Page 18 of Collin: Episodes 4-6
“He met friends. They’re going out for drinks.”
Mr. Moreau lifted his chin, thinking. “He’s doing that more often lately.”
“I think his roster of contacts is as long as ours.” Mr. Reevesworth shook his head, then smiled. “He’s well established now. I’m proud of him.”
Mr. Moreau nodded. “As am I. If you’re hungry, I’ll go plate dinner; it shouldn’t sit too long.”
Mr. Reevesworth reached down and stroked Collin’s shoulder. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes, sir. But I need to use the toilet, please.”
“As do I. Up.”
They ate in the kitchen. Mr. Reevesworth did not offer Collin a chance to dress, and Collin did not ask. Mr. Moreau merely dropped a towel over one of the chairs, and Collin took it as his own for the meal. Afterward, the three of them sat together in the living room, Collin with a photo book on architecture and Mr. Reevesworth and Mr. Moreau reading summaries and news articles from their personal assistants. They traded comments to each other and made notes. Collin listened as much as he studied the photographs and notes in front of him.
“If they’re buying that mine, who’s buying them, then?” he asked, having followed the conversation for several minutes.
Mr. Reevesworth broke off what he was saying. “What do you mean, Collin?”
“I mean, if that holding company is buying that mine, who’s the controlling interest in the holding company?”
Mr. Moreau supplied the name.
Collin scratched his chin. “Didn’t they buy a chip supplier two months ago and the glass manufacturing plant three months ago?”
Mr. Reevesworth leaned forward. “Where are you taking this?”
“It sounds like someone’s trying to imitate the Chinese in creating a fully integrated production system, owning everything all the way back to the raw materials. It’s how the Chinese market is selling cheaper items, like green energy cars, than can be produced in, say, here or Germany. Only one company in the supply line has to make a profit, not fifteen or fifty.”
“Since when did you pay attention to the Chinese automobile market?”
“I follow green energy news. About a year ago, that meant I started following China watchers. Just a couple of podcasts on my commutes.”
“My notes don’t have anything on who’s controlling that holding company.” Mr. Reevesworth scrolled through his tablet. “I’ll give Kista a note to find out.”
Collin closed his book with his finger holding the page. “Why are you following who’s buying mining rights in central Africa though?”
“We like to know who’s going after what resources and what they think they’re worth.”
Mr. Moreau nodded in agreement with his husband. “Right now, our only mining businesses are focused on making waste dump mining profitable, but we still keep an eye on other adjacent industries.”
Mr. Reevesworth oversaw Collin getting ready for bed in his own bathroom, but when it came time to lie down, he took Collin by the hand and led him back to the primary bedroom and tucked him into the big bed.
He kissed Collin on the forehead. “I’m going to leave you with Émeric. I’m staying up to see Damian.”
Collin grasped Mr. Reevesworth’s arm for a second and kissed the man’s wrist.
Mr. Reevesworth smiled and brushed Collin’s hair out of his eyes. “Be good for Émeric. If you need anything, he can help you.”
Mr. Moreau came to bed a few moments later, getting in on the other side. Collin rolled over to be able to see him. Lying naked under the covers with this man without Mr. Reevesworth was a little odd.
“Is everything okay with Damian?” he asked into the dim light.
Mr. Moreau settled onto his pillow, one hand stretched out above his head and bent at the elbow. “Generally, we don’t speculate about others in The Residency when they aren’t present. But…in this case, I can see why you’re asking. I expect you’re missing Richard.”
Collin pushed his body down into the mattress, making himself smaller. “Am I taking too much attention away from Damian?”
“No. Not in the slightest. Yesterday was about Damian, wasn’t it? And now your dom is out there waiting for him again.”
