Silver & Black (7 page)

“I thought you liked stuff like this.” He trails his tongue on my neck. “You always did before.”

“Not when you’re angry like this. Now move the fuck away from me.” I push him. “
Shit!”
I rub my hands in my hair. He steps back, but still not far enough away. “What the hell is wrong with you, Jeff?”

“I’m sorry. I am going fucking crazy, Grey. It’s fucking crazy that I can’t touch you or kiss you when I still want to.” He drops to his knees in front of me. “I don’t know what to do and then I see you with him and I….” He wraps his arms around my legs and rests his head on my thigh. “I hate seeing you with someone else.”

“Jeff, this has to stop.” He looks up to me. “I’m sorry, but you have to stop hurting yourself.” I pull him up. “This isn’t fair to you or anyone else that’s in your life. Callie being a big one.”

“And you,” Jeff adds.

“Jeff, I can’t do this. I can’t play the yo-yo game with you. I deserve to be happy.”

“How can a guy you just met a couple of days ago make you happy?”
Good question; I can’t explain.
“You like him?”

“I don’t know him that well, but I’d like to. He really likes me.”

“And you don’t think that’s weird? Come on, Grey, the man is nuts. He’s fallen for you and he just met you. It’s weird.” His words strike me.
Is it weird? Is it weird when I like it?
‘There’s no such thing as love at first sight.”

“Whoa, who said anything about love? It’s just two guys getting to know each other better.”

“It’s an obsession and I’m really worried for you. What if he hurts you?”

“Like you did?” I say as he grabs my hand.

“Worse. I’d never physically hurt you.”
Wasn’t so sure about that a few minutes ago.
“He’s bad news.”

“It’s none of your business. If you want to stay friends you will support the choices I make: good or bad. I’m going to see Silver. I want to get to know Silver.”

“Silver? Kind of casual with him aren’t you?’

“He likes it. It doesn’t matter, Jeff. I trust Mr. Silver. Better?”

“Trust?” He smugly laughs dwelling on that one word. “You don’t know him―or maybe you do―did you fuck him already?” His tone changes again.

“That is none of your business and highly inappropriate for a boss to ask his employee.” I know this is a personal discussion, but I wanted to point that out. I turn to walk out and he grabs my arm.

“You can’t go two days without fucking someone, or should I say letting them fuck you.”
What? You fucking bastard.

“I think you got it wrong. The problem was,
is
, that I respect you too much and you never return the sentiment. We can’t be friends. Friends don’t treat each other this way. Fuck you, Jeff. I quit. Don’t come chasing me. I’ll be in Friday to get my check.” He lets go of my arm and falls to the chair next to him.  “For what it’s worth, and maybe this is my respect for you talking, but I do wish you the best. Whenever you figure out what that is.” I walk out.
Exhale.

~Chapter Eight~

God that was fucking liberating.
I get on the subway full of pride. At least I have the rest of the day to study and read over this contract Silver gave me since I don’t have a job anymore.
Holy shit, I just quit my job; rent is due next Friday.
Panic starts to take its toll.
Just relax, Grey. Breathe.
I practice my meditative breathing that Levi taught me. He’s really into that shit, but I have to admit it seems to be working. I put my earbuds in and let Adam sing his love to me.
I would move like Jagger for him any day.
I might as well read the contract now
.
I have twenty minutes before I get back to my apartment. I skim through the contract line by line.

Employment agreement made and entered between:

Employer
:
  Silver Inc./ Brian D. Silver; CEO

Employee
:
Greyson D. Black 
                             

Professional Title
: Cooperate Manager

Salary
: $100,000 annual gross income

What! Silver is crazy to think that I deserve this. I have no degree. I don’t even have the experience. What is he thinking? I continue reading.

Expectations from contract employee
: (Include, but not limited to)

Hour
s
—
twenty-five to forty hour dependent on school schedule for said employee. Hours will be discussed and agreed upon from Silver Inc. After fulfillment of diploma the employee will resume at least a thirty-two hour work week. The salary discussed above is based on this scale; any time worked over forty hours will be paid time and a half.

Professionalism —Employee is to possess unique and up-to-date knowledge and have the capability to apply this knowledge; one's own competent vision and opinion; as well as the capability to achieve results. Training will be administered to seek said result.

Initiative —Employee will show desire to participate in projects and work groups; and contribute to performance improvement.

