Ana's wallet rang and she was in the shower. It was well past noon when the call came in and Christian picked it up like the dutiful head of household he was. Ana never answered her own phone. And he was still getting used to allowing Gregory to do his job. The other man scowled as he passed by when he saw Christian had the phone.
"Mr. Vega, sir, how can I help you?" Christian answered after seeing the senior Vega's name across the caller id.
"Christian what are you doing answering the phone. That is not your job, anymore."
"Old habits. Really it's not a bother. What can I do for you?"
"You and Ana will meet me Thursday for drinks. We all need to discuss Cruz. Dorian will be there as well."
"We will be there."
The conversation didn't last much beyond that, a few exchanges of pleasantries and such and then Emilio Vega hung up the phone.
Christian had never been invited into one of the Vega family meetings. Not as a participant before, it was an oddly strange feeling. He'd be expected to sit at the table and be waited on instead of doing the serving himself. And at some high society place he'd only have ever gone as Dorian's man servant or Ana's escort. He was actually surprised at how the elder Vega's had taken Ana's engagement to him. Her parents were ecstatic to say the least. They never liked Dorian. And for good reason. One of those secrets the world didn't know. But he did. Was one of the first he learned.
Ana emerged from the shower wearing nothing but a fluffy pink towel around her slender frame and one wrapping her long hair above her head. "Who was that, darling?"
"The senior most Vega. He wishes our presence for drinks Thursday. A conversation about your son."
Ana sighed. "He's likely on about the twenty something rebellion. Cruz will straighten out. He just needs a break. And if he pressures him like he did Dorian, he's just gonna break. And instead of becoming a cop and more, Cruz is likely go start his own rival company that pushes Jivana out of business." She laughed. "Would teach the old dog."
The Apex Lounge was not a new venue for Christian, but it was new to sit down at the table where Dorian was already sloshing his red wine around in the glass inspecting its flavor notes. That the man was not an alcoholic was a small wonder the way he drank.
Dorian stood when Ana arrived. He pressed a loving kiss to both cheeks and they shared a laugh at his expense as they sat down. Nothing had changed between them. Nothing except the word wife, Dorian loved Ana. And Ana loved him. They had been married for 19 years happily. Outsiders saw what they wanted to see and there were a few stares at their comadre as Christian sat down next to Ana, her hand wrapping around his in a very possessive way. She was telling those stares to get over it. It wasn't that I was less, it was that to them Dorian and Ana were still in love. High society was just as bad as Highschool children when it came to their cliques. Made Christian want to roll his eyes, but he didn't. He knew how to act.
Dorian laughed. "And before it was all gossip about how you and Ana were sleeping together. Now it's all. Oh my god, did you hear, she's gonna marry her manservant."
Ana laughed. Christian just shook his head and rolled his eyes. Which only sent Ana into a fit of giggles she was unable to hide from behind her wine glass that had arrived just in time. "Shall I kiss you, darling. Maybe we could put on a show that would rival the Kallisti."
"Let's not. It's bad enough you know about that place."
"Nox lives there. Can't be all that bad."
Both Dorian and Christian looked at Ana. "What?" She leaned in and whispered like it was some sort of secret she was about to say. "Have you seen his boyfriend?" She waved her hand fanning her self from the heat.
Dolores Vega took that moment to grace them with her presence. Dorlores sat down with her mink fur wrapped around her throat and waved a gloved hand adorned with diamond bracelets. "Who's boyfriend? Don't tell me Dorian has finally found love."
"I could only wish, Mother." Dorian said standing and circling the table to press a kiss to his mother's cheek. "Was not expecting you too, Mother."
Dolores waved her hand, dismissing Dorian's comment and he returned to his seat. "So if it's not Dorian, how many other gay men do you know?"
Christian laughed. "You'd be surprised Mrs. Vega."
She looked over at Christian. He half expected a frown to break out on her lips, but instead she smiled. "And where is my greeting, Sir Costa?"
"Yes, ma'am." And Christian obliged the matriarch of the family with a kiss to the opposite cheek and returned to his seat.
