Midnight Musicals And Coffee Ice Cream

By Layla Dorine

Takashi never imagined that a simple call to an escort service would result in meeting Zander. What started out as a date to the winter gala at his office, morphed into a series of paid dates that offer him several unique opportunities to get to know the handsome, enigmatic escort.

Zander hates feeling like an ornament. After four years he's ready for a new occupation. Unfortunately, he isn't skilled enough for any job that would pay him the money he needs to make to support himself and his family. So, he stays with Mateo's agency and keeps on taking clients, refusing to call them dates because that's too personal.

Until Takashi.

Now they're both trying to make the best of the brief moments they have together, blurring the lines more and more with every passing night. Takashi wants more. Zander wants to give it to him, but only after he gets the rest of his life worked out. The only problem is, he has no idea how.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Desolate Press
• Release date: Sep 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223985709

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Published by

Desolate Press

Osage, IA 50461

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance made to actual events or existing locations, names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, is entirely coincidental.

This book, both in its entirety and in portions is the sole property of

Layla Dorine

Copyright © 2019 by Layla Dorine

Copyright © 2019 by Layla Dorine

~ 2023 PRINT EDITION ~

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Cover Art: Rue Volley

Edited by Crossfactor Ink

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Chapter 1

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The harsh crackle of rattling papers drew Takashi’s gaze away from the cloudy blue-gray sky stretching beyond the high-rise window. In the distance, waves rolled in an endless pattern. Yearning to feel the ocean spray against his face, Takashi regretted not taking the day off. It was too cold to swim, but a walk in the sand, feeling it squishing between his toes, was exactly what he needed after the week he’d had.

Takashi, Earth to Takashi! Have you heard anything I’ve been saying to you?

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Takashi Himura sighed and stared across the desk at one of his oldest friends, who just happened to be his boss. Thomas Drechsler had his chair kicked back and his hands folded in his lap, a mischievous look on his lightly freckled face. His wavy brown hair was slicked back, save for one piece that fell across his forehead. He looked entirely too pleased with himself for Takashi’s tastes. Usually, when his friend got that look, he was about to suggest something Takashi wasn’t going to like at all.

Tapping his fingers on the edge of Thomas’ desk, Takashi fixed him with a look that he hoped spelled out exactly what he’d heard and how much he didn’t care to acknowledge it. Yes Thomas, I heard you, quite clearly in fact. You interrupted my attempt to tell you why we need to adjust the dates on the Violet Vision project, to remind me, once again might I add, about the gala Saturday evening, thus why I tuned you out. The view of the storm rolling in holds far more appeal than subjecting myself to a crowded room full of over adorned idiots. In fact, I’m almost positive dancing naked in a sand storm would be more fun than the evening you’ve planned. You know my position on attending these kinds of affairs, Thomas, so why must we go through this each and every year?

Yes, I know your position, all too well, but in this instance, you’ll be making an exception.

Takashi bristled, half coming up out of his seat. Thomas...

The mischievous look was suddenly replaced with the stern, serious visage of a man used to issuing commands and having them obeyed. Thomas held up a single finger and glowered. It was enough to silence Takashi as he dropped back into the chair with a groan.

No, Thomas ordered firmly. You do not get to skip this, and you do not get to skip out twenty minutes after you walk through the door. Not this time. This is your boss speaking, not your friend. I expect everyone in this office to attend the event. We’re not only celebrating the successes of the year and honoring those who’ve retired and those who’ve passed away, but we have some potential clients who’ll be attending as well. I’d like them to meet the team leader they will be entrusting their projects to.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Takashi bit back a curse, but only just. His jaw was beginning to ache from grinding his teeth together, and he knew if he opened his mouth, he’d say something he’d regret uttering to both his boss and his friend. Swallowing down the fury that threatened to consume him, Takashi made one last ditch effort at shifting the subject away from the accursed gala.

Yes, and speaking of projects, the issue with Violet Vision is actually a good one. In delaying by three days, we’ve been afforded the opportunity to debut the new line at the Stella and Dot event. I’ve already spoken to Tara and she...

Loves the idea, yes, I know, Thomas interrupted.

