Billionaire Playboy I

Chapter Two

Aden, Toby - Billionaire Playboy I [Avidbook, Contemporary (MM) Gay Romance] Chapter Two

Xavier Fernando ~ The Deal

I stood right outside the Golden Gallery, staring up and up at the huge steel skyscraper and the corporation’s name of which was etched onto it in bold letters. From the outside alone the place was magnificent, with its glass windows which were covered by white shutters, making it impossible to see inside the gallery.

Drawing in a deep breath, I walked forward towards the entrance of the Golden Gallery, pulling the door open, and I stepped into the building with the door swinging shut behind me. I was dressed in a crisp white button-down with the sleeves rolled up to my elbow and well pressed slacks. I shifted my gaze over the room, and my jaw dropped in shock from the sheer beauty of the place.

The ground floor was extremely spacious, and it held only the reception desk situated right in the middle of the enormous space and facing the entrance. I strolled up towards the desk where a perky blonde was on the phone and stood there waiting with my portfolio in one hand and my other hand resting against the top of the desk.

“Good morning, sir. How may I help you?” the receptionist asked, replacing the handset in its cradle.

“Xavier Fernando to see Ms. Jones, please,” I said, staring at the woman in front of me and noticing the blush that slowly crept up her face.

I thought to myself, hoping our brief conversation remained strictly professional and I wasn’t about to be hit on especially when I was so nervous already. I wanted to make a good first impression and not snap at her.

“You’re looking for the third floor. The last office, left of the hall.”

“Thanks,” I said, giving her a curt nod and striding away. Thank goodness she had kept her professional cool. I seriously wasn’t up for any bullshit right now. That would have been a disaster if I’d had to deal with her.

I walked over to the elevator in one corner of the wall, pressed the button to call it down and waited. The elevator itself was completely made of glass, making everything in there visible to those outside. The thought that immediately crossed my mind was, this place, if it had been possible, would have been made entirely of glass as it was the common theme I was seeing.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long as the doors were soon opening. I strode in, pressed the third floor button, and calmly waited till the door slid shut and the mechanical device carried me up to my destination. It was doubly lucky for me in the sense that no one else was in the elevator and it hadn’t made any stops until I finally got out, especially since I didn’t have to talk to anyone or wonder if I would be hit on.

I followed the directions the receptionist had given me, taking the left hallway and moving past the closed office doors, counting them as I made my way further along the long hallway. To say this place was huge was a great understatement and even though I’d seen a few artworks hanging on the walls both on the ground floor and on this, they hadn’t been worth much of my attention. I’d simply skimmed over the work, not at all impressed by what I saw and just kept on my way.

When I finally reached the last door, I was slightly confused which office to get into. There were two of them facing each other, and the receptionist hadn’t said anything about which office I needed... Sighing, I knocked briefly on the door to my left, twisted the knob and pushed it open.

It was a regular office, alright. Another receptionist occupied this space. There were waiting chairs opposite her desk, and a door just to the left behind her desk. I walked towards her and nodded my greeting.

“Good morning, sir, how may I help you?” the lady asked.

“Good morning. Xavier Fernando here to see Ms. Jones,” I said.

“And which Ms. Jones will that be?” the receptionist asked.

Frowning in confusion, I clarified, “Keri Jones.”

“Ah,” She nodded. “You’re looking for the office opposite this one.”

“Thanks, I said, turned around and marched right back to the door, exiting and shutting the door behind me. “f**k,” I whispered under my breath.

I hadn’t even been here long and already I was getting turned around, not a good thing. Not a good thing at all. If I were one to believe in karma and the forces of the universe and all that, I’d have already dubbed this day as ominous. In any case, it was definitely not off to a good start right now.

Sighing once more, I walked the short distance to the door, knocked once more and pushed it open. The place was the same setup as the office I’d just come out of, so I walked to the desk, only this time, the secretary was male.

I didn’t give him time to say anything just blurted out, “Hi. I’m Xavier Fernando, here to see Ms. Keri Jones.”

He nodded at me, saying, “One moment, sir.” Before getting on the phone and communicating with his boss. “Ms. Jones, your ten o’clock is here.” I waited as he listened to what his boss had to say before finishing off with, “Yes, ma’am” and replacing the phone back in its cradle. “You can go right in.”

“Thanks.”

