Chapter 61 - Oliver

**OLIVER**

Oliver froze in mid-movement as he noticed Alexander Fitzpatrick enter the restaurant with a tall, dark-haired man. The two were ushered directly to him by a waiter, as if their table was very close to his. Oliver’s pulse quickened, and he felt an uncomfortable heat spread through his neck. Alexander seemed to be in complete control as always, his posture impeccable and confident, but the sight of him made Oliver’s thoughts flicker.

Landing Alexander as a client had given Oliver’s agency a huge boost, and yet he knew how important discretion was to this man. There was a fine, invisible line between them that could not be crossed. His stomach tightened as he thought about what could happen if Alexander were seen with him in this environment. After all, escort agencies did not fit the polished image of a billionaire furniture mogul.

Oliver racked his brain. Should he greet Alexander? A simple nod, a friendly smile? Or would it be wiser to keep his head down and pretend he was just a random guest? His whole being screamed for recognition, but the risk of snubbing Alexander or possibly embarrassing him gnawed at him.

His heart raced as the two men approached step by step. Alexander spoke softly to his companion, a casual, barely perceptible smile on his lips, and Oliver was slightly stunned by the expression. It was rare to see him so relaxed. The way Alexander reacted to his companion, it was hard to miss that there was a casual trust between them. A trust that Oliver secretly admired - and perhaps a little envied.

Just as they passed his table, Oliver forced himself to focus on the small vase of flowers in front of him, even as he trembled inside.

Oliver lifted his head slightly to catch a glimpse of Alexander and his companion. The two men were led not to an open table in the center of the room, but to a secluded, intimate alcove behind him - a place usually reserved for the most discreet of meetings. Something in Alexander’s demeanor seemed softer, more carefree, as if he were momentarily shedding the usual business formalities. Oliver rarely saw that.

His heart beat louder as an unexpected thought struck him: Was this dark-haired man Alexander’s secret partner? The elegant, almost casual way the stranger appeared, the expensive tailoring of his suit - none of this suggested an ordinary acquaintance. Oliver swallowed, trying to hide his growing nervousness. Of course Alexander would keep such a connection secret, away from the prying eyes of the public. And yet there was a spark of curiosity in Oliver, a desire to know more about his client and his private relationships.

Instinctively, he made up his mind to leave the room before Alexander noticed him. Without risking another glance in the direction of the two men, he quickly stood up, grabbed his briefcase and made his way to the exit. Once outside, he took a deep breath of fresh air to calm his feverishly working mind.

Whoever this stranger was, Alexander had brought him to this fancy restaurant for a reason. The *Poseidon* was famous for its exclusive seafood dishes, and only the upper class could afford the prices for such a lunch.

The elegant suit, the upright, confident posture... This man must represent someone who thought highly of himself, possibly a model or someone from the art scene. Oliver couldn’t wait to start investigating.

With quick steps he made his way back to the agency. The thought of who this man at Alexander’s side might be would not let him go. As soon as he arrived at his office, he sat down at the computer and immediately began searching for photos of Alexander Fitzpatrick that showed him with the dark-haired man. He soon found what he was looking for and it wasn’t long before he had the name of the dark-haired stranger: Dominik Davenport. Oliver read the name again, his thoughts racing. Davenport, the king of the nightlife scene, was notorious for his exclusive chain of clubs, and the rumors about his establishments were not the best. His clubs were famous - and more than that, they were shrouded in mystery. It was said that only the most influential people were allowed to enter the special, sealed-off areas where, rumor had it, not only were parties held, but people indulged their darkest desires.

A cold shiver ran down Oliver’s spine as he read on. The name Davenport was a prestigious one for a businessman, but in many circles it was also associated with dark and morbid desires. This worried Oliver more and more as he read on. Could Alexander really be involved in such circles? Was he one of those who appreciated Davenport’s discreet reputation? Oliver suddenly felt an uncomfortable tingle in his stomach.

If Alexander was indeed part of this world, it could put his own agency in a questionable light as soon as a connection became known. Oliver felt his hands grow clammy with nervousness and sank heavily into his chair. Until recently he had been thinking about how to get Alexander to finally reveal his discreet services to the DarEnd-Agency in order to improve its reputation - now he was thinking completely differently. It was clear to him that if his agency was indirectly linked to Davenport’s dark empire, it could mean the end of the DarEnd-Agency.

“Do we really need to keep Alexander as a customer?” he wondered, feeling the question churning inside him.

Oliver leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair as the idea of a change in image became more and more apparent in his mind’s eye. The DarEnd-Agency was stable due to the high income Alexander Fitzpatrick sent them month after month - but it was also dependent on the furniture designer. He hadn’t heard from Mr. Weber yet, which dampened his hopes for a new, secure source of income.

“We could get so much further if we could open up to Los Angeles high society,” Oliver muttered to himself, drumming thoughtfully with his fingers on the table. His gaze fell on the agency’s logo, which suddenly seemed old-fashioned and far too simple. “A new name. A new face for the agency - one that appeals to discerning clients. People who are proud to be associated with us.”

There was no turning back, maybe now was the time to try something new. He had a vague idea of a name, something that conveyed class and elegance, something that would resonate in Los Angeles’ high society circles. Clients like Mr. Weber would belong in that world - a prominent businessman with an impeccable reputation and a certain penchant for sophisticated events. If Oliver moved the agency in this direction, they would be able to work with personalities like him in the long run - clients who were prestigious and who would stand by their assignments in public. He opened the planner on his computer, typed in a few names that came to mind, and added a short note for his business partner, Susanne. He couldn’t make any decisions without her, but he was sure she would support his idea.

He looked at the names and smiled with satisfaction.

_GlamourHost, Elite Escort, Golden Agency, Diamond Affairs._

Which one would Susanne choose?