Chapter 11
Rebeckha
I’ve been thinking about what Malcolm proposed to me and while it is enticing, I know that I need to take into full consideration that it would be a working relationship as well as a romantic relationship.
Would I be able to separate the two?
Working with your significant other can pose problems in a relationship.
Those are my two worries and I plan to bring up those questions when Malcolm comes over after his show tonight.
I had asked him to come over in order to properly propose his ideas to me with his business plan and everything, in order to give me a general idea of what he wants me to do.
He texts me as he is leaving the theater and says he’s going to go home and shower first. When he knocks on my door at midnight, I open it to find him dressed in a tailored suit that makes my jaw drop. He is carrying several folders and a portfolio under one arm and reaches out with his other to shake my hand.
“Hi, Malcolm Jane.” He smiles.
I place my hand in his and he firmly shakes. I move to the side to allow him inside and then follow him to the living room. He sets everything neatly on the coffee table and waits for me to sit down.
“I’ve come here tonight to present to you an opportunity, an opportunity I hope you will accept.” He smiles as I sit down.
He grabs a folder and sits down beside me and hands it to me. Motioning for me to open it.
“This is my proposed business plan in full with projected budgets for the first three years. As you can see, the first year is primarily startup costs, and the second year the costs go down and so on.”
I look through the folder and note that he’s done his research.
“My plans are projected to include on-stage and off-stage staffing, as you can see. The behind-the-stage staffing is myself, hopefully you, payroll, marketing and handlers.”
“Handlers?”
“Folks who prep the stage, pull the clothes off the stage, handle props, stuff along those lines.”
“How many on-stage would you have?”
“I would have a rotation of six each.”
“Six each?”
“Six men and six women. I plan to have something for everyone. I don’t want it to be exclusive to males or females. Of course, we would have designated nights for each, but maybe toss in one of the ladies or one of the guys for each.”
“Would you be on stage?” I ask quietly.
“No. I will be behind the scenes. My intention is to be purely backstage – managing and owning and shit.”
“And shit,” I laugh.
“Sorry, unprofessional of me. If the situation arises that I have to be on stage, it would most likely be for an exclusive event, purely to drum up business. I want off the stage; I want to run it. I will do some choreographing and I will also encourage the dancers to create their own routines, so I would still be involved in the aspect. However, as mentioned, that will be still behind the scenes,” he explains while I nod.
“And where do you see me in all this?”
“I don’t say this to scare you off, but as the other half of me.”
“The other half? Please elaborate.”
“You have experience in office settings, whereas I do not. I need someone to manage the business side of things.”
“So, would I have decision making powers?”
“You will have all the power you want and need.”
“How flexible would you be with suggestions for improvement, if I see something needed?”
“Extremely. You want it, we can make it happen.”
“You and I are together. What does this mean?”
“I’m not following?” He quirks his head and folds his hands together.
“Do we continue our relationship?”
“Why wouldn’t we?”
“Relationships and work sometimes don’t mix.”
“We will do everything in our power to create a harmonious working and romantic relationship,” he says confidently.
“How will we be able to separate the two?”
“Who’s saying that we have to? We can remain professional and we can be however we normally are. We have the capacity to choose.”
“What about if we don’t work out?” I ask quietly.
“I don’t foresee that being a possibility. I wouldn’t ask any of this of you if I wasn’t sure.”
“Wasn’t sure of what?”
“Us.”
He’s so confident and I love that about him. He goes into things with his arms wide open and I think that is the most amazing characteristic for someone to have. I’m sucked into his confidence in our relationship, in his vision and what the future could hold.
“You haven’t even seen my resume,” I say.
“I don’t have to in order to know that you are who I want.”
“While I’m flattered, I feel that it would be better business for you to at least know what I can and cannot do.”
“Are you willing to learn?”
“Of course.”
“Can you operate a computer? Speak to vendors and dole out orders?”
“Can I order you around?” I counter.
“Yup, it will be mutual ordering around, I’m sure.” He smirks.
“You make this sound like a bonafide proposition. Are there any catches?”
“Some late nights, but in the plan, I have someone who would be willing to be on-site on the nights I won’t be there. I’ll have a partner to lessen the amount of time that I will be there in the evening time.”
“So this is the catch?”
“It will be a testament of how strong we are together,” he says quietly.
“Why not look into a business partner?” I ask. “Someone who would take some of the load off of you and help you with start-up costs?”
“I have a silent partner.”
“How come this is the first I’m hearing of this? That should have been part of your lead in.”