I nodded at him then walked past his desk and pushed open the door to his boss’s office. I let the door swing gently shut behind me and walked further into the room, seeing an older woman seated behind a large desk, artwork sprinkled all over the solid wall to the sides of the room.

“Good morning, Mr. Fernando. Please do be seated.”

“Thank you, Ms. Jones,” I said, inclining my head as I moved around the leather swivel chair to settle into the seat which was across from the smartly dressed woman in front of me.

“Coffee?” she asked.

“No, thank you. I’m good,” I declined, preferring to get down to business and hear what my chances would be with this corporation. I was a bit anxious, nervous and giddy, all those emotions lashing through me as one and boiling up in anticipation of what was to come and how my life may end up changing.

“Good, good. Let’s get right down to business then. As I told you over the phone, my boss saw your work and was extremely impressed. This is not an easy feat as he has seen a lot of art and not much grasps his attention the way yours seems to have done.”

“Just a minute, if you please. You said your boss saw my work. Which boss would that be? One of the Tomasine brothers you mean?”

“No. I meant the overall head of this branch. Acquisition rights are left up to us. However, your work was indeed shown to Mr. Tomasine, and he was also extremely impressed as well.”

“Right. Got it. I’m glad you all like my work. I assume you’ve also seen it?”

“I have. As I said, you’re extremely good, and we’d love to have you join us. I think it’s safe to assume you’ve heard of our company?” Keri asked, one brow raised in question.

“Yes, of course. Anyone who’s anyone in the art world has heard of you guys and how exclusive your works are,” I said, reciting facts she was already, no doubt, aware of.

Keri nodded once, clearly pleased I was aware of them. “We represent a lot of artists and a lot have gone far with us backing their work. It’s always a privilege working with really brilliant artists and showcasing unique pieces. However, a breach of contract with us is a very serious offense, and we don’t take it lightly at all.” She said, her voice hard. “We take in all our artists in good faith, and we expect no less from each and every one of them. If you’re not willing to abide by the terms of our contract, I’ll suggest you decide against joining us.”

“And what are these terms exactly? Does signing with you means I’m stuck with you forever and can never break free? Selling my soul to the devil on the promises of fame and money?”

I was surprised to see her burst into laughter as my first opinion of her had been that of a stern headmistress. “Not at all. The terms are quite simple. For as long as you are with us, you remain exclusively ours. No other art side jobs unless it’s a charity cause, no replicating your art pieces, or putting them on the black market, or selling them with the thought we would never know. Trust me, we always know, and the moment we find out you’ve done such a thing, you can expect to be blackballed throughout the art community.”

“That doesn’t sound comforting at all.” I frowned, tapping my fingers on the armrest of the chair I was seated on.

“It’s all about loyalty, Mr. Fernando.”

“Xavier, please.”

“Xavier then,” Keri said, nodding her head. “If you wish to go out on your own to do your own thing, you’re free to do so anytime after working with us for an initial period of five years from the date you signed on with us, up until your contract is up for renewal. However, any pieces you produce while under contract with us cannot be replicated or sold elsewhere, even if you’re no longer bound to us by contract. You can, however, sell the rights to us at such time when you wish to break away from us.”

“All this doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence or even make me see the benefit of signing with you,” I said, my brows furrowed.

“We haven’t gotten to the pros of signing with us. I subscribe to the notion that knowing where we both stand is of utmost importance. Ignorance is not an excuse nor is it accepted here. After all, forewarned is forearmed. I’ve seen a couple of artists come through us, who do not take us seriously, or what’s written in the contract as gospel, and they end up paying the price for it. You need to understand that as long as you work for us, your work belongs exclusively to us, and will remain so even if you choose to leave. And, if you do choose to leave, you cannot use our name and reputation to boost up your sales or back up your work. You’re entirely on your own the moment you step away from us. There will also be a press release announcing your retirement from us if that should ever happen.”

“So, basically, what you’re telling me is that you own me and my work for as long as I’m bound by contract to you?” I asked, just to clarify.

“Yes. That is exactly what I’m telling you. Just to be on the safe side, I suggest that you read the contract thoroughly so there are no surprises from both ends.” When I nodded at her words, she folded her hand on the desk, and her features softened, a smile curving her red painted lips. “And on to the part everyone is eager to hear about, the pros if you will.”

“And what would those be?”

“We have a great clientele base ready to be wowed by your work. We’ll back you up with our name and reputation. That’ll skyrocket your career faster than anything, and your talent alone would ensure that you remain at the top.”