Responsibility —Employee will manage to effectively balance personal objectives/results and the objectives/results of the company. To see that employees working under his personal supervision are respectful and compliant to all Silver Inc. rules and regulation
s
.

Loyalty — Employee will uphold the best interest of the company and its brand; avoidance of destructive negative criticism and readiness to participate in solutions if they are needed.

Benefits (upon contract signing) —Employee will be entitled to full medical benefits; including dental and vision; paid at one hundred percent. There will be no out of pocket expense to said employee. Employee will be enrolled in a 401K per employers request and paid stock into the company. Employee will get two weeks paid vacation; with approval from employer. Employee will be paid all major holidays. Personal and sick time will be discussed and distributed as needed and will be paid.

Educatio
n
—
Employee will stay in school until fulfilment of diploma. Failure to stay in school will void contract and all benefits. After the diploma is achieved an increase in salary will be achieved and/or negotiable. Employer will pay for any extra cost accumulated for said employee’s education.

Paid perk
s
—Employee will be given a company car. Car can be used for personal use. All expenses, including gas and all personal and professional parking, will be paid from employer. Employee will be equipped with adequate technology as determined by employer. Employee will be given a monthly allowance for personal items and clothing. A company credit card will be issued to said employee for use as needed. Perks are subject to change anytime at the request of employee or determined from the employer.

Expectations from employer:

Silver Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Our goal and mission is to treat our employees with the most respect possible. The employer will ensure the safety and wellbeing of the employee at all times. The employer will provide a safe environment for the employee to fulfil their work requirements. The employer will provide all necessary support and guidance needed/discussed by company or employee. Employer will deal with all concerns and acknowledgments from employee in a timely matter.

Termination of contract
: This agreement can be terminated by either party, for any reason, without cause. If employee finds other work; a two weeks notice is required if applicable. Any termination of employment is subject only to CEO/ Brian D. Silver.

Contract is subject to amendment and/or negotiation, from the request of the employee or determination of the employer, either in writing or verbal form. If verbal agreement is reached a new contract will be drawn up and signed with the new amendments for legal purposes.

This contract is personal and confidential; subject only to the two signed parties.

Holy Shit!
I repeat, what is Silver thinking? The expectations seem fair, although I can tell that most were specifically for me. The salary, wow the salary, is more than I could ever imagine or deserve. He has to be doing this just for me.
But why?
It makes me wonder what’s in it for him. All this can’t be without some sort of ulterior motive. I put it back into the manila envelope and stow it safely back in my bag. The subway reaches my designated stop.

He said he wanted to help me, but this is seriously too much. Educated and more experienced people would kill for this; it doesn’t seem right. I open my apartment door and am happy to see Levi. He is lounging and smoking pot on the couch.

“Hey, honey how was your night?” he says, raising his eyebrows in anticipation of my answer.

“It was good, but not the way you’re thinking.” I throw my bag on the floor next to the door; slip off my shoes and plop on the couch next to him. He holds the joint out to me and I shake my head. I haven’t even had a cigarette all day.
Hmm, maybe Silver is a good influence on me.
“I stayed with Mr. Silver last night.” Levi’s eyes widen with excitement.

“Spill all the dirty details on that delicious man.” He shifts and sits on his legs like he’s waiting for me to read him an excerpt from an erotic novel.

“Nothing happened.” I grin, and he rolls his eyes.

“You’re fucking lying,” he says ticking his tongue at me.

“No, seriously. He wants to wait until I can give him
all of me
,” I explain.

“What?” Levi questions like this is the most taboo thing he’s ever heard. “Is he gay? Are you sure that he’s not playing you?” He’s rambling through his high.

“Oh, he is gay for sure. He kissed me and had me begging, but he’s different.”

“Mmmm―different can be good, sweetie!” He quirkily smiles.

“He offered me a job because he said he wants to ‘help me’.” I use finger quotes as I get up to get the envelope out of my bag to show him. “Here, read this.” I watch him scan the contract and he gasps, only how Levi could, every other line. “What do you think he wants out of it?”

“Fuck, honey, he wants you and it looks like he’s willing to pay anything to get it. One hundred thousand dollars? You have to be shitting me!” He fans himself with the contract. “Oh, God, you have yourself a sugar daddy, you lucky asshole.”

“I don’t want, or need, a sugar daddy.” He has me laughing.
I love him.
“It’s just weird because he’s so hard some of the time and then soft the next.” Levi makes some sexual comment from my description. “No, hornball. I mean―how do I explain this?” I turn and face him. “He wants me. He makes that perfectly clear and he is possessive and so sexy doing it. It actually makes me excited. One minute he’s like that dominating guy from that book and then the next he’s like Don Juan. He’s not consistent, but in a good way. He gives both equally or at least that’s the way he’s coming off so far.”

