Money Man (Woolf Tales Book 3)

by Viva Gold

  “Don’t be rude, Davey. Not at my table. Now eat.”

  Davey rubbed the back of his head muttering a less than heartfelt apology while glaring at Bas, who was smiling serenely between taking nibbles at his rugelach and sips of his coffee.

  “Hello, Davey. Thank you for visiting.” I spoke to him more formally than I would normally. “I’m healing quite well.”

  “When do you think you’ll be back to work?” Davey picked at his apple Danish. He threw furtive glances at Bas, who remained silent. “I’ve missed you.” Davey pouted. “Sir.” He tugged at his jacket as his cheeks heated. I’d forgotten how sexy he could be, but I was totally smitten with Bastien. None of Davey’s tricks would work on me now.

  “Davey, we need to talk.” Davey placed his hands on the table, clasping them. He sat ram rod straight and looked me right in the eye. I sighed. He was the last person I wanted to hurt. “Doron Sagall has changed things for me drastically. His influence on my life was extreme, I realise that now.” From the corner of my eye I noticed my mother leaning against the kitchen counter with her arms crossed over her chest. She looked like she wanted to kill someone.

  “What I have been through, in addition to some of the people I have met along this journey, have made me see my life from an alternative perspective.”

  “Sounds awfully dramatic…” Davey muttered. Bastien huffed and reached for my hand, which he took and held tightly. One of Davey’s perfectly shaped eyebrows rose quite theatrically towards his hairline.

  “There might as well be a speech bubble above your head,” I told him. “It’s obvious you’re curious as to who Bastien is. He’s my boyfriend.”

  “Fuck off!” Davey squealed.

  “Mon dieu!” Bas snorted into his coffee cup.

  “Davey, please…” I was about to call him out for being so rude, but he stopped me.

  “No, no. you misunderstand. I didn’t mean to offend. I’m just so shocked, and actually, really happy for you.”

  “Really?” I scanned his face for any trace of a lie, but he seemed to be genuine.

  “Yes, totally. We can double date and everything now! And we can fuck about without me worrying it’s all one sided. And, of course, great for you to be with, you know, someone other than me.”

  I groaned. “Firstly, it was never just you.” Everyone in the room gasped and I had to admit that sounded bad out loud. “What I mean is, our little arrangement is over for two reasons. One, I’m not coming back to work for a while, and two, I’m with Bastien now, and we’re exclusive.”

  “Exclusive?” Davey, Bastien and my mother all asked simultaneously.

  “Yes! For fuck’s sake, what?” My head twisted from one to the other, to the other. “Is that so hard to believe?”

  Davey concentrated really hard on a hangnail. My mother quickly busied herself with the washing up, while Bastien studied me with a look of disdain. It was his expression I was bothered by.

  “We haven’t discussed exclusivity,” he stated. My stomach dropped.

  “I’m not enough for you?” I choked out the words, feeling nauseous.

  “That’s not the point, Tal.” Bastien’s long eyelashes fluttered. “You should have asked me before announcing to the world something very private.” He stood up abruptly and walked around the table to where Davey sat looking daggers at me. What, now he was siding with my boyfriend he’d met all of five minutes ago? Great.

  Bastien laid a hand on Davey’s shoulder. “Would you take a walk around the garden with me, Monsieur?” My boyfriend literally took my breath away. I had been ignorant to think his eagerness to please me was in anyway submissive. I slumped in my chair as the pair of them disappeared outside.

  “I love you, Tal, but you have some serious growing up to do.” Wise words from my mother who joyfully pointed out the bloody obvious. She kissed the top of my head as she also left me to wallow dejectedly about how crap I was at relationships. She was right however; I was being a brat. I needed some advice.

  “Woolf here.”

  “I know that because I dialled your fucking number,” I growled down the phone.

  “Don’t be a dick, Tal, what do you want?” Izzy hated speaking on the phone, hence he always got down to business promptly.

  “Relationship advice.”

  “What did you do?”

  I huffed, hating that Izzy assumed the worst. “I might have announced Bas and I were exclusive without checking with him first.”

  “And this is a problem, how?”

