my boss and his friend

The next morning I woke up to Bella exclaiming as she looked through the bags of clothes, as I got out of my room half asleep she ran up to. "Oh my god Tony did you win the lottery or something?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean all those expensive clothes, you even got me the shoes I've been wanting since forever!" She smiled excitedly.

"I gotta little raise at work and of course I had to get my precious sister something."

Bella's eyes sparkled with excitement as she held up the shoes, practically bouncing on her toes. "You're the best, Tony! Seriously, these are amazing. I can't wait to show them off!"

I chuckled, still rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Glad you like them. Just don't tell mom and dad I'm spoiling you, alright?"

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Trust me, everyone already knows you're the best brother ever. I'll just tell them you've got connections or something."

I smirked. "Yeah, I do have some pretty interesting connections." Thoughts of the night before flashed through my mind, and I felt my face warm slightly.

"Why are you blushing?" she teased, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Just… didn't get enough sleep," I lied, avoiding her gaze.

She laughed. "Uh-huh, sure. Anyway, thank you, Tony. You really didn't have to."

"Of course I did," I replied, ruffling her hair. "You deserve it."

She beamed and hugged me, clutching the shoes like they treasure. She looked up at me with a big smile but then it faded quickly, "Tony what are those red things on your neck." She asked.

"Oh probably just mosquito bites, my boss had me working out all day yesterday." I lied scratching the back of my head. "Oh." She frowned "just add some ornament on them."

"Sure I'll go do that now"I hurried to the bathroom, my face heating up as I caught a glimpse of the faint red marks on my neck in the mirror. "Mosquito bites," I muttered to myself, shaking my head with a smirk. Bella's sharp eye had caught me off guard, but thankfully she hadn't pressed any further.

Dabbing a bit of concealer on the marks, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. My mind flashed back to the dressing room and the kisses from Daniel and Mr. Carter. I wasn't sure where things would go from here, but I couldn't deny the thrill that ran through me.

A soft knock on the bathroom door brought me back to the present. "Tony! Hurry up, or we'll be late for breakfast!" Bella called from the hallway.

I quickly finished up and opened the door, giving her a reassuring smile. "Alright, alright, I'm coming."

She glanced at my neck again, apparently satisfied that I'd taken her advice. "Much better. Mom would've freaked if she'd seen you with 'mosquito bites' all over," she teased, mimicking air quotes.

"Noted," I laughed, putting an arm around her shoulders as we headed to the kitchen.

Mom was already at the stove, flipping pancakes, and she turned with a smile as we walked in. "There's my two sleepyheads! I almost thought you'd miss breakfast."

"Not a chance," Bella replied, sliding into her chair, clearly still thrilled about her new shoes.

As I sat down, I felt the warmth of my family's presence and the normalcy of our morning routine. Even with the whirlwind of emotions from last night, I was grateful to be surrounded by the familiar comfort of home.

Mom set a plate in front of me and leaned in with a wink. "Looks like you've been working extra hard lately, Tony. I'm proud of you."

I nodded, a faint smile on my face. "Thanks, Mom. Just… staying busy."

Bella shot me a knowing look but said nothing, and I couldn't help but chuckle. Life felt like it was moving in two different directions—one filled with surprises and excitement, the other grounded and steady. And for now, I was content to see where each one would lead.

—————————————

Friday afternoon as I sat in my room with Bella our face covered with face mask watching 'summer love' mid way through the movie my phone started ringing, I grabbed it off my dresser and it was Mr. Carter calling. I slightly jumped up and looked over at Bella who was still focused on the movie.

I slipped out of the room as quietly as I could, peeling off the face mask and tossing it in the trash. My heart quickened a little as I answered the call.

"Hello?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Anthony, good to hear your voice." Mr. Carter's tone was smooth, a hint of amusement laced in it. "Hope I didn't interrupt anything."

"No, not at all," I replied, glancing back toward the room where Bella was still engrossed in the movie. "Just a lazy afternoon with my little sister."

