Page 8 of Collin, Episodes 10-12 (The Residency Boys #4)

Alice crinkled up her nose, her way of revving up her thinking engines.

“Let me get this straight. You want to make a virtual environment where people can explore the possibility of changing an urban landscape so that other people can test the ideas out, talk about it, maybe even vote on their favorite parts. Like, down to what kind of stores are there and housing and transportation, all that.”

“I’m trying to find ways for people of all ages to think differently about cities they live in, mock up changes, and be able to share the experience with others.

It’s really hard to change people’s minds when they can’t even imagine something.

Why would they trust something they’ve never seen work? ”

“Virtual reality with those headsets would be amazing for this.”

“That’s an idea.” Collin scribbled a note to himself on a pad of paper.

“But I really do want to find a way to do this with environments that are being changed right now. You know how we can go to a science museum and do a moon experience or an underwater experience? I want to do that but for cities and make it exciting.”

“How much can I share with other people?”

“Leave out names and places, but ask about the concept. You can share the social aims but not company goals.”

“Okay. I’m going to talk to some people, and maybe somebody will know somebody.”

Collin finished his lunch and drank all of his grande latte.

No sugar but a double shot of espresso. He knew he probably shouldn’t have ordered it, but his brain had been so tired.

Now he was twice as jittery as before. His brain was going a mile a minute.

He headed back to Mr. Reevesworth’s office, cup in hand.

Mr. Reevesworth was clearing his desk. He looked up and glanced between Collin’s face and the cup and then back at Collin’s face again. He waited until Collin shut the door, then said, “Do you have any more appointments?”

“Etiquette class, no, wait, that was yesterday. Eliza has a stack of things for me to work on.”

“Need the toilet?”

“Yes, sir.”

Mr. Reevesworth reached for the key, motioning Collin close. “You need to take a break.”

“Not any more than you, sir.”

“I will be the judge of that, boy.”

“This is like half of what I used to do, sir. One job, no classes.”

“Mandarin, gym, and etiquette. Three classes.” He grabbed Collin by the belt and towed him into the restroom, shutting the door. “Not to mention you just had a trip, got assaulted, and are helping everyone.”

“It’s not that much.”

“It’s mental load, Collin. You need to learn to account for that.”

Collin blinked. He barely noticed as his master opened up his pants and pulled out his cock. “Mental load, sir?”

“It’s the strain that one has from keeping multiple projects, relationships, or new experiences moving forward. Like remembering to replace the toilet paper when it runs low. That’s a constant mental load that one carries even though you only occasionally buy toilet paper.”

“Oh.”

Mr. Reevesworth pointed Collin at the toilet.

“Your mental load includes keeping me informed about how your team is doing, all the many new tasks you have there, and learning the role, which is almost entirely new to you. You are also keeping track of how Veronica is handling the news cycle, how Ash is doing, where he’s sleeping, if he’s eating.

Learning a new language, building a new relationship with émeric.

Our relationship. We haven’t reset our contract yet. ”

Collin slapped himself in the face. “I forgot. How did I forget? That’s so important.”

“Because your mental load has significantly expanded since we made that commitment and your relationship with émeric isn’t under threat but other things are. We prioritize what appears to be a potential loss.”

Collin closed his eyes, shoulders slumped. “I still feel like an idiot. Is Mr. Moreau upset?”

“No. He’s also under significant strain, having taken on an emergency contract with Reevesworth Industries overnight.

” Mr. Reevesworth hugged Collin from behind and slipped Collin’s belt back through his buckle.

“We will be taking time to talk this weekend though. Most of the fires are well controlled by now or not going to be controlled and must be allowed to burn. We’re all going to take a breather on Saturday, but we’re going to start calming down today. ”

That’s not possible. There’s so much still to do.

Mr. Reevesworth turned Collin around. “Nothing is going to break if we take care of ourselves and treat ourselves well. That’s part of our secret weapon, not getting run down and getting witless.”

Collin colored to the roots of his hair. “When you put it that way, sir.”

“You are still recovering.” Mr. Reevesworth stroked Collin’s nose. “Just because there is a potential threat doesn’t mean we have to work harder in the face of it. Often, we actually need to stop and breathe.”

Collin sucked in a deep lungful of air. “I don’t like slowing down when there’s a problem, sir. It makes me itch.”

