ‘I like your style.’
But it wasn’t just Korben’s apparent business sense that Michael appreciated.
Each and every second in Korben’s company was firing up his Daddy Dom side more and more. As ambitious and talented as Korben was, Michael was sensing a sassy, almost bratty side to Korben that he wanted nothing more than to put an abrupt halt too.
Yes, Korben was talented – but he knew it too.
Michael would study the business figures at length, and he would factor in Korben’s obvious high taste in candy too. But the biggest factor for Michael to chew over was going to be whether he could handle working alongside Korben as a business partner.
Not only did Korben seem rather feisty, but everything about Korben’s appearance was making Michael want to do all kinds of things to him.
From Korben’s green eyes, a shade more turquoise than his own, right down to Korben’s high cheekbones and perfectly plump lips was making Michael want to growl and put his hands on his delicate shoulders.
This will get complicated. I know it will.
But if the numbers make sense…
Maybe it’s a chance I just have to take?