Face Down (Fuckboy Series Book 2) (FINISHED)

Chapter Seven

Colton walked into the hotel and followed the signs to the ballroom that Casual Companions had rented for the Meet-and-Greet. He had never been there before, but by the looks of the place it was well out of his price range, anyway. Now he understood why it was mandatory for all the workers to wear semi-formal attire. He would have felt out of place had he shown up in what he would’ve normally worn on a date.

He smiled when he noticed Maddie sitting at a table just inside the spacious ballroom, giving her a wave as he stepped up. “Evening. You look beautiful.”

“Hey, Colton,” she said, returning his smile. “Thank you.” She looked down at her laptop and checked him in, then handed him a red rose boutonniere.

“What’s this for?” he asked as he pinned it to the lapel of his jacket.

“It’s so the clients know you are a worker. It’s better than name tags, don’t you think?”

Colton laughed. “I guess.”

“Well, go on in and have fun.”

“Thanks.” Colton walked around the table and headed further into the ballroom. He needed a drink because for whatever reason, the set-up made him a little nervous. He felt slightly out of place, like it was high school and he was the new kid on the block trying to find what clique he fit into.

After ordering himself a drink, he sat at the bar and took a long look around the huge room. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed someone slide onto the stool next to him. “Hey,” he said, recognizing Aiden as he turned toward him.

“Hey. Glad you made it.” Aiden patted him on the back and ordered a drink. “Did you just get here?”

“Yeah.” He was still looking around the room as he spoke, mostly checking out what was going on but also keeping a sharp eye out for Daddy and Kitten. “There’s a lot of people here. Are they all clients?” He glanced at Aiden for confirmation.

“Or potential clients who haven’t seen enough to want to make a request yet. That’s the reason Barrick throws these things. He brings in at least twenty or thirty new long-term clients each time he does.”

Colton nodded and finished his drink, putting the glass on the bar as he stood. “Well, I guess I should mingle. Too much fraternizing and Barrick will give us the evil eye. We don’t want him doing the turkey dance in front of potentials, do we?”

They both laughed and went their separate ways. Aiden walked over to a group of men standing in a circle on one side of the huge room and Colton looked for someone to talk to that wasn’t part of a pack. He thought it was best if he started small and built his way up to the crowds. He spotted a guy who was standing alone, looking around the room as if he wasn’t sure where to start or how the entire process worked.

Good, he thought to himself as he stole two flutes of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. They could wing it together.

Colton walked up to the taller guy, giving him a smile as he held out the champagne. “Hi, I’m Colton. Would you like a drink?”

The guy glanced at the red rose pinned to his jacket, then gave him a smile and nodded. “Thank you,” he said, taking the offered glass.

When their hands touched Colton brushed his fingers along the guy’s palm, giving him a soft suggestive touch. “You’re welcome.”

“I’m Liam,” he said, giving Colton a smile after feeling a jolt of electricity run through his hand when their skin touched. He offered his hand to him in introduction, wondering if he would feel it again.

Colton shook his hand, then saluted him with his glass. “It’s nice to meet you, Liam.” After they both took a sip of their drink, Colton motioned to the room with his flute. “Have you ever been to one of these things before?”

“Never. Friends of mine suggested I come so here I am.”

Colton chuckled softly as he nodded. “Ah. Gotta love the influence of friends.” He grinned, then took another sip of his champagne, watching Liam over the rim of his glass.

Liam was tall and slim, with auburn hair and chocolate colored eyes. He had the look of an intellectual man, someone who made their money using their brain. But the way he held himself told Colton that he was a man who was used to being in control.

Liam’s brown eyes never strayed from his, instead they held them longer than Colton expected, which made him slightly uncomfortable. Just as he lowered his glass he heard a clap and a giggle from behind him. He automatically tensed up, a chill spiraling up his spine until it exploded inside of his head with recognition.

Kitten.

“OH MY GOD!!” she squealed. “Daddy look who it is!” She rushed over, looking up at Colton as he forced his eyes downward out of fear.

He didn’t want to piss her off because God only knew what she’d do to him right there in front of everyone. He didn’t want to chance it so he cleared his throat and spoke softly, lowering his voice so no one else could hear him. “Hello, Mistress.”

She giggled and brought her hand to his cheek, caressing the stubble there as she smiled over at Liam. “Liam, how are you?”

They knew each other? Colton glanced up quickly, looking from one to the other and back again. f**k, he thought to himself. f**k! f**k! f**k! If Kitten was one of the friends he was talking about who had suggested this service to Liam, he could only guess what kind of person Liam was.

“Kitten. How are you? Where’s Damien?”

Kitten giggled and pointed over at the big man walking in their direction.

