The Time Of Your Life - Part Two of The Great Dane Saga by Alp Mortal
Categories: Contemporary Romance | Gay
Word Count: 31,627 Heat Rating: 2 Price: $ .99 Available here:
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Meet Dane Danois - the most fabulous gay man in the Universe ... in his own, never humble opinion. A man driven to live life to the full, and if there's a chance that he can help a friend along the way, he will. A sharp-suited, sharp-witted, sometimes reckless, sometimes dangerous, always intoxicating agent of change ... and loyal to a T. However, this exacting approach to life - and love - does little to encourage Mr Right to make himself known - Dane’s search continues.
In The Time Of Your Life, Dane is at a crossroads, having just heard that the company to which he has devoted the last four years of his professional life is about to close down. Timing being almost everything, in walks Eugene, a young, keen, software engineer. Together they embark on an audacious plan to create the world’s most exclusive gay dating service. Knowing that he has to change his lifestyle to attract the perfect mate, Dane turns to friend/therapist Anton for advice. However, just as Dane reconciles himself to the prospect of drinking tea and doing yoga, a man whom he has frequently seen at Cybil’s soirees suddenly declares his attraction, leaving Dane with the choice of all choices to make. The Great Dane Saga charts the life of Dane Danois, and his many and varied friendships and relationships over the course of a 40 year period. The six parts of the story do not run in strict chronological order. That is because the story was never going to be a saga, but after I finished part one (Too Much Too Little Too Late), it was clear that Dane was not going to shut up until I had written down everything he wanted to say - he was a poor narrator. Dane is neither wholly good nor wholly bad - he is just Dane - perfect in his imperfections. The six parts of The Great Dane Saga originally appeared in 2013, in single volumes, and then in the compendium titled All The World. All volumes were removed from the shelf in 2014 for re-editing. The six individual volumes, and the compendium, will re-appear during the course of 2016. I am always very happy to receive your feedback. If you wish to contact me directly, please email me at: [email protected]. Visit the website, www.alpmortal.weebly.com, for updates on the next gay romantic story or crime thriller which I am working on. Thank you, Alp Mortal |
Chapter One – Is it time to open up shop?
I toyed with my cup; it was preferable to actually having to decide to do anything, anything positive or useful. I didn’t even want another coffee; things were at that stage. I was contemplating what Mark had said just an hour ago.
“We’re closing up shop; market’s too tough ...”
Four years of cut and thrust were finally coming to an end. Perhaps it’s time to set up my own shop. It’s June, so pleasant, and I was seated at one of the café’s pavement tables, looking down at my cup, watching how the light played across the galvanised table top, following the shadows crisscrossing it as people walked past.
“Excuse me,” said a shadow which had stopped in front of me. I looked up at the man.
“Yes; can I help you?”
“I’m looking for this address,” he said, pointing to his map, adding, “36 Wardour Street.”
“Go down to the end, turn right, and it’s on the right; opposite the shop that sells the over-sized dildos - can’t miss it.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” I said with a pancake-thin smile and a pale attempt at cordiality.
“What to do?” I asked myself, kind of mumbling; the thoughts circling like the painted horses on the carousel. They ate another fifteen minutes of mental fodder.
I know myself; it’s the benefit of therapy. The point of acting was almost upon me. It’s like fusion, and nothing on Earth is going to stop it once it starts. It’s just a matter of deciding when to start. I’m a great believer in timing, which has to be just right. I swallowed and looked up, turning my head from side-to-side to scan the street - he was walking back, looking confused or maybe bemused but definitely not amused.
He approached.
“It was closed ...”
“What was it you were looking for exactly?”
“The offices of Wirelock.”
“Sorry; I don’t know them, but in this market, probably shut up - mine did today.”
“Oh; sorry ... It’s just I had a ... was expecting ...”
“Don’t you have a number you can call?”
“Tried that - dead.”
“Would you like a coffee?”
“Uhm, yeah - normally I only drink tea but maybe a coffee; thanks.”
“Sit down; I’ll be two shakes ...”
I grabbed a coffee for him - a white Americano, my instincts said - and a double espresso for myself. The engine needs its fuel!
“There you go ... So; what are you going to do?”
“Go home, I suppose.”
“Where do you live?”
“Cambridge.”
“Oh; it’s nice there. I’ve got friends in St. Neots.”
