Chapter 23 - Trouble at the Vault #3
He went back to the dressing room, and sure enough found his briefs, jeans, and the polo he’d been wearing on Saturday.
He took a nice shower, used way too much of Julian’s heavenly shower gel, got dressed and straightened the bed.
Did Martha come in and do that? He guessed so.
He tidied it a bit, thinking about some of the stains he and Julian might have left behind.
I suppose she sees it, but she’s worldly wise.
If she sees some stains, at least she knows Julian is having fun.
By now he’d decided to just take the day off.
He liked being at Julian’s, and knowing he was downstairs was also a nice thought.
He popped his head into the gym, empty of course.
He walked over to the glass wall, pressed the button, retracted it, then pressed it again to put it back.
It was a nice day. He might go for a swim in a pair of Julian’s shorts.
He wondered if he had any Speedos? Doubt it, far too playful.
He could lay out on a sunbed, maybe even retract the roof to catch some rays.
There was the sauna and steam room. He might do a cleanse, get rid of the toxins.
The Vacunaut suit, he could try that on but would need help to get in and out of it.
He went downstairs and headed to the business centre where he could see Julian through the glass in the boardroom.
He was sitting with a lady he recognised as Julian’s assistant, Kerry, from that second training session where he turned up, but Julian had been called to London.
Julian spotted him and beckoned him in. This was going to be interesting.
How should he behave in front of his assistant? Did she even know about him and Julian?
He entered the business centre and knocked quietly on the boardroom door.
“Come in, you muppet,” Julian shouted, standing and walking around the table.
He entered as Julian reached him, giving him a huge kiss and hug that winded Callum.
After the discussion of last night, it was a huge relief to see they were back on normal terms. “I’d like to properly introduce you to my right-hand lady.
This is Kerry,” he said, turning to his assistant.
In stark contrast to the coldness he’d encountered the first time they met, she stood, came across to him, and shook his hand. Wow, thought Callum, the ice queen has thawed rather... “So nice to meet you … properly,” she said.
“I’m Callum, nice to properly meet you too. We met that one night Julian bailed on our session, if you remember,” Callum added.
“Oh yes, when he had to fly to London,” she recalled.
“He was such an absolute nightmare that day, and I was in such a bad mood too, having to hang around so late to tell you he wasn’t there and rearrange.
The things he gets me to do...” She looked at Callum with exasperation, and Julian made a pained expression…
“I just need to grab Markus for a moment, excuse me, please.” Julian left them.
“The reason he was in such a bad mood was that he was going to miss your session, being completely honest.” She was confiding in Callum, he realised.
“I don’t know what you’ve done to him, but he’s a different man since you’ve been dating.
It’s made him so much more bearable, human, in fact.
He seems happy for once, Callum. You really have changed him. ”
“Ah, thanks,” he said, not really knowing what to say. “ We get on well and it’s all going pretty well, so…” He didn’t know what to say.
“Keep up the good work and just enjoy it,” she added with a warm smile. She was clearly enjoying Julian 2.0, the human version of her boss.
“So, what is he doing today then? Wasn’t he supposed to be in the office?
” Callum asked, interested in how Julian had changed his plans.
“Yes, he was, but I understand you arrived late last night, and he didn’t want to leave you, so he stayed here.
I came over, and we’re working here today. ” Clearly, whatever Julian says goes.
“What’s he got on today, Kerry? Has he got meetings this afternoon? She bent down to look at her laptop.
“You can do lunch together, then he’s got a couple of calls immediately after that, but then a two-hour gap before some late calls.” She could see Callum was calculating whether he and Julian could spend any time together today. “He’s free from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. if that’s any good?”
“Yes, please, I’m going to put him through his paces, in his own gym,” Callum replied. “Oh, goodie,” she clapped her hands, “rather him than me! If you ever need to know his schedule, just call or WhatsApp me, ok. I’ll message you my direct number.”
At that point, Julian came back in, with Markus in tow.
“We are working out upstairs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Julian. Bring your A-game,” Callum said menacingly, winking.
“Can’t wait,” was Julian’s response, hugging him before he shooed him out of the room, and the three of them sat down.
Callum walked back upstairs with a spring in his step. Now to go through Julian’s gear and find some stuff he could wear. He might even make Julian wear something rather tight and sexy, just to make things even spicier.
He planned on working out on every bit of equipment in that shiny gym of Julian’s, and then, following that, maybe working Julian’s equipment also, to repay him for the amazing service he received last night.
This unplanned day had suddenly just got remarkably better!