Takashi longed to wipe the smug, self-satisfied look off his face. For fucks sake what was the point of even reporting in if his clients were going to call Thomas anyway. He could have been back in his office, working on next week’s assignments, but no. It was obvious Thomas hadn’t called him in for updates on anything; only wanting him there to make his little proclamation about the event.

She called gushing over how amazing you were to get them a slot. She also said she’d be at the Gala with a potential client for us to meet, which is even more reason for you to be there.

Takashi groaned, then groaned again when Thomas smirked just a little bit. Bastard. The fountain in the corner bubbled, the only noise in the room as Thomas seemed content to wait for Takashi to agree to attend the damned thing.

Narrowing his gaze, Takashi studied the serene look on his friend’s face and rolled his eyes. You’re not going to focus on business today, are you?

Why do I need to when you’ve handled everything in an exemplary manner, as always? Now if there’s nothing else, I’ve got a conference call to prepare for.

How formal is this event going to be?

Anything you wear from Kumiko’s collection will be fine. Don’t stress it too much and bring a date.

Takashi snorted and shook his head. Like that’s going to happen.

It just might if you’ll be willing to take my advice for once in your life, Thomas replied, flipping open a rolodex and pulling out a card. Call this number. It’s a ‘dating’ service, but it’s pretty high end and very discreet.

Blinking, Takashi stared at the card Thomas held out, trying to piece together why he’d have a damned dating service mixed in with their clientele. You’ve got to be kidding me! Dating service my ass, you mean escorts, don’t you? Does Cynthia know you have this?

Nope and she doesn’t need to. It’s not like I’ve ever used it. I’ve never even considered it, at least, not for me. Hell, Cynthia would cut my shit off and toss it in a blender if she ever thought I was stepping out on her. You know that, and you know me. You know I’d never cheat on her, not for anything in the world. What I have done is hand the number out around the firm though, and no one’s had any complaints about their dates, so give them a call, or don’t, but I think you’d have more fun with a date. And in case you do use it, it might be helpful to know that they prefer being called Providers, not Escorts. Wouldn’t want to offend anyone right off the bat.

Oh yeah, we wouldn’t want that, Takashi grumbled sarcastically, but he took the card, stared at it for a moment, slowly shaking his head before holding the card out for Thomas to put back, but his best friend just waved him off.

At the very least, think about it over the weekend and give it back to me on Monday if you decide not to use it, Thomas offered.

While it all sounded perfectly reasonable, it just felt odd and even vaguely uncomfortable to even be considering making that call, and yet, now that the seed of the idea had been planted in his mind he couldn’t help but be just a little bit curious.

What would I do with an escort...err provider? Takashi asked reluctantly.

I don’t know, maybe talk, dance, enjoy the night, instead of slinking up to your office to try and work in the middle of the party.

I had an idea, one you approved of, if I remember correctly. As I recall, it also left our clients ecstatic and made this firm a ton of money too when they renewed their contract and upped their advertising budget by twenty-five percent.

It was also one you could have scribbled on a cocktail napkin at the bar and you know it. There was no reason to start writing the proposal at that hour. You did it to avoid socializing, Takashi, so please spare us the effort of even trying to deny it. You did the same thing when you were an intern. I would have thought after all these years you’d have outgrown feeling the need to stand in the background. You have a brilliant mind and if you’d stop selling yourself short you’d see that you’re every bit as capable of winning clients over with your personality, wit and charm as you are with your ideas and advertising savvy. It’s time you start stepping up to the plate and at least try.

The fact that I’ve had an aversion to these sorts of affairs for as long as you’ve known me should tell you something.

It tells me you need all the prodding I can manage to get you to the gala with a date on your arm. Live a little, Takashi, don’t let this place be your sole reason for living.

Quirking an eyebrow at him, Takashi stared until Thomas shrugged and took a sip of his coffee.

What’s that look for? he finally asked as he sat the cup down.

Aren’t you supposed to encourage my focus and dedication to the company?

Thomas waved his hand, as if clearing the air between them of some rotten smell, even as he leaned back in his chair again and swiveled it, so he could half look out the window.

