Page 3 of The Bathhouse (Roosters #10)

Twenty years later…

Reed Barton pushed aside the remnants of his breakfast and opened his laptop.

Flexing his fingers over the keyboard, he was ready to confirm his upcoming travel plans, but his concentration wandered.

Enticing photos promised exotic treats in the Philippines.

Beautiful boys with bronzed skin and black hair beckoned.

Memories flooded his mind, and his gaze shifted to the rain battering the bay window in the dining room.

The downpour reminded him of the day he’d lost his virginity to a Filipino man in a gay bathhouse.

Reed had frequented the bathhouse often, but he never saw Babyboy again.

He hooked up with other men, but at those times he would think of Babyboy and wonder if the Filipino ever thought of him.

Years had passed and he’d had many sex partners since then, but that day had left a deep impression and drove Reed to recreate the experience again and again.

As he grew older he grew harder, distancing himself from others and building walls around his feelings. Through the years his walls grew higher and stronger.

Stop looking for love from others , Reed told himself.

So what if no one loved him? It was okay.

At least no one could hurt him. Besides, love was about as real as a fairytale.

Nobody could love him the way he wanted, because no one knew him better than himself.

If he loved himself, he didn’t need love from anybody else. Only self-love was real.

He prioritized his needs and wants, refusing to settle for less than he deserved. Devoting himself to the family business, he learned to depend on just one person, himself. It was better that way. He didn’t have to give a shit about anyone. Except Claire, of course. She was blood.

“Reed!”

Reed’s head jerked up and he opened his eyes. His sister’s voice still held the power to command his attention.

Claire waved a perfectly manicured hand in front of his face. “Earth calling.”

Reed straightened his shoulders. “Sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“I shouldn’t wonder, what with all this pandemic business going on. You need to reconsider your travel plans.”

The words coming out of her mouth pissed him off, but it was more than that. Something about her tone, or the inflection, hurt his ears. It all brought back unpleasant childhood memories.

He spoke a bit more sharply than he’d intended, but Claire provoked him. “No. Absolutely not.”

Claire was overbearing, much like their father.

Their mother had been a saint, but she had died of cancer when they were young.

Dear old dad had been MIA for most of their lives, until he died from a massive heart attack.

Older than Reed by eight years, Claire used her higher ranking to mother him, “smother him” more like it, and she still felt the need to run his life.

Reed had planned to escape before Claire came downstairs, but he’d lingered over breakfast too long; another downside to sharing the house with Claire.

It was getting harder to avoid her, but he’d become too comfortable in the family home and hated the thought of moving.

His usual escape was the business, but he’d become lost in his fantasies.

He’d become a dreamer. It was high time to get out of the house and make some new memories.

Reed softened his tone. “I was thinking about the business, and it kept me up all night.”

Claire peered over his shoulder at the laptop screen. “So, you’re still planning to travel to the Philippines?”

“Yes. My flight leaves this evening, but I’m going to the office first. I need to make preparations for my absence.”

“You’re being foolish, putting your health at risk.”

Reed spoke through gritted teeth. “We have business interests there and it’s been too long since I’ve visited. I can only do so much on a Zoom meeting. I need to be there in person.”

“You can wait a little longer.”

“I thought we agreed that you would run the properties and I would run the business.”

“We did, and we do, but if you won’t take better care of yourself, then I have to step in. What if something happens to you?”

“There’s no need to worry. Nothing will happen to me. I’m vaccinated and free to travel again.”

Claire frowned and took a seat at the table. “We’re not at pre-pandemic levels yet.”

The Filipina housekeeper Rosamie appeared with Claire’s breakfast.

“There are still uncertainties and risk,” Claire continued. “Especially when traveling to third world countries.”

Rosamie kept a stoic expression as Claire ticked off items on her fingers. “Congestion, high poverty, crime, corruption, and most importantly, a lack of quality health care. Am I right, Rosamie?”

“Yes, Ms. Claire. Will there be anything else?”

“No, you may leave.”

