Page 39 of Date and Switch

I tried to make a quick dash into the ensuite, but Dr. Raj was hot on my heels.

“I’ll need a urine sample. If you can collect it in here.”

Me: Hi…so there’s a doctor in here asking me about my preferred choice of birth control?

Bryce’s response was almost instantaneous. As if he’d been sitting in his meeting with his phone face up waiting for my text to come in. I wished I could see his face while he texted.

Bryce: The cruise ship doctor couldn’t dispense birth control medicine.

There was a long pause. He must have disabled his three dot “responding” notifications. Either that or he wasn’t planning on expanding any further.

“Is everything okay?” Dr. Raj rapped on the bathroom door.

“Oh yes, sorry I got distracted by a text message.”

* * *

Me: What am I supposed to do with her?

Bryce: Well, given I am outfit with neither a clam nor a butterfly, and rather possess a snake, I don’t feel I can best advise you on what you do with a lady doctor. My guess is she’ll probably want to inspect your “pink parts” and won’t be nearly as enticing doing so as yours truly.

* * *

I rolled my eyes, trying to stifle a giggle in case the lovely doctor was still on the other side of the bathroom door.

Me: Seriously Bryce. I mean kind of badass that you snapped your fingers, and a doctor came running but we never really discussed stuff like this.

Bryce: I figured since we were stopping in an American port, you might want to stock up, or give yourself some added protection and peace of mind. If you prefer we stick to rubbers I’m good with that also, it’s your body.

Bryce: Having her come to you provided discretion

Bryce: Certainly, Tillie told you the entire world has made a case study of our sex life

Bryce: I figured you wouldn’t want paparazzi potentially snapping shots of you with condoms in your hand at the local Pick N’ Save.

* * *

So, he did know. I’d been fretting over how to tell him. I guess that was a worry I could cross of my list.

* * *

Bryce: Angel I have to pay attention to this meeting. There was no expectation from me in having her come see you. I wanted to ensure you had whatever you needed at your disposal for our… mutual pleasure. ??

twenty-five

I couldn’t concentrate for shit on these meetings. These surprises for Sera had me rock hard and fantasizing about barebacking Sera in French lingerie. Naomi apprised me of Sera’s shopping. Sera spent more time fretting over price tags than on how the outfits looked or whether she found them necessary.

“Should we have the lawyers draw something up?” Penn asked as soon as we’d escorted the Gilroy Group to the elevators.

This deal was important for our company and for both Penn and me. I’d never really been the risk taker. I was checks and balance. Toeing the line of expectation. Doing whatever my dad wanted. If hoteling was where Penn and I were locked into by birthright, we wanted to make it ours. To create a company we loved and wanted to watch grow.

Teddy Arnold may not have been too off base. I wasn’t sure the Gilroy Group had what we needed. They didn’t share our same vision. I got the feeling based on today’s discussions that we’d be switching out the heavy-handed expectations of Elias Ellis and going to bed with another financier that would have strong opinions on how our expansion should look.

“Call me crazy but this deal doesn’t feel right, Penn.”

“You’re crazy.” He tossed me a bottle of water from the counter before taking a seat in one of the executive chairs. “This partnership makes us a hundred percent liquid. We wouldn’t need to have additional loans or bank approvals. We could start plucking up properties as you saw them on this tour around the world.”

“Penn you can’t be serious. I’m going to be in each port a day at most. We can’t make rash buying decisions like that. The plan was always to take a look at the popular ports of call and determine if it would be wise to research hotels in that city.”

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