Davey blushed and stammered. “Toothpaste,” he said quickly. “I’ve been using baking soda but I used the last of it this morning.”
“That twenty you had had a lot of holes to fill.”
“Yes, sir.” Davey was shaking in his shoes. He was afraid. Now that they were alone, he was vulnerable. He hoped Jake kept his word about no sex.
Jake said, “Wait here.” He went into the master suite and Davey heard him rummaging through his medicine cabinet. He came out holding an extra-large tube of toothpaste and an unopened bottle of mouthwash. “Now, do your research and then get to bed. Set your alarm for six and I’ll expect breakfast on the table at seven. Whatever you make is fine. I don’t cook, at all.”
“Do you have groceries in the refrigerator?” Davey asked with trepidation. He didn’t know the area and therefore had no idea where to get groceries, much less at five-thirty in the morning.
“The refrigerator is fully stocked. What I don’t use goes to a homeless shelter before it goes bad. Marla is the housekeeper. You will rarely see her. She comes in at eight and leaves at five and doesn’t work weekends. She’s been with me since I was twenty-two.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?” Davey didn’t want to guess and get it wrong.
“I’m thirty-six. I’ve been practicing law for eleven years. Now that we’re on the subject, how old are you?”
“I’m twenty-five, just turned on September fifteenth.”
“Not much of a birthday for you this year.” Jake looked at Davey with compassion.
Davey shrugged. “The only one who ever bought me a present for Christmas or my birthday was Mrs. Danvers. I usually got a tie or a white shirt. That’s why I have seven of them. They’re all good quality and should last for years.” Davey was trying to tell Jake he wouldn’t be much of an expense.
“We’ll go to Barney’s tomorrow afternoon and get you three new suits. You’ll need them for the office and to appear in front of clients.”
Davey shook his head. “You’ve done enough for me, a stranger who tried to pick your pocket. You don’t need to buy me clothes.” For the umpteenth time that evening he was close to tears and he wasn’t a crybaby. The night had been full of highs and lows and Davey’s head was spinning. He couldn’t believe he let himself get talked into leaving his apartment and living with a stranger.
“I am the Master of this house. It would behoove you to remember that. My word here is your law. If I say I’m going to buy you suits, you say,
yes, Sir.
Am I understood? I need you to understand how to address me. At the office I’m Mr. Cohen in front of clients, Jake in front of co-workers. Here at home, I’m Jake, unless we are with people from the club, then I’m Sir. At the club, everyone is Sir unless they are a submissive. And if I give you a collar, I’m Master.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Try not to sound so dejected, I might get offended. Now go to your room, I have some things to do.”
“Is it anything I can help you with, Sir?”
“No, Davey. Get done what you need to get done and go to bed.”
§ § §
Wednesday Night
Jake was in his study on the phone to Reed as soon as Davey closed the bedroom door.
“I think I found one on my own.” Jake sat down at his desk.
“Found what?”
“A sub, his name is Davey Howell and he’s the best paralegal in the city. I came upon him in unfortunate circumstances, but he’s a keeper.” Jake went over and poured himself a scotch.
“So you don’t need the boys anymore.”
“No, I need the boys now, more than ever. He doesn’t know he’s a sub. I’m sure he is but I want to know for certain before I invest time in bringing him to hand.” He drank it down.
“How confident are you in your assessment?”
“Pretty confident, but I want all of you to meet him this weekend and tell me what you think. I can bring him to dinner Friday night to find out what the Doms think and he can go to the sub club meeting on Monday where they can assess him and you guys can tell me what the subs think.”
“I’ll give Jim my permission to tell you directly but after that I wash my hands. If you get into trouble with the other Doms, remember, it’s not my problem.”
“Okay, I’m good with that. I can’t be as much of a fuck up as you guys were. Except, of course, Bear, who not only knew Brian was a sub, but knew he was a goner the moment he saw him. I’ll see you Friday.”
§ § §
Thursday Morning
The alarm woke Davey up at five-thirty. He quickly took a shower and brushed his teeth. He dressed but put on his old robe so his clothing wouldn’t get splattered while making breakfast. He crept downstairs so as not to awaken Jake. First, he looked in the refrigerator. He found a dozen eggs and a package of bacon. In the pantry was a bag of Yukon Gold potatoes.