Reed sighed heavily. Rosamie could hardly disagree with Claire. She’d come to the States to escape those very things.

“I’ll be staying in Manila at a five-star hotel. I don’t anticipate any problems. And it’s imperative that I check on things personally.”

“Well, go if you must. But call me every night, or I’ll worry.”

“Right then.” Reed slipped his laptop into the briefcase. “I’m off. The driver is waiting.”

“That’s not a proper goodbye.”

Reed gave her a quick peck on the cheek and made a hasty retreat. As the front door closed behind him, he felt an exhilarating sense of freedom.

Thank God for Barton Business Machines. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company had been in the family for years, but it had stagnated under his father’s management because the old man wasn’t interested in global expansion.

When Reed took over after his father’s death, he expanded into foreign markets.

He chose the Philippines for personal reasons, but there was no doubt the business benefited.

Most Filipinos spoke English and they provided excellent customer support.

Starting the Barton Call Center was a no-brainer.

Other companies started to utilize Barton’s services.

It was a Win-Win scenario for everyone. And best of all, Reed had a ready excuse to travel to the Philippines and escape Claire’s… Mom-ism, he thought with a sour grin.

Then the pandemic had arrived, limiting travel and keeping him home. Thank God travel restrictions had eased. He was more than ready to fly the coop. There were long hours until takeoff, but they’d be spent in the office.

* * *

Reed flew first class, and he expected the ultimate in luxury. He treated himself well, and why not? He had the money. The airlines charged a hefty price, but he could well afford the cost, and it was a business expense.

Reed boarded the plane and looked around. The seating didn’t disappoint. The service… Well, that was another story. It appeared that there was a smaller attendant-to-passenger ratio than in the past.

On previous flights, Reed had been treated like royalty.

He even had his own personal flight attendant who offered him top-notch food on real dishes, and any kind of cocktail he wanted.

Now a dedicated cabin crew of two women cared for twelve people in first class.

Unacceptable. Not even a personal greeting when he boarded and ten minutes later, still no acknowledgement of his presence.

The lack of service irritated him. Apparently, the pandemic still affected the travel industry.

It seemed a lot of employees hadn’t come back to work, or they’d gone on to greener pastures.

Well, that wasn’t his problem. Too bad everyone didn’t run a tight ship like he did.

Frustrated, Reed grabbed the arm of one of the flight attendants as she passed. “I’d like a glass of champagne.”

She yanked her arm back and gave him an irritated look. “We’re not ready to serve drinks yet.”

Then she walked away, no apology, not another word. A few minutes passed until she got on the PA and made a long-winded announcement about the flight being delayed. A series of moans and groans ensued, which were ignored. An excruciating thirty minutes passed.

At last, the plane took off and Reed settled back with his glass of champagne. He readied himself for a flight from hell.

Fortunately, the champagne relaxed him, and he managed a little sleep on the fifteen-hour flight from San Francisco to Manila. Still, the flight seemed interminable. It didn’t help that he was so anxious to immerse himself in the Pearl of the Orient.

Owning a successful company that specialized in engineering solutions had made him a millionaire, but what good was money when a man couldn’t spend some of it on his favorite pursuits?

The excuse for the trip was business, but stress relief was a priority, and he wasn’t thinking meditation or yoga.

Sex had always been his best stress reliever, only lately he hadn’t been getting enough, and his partners hadn’t been ideal.

Reed’s homosexuality was a closely guarded secret. He escorted Claire to most society parties and business dinners. She always complained, but in reality Claire was only too happy to serve as his date. It was another way to involve herself in his personal life and the business.

To keep up appearances he occasionally utilized a high-end escort service that promised discretion.

Reed’s temporary companions were attractive and well educated.

Their roleplay when they accompanied him to fundraisers and charity events was so effective that associates would often ask Reed if the relationship was serious. He laughed thinking about it.

At any rate, friends and family had long since given up on matchmaking. They told him he was too picky. His response was always, “It’s wise to be as choosy picking a companion as when selecting a car.”