“Thing is, I gave up the job, and I’ve only got two days left on the flat. This was meant to sort everything!”
Panic was definitely beginning to set in.
“What was it you were going to be doing for them?”
“I design relational databases.”
Timing is everything!
“Really? Well; let’s not waste all that pointless preparation ... Name?”
“Sorry?”
“I’m interviewing you.”
“For what?”
“A job.”
“Working for whom?”
“Me.”
“I thought you just lost your job.”
“I did; time to start up my own show ... So; name?”
“Eugene.”
“I like that; age?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Ambition - oh forget that; of course, you are. Are you gay?”
“Uhm; yes; you’re not supposed to ask that.”
“It’s important for the job; single?”
“Single.”
“Salary expectations?”
“200 a day.”
“Can you dance?”
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s important for the job.”
“Reasonable; I don’t go out that much.”
“Favourite TV series?”
“... Farscape...”
“Really? Excellent; mine’s The Six Million Dollar Man but Ben Browder does have the cuter arse ...”
“Than who?”
“Lee Majors ... Don’t worry; I’m twice your age. We’ll employ an interpreter if things get too difficult. When can you start - oh, yeah; immediately!”
“Is this a joke?”
“It could be if you want to go back to Cambridge, find another job in this market, and find somewhere to live while looking for another job - that would be a joke ... It could be that you’re about to have the time of your life.”
“What is it you’re planning to do exactly?”
“Set up the most exclusive gay dating service ever.”
“Is that why you asked me if I was gay?”
“No. I’m employing you as a relational database designer.”
“So why is being gay important?”
“I can’t live with a straight man - a straight or gay woman, yes - although not too butch ... I’m not fighting over the shaving socket. Nor anyone undecided; the bathroom isn’t that big.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m offering you a place to stay, in my two bedroom apartment in Bayswater.”
“You’re offering me a job and a place to stay?”
“Yes; but I work very, very hard. It won’t be a joyride - not the work - but I play incredibly hard - after the work is done ... and I’ll pay 250 a day.”
“This is a joke, isn’t it?”
“No; you caught me at a point; the point at which I had made up my mind. Now; do you have any questions?”
“What’s your name?”
“Dane.”
“Single?”
“Yes.”
“Where will we work?”
“Sounds like there’s an office to rent in Wardour Street.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Yes ... and I can dance. I rarely sleep, drink twenty or more shots of coffee a day, love champagne and vodka, smoke Black Russians, have a house on Jersey, have a therapist - he’s wonderful ... currently invested in a fashion label but about to pull out of that ...”
“You’re serious about all of this?”
“Absolutely! Go home and pack and be at this address tomorrow between four and five. Do you have a decent laptop?”
“Yes.”
“Good; one less thing to sort today.”
“What if everything flops?”
“It’s never happened, but if it does, then we’ll decamp to Paris or NYC and start over.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“Which should have been the first and is the only relevant question! Eve, got a minute?”
Eve emerged from the café.
“Dane ...”
“I’m offering this chap a job and a place to stay; he’s been shamefully let down. He wants to know if he can trust me.”
“You can trust Dane to do exactly what he says. If you’re planning to work for him, I hope you’re ready for the time of your life. What was that other guy’s name?”
“Angelo.”
“Oh, yeah - House of Angels. It’s doing really well, isn’t it?”
“Fabulously.”
“Are you doing the kitchen on Saturday?”
“You bet!”
“Colin coming?”
“Don’t fish; I don’t know ... Anyway, he’s spoken for.”
Eve went back in, chuckling to herself.
“So; happier now?”
“I guess ... tomorrow between four and five?”
“Yes; please don’t be late. I’ll get premises today, and you’ll need to be ready to start on Thursday morning at eight o’clock sharp. I want a working database with a web-enabled front-end by the end of the following week.”
“Fuck!”
“Never on a first date. Can you deliver?”
“I think so.”
“The answer was yes.”
“Yes.”
“Excellent! Right; things to do. I’ll walk with you to the station, and we need to upgrade that phone of yours; my godsons have better ones and they’re not even five yet!”
We walked back towards Tottenham Court Road and popped into my phone store.
“Dane!”
“Coln! How are you?”
“Very well, thank you. Why are you here? You’re not due an upgrade.”
“I’m not but he is - on my account, with the usual services and text unlimited - the black handset; prestige number and itemised billing.”
