“Sure, Daddy. I like working with you. Can't believe it took two days, though.”
“Wild, huh?”
“Heck yeah.”
Suvos had promised books, and boxes of books had arrived by truck. Four pallets worth that they'd had placed in the garage until they could lug them all inside. Katie, on Brant's suggestion, had went to the U-Haul rental store to get a dolly to use. Even with Jenna's help it had taken two days' work, primarily because Brant had wanted to sort them before placing them on shelves. He did this for multiple reasons:
He wanted to inventory the books that he'd received
Jenna had commented that a group of wiccans who frequented Java Joe's would have a field day with the books
The comment had given Brant an idea
And he wanted the titles stored in a database for purposes of cataloging them
“Now what?” Katie asked.
“I don't know. There are a few books I'm anxious to start reading. And I'm curious if any of Jenna's friends stopped by the coffee shop while she was at work.”
“I can text her.”
“I could do that myself, but sure, go ahead.”
“Are you hungry?”
“No, not yet. Too keyed up. No need to wait for me, though, if want to eat.”
“I'm fine.” Katie glanced up at one of the paintings with cut slats with missing eyes and hugged herself. “Just thought maybe you'd wanna do something somewhere besides this creepy room, y'know.”
“Don't like being watched?” Brant said.
“Hush.” Katie swatted his shoulder and pouted.
“What do you suggest we do?”
“I dunno. We could go upstairs and play.”
“You could go upstairs and play alone with one of your new toys, for that matter.”
“It's more fun when you play. Or Jenna. But she's at work.”
Brant flipped through pages of a book, the last to be placed on a shelf. “We'll play later.”
“Later,” Katie repeated with a frown.
“Turn that frown upside-down, little lady, or I'll paddle your ass tonight.”
“Ooh... Promise?”
“Of course.”
Katie smiled. “I know – I'll take pics of the library now that it’s finished.”
“Great idea.”
Katie pulled her cell phone and opened its camera app. “Daddy, stand over there. Next to the fireplace.”
After snapping multiple shots in various poses, Katie said, “I'll text Jenna now. By the way, there's an email from Tara Jones.”
“What's she say?”
“She located three buildings in the Austin area for your consideration. She's attached detailed information regarding each and wants to know if you'd like for her to set up site visits next week, and if so, she says she’ll make arrangements.”
“Sounds great. Let Tara know I've received her email and will give her a definitive answer tomorrow morning, after I've had a chance to review her briefs.”
“Yes, Sir.” A cutesy beep sounded on Katie's phone. “Jenna says, and I quote, 'The witch bitches are excited to see the books.'”
“Great. Set up a time for those witch bitches to tour our library. Sometime in the evening. Later this week, if possible.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I also want you to order a bedroom set, something nice but conservative. We're going to make a spare bedroom, one with a bath, into a guest room that Tara or Derek or Joey or anyone traveling here on business can use.”
“Yes, Sir. Great idea. You're so smart and you don't waste time like most executives do.”
“This is a start-up venture. You gotta be lean and mean and cutting-edge if you plan to succeed.”
“You'll succeed. I know it.”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
“If there's nothing else,” Katie said, “I'll see what I can find on-line for the guest room.”
“I have a feeling we'll be needing to turn the computer room back into a bedroom at some point. We'll need a few more chairs here in the library, maybe a small table over there. If we order office furniture for the sun room that will free up room in the study. We'll need more office space with everything going on.”
“I'll find plenty of furniture on-line to recommend and I can show you later.”
“Okay. Run along now.” Brant kissed his daughter and swatted her bottom, to send her happily rushing out of the library.
She had plenty to do. They all did, but especially Brant, now that things seemed to be going full-steam ahead. The stocked library made things much more hectic. Years, if not decades of information now filled the shelves and he couldn't wait to dive in.
Brant sat down behind his desk and began to read. It felt as if someone were reading over his shoulder and it unnerved him. But then he realized that the entity watching him must be the same entity responsible for all the books. Knowing this helped to ease the mind...
Things peripherally registered yet Brant chose to dismiss them:
Cell phone chirps
Cell phone ring
Someone entering the house
Someone human peering into the library
Someone peering into the library again
And then:
A whispered voice caught his attention.
“Daddy, I brought you a sandwich.”
“What? Oh. Thank you, sweetie.”
Katie had changed into tight shorts and a blouse.
“It's late and you must be hungry. May I set the plate on the desk?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Sorry to disturb you. I'll be by later for the dishes.”
Brant glanced up from the book and flashed a smile.
Katie mouthed Bye on her way out.
Sandwich, chips, pickle, beer... Brant didn't taste them. He ate some and an indeterminate time later Katie returned for the dishes.
“Would you like your computer?” she asked. “Or do want to go over the information Ms. Jones sent you in the morning.”
“No, no. I want to peruse the information tonight.”
The plate and bottle disappeared. A short time later Katie propped open his notebook computer on the desk.
“Anything else, Daddy?” she whispered.
“No, sweetie.”
“'Kay, I'm going to bed then.”