“I don’t need your name or reputation. I can make it all by myself. In fact, I’d honestly prefer to wait till I’m done with school and shop my work around. It’s not your name I’m selling and to be honest, my talent speaks for itself, so if you tell me you’ll back me up with your reputation, I call bullshit.”

“And why is that?”

“Because so far, all you’ve said is more beneficial to you than it is to me. Your corporation only takes in the best of the best, and the fact that I’m here means I’m that. You need me more than I need you, reputation or not, and any other gallery would be ecstatic to have my work. Not to mention, I won’t be bound to them for years or have to relinquish the rights to my existing work should I choose to break away from them. So please tell me something better than you just did, because right now? Right now the cons far outweigh the pros and I’m not desperate.” I told her, making sure she understood my feelings on what she’d said so far and that I wasn’t the least bit impressed at all.

I was surprised when the reaction my words provoked was her laughing. I had at least expected that she would be offended or even take objection to what I’d just said and frankly, I couldn’t for the life of me understand why I’d amused her. I truly did believe every word I’d just said to her.

“An artistic temperament indeed. And I’m glad to know you’re not going to sell yourself short. In this business, confidence is as much a boost as your work. You’re obviously an individualistic person who’s not afraid to say what you want. However, before you cut me off, you should understand that whereas with other galleries, it may take you years to reach the level of success we’re able to provide you. We already have a client list that is both selective and extremely picky in their tastes. Should they love your work as I am sure they will, word of who you are would spread faster. It would give you a great opportunity for exposure. Also, due to our high profile client base, your commission is most likely guaranteed.”

“I get what you’re telling me. I really do, but I still can’t get over the fact of being bound to you for five years and remaining so every five years after each contract renewal. A lot can happen in five years, and while I would also benefit from it, it’s just too long. And besides what happens if I’m only able to showcase my work once or twice a year?”

“That’s a valid question, and it wouldn’t be a problem since our major shows are usually during the spring and fall season. However, I’m sorry to say the initial five years is mandatory. There’s no going around it. After that, we can renegotiate on how many years you’d like to remain with us with each renewal.”

I nodded though not exactly acquiescent. It was just to ensure she knew I got what she was saying. “I’ll need to think on this, and I can only agree if there will be a balance with my school work. I can’t ever give up school regardless of the fact that I’ll have a job waiting on me.”

“Just a minute, please,” Keri said, holding up a finger to me as she pressed a button on the office phone and brought it to her ears. “Colby, bring the papers in, please.” Then she dropped the phone back on its cradle and turned her attention back to me. “I understand your dilemma. Our staff is willing to work with you on scheduling and arranging everything to ensure it doesn’t affect your schooling. That is not a problem for us as long as your work maintains its high quality and uniqueness.”

“Thank you,” I said, grateful that should I agree to work with them, it wouldn’t be necessary for me to drop out of school especially as I was already halfway through to finishing.

“In that case, I’ll have the contract brought to us so you can review and sign it if you’re agreeable.”

“That sounds good to me however, if I’m not okay with any of the terms listed in the contract, I expect to be able to renegotiate it. I’ll be coming with my lawyer whenever I’m done reviewing it, and once we’re both satisfied, I’ll sign and hand over the contract to you. That’s all I can promise for now.”

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and the secretary whom I’d met outside Keri’s office came striding in. “Here’s the document you requested, Ms. Jones,” he said, setting it down on the desk before straightening up. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”

“No, thank you, Colby. That will be all for now,” Keri said, nodding at her secretary.

She waited until the secretary was on his way out of the office before flipping through the document he had left on the table. Once she was sure everything was in place, as I assumed she was checking, she held it out to me. I accepted it, turning open the protective hard cover and taking a brief look through the contract with my name written on it in bold letters.

“I’ll make sure to have it reviewed and ready to discuss it with my lawyer present here by next week at the latest.”

“Good. In that case, you should book an appointment with my secretary when you’re ready, and we can further negotiate,” Keri said before standing up.

She held out her hand, and I shook it. “Thank you for your time and have a good day.”

“Good day to you too, Mr. Fernando,” Keri said.

And with that, I turned on my heels and walked out of her office. If it all worked out, a new chapter would be beginning in my life, and I wouldn’t even have to give up school to have it. School was the most important thing to me right now. I want to have my degree in hand and be secure in knowing that no matter what, I was not a college dropout. Not that there was anything wrong with those who dropped out of college. After all, college wasn’t for everyone.