“Give me a tick,” Coln said as he headed into the back of the store.
“The black handset isn’t available yet,” suggested Eugene.
“Not to the likes of them,” pointing outside, “it is to the likes of us.”
“I was one of them up to thirty seconds ago.”
“No; you were never one of them ... even when you thought you were. You’re special and you’re going to do amazing things, earn a small fortune, meet the men of your dreams, and have so much fun!”
“Why did you-”
“Don’t ask; I never ask - it’s the Universal Power at work.”
“Right ...”
“Here we go,” said Coln, emerging from the back, “all ready to go.”
“Say thank you to the nice man, and get your arse back to Cambridge.”
“Thank you!”
“See you tomorrow - between four and five. I need to talk to Coln about our service needs for the office.”
“You’re really doing it?”
“We are so absolutely doing this - now run!”
Eugene left; he stood outside for a minute, looking bewildered, but then there was the change; I could see it as he straightened up and marched off. That’s my boy!
“Coln ...”
“Dane, what do you need?”
We spent the next hour sorting out the services for the office.
“As soon as I’ve seen Jake, I’ll call you to confirm the address. Thanks, Coln.”
“Always a pleasure - oh; by the way ... here’s something for you ...”
He handed me a special edition iPod - the latest thing. Apparently, the ‘skin’ was designed by Stacey. Personally, I thought she had more taste and better things to do.
“Oh; that’s nice.”
“Supplier left it; never use them myself.”
“Thanks.”
I nipped in to see Jake about the premises.
“Need front reception, twin offices, consulting room, studio and shower, blah, blah, blah.”
“Serviced?”
“No; absolutely not! Oh; you meant the office ... Must be self-contained - ideally within Soho - ground floor or must have a lift and must have a courtyard ... 36 Wardour Street has just come free, a little bird tells me-”
“How the fuck do you know that?”
“Birds tell me things ... Me thinks a moonlight flit with money owing on the lease?”
“Yeah; bit of a mess inside.”
“Software engineers - scum of the earth! So; can I have it?”
“Length of lease?”
“One year.”
“Landlord won’t be happy.”
“Rent in advance and I’ll sort out the mess but only if I can have the keys tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.”
“Jesus, Dane! What do you eat for breakfast?”
“Three twinks ... Now; deal?”
“Oh; go on then.”
“I’ll need the parking space,” I said while twiddling with the iPod.
“The parking space; that’s impossible ... What’s that?”
“Yours if I get the parking space; it’s the latest one out - no one has it.”
“Christ! Give it to me!!”
“Parking space?”
“Deal!”
“Thanks ... So; Susie ... second date?”
“I’d love to; not sure she’s as keen.”
“She’s keen - Joshua is the issue you have to address.”
“He has special needs; I haven’t spent any time with a kid like that. It was difficult.”
“Call this guy; he’s a specialist. He’ll help you to improve your interaction skills. Once you get past the blank wall, you’ll see that Joshua is just like every other kid that age.”
“Thanks, Dane.”
“Keys at nine?”
“Yes; okay! Give me that damn thing!”
I had sorted the premises and the services and the software designer, what’s left? Ah; the best bit - the company ‘name’. I needed help with that and there is only one person one need ask. I sped around to see Cybil.
I toyed with my cup; it was preferable to actually having to decide to do anything, anything positive or useful. I didn’t even want another coffee; things were at that stage. I was contemplating what Mark had said just an hour ago.
“We’re closing up shop; market’s too tough ...”
Four years of cut and thrust were finally coming to an end. Perhaps it’s time to set up my own shop. It’s June, so pleasant, and I was seated at one of the café’s pavement tables, looking down at my cup, watching how the light played across the galvanised table top, following the shadows crisscrossing it as people walked past.
“Excuse me,” said a shadow which had stopped in front of me. I looked up at the man.
“Yes; can I help you?”
“I’m looking for this address,” he said, pointing to his map, adding, “36 Wardour Street.”
“Go down to the end, turn right, and it’s on the right; opposite the shop that sells the over-sized dildos - can’t miss it.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” I said with a pancake-thin smile and a pale attempt at cordiality.
“What to do?” I asked myself, kind of mumbling; the thoughts circling like the painted horses on the carousel. They ate another fifteen minutes of mental fodder.
