Read Story: SEASON 2 EPISODE 4

After we were done, we parted ways, and I didn’t even get her name. Afterward, Erin explained how she had arranged the entire thing, from providing a generous donation to the Louvre to approaching the girl and planning out the rest of the logistics.

We took a day to simply recover before hiring private transport to London. I’d been under the impression we’d be able to see outside as we traveled under the English Channel, but I was disappointed to find out it was all enclosed and dark outside. For all I knew, I could have been traveling through a tunnel in a mountain.

It wasn’t long after I got to London when I got the call from Chandler telling me that Carla Tanaka was about ready to burn VistaVision down. According to him, she hadn’t been interested in being an executive assistant, insisting on filling a more important role. Unfortunately, VistaVision’s new CEO met every suggestion with severe reluctance, pointing out that she was unqualified. Finally, Erin devised a solution by creating a fake job that sounded important. Thus, the Chief Cultural Curator position was born—Carla Tanaka would manage VistaVision’s company culture. I was happy because it kept Hiro’s wife in a place where I could keep an eye on her, and Chandler was happy because he could manage her in a way that minimized any damage she could do to the company.

We saw a few sights in London, but it was our second night there that I was pulled out of a deep sleep by the sound of screams. I ended up in Natashya’s and Emily’s room with half a dozen security personnel, only to find out that Natashya was occasionally suffering from night terrors, thanks to what happened to her in Nevada. I ended up staying up with her and my sister the rest of the night, watching movies and talking, and although what brought us together was sad, I enjoyed bonding with my sister and Natashya that night. Even though the occasional looks from Natashya suggested that she was starting to miss certain aspects of heterosexual sex.

The following day, Erin laid another massive surprise on me—staying in a castle in Scotland. It was a hotel run by a business looking to sell their establishment, and if I was interested, it could be mine for the low price of eleven million dollars.

Of course I was interested, so Erin made the arrangements, and we hired more private transport to take us North, stopping along the way to check out some of the sights before finally arriving at The Glenhilde Castle Hotel just outside of Fort Augustus. The rolling hills, glassy water, and vibrant greens won me over within a day. So did the idea of owning a fucking castle.

Remembering that Vikram and the other two were waiting for an answer, I snapped back to the present moment.

I turned away from the window and leaned against the sill, my eyes wandering around the room illuminated by the late morning sunlight streaming through the one-hundred-year-old glass panes. I could feel a light draft coming from the double doors in the middle of the large collection of windows, which felt good in contrast with the warmth from the fire. “Yeah. I’m interested.”

“Wonderful,” the woman said, her stern expression melting into a smile at the prospect of making a commission. “We’ll finish the paperwork and start the buying process.”

“How long will the process take?” I asked.

The two Scottish locals glanced at each other, and the real estate agent said, “It’ll take a minimum of two to three months. We’ll have to involve our solicitors, perform surveys, and ensure we’re following all our historic preservation laws.” Her accent was more British than Scottish.

I chewed on my lip as I considered just how far ‘fuck you’ money would get me and decided to go for broke. What’s the worst they could do? Say no? “Can we make it happen in a week?” I asked.

Groat tried to cover a cough by shoving a fist against his mouth. He shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s oot o’ the question.” He had something closer to the traditional Scottish brogue that was so commonly associated with the region, and the accent made me smile. “There’s paperwork to be filed and procedures to honor. We might manage tae squeeze everything intae a month, but even then, that’d be pushin’ it.”

I glanced at Vikram, but he wasn’t giving me much to work with. “Tell you what,” I said, returning my attention to the two locals. “If you manage to put this deal together and finalize it by the end of next week, I’ll offer the owner an extra million, and the two of you can split a hundred thousand for your services. I’ll even handle the expenses necessary to expedite this… pay any extra fees… if you know what I mean.”

Both pairs of eyes grew huge at the suggestion, and Mr. Groat said, “D’ye mind if we take a minute tae talk it over?”

“Please do. Vikram and I will just step outside for a few minutes.” I turned and opened the doors to the outside balcony. Sharp as ever, Vikram followed me and shut the doors, sealing us from the common room.

“A week and a half to buy a castle?” he asked.

“I know,” I said, leaning against the stone railing of the balcony and wrapping my arms around themselves. It was a cloudy September morning, and a light breeze danced through both our hair. My phone said it was 62 degrees, but the humidity gave the wind a little extra bite. None of us would be swimming in the loch today.

“They won’t be able to do it,” Vikram said, leaning against the railing beside me. His back was against it so he could look into the common room to watch the two Scots talking.

“Probably,” I said. “But it doesn’t hurt to ask.”

“Is it worth an extra million and a half to expedite it that much? Do you have any plans I’m not aware of?”

Once again, Tyler’s words came to mind about having more money than the budgets of many nations. I looked at Vikram and said, “I feel like we’re becoming friends. Can I be honest with you?”

“Of course,” Vikram said. “As my client and friend, I’d prefer it.”

“I’m not trying to sound arrogant when I say this, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find a million and a half in my couch cushions. Relatively speaking, twelve million is the equivalent of someone splurging on a steak dinner.” I shrugged. “I want to see what my cushion money can do for me.”

“Ah,” Vikram said. “You’re not status signaling. It’s experimental consumerism.”

“Yeah,” I said, looking out at the grounds below. Several hotel guests sat around tables drinking coffee and eating brunch on the dedicated terrace. I spotted someone I was pretty sure was Tara, wearing tight lycra shorts and a hoodie, bouncing down some steps toward a trail that ran along the loch. It looked like she was going to go for a run. The very thought of that made my already-aching calves sting. I’d asked her to get me in shape, and she was earning her keep—Tara was an absolute slave driver.