“Okay. Be up shortly.”
“Kiss, please?”
Brant kissed his daughter good-night before returning his attention to the book. Sometime before morning he got around to reviewing and emailing Tara regarding the buildings she suggested for consideration. Brant doubted one would suit their needs but if she could set up a tour of the site the same day as one of the others, they might as well keep their options open. And ideally Brant wanted her to coordinate the site visits with Denzel and Joey. Brant would touch base with Derek.
He finally powered down his computer for the day. Upstairs he found Katie and Jenna snuggled together in bed. Jenna had slept in their bed before but usually kept to her own room, the one with the lumpy mattress. Brant made a mental note to have Katie buy new bedroom furniture for them, complete with king-sized mattress. Better yet, California King. Jenna could have the old queen-sized mattress and the lumpy thing could be hauled downstairs to the basement in case it was needed, as Brant knew it would.
Next morning Brant woke early, as did Katie and Jenna, respectfully. They met downstairs for coffee. Katie brought a tablet computer.
“Here, Daddy,” she said, showing the screen. “This is the furniture I recommend for the new sun room office.” She cycled through other furniture recommendations. She had also finished entering the library volumes into a database.
“Great job,” Brant said and meant it.
“I also made a rule book. It's so pretty.”
“Rule book?”
“A book of Daddy's Rules. I'll show you later.”
“Those witch bitches want to see the library on Friday,” Jenna said. “They're hoping to get to spe
nd some time with the books.”
“Once they get a load of the books,” Brant said, “they won't want to leave. Katie, have sandwiches or pizza or something catered in.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“You should totally buy an espresso machine,” Jenna suggested.
“Great idea. Don't go crazy with it, though. We aren't running a Starbucks.”
“We'll handle it,” Katie promised. “By the way, did you return Ev's calls and texts?”
“No, not yet. Guess I should.”
Katie shrugged. “Your call.”
Apparently Evelyn had been served with divorce papers and she wanted to discuss terms. Brant figured he might as well try to keep lines of communication open between them, as long as she remained civil. He texted Ev a reply while Katie refilled his mug: Sure. Does Saturday work for you?
Brant received an immediate reply which prompted a grin.
“What did Ev say?” Katie asked as she placed his mug on the table.
“She wants to know if we could go out instead of having Chinese takeout this time. We're going to have dinner on Saturday.”
“Dinner out?”
“Sure.”
“Just the two of you?”
“We'll do something,” Jenna told Katie.
“Sure you will. You'll be hosting the library party for the wiccans.”
“Not on Saturday night,” Jenna said.
“You'll see,” Brant said as he stood. He kissed Katie on the lips and then headed to the library for more reading. He was excited to show off his library, and entice Jenna's acquaintances with its breadth of occult information. He was also excited to get the sun room office set up. Until then, he planned to use the library as an office.
The house, underutilized for the decade which he’d owned it, had begun to reach its potential:
A master bedroom suite, for the Master of the house, his young lover and occasional friends
A bedroom for the live-in housekeeper and guest
A visitor's suite
A spare bedroom
Great room
Wet bar
Sun room office
Library to be rivaled
Four-car drive-through garage currently filled with three cars
Dining room large enough for staff meetings
Mud room / laundry room
Plenty of bathrooms
Unfinished basement for rituals
Sub-basement where they'd move the lumpy mattress and exercise equipment
Katie was right. Evelyn would shit a brick if she saw the house. Brant hoped Katie could get the furniture delivered by Saturday. A quick text message to Katie explained the importance and suggested using immigrant labor, if needed.
Then Brant immersed himself in occult knowledge.
18
Brant, looking at himself in the mirror, debated shaving his face. He'd done little but eat, sleep, work, and read for the past several days, and must have neglected to shave even before that. The look suited him, he thought. Sensing movement in the bedroom, Brant decided to ask Katie's opinion but found the large room vacant. He went out into the hall planning to catch her but again came up short.
Odd, he thought. I could have sworn someone was there. Either Katie or Jenna...
As the thought slipped away, another sensation replaced it: one of being watched.
Brant shook off the notion with a shiver and, after returning to the mirror in the bathroom (mirrors, mirrors everywhere), he used a razor to perform basic maintenance of the beard coming in. Then he went into the bedroom to dress. Shorts and a madras shirt.
“Hey, Daddy. Here you are. I thought you were downstairs, could've sworn I heard you walk right past me.”
“What's up, sweetie?”
“Jenna bought what you asked at the liquor store and I got the sandwiches and chips and assorted cookies. We also stopped at that cute li'l cupcake place because even wiccans and daddies love cupcakes, y'know.”
“I certainly do.”
“And we stopped at that candy store I like. See my pretty candy necklace? And a sucker ring. It's cherry. Wanna taste?”
Brant kissed Katie's lips. “Mm... It is good.”
“Silly. I meant my ring, not my lips.”
“I'm sure they taste the same. I was meaning to ask, what do you think?” Brant stroked his beard.
“It's tickle-y now, not scratchy.”
“Think I should keep it?”