I know myself; it’s the benefit of therapy. The point of acting was almost upon me. It’s like fusion, and nothing on Earth is going to stop it once it starts. It’s just a matter of deciding when to start. I’m a great believer in timing, which has to be just right. I swallowed and looked up, turning my head from side-to-side to scan the street - he was walking back, looking confused or maybe bemused but definitely not amused.
He approached.
“It was closed ...”
“What was it you were looking for exactly?”
“The offices of Wirelock.”
“Sorry; I don’t know them, but in this market, probably shut up - mine did today.”
“Oh; sorry ... It’s just I had a ... was expecting ...”
“Don’t you have a number you can call?”
“Tried that - dead.”
“Would you like a coffee?”
“Uhm, yeah - normally I only drink tea but maybe a coffee; thanks.”
“Sit down; I’ll be two shakes ...”
I grabbed a coffee for him - a white Americano, my instincts said - and a double espresso for myself. The engine needs its fuel!
“There you go ... So; what are you going to do?”
“Go home, I suppose.”
“Where do you live?”
“Cambridge.”
“Oh; it’s nice there. I’ve got friends in St. Neots.”
“Thing is, I gave up the job, and I’ve only got two days left on the flat. This was meant to sort everything!”
Panic was definitely beginning to set in.
“What was it you were going to be doing for them?”
“I design relational databases.”
Timing is everything!
“Really? Well; let’s not waste all that pointless preparation ... Name?”
“Sorry?”
“I’m interviewing you.”
“For what?”
“A job.”
“Working for whom?”
“Me.”
“I thought you just lost your job.”
“I did; time to start up my own show ... So; name?”
“Eugene.”
“I like that; age?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Ambition - oh forget that; of course, you are. Are you gay?”
“Uhm; yes; you’re not supposed to ask that.”
“It’s important for the job; single?”
“Single.”
“Salary expectations?”
“200 a day.”
“Can you dance?”
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s important for the job.”
“Reasonable; I don’t go out that much.”
“Favourite TV series?”
“... Farscape...”
“Really? Excellent; mine’s The Six Million Dollar Man but Ben Browder does have the cuter arse ...”
“Than who?”
“Lee Majors ... Don’t worry; I’m twice your age. We’ll employ an interpreter if things get too difficult. When can you start - oh, yeah; immediately!”
“Is this a joke?”
“It could be if you want to go back to Cambridge, find another job in this market, and find somewhere to live while looking for another job - that would be a joke ... It could be that you’re about to have the time of your life.”
“What is it you’re planning to do exactly?”
“Set up the most exclusive gay dating service ever.”
“Is that why you asked me if I was gay?”
“No. I’m employing you as a relational database designer.”
“So why is being gay important?”
“I can’t live with a straight man - a straight or gay woman, yes - although not too butch ... I’m not fighting over the shaving socket. Nor anyone undecided; the bathroom isn’t that big.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m offering you a place to stay, in my two bedroom apartment in Bayswater.”
“You’re offering me a job and a place to stay?”
“Yes; but I work very, very hard. It won’t be a joyride - not the work - but I play incredibly hard - after the work is done ... and I’ll pay 250 a day.”
“This is a joke, isn’t it?”
“No; you caught me at a point; the point at which I had made up my mind. Now; do you have any questions?”
“What’s your name?”
“Dane.”
“Single?”
“Yes.”
“Where will we work?”
“Sounds like there’s an office to rent in Wardour Street.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Yes ... and I can dance. I rarely sleep, drink twenty or more shots of coffee a day, love champagne and vodka, smoke Black Russians, have a house on Jersey, have a therapist - he’s wonderful ... currently invested in a fashion label but about to pull out of that ...”
“You’re serious about all of this?”
“Absolutely! Go home and pack and be at this address tomorrow between four and five. Do you have a decent laptop?”
“Yes.”
“Good; one less thing to sort today.”
“What if everything flops?”
“It’s never happened, but if it does, then we’ll decamp to Paris or NYC and start over.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“Which should have been the first and is the only relevant question! Eve, got a minute?”
Eve emerged from the café.
“Dane ...”
“I’m offering this chap a job and a place to stay; he’s been shamefully let down. He wants to know if he can trust me.”
“You can trust Dane to do exactly what he says. If you’re planning to work for him, I hope you’re ready for the time of your life. What was that other guy’s name?”
“Angelo.”
