Page 4 of Ethan’s Dazzling Daddies

“You called?” Ethan said, putting on his professional voice instead of the Little one he'd been using earlier in the night.

“I did,” Mr. Lucas replied. “You worked on these reports for the software company. Typed up the notes from our meeting and sent them to me.”

“Yes, sir,” Ethan replied.

Mr. Lucas’s eyes brightened at the word, like they always did. If Ethan weren't so sure that his boss wasn't part of the kink community, he might think that maybe there was some dominance there that enjoyed the title.

Instead, he figured it was probably pride and a bit of the fact that the man was a jerk. The fact that he was attractive made it so much worse.

Could the man not have been ugly and mean? Nooooo. He had to be easy on the eyes.

“There was an error in the report. I found it when I was double-checking everything.”

“An error,” Ethan repeated.

He knew that wasn't possible. He'd taken meticulous notes, even going so far as to record the meeting to be sure. His boss wasn't aware of that.

It was a habit he'd started recently. Ethan found his mind wandering during work at times. He wondered what people were doing at the club, what it would be like if he had a Daddy to take care of him instead of slaving away at a corporate job.

The daydreaming sometimes meant he didn't catch every little detail, so he'd listen back to the audio at night, review his notes, and make sure everything matched.

“Yes, there is an error,” Mr. Lucas growled.

He proceeded to point out where in the document he'd found the so-called mistake. Ethan would have moved closer to look at the paper, would have moved around the desk to stand beside Mr. Lucas and see every individual red pen mark he'd made, but something inside him refused to move.

He was tired and hurt, and the abrupt rush out of Little space probably hadn’t done him any good. He couldn't bring himself to engage with the situation.

“Ethan,” Mr. Lucas said, pulling his attention back. “I was speaking with you. Do you understand this is a problem I need you to correct immediately?”

Something in Ethan snapped. A part of him could hear a sound in the distance — the elevator arriving, perhaps — but that didn't matter anymore. He could no longer hold it in.

“You can't keep doing this to me,” Ethan said, his voice rising with each word until he was nearly yelling. “I've done nothing wrong. I'm the best employee you've ever had.”

His arms were thrown out and his hands flapped. His body couldn't contain the pain and anger it felt, couldn't hold back anymore. Ethan was seconds away from collapsing into a heap on the floor, but then arms wrapped around him and the familiar scent of his best friend filled his airways.

Koa. Koa was here.

His mind provided the thought, and with it the emotions he'd been working to contain broke open further. He sobbed into Koa's shoulder as his friend wrapped him even tighter, making sure Ethan had a safe place to land.

Around him, people spoke. There were words and angry exchanges. They didn't register for him at first. It wasn't until he heard mention of soup being brought for him that Ethan managed to get a hold of his tears. He understood instantly, from the container and the words his mind was still slowly putting together, that the food had come from the club.

“Jacob made me this?” Ethan asked.

Koa smiled at him. “He was upset you had to go, so he stopped everything to make you soup.”

Ethan covered his mouth and felt heat surge through his body. This is nice, he thought. It felt like being cared for. Like something a Daddy would do. It catered to that part of him that wanted to feel loved and adored, the part that wanted someone to look after him instead of Ethan having to take control of everything.

Mr. Lucas cleared his throat and Ethan turned to look at him. From the corner of his eye he could see Koa and Manny doing the same. Manny must have come with Koa to bring the soup. Further proof that his friend had found his person. Ethan couldn't wait to see how that panned out over time.

“You haven't eaten, Ethan?” he asked.

“When would I have eaten?” Ethan replied. “I hadn't been gone all that long when you called me.”

The energy in the room shifted, and in a flash Mr. ’Lucas’s mood changed. He told Ethan to go home. Demanded it, even. He was instructed not to come in the next day either.

“Are you firing me?” Ethan said, his words tumbling over one another as fear laced through him.

He needed to keep his job, needed the insurance. He needed coverage for his anxiety and the regular medical checkups his heart condition required. Losing that care wasn't something he could risk.