“We’ve been playing cards,” Alistair said. “My goodness me, Joe is amazing. I shuffled a pack of cards and he looked at each one, then told me the order with no hesitation. I used to have a good memory, but never as sharp as his. He said he’d played online and won money.”
“I was shocked.” Kaden chuckled.
“I’d like to play in a casino,” Joe said.
“Can I take him?” Alistair asked. “I know a place we could go. A private members club.”
“And you don’t mind that he’s going to take money off your friends?”
Alistair chuckled. “Not the ones I’ll guide him towards. If you want to stay back and write your article, we could go this afternoon.”
“Joe doesn’t have a bank account. Just an application registration card from the immigration service.”
“I can help him set up a digital account. Easier than using a high street bank.”
It felt weird that Alistair was doing this, even though Kaden knew he was only trying to be helpful.
“Please,” Joe said. Whether that was to him or Alistair, Kaden wasn’t sure.
“I can’t stop you going. I just don’t like gambling.”
“Staying in control is the key,” Alistair said. “I won’t let anything bad happen to him.”
Protection was one thing, but Kaden couldn’t dictate what Joe did. “If you set up an account, I’ll transfer over the money that he won.”
“You don’t need to. I’ll give him a few thousand because I’m sure I’ll get it back.”
Oh God.Had Alistair fallen under his spell too?
Joe would win, wouldn’t he? He didn’t want Alistair to be out of pocket or they’d have nowhere to live. Kaden worried thewhole afternoon after they’d left, but he managed to write the article on the exhibition and send it off, and the one on fossils, as well as plan his open-mic spot at Hoopers. Searching for a flat was trickier. And he wanted to do that with Joe, for it to be his decision too. While he was waiting for them to return, he worked on Alistair’s fictional story.
~~~
Alistair and Joe went to his club in a cab. Joe was wearing dark jeans, a white shirt and one of Alistair’s ties. Alistair had lent him a jacket and explained about a dress code.
“The club’s in Mayfair,” Alistair said.
“Okay.” Joe had no idea where that was.
“Be careful how much you drink.”
“I don’t want to drink.”
Alistair smiled at him. “They’ll try and persuade you. I’ll drink while I’m watching you. The other thing I ought to warn you about is that they might think you’re my toy boy. I hope that won’t bother you.”
“What’s a toy boy?”Should I know?It was useful pretending to be from another country. He could explain a lack of knowledge or mistakes with that explanation.
Alistair leaned closer. “A young man in a relationship with an older man or an older woman.”
“Oh.” Joe thought about it. “Do you want them to think that?”
“It might be nice to ruffle a few feathers.”
Joe worked out what that meant. “Then ruffle away. Unless Kaden would mind?”
“Just acting, dear boy. That’s all it will be. I wouldn’t step on Kaden’s toes and you’re a little young for me.”
Joe was in awe when they walked into the club. It was amazing. Wood panelling, oil paintings on the walls, leather furniture, intricate rugs laid over a parquet floor, twinkling glasslight fittings…chandeliers. On his planet, stark lines and regular curves dominated. There was nothing anywhere that wasn’t deemed necessary. Function came above all.