“Oh, yeah - House of Angels. It’s doing really well, isn’t it?”
“Fabulously.”
“Are you doing the kitchen on Saturday?”
“You bet!”
“Colin coming?”
“Don’t fish; I don’t know ... Anyway, he’s spoken for.”
Eve went back in, chuckling to herself.
“So; happier now?”
“I guess ... tomorrow between four and five?”
“Yes; please don’t be late. I’ll get premises today, and you’ll need to be ready to start on Thursday morning at eight o’clock sharp. I want a working database with a web-enabled front-end by the end of the following week.”
“Fuck!”
“Never on a first date. Can you deliver?”
“I think so.”
“The answer was yes.”
“Yes.”
“Excellent! Right; things to do. I’ll walk with you to the station, and we need to upgrade that phone of yours; my godsons have better ones and they’re not even five yet!”
We walked back towards Tottenham Court Road and popped into my phone store.
“Dane!”
“Coln! How are you?”
“Very well, thank you. Why are you here? You’re not due an upgrade.”
“I’m not but he is - on my account, with the usual services and text unlimited - the black handset; prestige number and itemised billing.”
“Give me a tick,” Coln said as he headed into the back of the store.
“The black handset isn’t available yet,” suggested Eugene.
“Not to the likes of them,” pointing outside, “it is to the likes of us.”
“I was one of them up to thirty seconds ago.”
“No; you were never one of them ... even when you thought you were. You’re special and you’re going to do amazing things, earn a small fortune, meet the men of your dreams, and have so much fun!”
“Why did you-”
“Don’t ask; I never ask - it’s the Universal Power at work.”
“Right ...”
“Here we go,” said Coln, emerging from the back, “all ready to go.”
“Say thank you to the nice man, and get your arse back to Cambridge.”
“Thank you!”
“See you tomorrow - between four and five. I need to talk to Coln about our service needs for the office.”
“You’re really doing it?”
“We are so absolutely doing this - now run!”
Eugene left; he stood outside for a minute, looking bewildered, but then there was the change; I could see it as he straightened up and marched off. That’s my boy!
“Coln ...”
“Dane, what do you need?”
We spent the next hour sorting out the services for the office.
“As soon as I’ve seen Jake, I’ll call you to confirm the address. Thanks, Coln.”
“Always a pleasure - oh; by the way ... here’s something for you ...”
He handed me a special edition iPod - the latest thing. Apparently, the ‘skin’ was designed by Stacey. Personally, I thought she had more taste and better things to do.
“Oh; that’s nice.”
“Supplier left it; never use them myself.”
“Thanks.”
I nipped in to see Jake about the premises.
“Need front reception, twin offices, consulting room, studio and shower, blah, blah, blah.”
“Serviced?”
“No; absolutely not! Oh; you meant the office ... Must be self-contained - ideally within Soho - ground floor or must have a lift and must have a courtyard ... 36 Wardour Street has just come free, a little bird tells me-”
“How the fuck do you know that?”
“Birds tell me things ... Me thinks a moonlight flit with money owing on the lease?”
“Yeah; bit of a mess inside.”
“Software engineers - scum of the earth! So; can I have it?”
“Length of lease?”
“One year.”
“Landlord won’t be happy.”
“Rent in advance and I’ll sort out the mess but only if I can have the keys tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.”
“Jesus, Dane! What do you eat for breakfast?”
“Three twinks ... Now; deal?”
“Oh; go on then.”
“I’ll need the parking space,” I said while twiddling with the iPod.
“The parking space; that’s impossible ... What’s that?”
“Yours if I get the parking space; it’s the latest one out - no one has it.”
“Christ! Give it to me!!”
“Parking space?”
“Deal!”
“Thanks ... So; Susie ... second date?”
“I’d love to; not sure she’s as keen.”
“She’s keen - Joshua is the issue you have to address.”
“He has special needs; I haven’t spent any time with a kid like that. It was difficult.”
“Call this guy; he’s a specialist. He’ll help you to improve your interaction skills. Once you get past the blank wall, you’ll see that Joshua is just like every other kid that age.”
“Thanks, Dane.”
“Keys at nine?”
“Yes; okay! Give me that damn thing!”
I had sorted the premises and the services and the software designer, what’s left? Ah; the best bit - the company ‘name’. I needed help with that and there is only one person one need ask. I sped around to see Cybil.