Daddy’s name was Damien? Colton looked over as Daddy walked up to the three of them, swallowing hard when he saw that the big man’s eyes were on him. The way he looked at him it seemed as if he wanted to choke him out.

“Sir,” Colton spoke to him, not saying anything other than indicating his presence. Again, Colton lowered his eyes and waited.

Daddy didn’t say a word to him. He just continued staring at him. Colton felt uneasy. He felt as if he should kneel in front of him because he didn’t want to show him anything that could be mistaken as disrespect. He’d learned that lesson the hard way.

“Look who it is, Daddy.” Kitten purred as she leaned against Colton and rubbed herself all over his side. “It’s our little boy.”

Again, Daddy said nothing to Colton, but he did address Kitten. “I see who it is.” His words were cold and his body was stiff and tense. Daddy reached out and pulled Kitten away from Colton, forcing her to stand next to him, making it clear he wasn’t happy. Kitten pouted and stomped her foot, but Daddy ignored her, his focus completely on Colton.

Liam felt the tension in the air around the three of them and cleared his throat. “Obviously you know Colton?”

Colton couldn’t explain the way he felt. His c**k grew stiffer by the second as he stood there, his eyes diverted and completely submissive to the two of them. He was scared of them, yet there was a part of him that was completely intrigued and wanted more. As long as he was on the other end of a request, he could ignore them. But when they were standing in his face, it was hard not to fall into the role of a slave boy.

After a long silence, Kitten was the one to speak up. “Yes, we know Colton. We had some fun with him a little while back. He’s a good boy. If you want to request him, he’ll show you a great time.” She giggled a little as she shifted against Daddy, rubbing her hands on his chest to soothe the tension that had tightened his muscles.

“When he’s not ignoring you, that is.” Daddy spit the words in his direction, his anger showing through his words and clenched teeth.

“Sir, I wasn’t ignoring you-”

“Shut up.” Daddy’s voice was full of gravel as he snarled at Colton. “Not. One. More. Word.”

Colton clamped his mouth shut. He was so turned on he couldn’t see straight. His balls tightened and the bulge in his tight pants got a bit more uncomfortable. His heart raced so fast he could feel it in his groin, beating there like a machine gun. His mind fell back to the last time Daddy had told him to shut up. It ended with him being gagged because he hadn’t listened. Now he knew better, so he stayed silent.

Kitten knew that was her cue to pull Daddy away and defuse the situation so she excused them by pointing out a few of their friends who had just come in. Even as she tugged him in the opposite direction Daddy’s eyes were glued to Colton until he was out of view.

Colton let out the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding, glancing over at Liam only once they were gone. “Sorry about that.” He cleared his throat as he tried to shake the submissive headspace he’d slipped into. “I didn’t ignore them. I’ve just been so busy I can’t take out the chunk of time they require for their requests.” Even though he didn’t need to, Colton felt like he wanted to explain himself. He didn’t want this potential client to think he ignored people. Liam didn’t know the entire story, and he wasn’t about to disclose all of that information just off of the possibility he’d want to send him a job request.

Liam waved it off and patted Colton on the shoulder. “You don’t have to justify your actions to me. I know the two of them. Damien can be an asshole when he thinks someone’s done him wrong. I’ve seen it more than a few times.”

Even though Colton agreed he didn’t voice his opinion. He didn’t know how well the three of them knew each other so he didn’t want to take the chance that Liam would run back and tell Daddy anything he’d said. “It’s all right. Honestly.” Colton offered Liam a smile, placing his empty glass on a passing tray when he noticed his hands were shaking.

“Would you like to accompany me to a party? Be my date?” Liam asked, his eyes searching Colton’s bright blue eyes.

Colton nodded and gave Liam a smile, trying to hide the way the encounter with Daddy and Kitten had affected him. He felt weighed down and shaky, like he wasn’t sure about what he should do and how he should act now that he knew they were there. “I would love to be your date for a party. Just send me a request. Let me know when and if I’m free, I’ll go.” It didn’t occur to him that if Liam knew Daddy and Kitten he might be into the same type of lifestyle they were into. He was so twisted up by the interaction with the two of them he would’ve said yes to anything just to prove he didn’t make a habit of ignoring job requests.

Colton took a deep breath as he tried to shake off the feeling of his own helplessness. It was a feeling Daddy and Kitten were experts at creating in him. God, he needed another drink. He glanced around the room, trying to find another server with a tray full of champagne, but instead his eyes fell on Daddy’s large form. His first instinct was to look away quickly, but when he realized who he was talking to he couldn’t help but stare.

Daddy was talking to Barrick, and he didn’t look very happy.