“Erin and Helen seem to have their heads wrapped around what I’m financially capable of,” I continued. “They’ve got unlimited spending accounts, and I don’t ask questions, but I’d like to be a little more involved.”

“So you don’t really want a castle,” Vikram suggested as he turned and leaned against the railing, mirroring me. “This is just an exercise… or like stretching?”

“Oh, I want a castle!” I corrected. “Who doesn’t want to own a castle? I just want to see what stupid things my money can do. I mean… an apartment and a plane is one thing. Those are practical. A castle, though? That’s just stupid—especially if I’m not here very often. Get it done in less than two weeks when everyone’s telling me one or two months? Why not give it a shot and see what happens?”

Vikram shook his head. “God, you’re lucky.”

I grunted a noncommittal response as I stared at Tara’s form as she walked away from the castle. I guess Vikram figured out who I was looking at because a few minutes later, he said, “Your personal trainer… that is a hell of a woman.”

“You’re not wrong,” I sighed.

“Are you and her…” Vikram started to ask but trailed off. I guess there was no tactful way of asking your boss, client, or new friend if they were boning their personal trainer.

I shook my head. “Nah. We’re not a thing. She’s just really good at her job, fun to hang with, and seriously nice to look at.”

“They all are,” Vikram said, shaking his head as he probably thought again about how lucky I was. “Helen seems happy.”

The last time Vikram and I seriously talked, he had advised me to stop seeing Helen before I got in over my head with Roger. He turned out to be wrong because I was too big of a client for Karl and William to relinquish. I would have bet anything that both of them would have sold their families if it meant hanging onto my business. I was probably the very definition of ‘too big to fail.’ That didn’t mean Vikram’s advice was bad; if I’d been almost anyone else, Vikram probably would have been right. He seemed to contain insight and wisdom that wasn’t all that common, and I needed that in my corner while I was still trying to learn to keep my head above water.

“She does,” I said. “I’m going to miss her. Thanks for coming, by the way.”

“No problem,” Vikram said. “Thanks for my promotion.”

“You were underappreciated. I shouldn’t have needed to ask.”

The rattle of a knob being turned caught my attention, and I looked over my shoulder as Isla Fraser opened the door to peer out at me. “Mr. Upton?”

“Yes?” I asked.

“If we can get the paperwork signed this morning, I believe we can make it work. Would you want to keep the business intact?”

“I think so,” I said. “I don’t know how much I’ll be out here, so having it earn some income makes sense. I’d like to keep the name, the employees, and all the assets.”

“Very well. Let me make a few calls, and then we can finish the paperwork when you’re ready.” She gave me a tight-lipped smile before shutting the door.

“Well, I better get back in there and see what help I can be,” Vikram said, straightening up. “Any other miracles you need us to work?”

I looked back at the grounds around the castle as I considered his request.

“Maybe find out what Scotland’s policy is on moats with alligators.”

Wednesday, September 4th, 11:08 am

I traced my fingers over her bare back, enjoying the slight hills and valleys of her bare golden skin as she lay motionless in the bed. Then I caught one dark brown eye peeking at me from beneath her mop of silver hair. Seeing her look at me was enough to bring a smile to my face.

Erin rolled onto her side and propped herself on one elbow, running her fingers through her messy, bed-worn tangles and giving me a sleepy smile. “Hey, boss,” she whispered. “What time is it?”

“It’s a little after eleven,” I whispered back, brushing a few strands of silver gossamer from her face with my thumb.

Her eyes grew wide, and the smile slipped from her face, but I beat her to it. “Don’t worry about it. I asked Vikram to handle it.”

“But it’s my—“

“Your job’s to do what I say,” I said, pressing the same thumb over her lips to silence her and leveling my best authoritarian gaze at her. “And I’m telling you to stay here.”

In response, Erin slid her lips over my thumb, suckling on it as her incisors gently bit halfway down my thumbnail. Her dark eyes switched from worry to blazing lust as if I’d simply flipped a switch in her brain. My dick was already half hard again as I slowly pulled my digit from her pouty lips.

“That was fucking hot, Marcus,” Erin breathed.

I leaned in, pressed her lips to mine for a brief kiss, and then said, “I think they can wait a little longer for me.”

“What about our guest?” Erin asked.

Still caressing Erin’s cheek, I glanced over her shoulder at the still form lying about a foot away in the bed and facing away from us. Her head was partially buried under one of the three pillows she was using, making it hard to tell if she was genuinely asleep, but after the night the three of us had, it was safe to assume she was still unconscious. The edge of the bedsheet was gathered at her armpit, leaving her arm and shoulder bare. It draped over her, leaving half her fair, freckled back exposed.

“I think we should wake her up.” I looked back at Erin. “I wouldn’t mind a repeat performance.”

Erin simply grinned at me. I gave her another kiss as I quickly shed my shirt and pants and broke it once I was as naked as she was. I crawled over her and approached the unconscious woman lying on the other side of the bed, slipping under the sheets and settling next to her. I felt the warm, smooth skin of an ass cheek brush my already moderately hard erection as I pressed my body against hers. There was an immediate stir and a small groan as the ass slowly gyrated back against my crotch.

Her fair skin was covered in a moderate dusting of freckles, which gave her a slightly more tanned appearance if you saw her from a distance. They spread across most of her skin, more concentrated near her shoulders and arms. Her skin looked absolutely delicious when paired with her dark auburn hair, and I lowered my head to press my lips to her skin between her shoulder and neck. The tip of my tongue ran over her silky smoothness as I gently sucked on her and slid an arm around the curve of her waist to pull her more firmly against me.