He grabbed the potatoes and peeled three, cutting them into pieces and putting them on to boil. He took a large onion and finely chopped it. Removing a frying pan from the pot rack he started the bacon. He fried the whole pound because he could use bacon bits in baked potatoes for supper. He saw veal chops in the freezer and took them out to defrost.
Once the bacon was ready and put on paper towels to absorb the grease, he drained the potatoes and began to fry them and the onions with the bacon grease in the skillet. He added what spices he could find, salt, pepper and paprika. Davey went into the vegetable bin in the fridge again, rooted about and found some mushrooms, peppers and extra sharp cheddar cheese. He chopped the vegetables, shredded the cheese with a grater he saw in a drawer, and put together an omelet. Next, Davey found the coffee pot and made coffee for Jake. He put four slices of toast in the toaster.
He spied fresh oranges in a bowl on the counter and he cut them in half and used an old fashioned glass juicer he found near the spices to make fresh orange juice. He had everything ready at seven on the dot when Jake walked into the kitchen.
“Something smells delicious. What did you make?”
“A cheese omelet with mushrooms and peppers, bacon, home fries and toast. I also squeezed some fresh orange juice.” Jake sat down and Davey put the juice in front of him along with a cup of fresh coffee.
“That juicer, I haven’t seen it in years, it was my grandmother’s.” Davey noticed Jake’s grey eyes got a little glassy when he mentioned his grandmother.
Not knowing what to do Davey stood with his hands behind his back.
“There is enough for two here. Get yourself a plate.” Davey got another plate from the cupboard and sat down next to Jake. Jake divided the omelet between them and gave Davey two slices of the toast.
“Coffee?” Jake asked, holding up the carafe that Davey had poured.
“No thank you, Sir, I drink tea.”
“Put tea on the grocery list for Marla. This is really outstanding.” Jake went back to eating his meal.
Davey was out of his chair as soon as Jake cleared his plate. He quickly cleaned the kitchen. Then Davey went into his room, made the bed, washed out the sink and hung up his robe. He put his briefs and his clothing from the day before in the hamper he found in his closet. He came out of his room and met Jake in the hallway. “Sir, I put my dirty clothing in the hamper. Do you have a washing machine? I could do a load of whites for both of us.”
“That’s Marla’s job. She also takes the shirts to the laundry and the suits and slacks to the dry cleaners twice a week.” Jake stared down at Davey’s shoes. “Those have seen better days.
Davey got defensive.. “My shoes are well polished. I know I need new ones. I promise I’ll get some with my first paycheck.”
“You really need several new pairs. When we go to Barney’s I’ll see what they have.” Davey was embarrassed. Knowing enough about the man already, he didn’t argue, he’d find a way to pay him back. Davey changed the subject.
“Isn’t it expensive taking all those things to the dry cleaners?” Davey said, nervous that he was questioning Jake.
“It’s convenient and I’m willing to pay for the convenience. Besides, clothes last longer when they are professionally cleaned. Just in case you’re wondering, I use an environmentally friendly dry cleaner and laundry all the way downtown in the West Village. Put on your suit jacket, it’s time to go to work.”
§ § §
Thursday Morning at the Office
Immediately Davey could see that this office was three times the size of Danvers, Blake and Simpson. The firm leased six floors of the building.
They walked in the door of the executive floor and Jake introduced him to the receptionist, Denise. “Denise, this is Davey Howell. After I show him around, take him to HR and tell Valerie he is my personal hire. He is an experienced paralegal. He wrote Danvers’ briefs.”
A man in a dark blue suit came into the room. “This is who wrote Danvers’ briefs and did his research? What a coup. Are you sharing him or do you plan on keeping him to yourself?”
“Tell me Del Monte, what would you do?” Jake asked, the sarcasm evident in his voice.
“Keep him to myself, of course. I’m looking to make Senior Partner this year. I need all the help I can get.” Del Monte laughed.
“Davey Howell, meet Giancarlo Del Monte, Carlo to his friends. You will not be working with him. You can spread the word around, Carlo. I am no longer using paralegals from the pool. I intend to use Davey exclusively. If he needs help, he’ll tell me and I’ll get someone assigned to him, but he’ll call the shots.”
“How did you steal him from Danvers?” Carlo asked curiously.