"Glad to hear you're relaxing," he said. "But I wanted to check in. Do you have everything you need for tonight?" He asked.

"Yes sir." I replied.

"Great, see you tonight then." He said ending the call.

I stared at the screen as the call ended, feeling a rush of anticipation. Tonight. It felt like a small word, but with so much packed into it. With a smile tugging at my lips, I tucked my phone back into my pocket and took a moment to gather my thoughts before heading back to Bella.

She glanced at me briefly, raising an eyebrow. "Who was that?"

"Oh, just my boss checking in," I replied casually, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl.

Bella smirked, clearly not convinced but choosing not to pry further. "Sure, sure, 'just checking in,'" she teased, rolling her eyes. "Guess that means you're doing something special tonight?"

I shrugged, trying to keep my tone even. "Just a work thing. Nothing major."

She gave me a knowing smile. "Well, don't work too hard. You deserve some fun too, Tony."

As the movie continued, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness building. This night was going to be different, and I couldn't wait to see where it would lead.

As the movie wrapped up, Bella stretched with a satisfied sigh, getting up to wash her face. I followed, wiping off any last traces of the face mask and splashing cold water on my skin, hoping to clear my head. The anticipation bubbling in my chest was hard to ignore, and I found myself mentally rehearsing the night ahead—what I'd say, how I'd act, and what might happen.

Back in my room, I began rummaging through the bags of clothes they'd bought for me, feeling a bit like a kid on Christmas morning. Each item felt like a small reminder of yesterday—their laughter, the way they'd both looked at me with that glint in their eyes, how they'd taken the time to help me pick things out. My fingers trailed over each shirt and pair of pants, lingering on the memories tied to them.

After some back-and-forth with myself, I chose a soft navy blue silk suit brightly polished dress shoes. It was simple but stylish, understated yet sophisticated. Exactly the kind of look I imagined they'd approve of. I slipped into the clothes, feeling the comfortable fit and quality fabric, and took a quick look in the mirror.

There was a knock on my door just then, and Bella peeked in with a grin. "Wow, look at you. I don't think I've ever seen you dress like this unless Mom made you," she teased.

I chuckled, brushing off her comment. "Guess I'm stepping up my game."

She nodded approvingly. "Well, you look great. Just remember—don't let them work you too hard, alright?"

"Yeah, yeah," I replied with a wave. "Don't wait up for me."

By the time I made my way downstairs, my phone buzzed with a message from Mr. Carter. We're outside.

With one last look at Bella, I grabbed my jacket and headed out. The sun had set, and the street was quiet, save for the sleek black car parked just outside.Daniel got out of the car leaving the door open for me, "you look extra cute tonight." He complemented me. "Thank you sir." I nervously smiled as I entered the back seat where Mr. Carter was sitting first.

"What'd I tell you Elliot, I have great sense in fashion." Daniel said as he entered behind me making me the sandwich again.

Mr. Carter looked at my clothes then up at me, "yeah what ever you say." He replied his eyes still locked in with mines.

"Anthony tell him you like my clothes choice better than his." Daniel complained, "well everything you both picked was good." I replied breaking eye contact.

"Well if you can't pick who's outfit choices are better, who was the best kisser between us?" Daniel asked.

I nervously looked between them as they stared at me intensely, "do I really have to answer that?"

"Yes! Because he keeps saying you liked his kiss better then mine's." Daniel pouted.

I swallowed hard, feeling my face heat up under their intense gazes. Sitting between them like this, with the quiet hum of the car around us and their eyes locked on me, I felt like my heart was pounding louder than ever.

Mr. Carter, leaned in a bit closer, his expression softened with a hint of curiosity. "We just want to know, Anthony. It's not a trick question."

I took a deep breath, doing my best to keep my voice steady. "Honestly… you both have your own styles," I said with a nervous chuckle, hoping that would be enough to satisfy them.

Daniel raised an eyebrow, looking both amused and unsatisfied. "Styles? That's a nice way of dodging the question."

