Page 5 of Daddy's Little Drummer Boy
I never took time off, not because I didn’t want to but because every time I planned a vacation, something came up at the office, and I had to cancel. I’d learned only to make refundable plans after losing deposits on resorts and the price of a few plane tickets. So…I knew how much time was on the books for me.
“I-I’ll have to check.” Okay, so she knew too. It was in my file, on the screen she had been consulting while we spoke. And she was afraid I’d take it all right now and leave them scrambling for someone to do my work for three months. She should be concerned. It was sounding like a really good idea. “Can I get back to you?”
“No need. I can tell you. Twelve weeks. I haven’t had a day off in years. And since you seem to be having trouble figuring this out, may I remind you that I can either take the time off orrequest a full payout on the hours instead—to be paid within the calendar year of the request. So…before the end of the month.”
“Are you going to do that?” She was wheezing. “I mean, either of those things?”
I stood and shrugged. “I don’t know. As you can imagine, I’m quite disappointed that I got such a glowing review—again—and am still not being granted the promotion I was promised.” I held up a hand as she began to speak. “Whether it is in the file or not, it was a verbal agreement, and any attorney would drag my old boss back from wherever he’d been moved and bring him in for a deposition. Not that I’m saying I will do that either. I’m just very”—I stood up and turned toward the door, calling over my shoulder—“very disappointed.”
I stood outside in the hallway, my heart pounding harder than I could ever remember. I prided myself on my self-control, and I’d ridden frighteningly close to crossing a line. I still had a job—probably. But I needed to make a lot of decisions because I’d clearly hit a dead end at this company.
Decision one: I would do my job but nobody else’s. Their emergencies and lack of planning were not my issues. No extra trips, no stepping up to be temporary supervisor, something I’d seen happen in other departments. Where you did the job without the actual title or benefits of any kind.
The rest could wait until after the holidays.
I went back to my office and tried to work, but my mind was reeling at the betrayal. Who would be the next supervisor? The president’s cousin? The CEO’s daughter? Whoever they were, they would find a smiling cooperative person ready to fulfill their job description. And not one iota more. And maybe I’d take at least a few days off to enjoy the holidays.
But where? My family was far away and they all had their own plans for the holidays. My parents, for example, were going on a long-desired cruise. They’d talked of visiting tropicalislands and partying on shipboard ever since I gave them the trip as a holiday gift last year. And with me always too busy to go home, it was even more of a dream come true. Next year, it would be different. I’d spend it with family instead of in a hotel eating room service or delivered Chinese food.
I decided to spend the evening at the home I’d found here in this place, Chained. It was sure to help me lighten up and appreciate the holiday season. A chat with friends, maybe an hour or so in the little room were just what the doctor ordered.
If it had been decorated before, it looked like a troop of elves had paraded through here, filling the place with the Christmas spirit. The entry area was hung with garland and even had a tree in the corner. It was charming, and I paused to take in the lights surrounding the doorway to the rest of the club. Gorgeous!
“Welcome, sir,” the subbie manning the front desk this evening said. “I hope you enjoy your night.”
“I do too,” I replied, smiling despite myself. “Are you one of Santa’s elves?” He wore a pair of red shorts trimmed with fur, and red leather straps crisscrossed over his chest.
“Santa isn’t here tonight, but if he were, I’d be the first to sign up to go over his lap.” His perky grin had probably gotten him more than one trip over someone’s lap, but it was not my business to correct him. His dom, who I knew was quite strict, would handle that situation.
“And that would no doubt attract a crowd.” The sub was also known to be quite the exhibitionist. “So I will wish you a fulfilling evening after you finish your shift out here.”
“Thank you, sir.” He accepted my phone and locked it up then I paraded on into the club and found my friends in our favorite conversation area.
The group was all abuzz about something, daddies and littles alike, and I took a seat and placed an order for a drinkfrom a passing server, settling in to figure out what they were so excited about.
“It’s going to be so much fun, Daddy.” Hudson, wearing red short shorts and a tee emblazoned with the face of the daddiest Santa ever, bounced on his knees in front of Bridger. “I am going to eat all the candy.”
“Maybe not all of it,” his daddy chided. “But I’m sure there will be plenty to go around.”
“What is this candy event?” I asked. “Is it something I would like to go to?”
Hudson turned toward me, eyes wide and sparkling. “Oh, yes, Daddy Nick. It’s the Little Christmas, and you have to come, too.”
“You sure there will be candy?”
Lane, whose daddy Elio had stepped away to the bar, nodded. “So much candy and hot cocoa, and Santa is coming.”
“Well, if Santa will be there, how can I say no?”
Chapter Five
Bobby
I woke up before the sun, excited about the party at Chained. I’d looked it up on their website, and everything about it sounded like it was going to be a ton of fun. Sure, I was working and not a guest, but that was a good thing.
Today was me stepping into the club without any pressure—no worrying about whether I had to find someone to play with, or what would happen if a daddy asked me to play and I didn’t want to, or what to do if nobody wanted to play with me. All of that pressure was gone. All I had to do was be a good Little Drummer Boy. That was easy.
All I had to do was look like a Christmas drummer, probably guard Santa the way I did at the mall, and let some littles bang on my drum. It was going to be great.