As your boss, yes, but this is your friend speaking now. Call the number, or don’t and ask someone to join you for the night, but please, do something. You’re almost forty. Don’t you think it’s time you start trying to find someone to spend your retirement years with?

I’ve got plenty of time before I need to worry about that, thanks, Takashi grumbled, fiddling with his tie, not like it needed straightening, but the whole scope of this conversation was making him uncomfortable. He got it, he knew he was antisocial despite his parents’ best efforts to ensure he socialized when he was younger. He’d always gravitated toward the corner or back of a room with his sketch book handy, doodling something or another or staring off into space. While his sister had been lively and engaging, eagerly taking part in conversations and seeking out new friends, he’d been the perfect cliché of the serious, studious Asian man focused only on his studies, silent, stoic, and in the eyes of many, boring and easily overlooked. He knew it had been a long time since he’d had a date. He knew most people in the office, including Thomas, considered him to be a lame sad sack destined to spend his life alone with his musicals, but damn it all he’d tried, he’d put himself out there and he’d fallen hard...and ended up burned for his efforts. So, what if he was taking longer than most to lick his wounds? He was entitled. Rafe leaving him had been as swift and sudden as a kick to the nuts and no matter what Thomas might think, a night making small talk with some provider he’d have to pay to take out wasn’t going to move him toward the dating pool any sooner. If anything, it was likely to push him even further away. What kind of person put themselves up to be rented out for an evening? Likely someone with more baggage and issues than even he had and that was saying something.

Don’t ever count on having time, Thomas remarked, his deep voice cutting through Takashi’s thoughts, jarring him back to the here and now. Look at Reid, and all those years he wasted coming in here early and leaving late, and for what? He finally met the love of his life and started spending time enjoying things outside of this office and what happened? He has some massive heart attack two weeks before his wedding and passed away in the operating room. Think of everything he missed, everything he never had the chance to experience.

Some might say it was all that fun he was having that killed him, Takashi muttered, then had the good graces to study his shoes when Thomas’s relaxed, easy expression deepened to a furious glare.

Sorry, bad form, I know, Takashi remarked before Thomas could reprimand him.

Very bad form.

Sighing, Takashi studied his friend. I was wondering where all this pressure about the gala and bringing a date was coming from.

Thomas leaned forward and rested his chin on his fists, gazing past Takashi toward the bright row of windows that lined his office. Ever since I got the call about Reid, I’ve been thinking about how much time I spend here. Watching his casket being lowered into the ground and listening to Lily weeping, all I could think about was Cynthia and my kids. What if that had been me? What would happen to them? I’m not talking money wise, there’s plenty of that tucked away for them. I was thinking about the promises I’d made, the vacations we haven’t taken yet, the Trike I bought to take her out on that barely has three hundred miles on it. Jake started wrestling this year. Cassidy is in dance and ice skating, and Luka and his band have set their first dates to play around the city. I want to be there for those things, and more. I want to get that vacation cabin Cynthia and I have been putting off for years. Who knows, if one of the kids decides to take over the business I might just retire there. Well, if we ever decide on where and make the purchase. See, that’s the problem right there; the way we just keep pushing things back. I don’t want Cynthia growing old and alone without me.

Takashi nodded, knowing how much Cynthia meant to Thomas and how often he’d envied his friend his amazing partner and the love they shared. It was a little shocking that they hadn’t purchased their getaway cabin yet, as many times as Thomas had mentioned it over the years.

Still, Takashi couldn’t help pointing out one irrefutable fact. Be it here or there, all of us have to face our mortality sometime.

You think I don’t know that?

Takashi sighed, spreading his hands apart, palms upward, a tiny shrug lifting his shoulders. Look, you weren’t the only one affected by Reid’s death. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.

Then do something about it, please, if not for yourself, then for my peace of mind. I’ve got enough gray hairs as it is.

Snorting, Takashi shook his head, the comment catching him so off guard, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Fine, fine, he grumbled, slipping the card into his wallet. I’ll think about making the call, that’s all I can promise. But I’ll be at the gala, regardless of if I do or don’t, and I’ll do my best not to hang out in the corner with the potted plants.

That’s as good a start as any, Thomas said.