"Emilio will be along shortly, he got stopped in the lobby by someone from Vaia Plus. Apparently there is some problem or another that just couldn't wait."
"Mr. Vega, sir, how can I help you?" Christian answered after seeing the senior Vega's name across the caller id.
"Christian what are you doing answering the phone. That is not your job, anymore."
"Old habits. Really it's not a bother. What can I do for you?"
"You and Ana will meet me Thursday for drinks. We all need to discuss Cruz. Dorian will be there as well."
"We will be there."
The conversation didn't last much beyond that, a few exchanges of pleasantries and such and then Emilio Vega hung up the phone.
Christian had never been invited into one of the Vega family meetings. Not as a participant before, it was an oddly strange feeling. He'd be expected to sit at the table and be waited on instead of doing the serving himself. And at some high society place he'd only have ever gone as Dorian's man servant or Ana's escort. He was actually surprised at how the elder Vega's had taken Ana's engagement to him. Her parents were ecstatic to say the least. They never liked Dorian. And for good reason. One of those secrets the world didn't know. But he did. Was one of the first he learned.
Ana emerged from the shower wearing nothing but a fluffy pink towel around her slender frame and one wrapping her long hair above her head. "Who was that, darling?"
"The senior most Vega. He wishes our presence for drinks Thursday. A conversation about your son."
Ana sighed. "He's likely on about the twenty something rebellion. Cruz will straighten out. He just needs a break. And if he pressures him like he did Dorian, he's just gonna break. And instead of becoming a cop and more, Cruz is likely go start his own rival company that pushes Jivana out of business." She laughed. "Would teach the old dog."
The Apex Lounge was not a new venue for Christian, but it was new to sit down at the table where Dorian was already sloshing his red wine around in the glass inspecting its flavor notes. That the man was not an alcoholic was a small wonder the way he drank.
Dorian stood when Ana arrived. He pressed a loving kiss to both cheeks and they shared a laugh at his expense as they sat down. Nothing had changed between them. Nothing except the word wife, Dorian loved Ana. And Ana loved him. They had been married for 19 years happily. Outsiders saw what they wanted to see and there were a few stares at their comadre as Christian sat down next to Ana, her hand wrapping around his in a very possessive way. She was telling those stares to get over it. It wasn't that I was less, it was that to them Dorian and Ana were still in love. High society was just as bad as Highschool children when it came to their cliques. Made Christian want to roll his eyes, but he didn't. He knew how to act.
Dorian laughed. "And before it was all gossip about how you and Ana were sleeping together. Now it's all. Oh my god, did you hear, she's gonna marry her manservant."
Ana laughed. Christian just shook his head and rolled his eyes. Which only sent Ana into a fit of giggles she was unable to hide from behind her wine glass that had arrived just in time. "Shall I kiss you, darling. Maybe we could put on a show that would rival the Kallisti."
"Let's not. It's bad enough you know about that place."
"Nox lives there. Can't be all that bad."
Both Dorian and Christian looked at Ana. "What?" She leaned in and whispered like it was some sort of secret she was about to say. "Have you seen his boyfriend?" She waved her hand fanning her self from the heat.
Dolores Vega took that moment to grace them with her presence. Dorlores sat down with her mink fur wrapped around her throat and waved a gloved hand adorned with diamond bracelets. "Who's boyfriend? Don't tell me Dorian has finally found love."
"I could only wish, Mother." Dorian said standing and circling the table to press a kiss to his mother's cheek. "Was not expecting you too, Mother."
Dolores waved her hand, dismissing Dorian's comment and he returned to his seat. "So if it's not Dorian, how many other gay men do you know?"
Christian laughed. "You'd be surprised Mrs. Vega."
She looked over at Christian. He half expected a frown to break out on her lips, but instead she smiled. "And where is my greeting, Sir Costa?"
"Yes, ma'am." And Christian obliged the matriarch of the family with a kiss to the opposite cheek and returned to his seat.
"Emilio will be along shortly, he got stopped in the lobby by someone from Vaia Plus. Apparently there is some problem or another that just couldn't wait."