It's Saturday and I can't stop thinking about having to go out this evening and having dinner with Mr. Grant but I know there is no way out of it. I'm watching a game on tv when the doorbell rings. When I answer it, there are two men standing there. One is holding a couple clothes bags and the other several boxes.
'Are you Steve?' and when I answer in the affirmative. 'These are a gift from your employer.'
I take the clothes bags in and lay them on the couch and come back and get the boxes and the men leave. I open the clothes bags and in each one there are two suits, really nice suits. Damn, these look expensive. Then I go to the larger box and find several nice dress shirts in assorted colors. Then I open the smaller box and find a letter just inside sitting on what I discover are several pairs of underwear. As I look at them, they are all different styles of bikini underwear. Some feel like they are made of silk or satin, so smooth and shiny. What kind of boss sends his employee underwear? I open the letter.
'Steve, I know this must feel strange to you but it's something that I like to do for the young men I hire. I realize often they are not in a financial situation to be able to buy the clothes they might desire. I think it's very important for my boys to present a professional and successful image, so I do this as a little bonus. I hope everything fits perfectly and hope I will see one of the new suits tonight. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better Steve.'
Fuck, this just gets weirder and weirder. I have never heard of a boss doing this for his employees. The suits and shirts are bad enough but damn, he sent me bikini underwear. I can't stop from thinking that he probably hopes he can see me in a pair of those tonight too. Not going to happen. Damn, this job seemed so perfect and now I'm in no financial position to quit.
It's finally time to leave. I'm wearing one of the new suits, a dark blue, with a light blue shirt with a red tie. Damn, this is really a nice suit. I had hesitated before wearing one of the bikini shorts but finally put on one that was a plain white. Once I got it on, I almost changed because when the material stretched, it was almost transparent. Fuck, no one going to see them on me anyway so I left them one.
I hear a knock on the door and when I answer it, a man in a uniform was standing there, and after a moment, I realize it must be Mr. Grant's driver.
'Are you ready Sir?' he asks. He is tall, slender, middle-aged and very black. When I tell him yes, he leads me back to a black limo and opens the door for me. When I look in, Mr. Grant is sitting there.
'Hello Steve. Please get in.'
I get in and sit down on the same bench seat as Mr. Grant. He isn't sitting all the way to his side and when I sit down, his hand finds my thigh lightly for a second then he removes it. 'You look very nice in your suit. I hope you like it.'
Nervously I answer, 'All of them are very nice Mr. Grant. I was very surprised when those guys brought them over for me.'
'It's Tom tonight Steve. Just two men out for a night on the town. I want you to relax and enjoy yourself,' he says as his hand gives my thigh a quick touch again.
I try to relax but the fact he has touched me twice already does not help that to happen. He reaches to the back of the seat in front of us and opens a small compartment and takes out two glasses.
'I got us some champagne to start the evening,' he says handing me one of the glasses and holding his so we can touch glasses which I do and then take a drink. 'This is one of my favorites, I hope you like it.'
We drink the champagne as we make small talk about my home town and how I'm liking LA. He refills our glasses and by the time we finish the second glass we are pulling up in front of a really fancy hotel. The doorman opens our doors, greets Mr. Grant, and ushers us into the hotel.
'They have a tremendous steakhouse here Steve. Steaks are great but the lobsters to die for,' he says smiling at me.
We go into the restaurant and are seated in a small circular booth toward the back of the restaurant and we slide in from opposite ends. It seems like Mr. Grant slides further than necessary and we end up not sitting that far apart.
'They always save this table for me. It's quieter back here and I like the atmosphere where it's a little darker and more private. A waiter arrives sitting down two waters along with two martinis. 'They know what I like here and hopefully you like vodka martinis.'
I have never had one but don't want to admit it so I tell him that I do like them even though beer is more my style. 'This is really a nice place. I bet it's pricey.'
"I like my boys to see what is available to them if they put their efforts into their jobs and understand that keeping the boss happy is very important,' he says laughing.
'Yea, nothing wrong with having a lot of money,' I reply not at all glad to hear his comment about keeping the boss happy. 'I will try to do a good job for you Mr. Grant.'
'Steve, please call me Tom. Mr. Grant seems so formal and makes me feel like an old guy.'
'You aren't old Tom. I hope I'm in as good as shape as you are when I get to be your age. You must work out quite a bit.'
'I do like working out. I go to keep my stamina up to be able to keep up with you boys.'
Damn. Why does he insist on calling us boys? I would think he would realize that's rather insulting. 'I'm sure you have no trouble with that, Tom.'
The waiter shows up and we both order steaks. They are delicious and by the time we finish them, and our second martini, I start to feel a little more comfortable around Tom. I'm also feeling a pretty good buzz from the drinks also.
'I keep a suite upstairs that I use to get away from things and I need to pick up some paperwork that I have left up there. It shouldn't take very long. Are you finished and ready to go Steve?'
Oh fuck. I can't tell him that I won't go up there with him but there is no doubt in my mind that his intentions are not honorable. 'Yes, I guess so. I can just wait down here if you want to go pick up your paperwork.'
'Don't be silly, I want to show you my suite' he says starting across the lobby towards the elevators. 'You will love the view of the city.'
'Good evening Mr. Grant,' the bellhop standing by the elevator says as we walk up. 'I hope you enjoy your visit to our hotel.'
'I always do Stanley,' he replies and the small smile on the bellhop's face says too much. We get into the elevator and I see him put a key into a slot and then punch the button for the floor right below the penthouse. He sees me looking when he does it. 'The elevator opens right into my suite. The key is necessary to get to this floor. I tried to get the penthouse but they will not lease it out long term. My place is still very nice.'
The elevator opens and I look into this expansive suite. It looks bigger than the house I grew up in. There is a small kitchen with a nice bar next to it. It has a sunken living room and the outside wall is floor to ceiling glass. Fuck, what must something like this cost. I had no idea that Mr. Grant had this kind of money.
'Well Steve, what do you think?'
'It's unbelievable Sir. I've never seen anything like it.'
'I'm going to fix us another drink and then I want to show you the view from the balcony,' he says as he heads to the bar.
I really don't need another drink but I don't really want to refuse and seem ungrateful. I mean, he's giving me all those clothes, taken me out to a fancy restaurant, I guess I should be thankful for that but I can't stop my mind from racing with other thoughts. He brings the drinks over and sits them on a table.
'Time to relax,' he says taking off his suitcoat. 'Shed your suitcoat Steve, I want to show you the view.'
I take my coat off and hang it on one of the chairs and he escorts me towards the balcony. When we get close, one of the windows slides to the side and we walk out onto this big balcony. We are up at least thirty floors and the view's terrific. Thinking about everything that has happened today, plus seeing this suite, makes me realize how that one percent lives.
'Something else, isn't it?' he asks.
'Yes, it sure is Sir.'
He puts his arm around my shoulders and I can't help but tense up. 'What am I going to have to do to get you to call me Tom?'