Page 35 of Collin: Episodes 4-6
She lifted her water bottle in farewell and headed over to the showers.
Mr. Reevesworth stood up from the machine and came to Collin, reaching for his own water bottle. Collin handed it over and went to clean the machine.
“That was Shelly.”
“She’s pretty forward, sir.”
Mr. Reevesworth inclined his head. “She speaks her mind, but she can be discreet. Émeric and I are open with her about our lifestyle. She and her wife live two floors above us, and her girlfriend and husband live three floors below us.”
“Are you saying I can acknowledge that I’m with you, sir?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not sure how I’d even say it. She said boyfriend and girlfriend, but I’m not sure…”
“You can say you’re mine.” Mr. Reevesworth smirked. “That should cover it.”
The second day at the office was easier than the first. Mr. Reevesworth had three meetings, two of which Collin sat in on and one of which he missed because he was out running brief errands for Mr. Reevesworth. Carrying a company credit card felt like a huge responsibility, and he almost wanted to say no, but Janice seemed to think it was the most normal thing in the world. When he asked about receipts, she pointed him to the expense report folder on his laptop.
There were dozens of details in an office to learn. And despite Reevesworth Industries not being directly involved in an industry per se, it was at the center of what Collin was coming to realize was an empire. An empire that Mr. Reevesworth was not merely a figurehead of but a direct leader for. He knew details and personal names of people from all over with the kind of keen memory Collin had only seen a few times during his research days.
As such, Collin didn’t make it down to Ash’s lair until nearly the end of the afternoon. But he was carrying takeout and an address.
He knocked twice. “Come on, Ash, seriously. I WILL get the glitter bomb.”
Ash eased the door open and looked out with only one eye. “People only use those things in movies.”
“Well, you act like you’re an anime character. Let me in.”
“Why? I’m busy.”
“Because I’m here to bribe you, and like any good villain, you must be self-serving enough to take a bribe, or you lose your villain card.”
Ash narrowed his one eye, then backed away, and opened the door two more inches. “What’s the bribe? Blood of my enemies?”
“Sweet and sour pork and chocolate cake.”
The door was flung open, and Ash dragged Collin inside. “You are a first-rate bribester. Maybe you’re the villain.”
Collin laughed and surrendered the bags of food as Ash pulled them from his grip. “You haven’t asked what I’m bribing you for.”
“To let you in, obviously.”
“Nope. I’m bribing you to come with me to get a haircut.” Mr. Reevesworth had even let him out of the cage just for this mission. They’d both judged Ash getting a haircut to be sufficiently important and Mr. Reevesworth sufficiently terrifying as to be a hinderance and not an asset. But Mr. Reevesworth had instructed Collin on the route and was tracking Collin’s phone with his own. Collin’s leash was short.
Ash froze, hunched over like Gollum over the take-out containers. “What is this you speak of?”
“Hair—cut.” Collin mimed scissor motions.
Ash narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
“Because you’re feral and I’m trying to civilize you.”
“What if I like being feral?”
“Then you’ll be a good-looking feral. Come on.” Collin waved a plastic credit card between his fingers. “You can get any cut you like, dye it even.”
“Really?”
