Page 86 of Zero Tolerance

They’d shown up for the company party, something I’d felt sure they wouldn’t do.

Perhaps befriending my parents shortly after our wedding had helped. Neither my mother nor my father held alcohol in their hands, but water and a soft drink like my in-laws. The four had become close, meeting up to play cards almost weekly.

With no booze in or allowed in the Swift’s home, my father had started giving up the bottle that one night a week. After Thanksgiving with both blended families packing out my and Jasmine’s home, he announced he was done with alcohol for good.

Sean, however, hadn’t changed one goddamned bit. His latest flavor of the month wouldn’t last any longer than the previous three since Jasmine and I had exchanged vows on the beach, barefoot like Dina had predicted. But I had a plan—I was about to gift him his Christmas present.

But, I did so out of pure selfishness.

One, to shut him up.

Two, to make Elite even more money.

I’d done some research and had quietly tested the market on the side with only a few people in the know. We were going to give EEMM a try—with Sean at the helm. But I would stand behind him. Direct him if necessary and definitely clean up whatever messes he made until he settled into his role of responsibility that I hoped would help him grow the fuck up.

“Ready to begin the headache of a lifetime?”

I’d been so wrapped up in my thoughts I hadn’t realized Blake had sidled up to me. Clinking my glass of wine against his bottle of beer, I smiled. “You and Jasmine had better be right about this idea ridding myself of the biggest pain in my ass.”

“It’s going to work. That guy you hired last month…” He paused, allowing me to fill in the blank.

“Kellen.”

“Yeah—he’s living proof this gay branch is going to explode. Might even eventually take over the straight escort side of the business.”

I doubted it, but Kellen had been the turning point for me.

We’d been friends back in college, but while I’d been all about the ladies, he hadn’t cared what was in a person’s pants. He was attracted to people, period. Pussy, dick, it didn’t matter, although he tended to date more guys than women and loved bottoming as much as he did topping other men.

While we hadn’t kept in touch a whole lot over the years, I knew he still lived in the Boston area. I’d reached out to him to see if his love of sex and aversion to monogamy still dictated his nightlife. He’d told me those stances had doubled after one heartbreak a few years earlier.

So I’d made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

He stood with Sean and Drake—I hoped Sean’s gay best friend would be on board for what I had planned too. The guy was beefy and I could admit good-looking with his dark hair and blue eyes. He was the opposite of my brother at least. Large and quiet. Two qualities I knew I would appreciate more than Sean’s loud, leaner type if I were into guys.

“When are you going to drop the bomb?” Blake asked, and I sipped my wine, eyeing my brother.

He’d already had too much to drink as was usual. The boy loved his beer. At least he hadn’t gotten into the hard stuff like our father and could go dry for weeks at a time when he stubbornly declared he could just to prove it to me.

Kellen caught my eye, and I motioned him over with my head.

He spoke to Sean for a few more seconds, clasped his shoulder, and made his way toward me. Sean wasn’t aware Kellen had been taking on male clients for the past two months, and I’d asked my newest hire to keep the truth from him until I’d made my announcement.

Didn’t want to ruin the surprise.

“Ready?” he asked with a grin, his hazel-green eyes a bit hazed over from whatever he’d been drinking.

“Ready.” I got the DJ’s attention, and he wound down the music. Taking his mic, I turned to face the crowd. “Good evening friends and family of Elite!” I said, quieting everyone except for those who’d had a bit too much to drink—like Sean who whooped his delight to be partying with us all.

“I hope you’re having a great time,” I continued, and a few more catcalls and hollers sounded around the ballroom. “For those currently on my payroll—you’re welcome. Make sure you spend those bonuses wisely. For those who left me because you went and fell in love—your loss!”

I raised my wine as laughter broke out. “Just kidding. You—wegained something more precious than diamonds.”

I glanced over at my wife who beamed at me, her cheeks flushed.

“I wanted to take a minute to thank you all for all your hard work.” More titters broke out unsurprisingly, hearing my intended pun. “For your dedication and loyalty to Elite. You’ve made me a shit ton of money, I won’t lie, but I’ve also gained countless friends I value more than the almighty dollar. I was thinking earlier tonight that this business we’ve built together—” I swept my hand over the crowd “—could disappear from existence, and the most important thing would still remain. Love. For our women, for our families—sisters. Brothers.”

I met Sean’s gaze. He grinned like a dork and lifted his bottle of beer.

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