“He doesn’t want to be announced until we have full confirmation of starting.”
“Can you tell me who it is? Will he be a part of business meetings? How will he be silent if he would be doing some of the evenings?”
“Jacks. He doesn’t want it to be known right away that he’s leaving the company.”
“In case word gets back to Exposed Men that he’s looking to leave?”
“Something like that.”
“Okay, so you and Jacks split up the off-stage yet still somewhat on-stage duties?”
“That’s the general idea, yes.”
“How soon are you looking to get up and running?”
“I have approval from the banks as of the other day. I have a location off-Strip and am interviewing for marketing and promotions starting next week, with full intention to open within few months.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“I think it’s fucking risky that you want to hire me without knowing my qualifications, but I’m curious and might as well. But I want to discuss money. I hate to, but you know a girl’s gotta eat.”
“My girl will always be fed.” He winks.
“Get your mind out of the gutter.” I shove at his shoulder.
“I can’t help it. So, money. Name your price?”
“Well, in your budget” — I flip to the pages mentioning income for staff — “you have a range. I would like to be within the range, however, not at the bottom of it.”
“So demanding,” he jokes.
Malcolm
I was willing to give her whatever she wanted financially. I had projected salaries built into my proposal and would give her whatever she wanted, especially if that meant she would come work with me. I wasn’t kidding when I said I want her to be the other half of me. I want that and in more than just one way.
I watch her thumb through the folder again. She alternates between biting her lower lip and biting the inside of her cheek as she scans over the text. She studies the images of the location that I had planned out, as well as the schedule of proposed events, which reflects that I have some inkling about what each night will bring. She goes back to the page indicating salaries and finds the silent partner mention and then nods her head.
“I think that a median of the range you propose is justifiable. If I have the power that you say I will have, then it should be adequate enough.”
“Do you want to make sure, do a job study or something?”
“It looks like the amount you’re offering is comparable to the market, at least from my experience. It’s graciously higher than my last position; however, this position you are offering me means more work, and in a far different industry that I’m used to working in.”
“All right, so you accept?” I’m trying to do everything in my power to not show my true level of excitement.
“I accept.”
I let out the breath I was holding and smile.
“Thank fucking god. Can we celebrate now? Quit with the business shit and get naked?”
“I’m not sure my boss would like that?”
“Oh no, baby, your boss will very much like that. In fact, he rather demands it.”
“Suddenly you are all whip.” She smiles.
“Do you understand how stressful it was, proposing this to you? I need to hurry up and take off these tight clothes before I lose my street cred.” I loosen my necktie.
“For someone who is planning to quit the stage to be the owner and shit, you may have to get used to those things.”
“Nah, the atmosphere will be relaxed. I mean, you’ll have to wear tall, bright red, fuck me shoes and skirts daily just so I can make it through the day. But I won’t be wearing these monkey suits every day.” My hand slides up her thigh.
“I like you in these monkey suits,” she whispers leaning towards me. Her hand guides mine to the apex of her thighs as she opens her legs.
“Then I’ll be wearing them daily if that’s what you want.”
“Make them tear away. So much easier to get you out of.”
“On it.” I claim her lips as she leans back on the couch, my body over hers. Our mouths fuse together and my tongue seeks hers.
She’s trying to remove my jacket as we kiss and it’s becoming a struggle. As her hands tug at my shoulders, I start to laugh. My forehead hits her shoulder as I can’t contain my laughter.
“I really must get on that tear-away suit idea immediately,” I say in-between breaths of laughter.
“We should probably clue Jacks in on the new business developments.”
“Oh, he already knew you would say yes,” I say, standing to remove my jacket.
“He did, did he?” She quirks her eyebrow as she leans up on her elbows.
“He had a hunch that you would.”
“I don’t want to talk about Jacks anymore.”
“You brought him up,” I retort.
“I had work mode switched on.”
“Then can you get on those red fuck-me shoes?” I halt in the middle of removing my shirt to see her reaction. She gives me a playful, yet slightly evil, look that says not tonight, bucko. “Fair enough,” I say, continuing the removal of clothing.
***
“So, a few more months of you dancing. When are you going to tell the club?”
“Soon. I want to open up my time a lot more to do some meetings, some hiring, and some add-ins for the location. I also want to do a few more shows since I have been working on something new. Think I can talk you into attending another show?” I ask.
We’re lying in her bed after waking up from a nap. Her body is halfway resting on mine, her leg is thrown across mine, her head is on my chest, her fingers are dragging softly across my abdomen.
“I’ll think about it.”