With a nod, Takashi turned and left Thomas’ office, returning to his own and the neatly organized desk he’d already set up for the following week. Maybe Thomas had a point. He did tend to allow his work to be the sole focus of his life. Even when he was away he was never fully away; keeping notepads around his condo so he could jot down ideas as they came to him. He told himself it was just a good practice to have, so there was never a risk of forgetting something. The truth was it gave him something to do when he was restless and alone.

Fishing his phone from the inner pocket of his suit jacket, he checked the time, then dialed his sister’s number. Piano notes and a firm, no nonsense voice spilled through the connection as soon as she answered, but before he could even say hello she asked him to hold while she gave detailed instructions to whoever was there in the studio with her. Her voice was as clear as day through the phone even though he could tell she’d moved it away from her mouth.

Do not put those fabrics there! They go with the spring designs! Can’t you see that from the tag clearly marked ‘spring’ dangling a half-inch from your face!

He chuckled as he listened in. If Thomas thought he was obsessed with getting projects done, then he should take a day and visit Kumiko at her studio.

Sorry about that, she grumbled, and from the tone of her voice he could tell she was exasperated and nearly at the end of her rope. Must be new intern training time.

Sounds like things are pretty intense over there. Will you still be able to get away for dinner?

Absolutely, I’ll meet you at Andaluca’s at seven. After the day I’ve had, I could use a Scotch or three.

Sounds like there’s a story to tell, though I’ll pass on the Scotch. I never understood how you could drink it with nothing to cut the bite.

"That’s the only way to drink it. I’m sure they’ll have plenty of those appletinis you’re so fond of, and yes, there is a story to tell. You’ll hear all about it tonight," she replied, before barking an order so harsh he jumped.

God save me from interns and first year graduates, she grumbled as he fought down the urge to laugh. It wasn’t funny, truly, but it was a much-needed break from his own day and that was appreciated.  

Never forget, sis, that you were both once too.

The very thought that I might have been anything like them has me wanting to rush over to Marie’s with a bottle of wine and a box of those chocolate dipped strawberries she loves.

Now that did get him laughing, and he didn’t even bother to try and stifle it this time.

Not funny, she growled.

He could picture her standing there, back rigid as she glared at the interns while gripping the phone tight enough the cover was probably creaking.

Sure it is. But I’m certain Marie would appreciate the gesture, however unwarranted it might be. Just breathe, Kumiko. I’m sure that whatever it is they’ve done isn’t as bad as you think it is. Just walk away for a moment, then come back and look at it with fresh eyes and remember how hard it is to get bloodstains out of fabric. Unless you’re planning on an all crimson show this spring you can’t murder them in your design room.

Pity, she huffed, but he heard her take a deep breath and hold it, before she let it out with a long, slow hum. Yeah, okay, I can do the walking away thing. It might be best for my blood pressure.

You’ve been taking your meds, right?

An exasperated sigh left him shaking his head.

Yes, I’ve been taking them, even if they do make me feel like I need to sit down at the most inopportune times. I’ve also started yoga classes, cut the salt out of my diet, cut down on the hours I work and started painting again.

He’d been pacing the floor in front of his office windows, but her words had him tripping over his feet and nearly crashing into the corner of his desk. Fumbling, he came close to dropping the phone and bobbled it, tipping over an entire container of pens before he regained his composure.

You...cut back? he sputtered, still struggling to process her words.  How much?

An hour a day, okay, it’s a start. It’s not going to help my blood pressure any if I go home early only to stress about all the stuff I didn’t do.

Can’t argue with that logic.

No, you can’t. Now I’ll let you go and I’ll see you at dinner.

Okay, sis, see you then, and don’t forget to breathe.

The last thing he heard as she was hanging up was another soft piano tune and Kumiko muttering about how she’d like to grab a stress ball and toss it at his head. Chuckling, he returned the phone to his pocket and knelt, gathering up the pens and returning them to their proper place. Brushing imaginary lint off his clothes he rolled his neck, listening to the soft pop before he snatched up a stack of colorful note cards and headed to the cork board on his far wall. There, he studied the mock-ups for the latest design project, a new, updated logo for one of their long-time clients. Pen in hand, he scribbled a few notes to himself, in between scrutinizing every single idea his team members had presented. Making notes and suggestions for changes, he pinned each one to the corresponding picture, determined to finish the process before the end of the day.