From, what I’d seen of it so far, this place really was amazing, and I was slightly intimidated by the idea of having my work shown here. I knew from several press releases and critics, that the people who frequented here were really influential people looking to buy the best art at outrageous prices. For this reason also, I wasn’t at all bothered as my commission was sure to be an obscene amount depending on how my art sold. The new collection I was working on would be perfect for showing here once it was done.

It felt as though everything was lining up just perfectly, if only I was sure and ready to embrace it all and accept it for what it was. I already had several artworks I could use for the exhibition if I decided to join the corporation, but the latest collection I was working on was by far my best work. I knew it was, even though I hadn’t allowed anyone to see it yet. Not even my two best friends, Karl and Finn. Would I or would I not take this opportunity offered to me? That was my dilemma right now, and I was still unsure, glancing down at the folder I held, which had the power to change the course of my life.

The moment I stepped out of the Golden Gallery building, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, scrolled through my contact list till I found the number of the person I wanted to speak to first, and dialed the number. While it was ringing, I walked towards the parking lot where I’d parked my motorcycle.

“Hi, Uncle John, this is Xavier,” I said the moment Karl’s father answered the private number he reserved only for family, friends, his business partners, and close acquaintances.

“Xavier, my boy, how are you?”

“I’m good, thank you. I’m not sure if Karl told you, I got an offer from a gallery to become one of their artists.”

“That’s good news, Xavier, and no. Karl hasn’t told me, but I always knew you’d go far with a talent like yours. What gallery is it?”

“The Golden Gallery,” I responded, pulling out my leather fingerless gloves from where I’d left them hanging from my bike’s handlebars and began pulling them on.

“The Golden Gallery you say?” The surprise as well as pride lining John Carmichael’s voice, made me break out in a smile.

I was nodding my head long before I even voiced my response when I remembered he couldn’t see me. “Yes, sir. They called me in for an appointment today and offered to have me as one of their artists. I have the contract here with me, but I’m not sure about it.” My gaze was drawn to the folder still in my hands, and I stared down at it, feeling excitement and anxiety sweep through me in equal waves, as uncertainty broke out in my voice, and my body tightened with anticipation.

I was scared and at the same time exhilarated, that this famous and popular company which was extremely hard to get into wanted my art. They wanted to represent me. They loved my work, and even the main boss, the Tomasine brother who owned this place, had seen my work, and he loved it. It still hadn’t settled in fully how enormous this situation was. What most people struggled to get had just been dumped into my lap and without any effort from me, or on my part, except that the boss of this branch had seen my work and had been blown away by it.

“Of course, of course. Bring it over to me, and we’ll see what we can do together,” John said, already offering me his assistance without my having to pointblank ask for it.

He’d always been that way, anticipating the needs of his family and providing solutions for them. Karl had lost his mother when he was young, and so, it was only he and his father and they were really close. Their loss had brought them even closer together and with mine a big Italian family, we’d adopted them into our family, pulling them into our weekly Sunday dinner tradition.

I released a sigh of relief, the feeling of knowing I wasn’t alone and had someone powerful on my side, who would fight for the best chances for me, making me feel good about all this. “Thank you. How does tomorrow sound? Too early?” I asked.

“Not at all, son. I’ll let my secretary know you’re coming over and to expect you. Have you told your parents about it yet?”

Shaking my head, I answered, “No, not yet. I don’t want to get their hopes up if I decide not to sign on with the gallery. I want to make sure the terms of the contract are favorable to me and sign it first before telling them.”

“Sounds good to me, Xavier. Once we go over the contract together, you should be able to make a decision by next week and let your parents know.”

“Thanks, Uncle John. I gotta go now. It’s a long drive back home.”

“Careful on that death trap, Xavier, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow,” I responded and hung up the line, slipping my phone back into my pocket.

I slid the folder into my backpack which was hanging from the handlebars. I zipped the bag up, slung it over my shoulders, threw my leg over to straddle the bike and revved the engine up. It wasn’t long before I was pulling out of the lot and into traffic, setting off for home Excitement and shock shooting through my system, as I was still getting used to the idea of the great opportunity presented to me and undecided about what my choice would end up being.

