Chapter 39 - Oliver

**OLIVER**

Oliver stood in the meeting room, staring at the documents in front of him without really noticing them. He had never been involved with the agency’s finances; that was Susanne’s area of expertise. He was haunted by the thought that his business partner had said they desperately needed new and solvent clients. The agency’s finances were worse than he had thought. It was hard to believe that they were so dependent on Fitzpatrick. The billionaire paid well, extremely well, and if he backed out, they could close the doors. Oliver shook his head. No, he couldn’t let that happen.
Concentrating, he looked over all the documents he had prepared for the meeting with a new potential client. Everything was perfectly organized - the contracts were neatly arranged on the table, the presentation was ready, and a few notes he had made during dinner were at hand. It was an important meeting. This client could help them achieve a little more financial independence. And they desperately needed it!
He heard footsteps in the hallway and a soft knock announced Susanne, who came through the door with a mischievous smile. “Your client is here, Oliver. I’ll send him right in.” Why was she still smiling? Obviously she was thinking of her joke with Daron-Saron again, even though he was completely impervious to such jokes at the moment.
“Thank you, Susanne.” Oliver nodded at her as he stood straight behind the desk. He could feel the nervousness spreading inside him, but he couldn’t let it show. “Did you find out anything that might help us with the negotiations?”
“Not really,” she said with a shrug. “But the man is tough in his business, so you should be prepared for some tough questions.” She left the office and came in a few moments later with the man.
Mr. Weber, a tall, distinguished looking man in his prime, shook Oliver’s hand. His eyes scanned the room carefully. “Mr. Daron, thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”
“My pleasure, Mr. Weber. Please sit down,” Oliver offered, gesturing to one of the chairs. “I understand you’re planning a major event in Los Angeles?”
“That is correct. It’s the opening of a new luxury hotel. We are expecting many prominent guests and want to make sure they are well taken care of in every way.” Weber settled into a chair and opened a file he had brought with him. “Your agency was recommended to us. Your hostesses seem to have an excellent reputation.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Oliver replied. “We have worked successfully with similar events in the past and are able to adapt well to special requests.” He pointed to the presentation board and pressed a button on his remote. “Here you can get an idea of some of our hostesses.” Extremely attractive young women, slender, with various hair colors and lengths, smiled at the camera. Their attire ranged from sporty and casual to precise and business-like.
Weber smiled cautiously. “Well, an attractive selection. But what is important to us is discretion and professionalism. Some of our guests attach great importance to having their privacy respected.”
“That goes without saying,” Oliver said calmly, looking Weber directly in the eye. “Our hostesses are known not only for their charm and attentiveness, but also for their discretion. Your guests will feel completely at ease.”
Weber flipped through his file and nodded contentedly. “That sounds good. I would like to book ten of your best hostesses for the opening week. They should be multi-lingual and able to accompany our guests in a variety of situations - whether it be business meetings or social events.”
Oliver felt his heart leap. Ten hostesses for a week was big business. He couldn’t afford any mistakes. “That can be arranged. Do you have any special requirements for the profile of the hostesses?”
“We’re looking for elegant, sophisticated women who can impress our guests with their expertise and charm.” Weber closed his file and sat back. “The success of the opening depends on how well we take care of our guests. And we want them to feel well taken care of in *every way*.” The man paused for a moment before continuing. “You shouldn’t choose inexperienced virgins just because they look pretty. Can you make sure of that?”
Oliver didn’t hesitate a second. The client’s directness was refreshing, even if he could have been more direct: he was looking for women who were also willing to have sex. And which of the beautiful women at his agency wouldn’t be willing to do that if it meant extra money? After all, the cost of living in Los Angeles was nothing to sneeze at. And not all women got the part they wanted in the movie of their dreams. Oliver knew some who were willing to sleep their way to the top.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Weber, that’s our specialty. We have ladies with language skills and a high level of education - who also have time for the gentleman who accompanies them for an entire night. You can rely on us.” He cleared his throat and thought about how to phrase his next question as discreetly yet directly as possible. Then he smiled politely at the man before him. “Should any gentlemen wish to make special arrangements, perhaps a gentleman would like to be accompanied by several ladies, or two gentlemen would like to go out as a group with two ladies... Then we will find a solution for that as well.”
Herr Weber nodded in understanding. There was a gleam of approval in his eyes. He seemed to like the discreet request, which was still specific enough to be understood immediately. “Good, Mr. Daron, you’ve convinced me. I’d like us to work out the details in the next few days. If everything goes according to plan, we could organize more events together in the future.” Weber stood and shook Oliver’s hand.
“I look forward to it,” Oliver replied and shook his hand. As Weber left the room, Oliver paused and took a deep breath. This could be the break they needed to reduce their dependence on Fitzpatrick. Ten hostesses - and since the women would probably try out the hotel beds with the clients, there might be even more ladies he could arrange. After all, what man could say no to a threesome, or even a mixed foursome?
He leaned back in his chair and smiled confidently. If this job went perfectly, Mr. Weber would surely recommend him to his friends. And then they would no longer be one small agency among many. They would be part of the big business! Maybe they should think of a more meaningful name. DarEnd-Agency sounded a bit boring and uninspired.
Grinning broadly, Oliver gathered up all the documents and was about to head to his office when his cell phone suddenly vibrated. His heart skipped a beat as he looked at the display.
*“Flowers delivered to reception from Fitzpatrick Designs. Direct delivery to accounts not allowed. - Lea.”*
His grin disappeared. A strange feeling crept into his stomach and he could barely breathe. Had Emily refused the bouquet? Or was this one of the company’s strict rules? This wasn’t what he had imagined. The flowers were supposed to impress her, not make her feel uncomfortable.
His pulse quickened as he hovered over the keyboard. Should he write Emily directly and confront her? Or would that be too pushy? What if she really didn’t want the bouquet?
The uncertainty gnawed at him as he stared at the contact on the screen. One wrong move and he could ruin everything. But if he didn’t do anything now, Alexander might be able to make the next move.
His finger trembled. The decision was a tight-rope walk.