Katie shrugged as she licked her ring pop, said, “I dunno. You're the daddy.”
“You're right. Beard stays.”
Katie flashed a smile. “Should I be your personal assistant tonight, or am I fine?” She did a pirouette which caused the short skirt of her girlie outfit to flutter.
“You're better than fine. Be yourself around the wiccan girls. Unless we're going somewhere on business or my staff is visiting, there's no need to be anything else.”
“Okay. Good. I like dressing nice during business hours, though.”
“Whatever gets you off.”
“You get me off, Daddy. Boy, do you. My god,” Katie cupped Brant's crotch, “you beat up my li'l pussy with this thing.”
“Daddies have needs.”
“You need me, Daddy?”
“Of course I do.”
Katie, whimpering, tucked herself in for a tight hug. “Wanna play? I'll share my candy with you.”
From downstairs they heard the doorbell chime.
“Later, baby girl. Our guests have arrived.”
Downstairs, dressed to go out later, Jenna stood in the foyer with five young women her same approximate age.
“These are the witch bitches,” Jenna announced, “that I met at Java Joe's.”
“It's not nice to call them that to their face,” Katie said.
“It's fine,” a tall skinny blonde said.
“We consider it a term of endearment,” another girl, dressed in black, added.
“That's what they call themselves,” Jenna added, gesturing to Brant. “This is Brant Wilson, a.k.a. Sugar Daddy.”
Katie giggled.
“And they are—”
“I'm terrible with names,” Brant interrupted. “You'll be Skinny Witch, Fat Witch—”
“Hey.”
“—Goth Witch, Brainy Witch, and Cute Witch.”
“That's very chauvinistic of you,” Cute Witch said.
Brainy Witch adjusted her glasses. “I kind of like my nickname.”
“You would,” Cute Witch said and Fat Witch agreed.
“I take it back,” Brant said. “You'll be Sassy Witch. Follow me.”
Brant showed them first to the wet bar where, despite their indeterminate ages, Jenna would gladly serve them drinks until she went out with friends later. Katie explained about the food and told them to help themselves if she wasn't around.
“There are only a few rules,” Brant told them before taking them to the library.
“What sort of rules?” Sassy Witch wanted to know.
“You're free to stay as long as you like. However, absolutely no books leave the library without my permission. And furthermore, no spells, summons, enchantments, or anything of the kind are to take place under my roof without my express consent. Is that understood and agreed upon?”
The wiccans agreed, albeit with somewhat dubious expressions upon their faces.
“This, my wiccan friends,” Brant said with a grand gesture, “is the library.”
“Wow.”
“Amazing.”
“Incredible.”
“Please,” Brant said, “pick a book at random from a shelf. You won't believe your eyes. English language titles are over there.”
“Oh, my god,” Goth Witch exclaimed, “Speaking with the Undead and Potions of Devils. There's some diabolical shit here.”
“Welcome to the dark said,” Brant deadpanned, “we have cookies.”
“Chocolate chip, peanut butter, and sugar, with and without frosting and sprinkles,” K
atie said with a lick of her ring pop.
“One last thing,” Brant said, sitting down, “nobody uses my desk but me. There are plenty of chairs and two small tables for your convenience.”
“They really like this place, Daddy,” Katie, leaning over his shoulder, whispered. “Like kids in a candy store.”
Brant toyed with Katie's candy necklace. “Yes, indeed. Go, bring glasses and a bottle of red wine for them. I want to watch them for a while.”
“Then what, Daddy?”
“Then, after drinks of our own, we'll go upstairs.”
“To play?”
“Of course to play.”
Katie giggled. “Be right back.”
Brant found the building number Evelyn had messaged to him and parked the Land Rover Evoque in front. As he mounted the stairs to her second-floor apartment he wondered how many men she'd entertained since moving out. He found her apartment and knocked at the door. A moment later, Evelyn appeared.
“Brant. So good to see you again, even with the beard. Please, come in. I'm not quite ready. Just be a minute. Have a seat on the sofa.”
Brant, having known she wouldn't be ready, was curious to see where she lived. The apartment complex featured a well-kept if somewhat modest exterior. Inside, the place, while immaculate, seemed quite cramped. The entire apartment could have fit inside the master bedroom suite of his home, or perhaps the garage. While Evelyn disappeared in the bathroom to finish getting ready, Brant browsed the apartment. She'd taken furniture from their breakfast nook and sun room when she moved out and everything looked nice in the small space. The bedroom contained furnishings from the guest room Evelyn's parents had used when they visited, that set being the newest they'd purchases. It took less than a minute to take everything in.
Perhaps five minutes later, Evelyn reappeared and, after giving her estranged husband a kiss on the cheek, joined him for dinner out.
“I still can't believe you bought a new car,” Evelyn said. “You, Mr. We-Must-Be-Careful-With-Our-Money. It's great that you landed a good consulting job, but what happens when it's over? You'll be back to looking for your next job.”
“It's not like that,” Brant stated. “This is an open-ended gig. In fact, I see it lasting a long time. A very long time.”
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