12. Michael
After a busy couple of days where both Michael and Korben had to dive back into their work with typical enthusiasm, the pair were reunited at Michael’s office early in the evening.
Michael took a sip of his sparkling water and lime and watched as Korben paced up and down the office with his stuffie Jazz in one hand and his iPad in the other.
With the city’s skyline looking as spectacular as ever outside, Michael could quite easily have taken Korben out for some dinner, perhaps a movie, or maybe even a trip to hang out with their Daddy and Little friends.
However as far as Korben’s Kandies was concerned, the workday was a long way from over…
‘But I don’t get it,’ Korben exclaimed, a note of frustration in his voice. ‘You think we should increase the price of the candy so that… more… people buy it?’
Michael shook his head.
Having explained his idea for the new pricing point several times, Michael was beginning to feel that Korben was deliberately refusing to see his point. But rather than get too frustrated, Michael decided that he would try once again.
‘Darling boy, I’m trying to explain,’ Michael said. ‘But perhaps if you could sit still for a moment, it might sink in a bit better.’
‘This is how I work best,’ Korben said, a little edge to his voice. ‘I’m the creative one, and I like to be on my feet when I think.’
Michael gritted his teeth.
This wasn’t the first sass that Korben had thrown his way in the last half hour. Michael could handle Korben being frustrated or even a little bit bratty, but he was rapidly approaching a point where Michael knew he might just have to take things into his own hands.
‘By going slightly more expensive, we’ll be able to place your candies as luxury items,’ Michael said, ensuring that he sounded as patient as he possibly could. ‘I’m not talking a major increase. Far from it. And we can run discounts once we get established. I’m simply talking about a price point that will appeal to the high end stores. These are the places that will be the best for Korben’s Kandies in the long run.’
Michael took a deep breath and watched as Korben continued to pace around.
It was quite clear that everything Michael was saying was going in one ear and out the other. But with a deadline looming, Michael knew that he and Korben needed to be on the same page sooner rather than later.
With all his experience in the business world, Michael knew that early business mistakes could often be very hard to rectify. And sometimes, once a brand was tarnished early, it was nigh on impossible to resuscitate it.
Even with all of his contacts, history, and track record Michael knew that he had to make the Korben’s Kandies expansion a success. If he failed, then it could have a lasting impact on his and Korben’s relationship too – and that was the very last thing that Michael wanted.
The boy needs to listen to me.
Korben knows candy, but I know business.
And I’m not liking his attitude right now…
‘Korben, come and sit with me,’ Michael said, standing up from his desk chair and walking over toward the couch that looked out onto the city below. ‘Let’s try a different approach.’
‘Pffft, I doubt it’ll work,’ Korben said, pouting and seemingly intent on taking his attitude all the way to the absolute limit.
‘We’ll see,’ Michael replied, sitting down on the couch and patting the space next to him. ‘I want this sorted out right here and now.’
Korben duly sat down next to Michael and it was clear from the scowl on his face and his ever-more pouting lips that he was in no mood to listen to his Daddy.
Michael knew that this meant there was only one viable option.
‘Wait, Daddy, what the heck?’ Korben exclaimed, a sudden streak of panic in his voice.
‘You leave me with no other choice,’ Michael said, taking Korben by his hand and firmly placing his across his lap. ‘I don’t try to question your knowledge when it comes to candy. And nor should you question my business acumen.’
‘But-’
‘But nothing,’ Michael barked, unbuckling Korben’s belt and yanking his chinos down to reveal his pastel-green briefs. ‘Your bottom is going to get a spanking now to serve you clear notice as to who is in charge of business matters. Is that understood?’
Korben didn’t respond.
Instead, he simply kicked his feet in protest.
‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ Michael said, knowing that Korben always had his safeword to use should he require it. ‘Now seeing as these briefs are already scandalously high-cut, I’ll simply take them up further instead of pulling them down.’
As Michael pulled the soft, stretchy material of Korben’s briefs higher up between his juicy cheeks, he noticed Korben let out a gasp of pleasure.
But if Korben thought that this was foreplay to some office raunchiness, then he had another thing coming. As far as Michael was concerned, this was a proper spanking – and one that Korben needed in order for his to remember that Korben’s Kandies was a business partnership and not just his pet project…
‘I’m going to give you ten spanks on each cheek,’ Michael barked, relishing the prospect of making it clear that he was to be respected. ‘But I will extend it if I don’t see an improvement in your attitude. Is that understood?’
‘Give me twenty on each cheek for all I care!’ Korben protested, grinding his crotch into the side of Michael’s leg.
‘Be careful what you wish for, boy,’ Michael said. ‘But if it’s twenty spanks you want, then it’s twenty you shall receive!’