  I ran a hand though my hair. “It was to Davey.” A stony silence met my ear. “But that isn’t the issue.”

  “Go on.”

  “Bas doesn’t want to be exclusive.” My voice might have been a bit raspy by this point. I explained what happened and how they left me on my own.

  “Listen, Tal. You’re a prick for telling Davey something you had no right to assume, but the fact that Bas got annoyed doesn’t mean he actually wants to go out and fuck anyone else without you. Guaranteed he’s pissed off more to do with your blabber mouth than anything else.”

  “I’m such a cunt.”

  “You can be, but actually, lately, you’ve been so much more less of a cunt.”

  “Izzy, that makes no sense,” I scoffed.

  “You know what I mean.” My friend paused. “Do you want me or Adam to come over?”

  “No.” I sighed. “Last night I told Bastien that I love him, and he loves me too.”

  “That’s wonderful, Tal, mazal tov!”

  “Thanks. I’ve never been in love before. It’s fucking crazy…”

  Izzy’s booming laugh blasted my ear, but it brought a much-needed smile to my face. “Oh, my friend, you have no idea! Just take it slow, oh, and I’ll see you Sunday.”

  “Kay. Thanks, Iz.” He hung up. I took a deep breath and headed out into the garden.

  The sun was bright, blinding me momentarily. When my eyes adjusted, I squinted to search for Bas and Davey. My gaze landed on their figures as they sat close to one another on a bench at the far end of the lawn. Making my way towards them I could see they were in deep conversation. Davey had his hand on Bastien’s knee which I thought would make me jealous, but instead, I felt pleased they were getting on. Bas needed friends and Davey was cool despite being a total slut. I immediately berated myself. Davey had been a slut for me because he knew that’s what I wanted from him; I had no idea if he behaved that way with other men. A brief memory of Davey on his hands and knees on my office floor, butt naked with a huge puppy tail plug jutting out of his arse, popped into my head. My cock twitched. Maybe I did miss him a little bit. I cleared my throat causing both of their heads to jerk towards me.

  “Hey,” I offered tentatively.

  “Hi,” Davey replied on their behalf.

  “Can we please talk? I’d like to apologise if I upset either of you.”

  Davey shifted sideways along the bench to the left while Bastien did the same to the right. I fitted perfectly into the middle. A hand landed on my upper right thigh followed swiftly by another one on my left. I held my breath. This was not what I had expected. Davey was the first to break the silence.

  “So, Bastien tells me you’re going away.” He sounded hurt. I’d fucked them both over spectacularly with my lack of consideration for their feelings above my own.

  “Look guys, I’m an arse. I admit I haven’t handled this whole falling in love thing very well. My head is in the clouds and I guess I’m still dealing with the shock of my assault. You both mean an awful lot to me and I’m sorry if I hurt you. It was not my intention.”

  Bastien twisted his body towards me. “No one expects you to be fine so soon afterwards. But you have to respect those around you, or you will find yourself alone once again. I cannot be in a relationship where I feel less important. You cannot assume how I feel or what I want. You have to ask me.”

  I opened my mouth to reply, but Davey cut me off. “And just because I act like a slutty boy when it comes
to sex, does not make me your whore. Do you understand? I’m good at my job.”

  I slumped down feeling defeated. I closed my eyes and took a moment. For fuck’s sake, I was Tal Roth. I fucked around and lived life large – took what I wanted and partied hard. And where did that get me? In a fucking basement having the shit kicked out of me. It was, in the inimitable words of my mother, time to grow up. I took Bas’s hands in mine. “Baby, if I made you feel anything less than the most important thing in my life, then I apologise. I love you so much. You always need to tell me when I go wrong, ok? I’m learning but it doesn’t mean I don’t respect you. You are the most amazing person I have ever met and I’m in awe of you.” Bas smiled at me and shifted gracefully onto my lap.

  “I know, mon cher. I just needed you to acknowledge it for both of us.” He kissed me chastely on the lips.

  “And Davey, mate.” I turned to my employee who had stars in his eyes as he watched Bas and me. “I would be nowhere without you, that’s why I can’t let you go.” His eyes lit up. “Nah, love, not like that.” He pouted adorably. “Izzy has kindly agreed to take you on in my absence. He wants you to assist his PA going forward for the next few months.”