With the soundtrack of Fiddler on the Roof drifting from his office stereo, he burned through the whole pile of cards and part of another, sketching, combining, taking the font from one and making a note that he wanted to see it applied to the layout of another. It was busy work, but he lost himself in it anyway, blinking in surprise when the alarm on his phone blared a shrill cry.

Shaking his head, he looked around to find that the sky had grown dark and the sounds outside of the room had grown quiet. The alarm meant it was already six-thirty, damn it all to hell. It was a good thing he’d set it, or he might have missed dinner all together. Tossing the pen and cards onto his desk, he clicked off the radio and hurried to the door, only to rush back to his desk and place the pen in its holder and make a neat pile of the scattered cards.

Okay, maybe Thomas did have a point, he thought as he rushed from the office, one of the last ones out of the building once again. Maybe he was a little obsessed with his work. The job had been his one constant ever since he’d interned with the firm in college. Back then, Thomas’ father had been running things and Thomas had been an entry level executive struggling to earn his old man’s praise. Takashi knew that he was great at what he did. He’d risen through the ranks steadily, and unlike Rafe, his job had never turned its back on him.

With those thoughts weighing heavily on his mind he rushed to the parking structure and his 2011 BMW Z4. Traffic was going to be a son of a bitch. Damn it all, he grumbled to himself as he fumbled for his key. He should have given himself an hour, he knew this, he’d told himself a million times before, but when the time came to set the alarm, did he listen? Of course not. Not him, nope, never. Of course, he’d never intended to work until the alarm sounded. He never intended to work that long, but he always did. More often than not, he turned off the alarm and kept going, determined to finish whatever it was he’d been working on. Maybe it was time he took a page out of his sister’s book and started leaving a little bit early, or maybe the next time she told him to make dinner arrangements, he’d make reservations closer to work.

Chapter 2

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Takashi was running late. He hated not being on time and of course, the car in front of him couldn’t seem to decide where it was going. At least he could see Andaluca’s up ahead. At this rate his sister would be on her second Scotch before he parked his ass in a seat. He just hoped she’d gone ahead and ordered his appletini because he planned to down it as soon as he arrived. No sips, just one long, continuous chug until the glass was drained. Then he’d order another and quite possibly a third.

The whole way over he’d thought about the damn alarm, the card in his wallet, and the last line of images, because that had been the one to trip him up. He’d have made it on schedule if he hadn’t spent so much time focusing on the adjustments they needed. They hadn’t been bad. Each had contained elements that had really connected with the brand and he’d found himself with a sketch pad trying to work out ways of combining them.

Not like it couldn’t have waited until Monday. They were already ahead on the project.  That’s where he liked to be, ahead, with everything planned out and organized before anyone asked to see his notes or project proposals. And yes, maybe it was a point of personal pride for him to come in before deadline with a solid presentation that many times his clients tended to love and jump on board with. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing wrong with being good at what he did. It’s what made him, and his team, so sought after and led to repeat clients time and time again. He had his eye on the ball so to speak, only, there hadn’t been a true end game for quite some time, not since his last promotion. It was enough to leave him wondering if his precious ball hadn’t turned into a hamster wheel without him noticing it...

Then again, so what if only one member of his team was married and most of them hadn’t had a stable relationship in months...or more. None of that mattered to their clients. If they happened to be among the last ones to leave the office each night, well then, at least they were being productive, nothing wrong with that. He could still remember the first year Thomas had taken over the company, how Thomas was the one who was always last to leave each night. Hell, Takashi had made it a point of stopping in and having a drink with him before heading home, reluctantly leaving his friend in his office sorting through the mess of clients his old man’s untimely passing had left him.

It was no wonder Thomas was trying to pull back now, set some limits, reshuffle his priorities. He’d been at the helm for fifteen years now and working at the firm for even longer than that. Thomas had been the project leader he’d been assigned to back when he was still an intern, and what started out as a mentorship had blossomed into a kinship and later, friendship, built on arduous work, dedication, and a love of