* * * *

When I pulled open the door to my apartment, Karl and Finn were the first ones I saw. I had no idea how they knew I’d arrived, but they were clearly waiting for me, and I could see the expectation on their faces.

“Well?” Finn asked, looking all expectant.

“How did it go?” Karl asked, gaze fixed on me with a raised brow.

“How did what go?” I asked, teasing them, as I shut the door behind me. I walked over to the couch and collapsed on the unoccupied section.

“Don’t get cute! The appointment with the gallery, of course,” Finn growled, his voice exasperated as he and Karl looked at me, their expressions full of anticipation. When I pulled the folder from my bag, they followed my every movement before glancing back up my face.

“Well?” Karl asked once more.

I sighed as though I wasn’t willing to answer them, but of course, I was just teasing them, “I loved the building. It was way cool.”

“Xavier!” they exclaimed together

At their voices, I could not help the laughter which bubbled out of me. I just knew what their next reaction would be. They were predictable that way, and I didn’t even flinch when they both pounced on me, with Finn yanking the folder away from my hand, and Karl mock wrestling with me on the sofa until we were both out of breath.

“Fucker!” I panted out, baring my teeth at Karl, but all he did to acknowledge me, was to push me away from him and turn to face Finn.

“What’s it say Finn?” Karl asked.

“They definitely offered him a contract to work with them. Gave him a signing bonus of a cool million dollars if he signs too.” Finn responded, grinning down at the document.

“Holy s**t. That’s a lot,” Karl exclaimed.

“f**k, yeah, it’s a lot. They cater to the rich and wealthy after all, and they only take in the best of the best,” Finn said, giving Karl a look that read ‘duh’.

“Get over here and let’s read it together,” Karl said, waving Finn over to us.

With a shake of his head, Finn ambled over to us and squeezed into the space between Karl and me, using his waist to shove us apart to create space for himself. Getting the clue, we both shifted, and once Finn was comfortable between us, he flipped the folder back to the first page and we all began reading together.

Agreement between: The Golden Gallery and Xavier Fernando:

This contract is entered into between The Golden Gallery herein referred to as “the Gallery” and Xavier Fernando, herein referred to as “the Artist.”

Warranty; The artist hereby warrants to the gallery, that all Artworks are original and descriptions are true and accurate. Title to the consigned Artwork is to be unencumbered.

Scope Of Agency; The artist appoints the gallery to act as his exclusive agent for the exhibition and sales of works of art (hereinafter referred to as “Artwork”). The artist shall be free to personally exhibit or sell any work consigned to the gallery under this contract.

Consignment; The artist hereby consigns to the gallery, and the gallery accepts as consignments, those artworks created for and shown to gallery, except those works created for personal use and marked as ‘not for sale’ by the artist, during the duration of this contract. The artist shall ensure that his Record of Consignment Form is kept updated with each new Artwork. The gallery shall not permit the Artwork to be used for any purpose, other than exhibition and sale, without the specific consent of the artist. The artist retains copyright and full ownership of the Artworks. In the event of the sale of an Artwork, the title shall pass directly from the artist to the purchaser.

Duration of Consignment; The artist and gallery agree, the initial term of consignment for Artworks is five years from the date of the contract agreement and signature. Thereafter, Artwork shall remain with the gallery until sales are fulfilled, or the gallery requests the artist removes any, or all, unsold Artworks. The artist shall comply promptly within the given timeframe.

Transportation; Packing and shipping charges, handling expenses, insurance costs including risk of loss or damage incurred in shipping, shall be the responsibility of the gallery. The artist shall ensure Artworks are in perfect condition, ready for packing and collection by the gallery’s preferred shipping service. Artworks will be accounted for and the signature of the artist obtained as proof before dispatch and collection is during normal working hours. All returns of Artworks from the gallery to the artist shall be the responsibility of the artist.

Promotion; The gallery shall make reasonable efforts in all good faith, to promote the sale of Artworks and undertake other promotional activities on the artist’s behalf. The artist shall be prepared to subject himself to promotional campaigns during exhibitions, media presence and availability during exhibitions, photo shoot, and any other publicity campaigns deemed necessary by the gallery. Following exhibitions and campaigns, all frames, photographs, negatives and any other tangible property created in during the course of the exhibition or campaign shall be the property of the gallery.

