Our Little Game

A Deal To Be Made

Endless blue eyes stared down at the pen sat atop his desk, contemplating driving the object through his skull. At least that would make that horribly monotonous day the slightest bit eventful.

"Mr. Barker, you've got a call on line two."

The man heaved a sigh before lifting the corded phone to his ear.

"This is Barker."

"Hello, Mr. Barker. This is Dante Talbot, I believe we met at my club the other day."

Julian frowned and sat up straight in his seat from his previously slouched position. How the hell did he get this number and why is he even calling? Before he could even open his mouth to ask such a question, he was interrupted.

"I was wondering if you'd be interested in maybe assisting with some business concerns."

"You want me to..invest in your company?"

Julian's brow furrowed in confusion. Smoke & Mirrors was already a well established business. Why would Talbot need the investment of his company? Unless they were struggling and it surely did not seem that way the last time he had personally visited. Memories of that night flooded his mind, the image of pale skin laid out before him just begging to be touched.

The man shook his head and cleared his throat. Now was not the time to get distracted though that seemed to be a recurring issue as of late.

"-Mr. Barker?"

Fuck, I wasn't even paying attention. What did he just say? Talbot's voice broke through his thoughts once more.

"So, does it sound like a deal? On second thought, why don't you come on by this weekend. We can talk about it in person."

The thought of seeing the boy again piqued his interest though he truly did not trust the older man's intentions. The trip seemed relatively harmless despite his hesitations. He would go for the business meeting and would turn down Talbot if the deal seemed strange. Once that was over, he could spend the rest of his time with him.

"I'll be by this weekend, then. I'll have my assistant let you know when I'm available, assuming you don't have any other plans."

Talbot huffed a sarcastic laugh into the phone which further put Julian on edge.

"Yeah, yeah. See ya soon."

Click. The businessman leaned back in his chair as he heaved out a frustrated sigh, raising his hands to card through his hair. What the fuck was he thinking working with Dante Talbot? Nothing about that seemed like a good idea. That club had sketchy written all over it despite it's rather clean cut appearance.

—

The weekend felt like it arrived much faster than Barker had planned. He had no idea what he was going to say to Talbot, whether he was going to accept his offer or turn the man down. Julian looked at himself in the floor length mirror in his office and adjusted his tie which was ever so slightly crooked.

His wife was out of town for the week for business, so thankfully he wouldn't have to sneak out behind her back that night. The man reached for the cologne that sat on his desk and lightly spritzed the pleasant smelling liquid on his pulse points and on either side of his neck. With a final glance at his watch, he made his way out of the house to the car waiting for him at the curb.

"Mr. Barker."

Since this was a strictly business trip, Julian was able to ride in the work escort car. The ride to the club seemed shorter than the usual drive he made on the weekends. Maybe because his thoughts were distracted by the thought of seeing his favorite performer again.