“Danvers was stupid enough to go on a year’s sabbatical without leaving specific instructions for those bastards Blake and Simpson. They fired him because they love their senior partner so much. Wouldn’t give him a reference either, but I ran into him yesterday and convinced him to come to work for us.” Jake’s expression was smug.
“Serves Danvers right for not taking care of business, he’ll never win another case. Do you want me to show him around the office?” Carlo offered.
“No, I’ll do that myself. Are Gilcrest and Sampson in yet, Denise?”
“No, Mr. Cohen, but they called and said they were on their way. Do you want me to tell them you’d like to see them when they get in?” Davey thought Jake seemed to be annoyed. He was glad he hadn’t put that expression on his face.
“Yes, tell them I want to meet in the conference room.”
Jake took him to a room behind reception’s wall. It had an industrial-sized coffee machine that used Keurig packets to make the drink of your choice. Davey checked, it had a plain water feature and he spied teabags in the cabinet. “Mr. Cohen, is there a cup to drop money in for the coffee and tea? I don’t drink coffee and I’d hate to be drinking someone else’s tea.”
“The coffee and tea are bought out of petty cash. We usually have rolls, bagels or muffins too. Occasionally someone will bring in donuts. Now that I have you cooking breakfast, I won’t have to eat so much starch and sugar. I’ll be able to cut down on my workout reps. Do you work out?”
“I used to in college. Since I’ve been out of school, I mostly run the jogging trails in the parks and do sit-ups in the apartment, since I can’t afford a gym,” Davey answered truthfully.
“We have a gym at the condo. I use it at five in the morning on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. You’ll join me.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“By the way, we haven’t discussed your pay. What did Danvers pay you?”
“Fifty thousand dollars a year, Sir. I know it’s a lot of money, I’d be willing to work for you for less.” Davey was nervous again. He chewed his upper lip.
“That’s ridiculous—”
“I know it’s too much, Sir.”
“Fuck that, it’s much too little. You were the only reason Danvers won any cases and the other lawyers in that firm are ethically challenged. You should be making at least eighty, and after six months, a hundred…I can tell you are about to protest. Remember what I said about protesting at home? Here, I’m God and God says that’s what you’ll be paid.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Davey stammered. He knew it was too much, but he didn’t dare say another word.
“Don’t worry, I’ll work you ass off for the money.” Jake made the rounds, introducing him to all the lawyers and telling them that Davey worked exclusively for him.
Afterward, Denise took him down five floors to the Human Resources Department and he filled out his paperwork.
CHAPTER THREE
Davey was finished in HR by nine-thirty. He liked the head of HR, Valerie Sparks. When he expressed concern over his salary she told him that some of the paralegals made more than that and he was infamous in the New York legal community for giving a second rate lawyer like Danvers the opportunity to win so many cases. Jake had told him the truth. He wasn’t getting special treatment, others who were here longer were paid more and if he proved himself, in six months he would be worth more too, that is if Jake decided to keep him.
I’m still not sure what he wants with me. I know nothing about BDSM other than it means a beating, even what I read last night implied that there was always some kind of corporal punishment. I don’t think that Jake is right. I can’t be a submissive. I hate pain.
Davey shrugged his shoulders.
I guess I’ll find out on Friday night. Now I have to go do the job I’m being paid to do.
He was up in Jake’s office by nine forty-five. Jake was on the speaker phone. He motioned to a woman who appeared to be his admin and put his phone on mute. “Take care of him, Edith. I’ll be on this call for a while.”
“Welcome, I’m Edith Kennedy, you must be Davey Howell. I’m Jake’s admin. You’re to have the office next to Jake’s. You’ll find five files on your desk. Familiarize yourself with them. We’ll be needing briefs on those files next week. If you need anything, give me a holler.”
Davey walked into his own office for the first time. It wasn’t a cubicle or out in a bullpen, it was his own office. He stuck his head out the door. “Edith, do all the paralegals have their own offices?”
“Only the good ones and if you made Danvers a winner, you’re the best we’ve got. Stop doubting yourself and get started.”
Davey took off his suit jacket and hung it in the small closet and sat down behind his desk. He had a state of the art laptop, a Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus. There was a connection to the network on his desk. He plugged into the network and booted up the laptop. He found all the programs he normally used for work were there along with a few with which he was unfamiliar. He’d ask Edith about them later.