Pride (Living In Sin #1)

Chapter 10

Alec

The paperwork was a mess. I obviously was not the cleanest or most organised human on the planet, but this was beyond even me. Looking at the piles on the full desk had me itching to take it all out to the dumpster. The more I looked at it, the more I realised the piles had no rhyme or reason. My first week was going to be spent filing. I could just see it.

Thank God the laptop was new, and it fired up without a problem. At least I would not have to modernise everything with an old hunk of junk machine as well. My job description had included nothing like that; but if I was going to be hanging around, then there was going to be less paper and more digital work wherever I could manage it.

When there was an amused chuckle from the doorway, I was surprised the work had distracted me long enough for Pry to return from his errand. He held two drinks as he lent against the doorframe. I ruthlessly reminded my body that lusting after my employer was all sorts of bad juju. My body did not seem to care about that.

"You can get a look at all that later. Come and check out the apartment."

The paperwork called to me, but so did the thought of possibly getting to sleep in a bed. I couldn't remember the last time I'd slept in an actual bed. The thought that I might tonight was too tempting to give up on. I put the invoice on the pile I'd mentally marked 'sooner than later' and joined Pry.

He passed me the drink without a word and beckoned me out the door. I wanted to roll my eyes at my new boss’s theatrics but I also didn't want to press my luck so early on.

"The building next door is our apartment block. It's where we all stay when we're in town."

"Who's we?" I got the feeling that that was going to be an important piece of knowledge. So far, the only 'workmate' I had seen was Pry. There must be more, but it was early in the day. Maybe most club's workers started closer to sun down? The idea of spending most of my days working alone with Pry was both terrifying and thrilling.

"My family and I. You could say Club Midnight is a family business."

For whatever reason, this made Pry laugh, and he continued to lead me through the front of the club and out to the street. A lot of the people I knew said not to get involved in a family run business; that it usually ended badly. I didn't have any experience myself, but it was too late for that now. I tried to remember if the contract had a grace period, but the details were a little fuzzy.

I didn't think it was good practice to look for an out while the boss walked next to you, so I left the contract in my pocket. For now.

The building next door was surprisingly well kept for an ancient brick apartment block. It went up 4 stories, and I thought I could see a garden on the roof. That was exciting. I'd spent my years couch surfing; most of my mates wouldn't know a green plant if it bit them. I could only hope that it was communal rather than privately owned. It'd suck if I had to get permission just to look at the thing.

Maybe I'd even have time to try growing something? I'd always wanted to.

"The place has been in the family since it was built." Pry sounded smug about this, and I had to refrain from rolling my eyes. "The club, too. We've kept it all in the family."

At this, he gave another one of those weird laughs, like I was missing some big joke. But I didn't get to question it as he pushed open the front door into the grandest apartment building foyer I had ever seen. It was all black-and-white marble with some sort of gold trim. Here and there were splashes of violet and jade, in the form of expensive looking vases and statues.

I could feel my mouth fall open. It felt like I'd stumbled on the set of Beetlejuice.

Pry clicked his tongue, a scowl marring his features. "We let Crave decorate the foyer and stairwell. It was probably a mistake, but he insisted. It has a certain charm."

I felt both dirty and poor, and that I was going to break something expensive just by walking through the space. I had to follow Pry, though, as his high boots clicked across the marble. Feeling out of my depth, Pry took me up the stairs to the first floor. It was just as grand in the hallway, with four doors leading into what could only be the actual apartments.

"Just how much money does your family have?" I had to lick my lips to ask, feeling more and more out of my depth every second.

Pry shrugged, and it boggled my mind that the question didn't even phase him. "You'd have to ask Crave. He's our... accountant." He tripped over the word. Like it didn't sound right. But it didn't stop him long. "He's always had a way with money. So we let him do his thing."

"Will I be working with him as well?"

Pry scowled. Again, I wasn't entirely sure why. His responses showed little of what he was thinking. "You will work with all seven of us. But he's not here right now. He's on... a business trip."

It sounded like there should be more to it, but Pry didn't continue. Instead, he stopped at a nondescript black door with the number 8 adorned in more gold. "This will be your home. Mine's on the fourth floor. Apartment number 1, if you're ever looking for me."

He winked and I’m afraid to say I might have audibly gulped. We were in a random hallway of a random building that his family apparently owned. I'd seen horror movies that ended pretty quickly for the poor schmuck stuck in the hallway. However, that was not the problem my body seemed to have.

Pry smelt good. Like real good. Toasting marshmallows good. He grinned like he knew it, too. I couldn't help but be reminded that he was all tall, leather wearing sex on a stick. Also my boss, I tried to remind my wayward arousal. It didn't seem to care if my tightening jeans had anything to say about it.

"I've never heard of room one being at the top of the building before." It wasn't much, but I was proud of myself for not caving into crazy territory. Pry licked his lips, and I got the feeling I wasn't fooling him at all. He took another step closer. I found myself almost pressed into the wall with his teasing grin bearing down on me.

"Well, just remember if you ever need anything, that's where I am. Anything at all."

He pressed something into my hand. A key? I almost sagged with relief. It was the key to my door. My body couldn't decide if it was happy or sad about the new development, but I slipped out from under him. Pry did things to me that I did not know how to handle right now.

I hoped that the rest of the family didn't affect me in ways like this. I don't know what I'd do if they did. Probably walk around with a boner all the time. Just what I wouldn't want.

Pry rocked back on his heels, still grinning at me before heading down the hallway. "Take some time to get settled. The club opens at 5:30, so we'll see you down there at 5 to get things sorted. You might even get to meet some of my siblings."

The earth should open up and swallow me now. What had I signed into?