With that, Michael set to giving Korben a spanking that he wouldn’t forget in a hurry.
Initially, Korben attempted to retain his defiant and bratty stance. But once the spanks entered double-figures, Michael could see that his message was beginning to hit home.
As Korben’s cheeks reddened, Michael could notice that Korben was kicking less and letting out quiet moans of pain.
‘Now how about showing me just how seriously you’re taking your discipline?’ Michael barked, momentarily pausing on the next flurry of spanks. ‘I want you to thank your Daddy for each one.’
‘Yes, Daddy,’ Korben said, his hands gripping onto the couch’s luxuriously plump cushion.
Michael could see that Korben understood what was going on now and was confident that his message was coming over loud and clear in a way it hadn’t before.
THWACK!
THWACK!
THWACK!
THWACK!
Each spank was followed by a polite and sincere thank you from Korben. After the final spank was administered, Michael immediately reached for the cooling cream and applied it to Korben’s hot bottom.
‘I’m sorry, Daddy,’ Korben said, his voice subdued but peaceful too. ‘I was being stubborn. I just can’t help it sometimes. I’m not used to sharing my business, even with you. It means so much to me that I make it a success…’
‘Don’t worry, darling boy,’ Michael said. ‘I know you care about your business. And I also know that it’s not always easy to take advice. Trust me, I’ve been there plenty in my younger days.’
‘The cream feels good,’ Korben said, turning his head and looking up at Michael. ‘I’ll listen to you more from now on. And…’
‘Yes…’ Michael said, carefully working the cream into the reddest spot on Korben’s right cheek.
‘I kinda did get what you were talking about, I just didn’t want to admit it,’ Korben said, smiling guiltily. ‘I’ve always been afraid of losing creative control. I guess I need to learn how to separate creative control from the business side.’
Michael nodded and smiled.
‘I think you’re going to make Korben’s Kandies a huge success,’ Michael said. ‘You’re creative, and your God damned smart too. Any success will be all yours, I’m just a guiding hand in the background when it comes to the boring financials. Korben’s Kandies is one hundred percent an Korben Arnold success story.’
Korben smiled sweetly and had a twinkle in his eye.
‘Okay, how about you get back to work on some designs and I’ll wrap up my own work back at my desk?’ Michael asked, applying the final dollop of cream to Korben’s soothed butt.
‘Perfect, Daddy,’ Korben smiled, standing up. ‘but I think I’ll do my sketches standing up and with my butt on show and cooling in the AC air, at least for a few minutes!’
Korben giggled as he looked down at his glowing bottom.
Michael chuckled and walked back to his desk, his mind focused on reaching out to a few investor friends in Japan to discuss a potential Japanese angle for Korben’s Kandies.
However as Michael took his seat an opened his emails, he was met by a disconcerting sight. It was an email from none other than Phillip Neal.
What the fuck does this asshole want?
And why is he contacting me out of the blue like this?
Only one way to find out…
Michael steeled himself and opened the email from Phillip. Within seconds of starting to read, Michael could tell that it wasn’t going to be an apology for Phillip’s past treachery…
Good evening, old man. I know that you know I’ve been making some moves. You might not believe this but I’m not the na?ve young man you knew. I’m older now. Smarter. And.. much, much richer too. I won’t beat around the bush any longer. I’m just saying that I’m coming for each and every one of your investments. By the time I’m done, you’ll have either sold your investments to me, or I will have bankrupted them myself by investing in their rivals. Don’t think I don’t have the funds to do it. And don’t think I’ll show any mercy to Korben’s Kandies either. I’d say it’s nothing personal, but that would be a lie. Ciao for now. Phillip.
Michael leaned back in his chair and took a moment to compose himself. Part of him wanted to pick the computer screen up and throw it out of the office window. But Michael knew that he needed to retain his composure – if not for his sake, then for Korben’s…
‘Everything okay, Daddy?’ Korben asked, looking over from the opposite side of the office with his iPad in his hands and his hot little butt still on display. ‘You seem… distracted?’
‘No, I’m good,’ Michael replied, standing up. ‘Excuse me, I need the bathroom. You keep working, I’ll be back in a moment. And I want to see some great ideas from you, boy.’
‘You got it!’ Korben replied, immediately setting about getting back down to business.
With that, Michael turned and left the office. He knew that it was time to put Phillip Neal well and truly back in his place – and this time for good.
But more than anything else, Michael knew that he had to do whatever it took to make sure that Korben and Korben’s Kandies came out of this whole situation totally unscathed.
It was time to call Max and Harrison and see whether his fellow Daddies could help him come up with a plan to send Phillip packing…