  Davey gasped. “Jason Greenall?”

  “Yup, the Good Lord himself.”

  “Oh, my Jesus fucking God. Jason Greenall?” Davey’s hands flew to his mouth.

  “Yes, Davey, dear. The Jason Greenall.”

  “Tal, I can’t bear it!” His arms flew around my neck squeezing the bloody life out of me. “This is such an opportunity, on so many levels.”

  “You now he’s with Remi and Angel, right?”

  “Oh, I know.” Davey smiled coyly. “Hubby and I adore them. We’ve seen them at Mr Woolf’s club.”

  “I may have made a mistake here,” I teased him. “Please try to remember that Jason will be your line manager.”

  “I promise to be on my best behaviour and learn from the master.”

  I exhaled loudly. “That’s what I’m afraid of!”

  We continued to hug for an awkwardly long amount of time, but both my boys seemed reluctant to let me go so I endured. Happily, I hasten to add.

  In the end, Davey took Bastien to Myer’s to pick up his suit for the wedding. It gave me a chance to sit quietly and get my head in order. My life was about to change in a massive way and I listed down all the things I needed to prepare for. It took many pages and by the time I had completed it, I felt much more organised and in control. Bas and I were about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime and we bloody deserved it.

  15

  After a lazy Saturday spent in front of the telly with Bastien and the family, Sunday came around too quickly, and it was soon time to get dressed up in our tuxedos and head off to the wedding. It was being held in a swanky London hotel on Park Lane with undoubtedly no expense spared, and had it not been for Bastien accompanying me, I would have been dreading it. Instead, I couldn’t wait to see him in his new suit and show him off.

  I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my old bedroom and cocked my head assessing how I looked. I tried to see myself as others saw me, particularly Bastien. My bruises had faded and my lip only bore a small sore from being bitten and bloody earlier in the week. I thanked God that my injuries had been relatively minor and had mostly healed. My arsehole was still a bit tender but even that seemed to have calmed in the last day or so. Loving care and attention from family and friends, and the fact I was young, fit and healthy worked to my advantage. My emotional well-being was a little volatile, but Bastien helped ground me. I planned to return to my flat after this weekend and take Bas with me. I knew G & T would object, but I couldn’t be around my parents and stay sane for much longer.

  “Oh la la!” An exclamation of approval shook me out of my thoughts as Bastien walked up behind me. I mentally cursed as I’d missed seeing what he looked like. All I could see now was his face as he rested his chin on my shoulder. We looked into each other’s eyes in the mirror.

  “Your hair looks great,” I complimented him. It was long enough at the front to tie it back from his face in a little top knot. He’d asked Ron to shave the sides when he’d popped in to see me in the week. “Have you gelled it?” It looked inky black.

  “It’s hair oil. No one uses gel anymore, old man!” Bastien rolled his eyes at me.

  I puffed out my chest and tried to throw him a smouldering look. “Not so much of the old, merci beaucoup.” It was a joke, even so, I was sensitive of the age gap because Bastien was still so young. It was something I was working on. “Let me see you.” I twisted around as he stepped back. He held his hands out by his sides palms up, as if to say, ‘here I am, do you like what you see?’

  My jaw fell open. I was blown away. Myer had done an awesome job.

  The midnight blue suit fitted Bastien like a second skin. The jacket hugged his arms and shoulders; defining his physique, yet the form retained a fashionable and elegant flair. The pants pulled tightly over his thighs and fell narrowly down to his ankles breaking slightly on his patent dress shoes. My mouth dried and I found it hard to swallow. He looked better than any of the models that have graced the cover of GQ, in my opinion. “Perfection,” I breathed, in awe of the beautiful man that stood before me. Bastien’s cheeks heated at the praise. “Nope, I was wrong. Now, you look perfect.” I grinned at him and he ducked his head. I hadn’t meant to make him feel self-conscious. I popped a finger under his chin, forcing his face upwards. “Don’t hide from me, baby boy.” He sighed and rolled his shoulders, then posed for me once more. “Exquisite. You look truly divine.” I kissed his mouth chastely. “I will be with the most handsome man in the room.”