Fuck, he thought to himself. Daddy was probably over there right now telling Barrick that he was a liar and that he had been ignoring their requests. He let out a deep breath but quickly sucked in another, feeling queasy and lightheaded as his body filled with dread. When Liam spoke he looked at him, trying to focus on his words and push the thoughts of Barrick and Daddy’s conversation out of his mind.

“Sounds good. It was a pleasure meeting you, Colton.” He noticed Colton was distracted and followed his gaze across the room to Damien. “Again, don’t let that big beefcake get to you. His bark is worse than his bite.”

Right, Colton thought to himself, it was easy for him to say that because he had probably never been on the receiving end of Daddy’s bite. “I won’t. I apologize if I seem distracted. I don’t like to disappoint people and I feel as if I disappointed Daddy.”

Liam nodded in understanding. “Well, don’t let it ruin your night, okay?” He smiled at Colton and rubbed his shoulder, then looked over as Barrick walked up to the two of them.

“How’s everything going?” he asked, acting as if he was just there for a friendly conversation.

Colton knew he wasn’t there just to check on Liam’s well being and felt the dread settle in the pit of his stomach. Barrick would probably fire him because of whatever Daddy said about him. f**k! He had such a good thing going, and just because he didn’t want to face the thoughts, the feelings, and the emotions Daddy and Kitten forced on him, he’d lose it all.

Liam could feel the tension in Colton’s body and patted his shoulder to let him know it would be all right. “Everything is going great,” he said with a smile. “Colton has been great company. Thank you for checking on us.”

Barrick nodded and threw a fake smile in Liam’s direction. “Do you mind if I steal Colton? I’d like to have a few words with him in private.”

“I don’t mind at all.” Liam nodded in Barrick’s direction, then turned to Colton, giving him a smile and offering his hand. “It was nice to meet you. I’ll send you a request later tonight.”

Colton shook Liam’s hand. “You do that. I’ll check my calendar and if I’m available, I’m all yours for the party.”

“Sounds good.”

Colton watched as Liam walked off, leaving him alone with Barrick. He felt the dread churning in the pit of his stomach, making him want to vomit. Daddy probably told Barrick to fire him. Then what would he do? He had some money stashed away, but definitely not enough to tide him over until he found another job. f**k, there was no way he was right back here, the same place he was a month ago. It would be hard finding another job that paid anywhere near what he made with Casual. s**t, he had f****d himself royally, and he had no one to blame but himself.

Barrick hooked his head at Colton, then turned and led him away from the ballroom. There was no doubt in his mind that Colton would follow him. He knew he wasn’t pleased with him and he knew exactly what was at stake. The two crossed the lobby and went into another ballroom that was empty so no one could overhear their conversation.

When Barrick was sure they were alone he let loose, snapping and snarling at Colton. “One of my biggest clients just told me that you’re ignoring his requests.” His eyes were bugged out of his head and the vein in his forehead pulsed violently as he spoke.

“I wasn’t ignoring him.” It was a weak defense, but it was all he had. Colton knew that it wouldn’t matter what he said or did. Barrick had already made up his mind, so he was just waiting to see what the outcome was.

“If he said you were ignoring him, you were ignoring him. Point is, he felt ignored. Point is, I don’t f*****g like it. If you don’t want to lose your job, I suggest you go kiss his f*****g ass and get back in good with him.”

“But I didn’t-”

“Did you hear me, Colton? Make it right. He and his wife are waiting for you in room 1924. You best not come out of there until all of this is fixed. If I lose these clients because of you...” Barrick glared at Colton and left the words hanging in the air as a threat.

Colton kept his mouth shut even though he wanted to take a cue from the guy in the meeting and just tell Barrick to f**k off. But he didn’t. He thought he would get fired, but now Barrick had given him the chance to make it right. Or make him money.

“Right now?” he asked, motioning to the door.

“Right. Now.” Barrick half spit on him as he growled the words out.

Without another word Colton walked off. He had to fix this, or he’d lose his job. He knew by the frantic jerking of Barrick’s head and the tone of his voice he wasn’t joking about that part. The thought of being broke again made his stomach twist in knots. He had hated that feeling and here he was again, his job in jeopardy just because he didn’t want to see Daddy and Kitten. He didn’t want to be their toy.

“And shave your face,” Barrick yelled after him.

“f**k you,” Colton mumbled defiantly as his bad mood shifted inside of him, eating him alive until it threatened to explode.

Barrick was walking a thin line, talking to him like a dog and treating him like he was complete s**t. It took a lot for Colton to lose his temper, but when he did, you didn’t want to be the person on the receiving end of it. If Barrick kept pushing, he’d get to see that first hand. He’d get a fat lip and a black eye to go with that ugly ass tie of his.