Copyright; The gallery shall identify clearly all Artworks with the artist’s name. The artist’s name shall be included on the bill of sale of each Artwork. The artist shall ensure there is no reproduction of any Artworks consigned to the gallery by artist. The gallery may arrange for all Artworks to be photographed for the purposes of insurance, publicity and promotion.

Pricing; The artist’s shall give a suggested price on the submission form. The artists pricing shall be considered for each Artwork. However, the gallery reserves the right to set the price for the Artwork. Any changes in the retail price other than the original price set by the gallery, shall be agreed to in advance by the artist and the gallery.

Sale; All gallery sales are in US dollars. In addition to the agreed retail price, applicable sale taxes will be added to the bill of sale. There is a no return policy on all Artwork purchased. All Artworks are closed sales.

Commission; The gallery’s commission is 30% of the retail price of each Artwork sold. The artist and the gallery will agree in advance to any changes in the gallery’s commission. The gallery shall pay the artist one million dollars ($1,000,000) as retainer upon signing of this contract. The gallery shall pay to the artist, all proceeds due less commission, within thirty (30) days of sale, via check or direct deposit in US dollars.

Accounting; The gallery shall furnish the artist a detailed copy of the bill of sale, indicating title of Artwork sold, date of sale, and sale price. The identification of the purchaser may remain anonymous in accordance with their wishes subject to applicable laws. In force at the time of sale. The artist shall have the right to perform inventory of his Artworks on the gallery premises and request records pertaining to sales of his Artworks at any time subject to giving seven (7) days’ notice.

Loss or Damage; The gallery shall not lend or remove from the premises any Artworks. The gallery shall be responsible for the safekeeping and insurance of all consigned Artworks whilst in its custody. Artwork is handled with care and expertise and with all safety measures possible, thus the gallery is not held liable for uninsured losses once the Artwork has left its premises.

Termination of Contract; Notwithstanding any other provisions, the Agreement may be terminated at any time by the gallery by means of notification of termination to the artist. The artist may terminate the Agreement after the initial five (5) year term of the contract by means of notification of termination to the gallery. Upon termination of the contract, all accounts shall be settled forthwith. All unsold Artworks shall remain with the gallery until such time as they are sold, or the gallery notifies the artist they are to be removed. The artist may sell their rights to the Artwork to the gallery at the discretion of the gallery. In the event of the artist’s death, the estate of the artist shall have the right to terminate the Agreement.

Modification & Arbitration; The Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties herein. The Agreement may be amended by written instrument signed by both parties. The Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of New York. All disputes arising under this agreement shall be submitted accordingly, and the arbitration award may be entered for judgment in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

“f**k. It does sound good, Xavi,” Karl said, turning his head and leaning forward to peer at me from Finn’s other side.

“It really does. You can assume if they’re willing to pay a million dollars just as a signing bonus, the commission you’ll earn would be extremely huge,” Finn said, adding in his support.

“Yeah. But money aside, is it what’s right for me at this point or will I simply be rushing into it because of the incentive and end up being burned out or not satisfying the critics after a while?” I asked them, meeting their gazes.

“Only you can answer that, Xavier. No one else can tell you what to do, but don’t let fear hold you back from what you want,” Finn advised.

“Have you told your parents about this yet?” Karl asked.

“No. I’ll tell them when we meet up for Sunday dinner.”

“Good. Well, in any case, if you truly believe it’s not what you want at this point in your life, there’s no need to rush into it, Xavi. Just do what’s best for you, everything else be damned,” Finn advised.

“What he said,” Karl said, pointing his thumb at Finn. “In any case, I guess congratulations are in order. Finn, grab us a couple of beers, let’s toast to Xavier and his new contract.”

“Be right back,” Finn said and got up from where he was sitting.

He walked into the open floor kitchen separated from our living room by the counter and pulled out three beer bottles from the fridge before walking back to us and handing us the icy cold bottles. Finn settled back into his seat, and once we’d popped open our beers, we made a toast to the tentative new chapter opening up in my life.

“To knowing a millionaire,” Karl shouted.

We all burst into laughter, getting into the spirit of the moment. Karl stood up from his seat and went over to turn on the stereo. “We really need to celebrate party style. Any requests?”

“Just crank it right up,” Finn said, pulling me up from the couch as music blasted through our apartment and we all began shaking our butts and getting into the groove of things, chuckling, smiling at each other and hanging off each other, as we sang along to Beyoncé’s “Run the World” and danced our hearts out.