I bit my lip, my gaze shifting between them, but they weren't backing down. "Alright, if I have to answer…" I paused, letting the anticipation hang in the air as I gathered my thoughts. "Daniel's kiss was… playful. It caught me off guard, but in a good way." Daniel smirked, clearly pleased with my answer.

"And mine?" Mr. Carter asked, his voice low, his gaze unblinking.

I hesitated, feeling the intensity of his question linger in the space between us. "Yours was… well, it was different. It felt… deeper."

Elliot's eyes held mine, a small, satisfied smile playing at the corner of his mouth, while Daniel let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.

"Well," Daniel said, looking a little smug, "at least we know you enjoyed both." He leaned back, crossing his arms as though finally content.

The rest of the drive was filled with casual conversation and the occasional teasing glance between the two of them. They both seemed pleased, as if my answer had given them exactly what they wanted.

When we finally pulled up infront of a fancy building they both turned to look at me, "we're here for business matters don't speak to anyone unless you're told too." Mr. Carter Instructed.

"Just stick by us." Daniel added.

I nodded, swallowing the sudden wave of nerves that crept up. The building loomed before us, sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows that gave it an air of exclusivity. I stepped out of the car, staying close to both of them as they led the way inside. As soon as we entered, the air changed—a quiet hum of sophistication filled the lobby, with people moving around in sharp suits and elegant attire.

Elliot placed a hand on my shoulder, guiding me through the space as Daniel walked ahead, giving a quick nod to a few passing faces. "Stay close, and remember—you're here as our guest. Just observe."

I nodded, glancing around at the polished surroundings, feeling both out of place and oddly secure with them at my side. We entered an elevator, and as the doors closed, Daniel smirked, noticing my wide-eyed curiosity. "First time in a place like this?"

I nodded, a bit embarrassed. "Yeah. This is… pretty high-end."

Elliot chuckled softly, patting my shoulder. "You'll get used to it. Just remember—you're part of this tonight. No need to feel out of place."

The elevator doors slid open to reveal a private lounge area. Soft lighting illuminated plush couches and modern artwork, and a few small groups of people were already chatting and sipping drinks. I tried to stay calm, but my heart was racing as we walked toward a private section near the back. It felt like every eye was on us, though I could tell no one dared to openly stare.

Daniel gestured for me to take a seat on one of the couches, settling in beside me while Elliot sat across from us. Within moments, a server approached, handing us menus, though I had a feeling neither Daniel nor Elliot needed them—they seemed perfectly at ease, like they knew exactly how everything here worked.

Elliot leaned in, giving me a reassuring smile. "Order whatever you like. Tonight, you're here to enjoy yourself."

"Right," I said, glancing at the menu, though the list of unfamiliar dishes only added to my nerves. Daniel, noticing my hesitation, leaned in close, his shoulder brushing against mine. "Don't overthink it. Just pick what catches your eye."

Taking a deep breath, I made my choice, doing my best to appear as confident as they did. Once our orders were in, Daniel turned to me, a mischievous look in his eyes. "So, how does it feel being here with us?"

I couldn't help but laugh a little, still feeling a bit out of place but more at ease than when we'd first arrived. "Honestly? It feels… surreal."

Elliot chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Good. That's how it should feel at first. Soon, it'll just feel normal."

The night unfolded in a blur of easy laughter, shared glances, and quiet conversations that felt far more personal than the setting suggested. It was clear they wanted me here, part of their world, even if only for tonight. When the meal was over, Daniel and Elliot exchanged a brief look, and then Daniel placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Ready for the next part of the evening?" he asked, his tone both inviting and mysterious.

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a spark of excitement. "There's more?"

Elliot chuckled, rising from his seat and gesturing toward the door. "Come on. You didn't think we'd end the night so soon, did you?"

As we left the lounge, I couldn't help but feel nervous, feeling the thrill of the unknown stretching out before us. Whatever they had planned, I wasn't ready for it.

TBC