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“How much do you figure for the costumes?” I asked, getting out a moleskine journal and fountain pen.
“Um, well that depends on how many. I can wear this one, and the angel costumes should be pretty simple. It is the Santa and the other elf costumes that are going to be the most elaborate. I’ll do yours for free, of course. How many other servers are you expecting?”
“Oh, say seven. Eight, including you, should be a good number.”
“Okay, so seven elves and two angels,” Krystal said, seeming to do the math in her head.
It wasn’t like any order list I’d ever heard before and I couldn’t help but be struck a bit funny. But I refrained from laughing, not wanting to hurt her feelings.
“May I?”
“Sure.”
I slid over the notebook and pen and Krystal commenced with notes and calculations, all done in the quick, precise shorthand of a long-term waitress. I doubted Alan Turing could have broken the code.
“With materials, not including labor, about two grand.”
“How much with labor?”
She started calculating again, coming up with a new constellation of cryptic symbols on the page.
“Five grand.”
“I’ll give you three-fifty.”
“Deal.”
We shook on it. I couldn’t help but notice how soft and warm her hand was, and how small it was in my big mitt. I could more than likely just pick her up and carry her with almost no problem. She really was almost like an elf next to me. Granted, I was unusually big. We all were. It came down to our Norman genes. Equal parts French and Scandinavian, we were thought to be direct descendants of the court of William the Conqueror. Our family name traced back to Old French and translated as ‘King of the World.’ No pressure or anything.
“We’re going to have to get decorations as well. Something more on theme.”
“Like this?” she asked, drafting out several designs on a new page, showing impressive drawing skills.
I was a little disappointed my idea for sleeping with her hadn’t worked out. Seeing her in the elf costume had made me want to put her over the table and take her from behind as soon as my siblings were out of the conference room. Still, the business came first, and she’d had some very good ideas at some pretty reasonable rates. There was no telling how much business a party like the one she was suggesting might bring, and I couldn’t risk ruining it by coming on too strong. Even if I could hear my cock crying out for her tender young body.
My phone started to ring and I had mixed feelings about leaving the conference room. I was both disappointed and relieved at the same time.
“Excuse me, I have to take this.”
“Oh, of course, I’ll just keep sketching.”
“Great. I’ll be back soon.”
I couldn’t really explain it, but I had the overwhelming urge to kiss her on the cheek before leaving. I’d never really felt that way about any girl before. I tended to prefer relationships with the kind of women who didn’t like to kiss and demanded cash up front.
“Clavis,” I said, stepping down into the main part of the conference room.
“Hey, Frenchie.”
“Sebastian, you bloody bastard, what are you doing stateside again?”
“Booking, browsing, carousing, you know the usual. I’m also interested in this Christmas party your brother told me about.”
“You’re invited if you want to come,” I said.
“Thank you kindly, I will. What’s more, I have an idea that could make it even better.”
“I think we have everything under control,” I blurted. I meant me and Krystal, but hoped he would think I meant me and the younger Clavis children.
“Oh, I’m sure you do, your highness,” Sebastian never stopped teasing me after he looked up the translation of my name, “but I’ve got something I think you’re going to want to hear.”
“Okay,” I relented, not in the mood for an argument.
“When the tasting is over, there could be an auction for women. Consenting adults of course, willing to take bids for a kiss or a date or whatever. They could even auction off their virginity. As an example. I went to one here a few weeks back, and I think it could bring a lot of attention to your party.”
I’d heard about such things happening. There was a rumor in town that one of the clubs did something like that.
“Sounds like something from the Legend of Shady Glen,” I joked, trying to evade.
“Was that by Washington Irving?” Sebastian asked.
“No, never mind.”
I stole a glance over at Krystal, my eyes seemed to be drawn there by a force of nature. An auction like that could be the best way for me to get her into my bed if I could convince her to take part.
“Okay, it sounds good to me,” I said, “I’m in.”
“Great, man, you won’t regret it.
Chapter Five - Jayden
Jack Frost nipped at my nose as much as he ever did in Southern California, the temperature hovering several degrees above freezing. It was enough to kick up a good draft, though. I’d left the office with a head full of plans and tactics, eager to get going on them right away. So much so that I had somehow forgotten that Krystal was still in the room, practically naked.