“We’ll get through it. We have teams in place. We’ve hired more people; we have the lay of the land in terms of our new problems. We are taking the weekend off.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.” Mr. Reevesworth slapped Collin’s ass. “Go do what Eliza really needs you to do, and then go see émeric. Holden is your security for the afternoon. He already has the address and instructions to take you over there when you’re ready.”

“I’ve never been to Mr. Moreau’s office, sir.”

“He has two of them. But today he’s at his foundation and consulting agency. They work out of the same space.”

Collin managed to finish up everything urgent by three.

If anything, Eliza looked a little impressed.

Veronica gave him a big grin as he handed his part of one project over to her so she could get started on implementing a new overlay.

Even Katharine gave him a shy smile and pulled her hair back behind her ear so she could see him.

“Anyone need anything else from me before I run?” Collin asked. He held his breath. Please say no, please say no.

Veronica shook her head.

Eliza’s phone beeped and she spun away on her chair, grabbing it and taking the call.

Katharine bit her lip and waved with her fingers. “Have fun.”

Holden, on security for the day, was waiting for him in the lobby, talking to Carrie. Carrie’s eyes were bright, but she ducked her head and looked away as Collin approached. Holden looked a little sheepish, but his eyes were soft as he sent one last look in Carrie’s direction.

Not mentioning it. Keeping it to myself. Collin forced his eyes not to linger but just gave them both the brightest smile that he could manage when he wanted to yawn his head off. “Mr. Moreau’s office?”

“I have the address right here, sir.”

“Awesome.” Collin patted himself down, checking for wallet and phone and realized he was wearing neither his hat nor his overcoat. With snow falling outside, that was not a good call. “I’ll be right back.”

Mr. Moreau’s foundation and consulting agency had a very small suite of offices in a modern, all-glass high-rise six blocks south of the Reevesworth Industries office building.

Even so, Collin and Holden took a car to avoid the reporters and others; however, the cool wet weather had chased most of them off.

Holden accompanied Collin into the high-rise and up the elevator, but as they entered the tiny lobby of the agency, he peeled off into the waiting area.

A large man in all black and wearing a gun sat in one of the chairs near the front desk.

Holden greeted him with a nod. He looked familiar, so he was probably Mr. Moreau’s security for the afternoon.

A few of the men had changed out recently, and Collin was only starting to get them all memorized again

The office suite had been designed with understated elegance: royal blue rugs on reclaimed wood planking and soft textured wallpaper in cream and parchment tones, hinting at classic European motifs.

The lighting came from wall scones and ambient panels.

There were no overhead light fixtures. The seats were all slightly lower than one would normally see and covered in bronze-colored upholstery.

The front desk faced the entrance. The seating was all to the right of the entrance, and a small hallway stretched away to the left.

A diminutive man behind the front desk stood up, adjusting his glasses. If he was five foot three, it would be a shock. White hair dusted his temples and accentuated his Southeast Asian features. He greeted Collin with a strong accent. “Mr. Ryker?”

“That’s me.” Collin stepped up to the desk. “I’m here to see Mr. Moreau.”

The receptionist reached for his desk phone. “One moment, sir.”

“I’ll be out here with Whittaker if you need to leave, sir,” Holden put in.

“Thank you.” Collin smiled and nodded.

Holden checked the area one more time and moved closer to the seating area.

The receptionist put down the phone and adjusted his glasses again, peering at Collin. “Last door on the right, sir. Mr. Moreau is ready to see you.”

Collin didn’t have to knock on Mr. Moreau’s door. It opened as he approached. Mr. Moreau, looking a little worse for wear, tie slightly askew, smiled widely. “Collin.”

“Sir.” Collin’s smile was automatic as was the burst of relief in his chest. Just seeing his sir brought an abrupt end to his tension.

He stepped into the room, and Mr. Moreau shut the door behind them.

He crowded Collin up against the wall, slipping a knee between Collin’s thighs and grasping Collin’s biceps in each of his hands.

His lips were on Collin’s without preamble, stealing Collin’s breath right out of his mouth.

Collin whimpered into the kiss, bucking with his hips, trying to get closer. Mr. Moreau didn’t let him up until his tongue had thoroughly mapped the inside of Collin’s mouth.

“You had fried rice for lunch.”

Collin flushed. “Yes, sir.”