  “Non, monsieur, that will be my pleasure.” Bastien smiled at me. I chuckled. He reached to straighten my tie. I wore a black suit with a black shirt and a black tie that had a very slight sheen to it. “Why do you not wear a bow tie like me?”

  I shrugged. “I prefer a regular tie. You, however, rock a bow tie.”

  “Taaaaal!” We both winced as Gayle shrieked my name from down the hallway. “Are the both of you ready – the car is here.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What fucking car?” I grumbled. “I thought Dad was driving.” My father had a perfectly good Lexus we would all fit into nicely. Bastien shrugged in a very non-committal French way.

  Waiting for us in the carriage driveway of my parents’ house, was G & T in their big black Range Rover. Apparently, Bastien and I were being chauffeured by the Twins, who would wait for us and bring us home. Isadore’s instructions. “I don’t need to be baby sat,” I huffed. Bastien tutted and pushed me into the back.

  “It’s ok Tal, Izzy is just taking care of you,” G berated me.

  “Liam said I’m not at risk anymore,” I argued.

  “So, that’s good then,” T responded.

  “Yet, you’re still here.” I hadn’t meant to sound ungrateful, but they made me feel like I still needed protection, which made me nervous.

  “We needed the money.” G looked me in the eyes and blatantly lied.

  “You’re so full of shit,” I countered.

  “Nah, he douched,” T quipped.

  “Oh my God.” I laughed. “You two are crazy…thank you though, I do appreciate it.” After all, it was always good to see them.

  On the way to the venue, Bas told me that when he went to pick up his suit from Myer, they talked a little bit more about a possible apprenticeship. He’d told Myer that we intended to do a bit of travelling, but the old man said his offer was open ended and that Bastien should contact him on our return.

  “I’m going to be a tailor,” Bas told me with such awe in his tone, it melted my insides.

  “I’m happy for you, baby boy. I can already tell you’re going to be great at it. You have such passion.”

  Bas was about to answer when G’s phone rang. It was connected via Bluetooth to the car, so we could all hear the conversation. It was Izzy.

  “I’ve a lead on Hayle
y.”

  “And?” T enquired.

  “She’s somewhere in the London area, but not sure exactly where. One of my employees popped into work this morning for a conference call with an Israeli client, Sunday being a work day for them. She heard a noise and spotted Hayley trying to get in, but Hayley saw her and ran off.”

  “Damn,” G cursed loudly. “That bloody woman is proving to be as elusive as shit.”

  “Is she dangerous?” Bastien asked anxiously. I took his hand.

  “No need to be worried, Bas. We think she’s just fishing for more info; maybe to bribe Izzy?”

  Izzy vomited expletives into the phone at what Hayley could do, and we let him have his moment. Abruptly he paused. Following a big sigh he told us, “I need to leave to get to the chuppah. See you there.”

  “Chuppah?” Bas looked confused.

  “It’s a Jewish wedding, so they’ll be getting married under a canopy which we call a chuppah.”

  “Oh, ok. Good to know.” Bas smiled at me. I reached into the pocket of my jacket and pulled out two plain black skull caps. “All men have to wear a kippah on their heads as it is a religious ceremony.” I showed him how to wear it. He seemed very willing and not at all put off by my strange traditions.

  “Mon grand-pere etait Juif.”

  “Your grandfather was Jewish?”

  “Oui. I don’t really remember much about him as he died when I was very young, but Myer reminds me of him a little. I do recall lighting lots of pretty coloured candles and getting presents. It was at Christmas, I think.”

  I nodded. “That’s Chanukah. We light candles for eight nights to remind us of a miracle in biblical times. And we give money and presents. It’s always in December and sometimes coincides with Christmas.”

  “I have so much to learn.” Bastien looked intrigued.

  “I won’t put any pressure on you.” I wanted to make sure he understood it wasn’t a requirement to be with me.

  “Hmm. I already spoke to Adam about it. He promised to teach me a few important things. If we are to be together, I want to understand your lifestyle.”