Levi covers his mouth in a huff of excitement. “Oh my God, he’s Richard Gere.”

“What?”

“He’s Richard Gere from the movie
Pretty Woman
. Oh, my God, honey you’re Julia Roberts, You’re
‘
Pretty woman’
.
” He gasps with excitement and holds his mouth.
He’s so crazy.

“Are you saying I’m a hooker,” I joke with a laugh.

“No, no. He’s willing to pay whatever he needs to be close to you. It’s utterly romantic.”

“Or utterly insulting. I’m not a hooker?”
Although I like his idea better.
“I guess I need to have a talk with him.”

“Don’t be too hard on him. I think he really is trying to help. Maybe he’s going at it the wrong way, but he seems to be used to the power. Teach him how to balance, honey. You like him don’t you?”

“I do like him. I mean I just met him. Is it sad to like the attention? I really never had that.”

“There is nothing wrong with that. It means that you’ll
guard your heart. Take your time, Grey. If it’s meant to be he’ll come to your apartment hanging out of the sunroof of the white limo holding a rose,” he says in reference to the scene from the movie. Levi is right. I think Silver and I just need to balance each other. We still have a lot to learn about one another. Right now though, I can’t worry about that. I need to study, so I can ‘get to know’ Silver tonight.
I pull out my book and start to scan the page hoping to retain what I need to ace this test tomorrow morning.

Several hours go by, I’ve been diligently studying. Levi is crashed on the couch next to me. I need a break. My brain is beginning to fry
.
I take the new smartphone Silver gave me out of my bag. I scroll through all the apps that he’s saved on the phone. He’s thought of everything. I click to connect to the internet. Maybe I need to do a little research on Silver. Only fair, right. I type
Brian Silver
in the search engine and an entire screen of options comes up. Clicking link after link, I finally find an interview he gave back in 2008. It looks like he had donated a large amount of money to The Children’s Institute for the Blind and Deaf.
Another link shows another donation to the Children’s Hospital in New York and a larger donation to the research fund for Independent Medical Advances and Research (IMAR).
Don’t know what that is, but it sounds important.

He’s already told me his parents taught him to give back and pay it forward. I want to learn about him: who is Brian Silver? This is when I wish they had a Wikipedia page for normal people.
Wait, what if I search Silver Inc.?
That will probably have a section on Silver
.
I type it in the search engine, and like I expected, a ton of stuff comes up. All good stuff and the company does have a wiki page. Looks like
Silver Coffee
was originally started by Silver’s father. Silver took over in 2008. Under his leadership, the market share expanded and hundreds of new locations opened. He then made his own corporate owning:
Silver Inc.
It does have a bio on Silver.
Now we’re talking.

Birthdate, origin of residency, family history, and education are all listed. It says he was homeschooled for high school and lists no college; weird. The bio reads that he is an openly, proud gay man, but doesn’t list any types of relationships.
All stuff I already know; this was no help.
I click on the image section from the search engine and several images of him appear.
Fuck, he is like a dream, just gorgeous.
There were tons of photos of him at different
Silver Coffee
grand openings. In all of them he looks stylish and always wearing those designer sunglasses, so hot. There were a couple of pictures of the entire Silver family. They all look alike: dark hair, tall, and all attractive. I like viewing all the pictures, but there was nothing “juicy” that I could dig up. It seems that he is a model citizen.
Thank God!
I glance through the contacts on the phone and he has all my contacts saved.
How in the hell?
And of course he has his number and Connor’s stored.
Hmm…. Let’s flirt a little.
I text him.

Me
:
Hey, you! Working hard?

Silver
:
I’d say hardly working. In a meeting.

Me: Oh, sorry I can talk to you tonight. Have fun in your meeting.

Silver: No, no…. Please talk. They are boring the hell out of me. I’d much rather chat with you. I can’t get those beautiful brown eyes of yours out of my head.                                                       

Me: Just my eyes? I think I need to get more with it. I can ASSURE you there are more beautiful parts of me. ;)

Silver: Mr. Black, are you flirting with me?

Me: Flirting, maybe I’m teasing you or making you anticipate the touch. ;)

Silver: Anticipation is high, Mr. Black. The anticipation sucks. I call for action.