Working 9 to 5. And 5 to...

You’d think with no actual stock yet there wouldn’t be much to do but that couldn’t be further from the truth. My to-do list never seems to be getting any smaller but with Aor’s help, we are making our way through it at an ever-increasing pace. I have to admit that setting up this business with Aor has been a stroke of genius. The drive and determination she is putting into the start-up phase have me blown away. I don’t think I’d be anywhere near ready for our first shipment next week without her. All at the same time as she taking such dutiful and loving care of Nuk.

Later in the day, I get a message from Dawn asking if she can get a lift into The Loft with me once she has dropped the van off. I tell her that’s fine before checking to see if she needs a lift home after work too. She and Lawan are planning on going out after she finishes work. The two teens keen to go do some karaoke together after having seen and heard some videos Piya send the group chat of her first night in Tokyo.

With the arrival of Dawn, I save my work to my desktop and lean back in my chair to give my eyes a chance to rest after having focused on a computer screen all day. I hazard a guess that Dawn might have been disappointed to have caught Aor and I working and not doing anything else.

“I can’t believe how much there is to do,” Aor comments. Her work for the day completed too.

“It’s only going to get busier, at least I hope so,” I say. A lot resting on how things go from here on.

“Is it bad that I wish the shipment was here already? I could do with a drink after all that,” Aor says as she stifles in a yawn.

“Come to The Loft with us,” Dawn quickly suggests. “I know the owner and I’m pretty sure he could get you a free drink.”

“That may be your best idea yet,” Aor agrees nodding. “That wouldn’t be a problem, would it? I mean the place isn’t open yet.”

“Not at all. You know you are always welcome there. Doesn’t matter if it’s opening hours or not,” I tell her.

It will take Aor a little while longer to get ready to leave with Nuk so Dawn and I set off before her. Aor saying she will lock the place up and meet us there. As Dawn and I make our way through the staff entrance into The Loft, I’m surprised to see Yui and her mother sitting together at one of the tables. Dawn goes to get changed and get ready for work as I make my way towards Yui. She sees me coming and smiles full-heartedly. Standing up I am given a warm loving kiss on the lips and a hug from Yui before receiving a hug from her mother also.

“What are you doing here?” I ask. Happy to see Yui at any time.

“Surprise!” Yui says with a big smile as she steps back in to hug me again after her mum. “Daddy had business with the girls so I asked if I could tag along. We’re all going out for a family dinner when he’s done. Can you join us?”

“I’d love to,” I say, “but I really have to work here sorry.”

Yui nods. She knows how full my schedule is, much like hers with teaching, the gym and her online presence. “I’ll come and see you after work them?”

“That would be perfect.”

Yui turns to her mum and quickly tells her in Thai that she will be spending the night at mine again tonight. Her mum nods accepting without complaint.

“Just me this time,” Yui adds as I get another kiss.

I let Yui know that Aor is on her way in before excusing myself to go and see Holly, Jessica and Mr Pat. I tell her to see Dawn for whatever the three of them want when she comes back out and make my way to the office. I’m just about to leave the public area of the club when I run into Kiet Pat making his way out carrying an old leather briefcase.

“There’s my future son-in-law,” Yui’s dad says with a laugh and a big handshake. He seems to be in a great mood after coming from the office.

We have a quick chat as he asks how my other business is going. I tell him about the first shipment coming next week and he makes some encouraging comments about multiple income streams and vertical integration in the **** and entertainment market. I know Yui’s dad is a very successful businessman so if he thinks I’m doing good, I must be heading in the right direction. After waving him off to go and see his wife and daughter, I let myself into the manager's office to get the rundown from Holly and Jess.

The two girls are hugging and looking very pleased with each other. A big turnaround from their bitchy and catty mood with each other yesterday.

“So? Mr Kiet was here. How did it go?” I ask eager to hear the news.

Jessica is the one who answers first, “our repayment isn’t due until the end of the month but we wanted to make a good first impression.”

“Show him he made the right call trusting and investing in us,” Holly continues.

“The business has been doing so well since we took over that we let him know we’d had the first month’s payment ready early,” Jessica takes back over.

“And we paid him the second months too!” Holly finishes.

“That’s fantastic!” I say getting just as excited about it as the two girls. The pair of them pulling me in for a three-way group hug.

As much as I feel a toast is in order, we do the responsible thing and skip the drinks for now and get stuck back into the opening process of The Loft. Mr Pat’s visit has put them a little further behind than usual but with my help and the girls’ perfect cooperation today things go quickly and smoothly.

Seeing how well they are getting along today I can’t help but comment to them, “you two seem to be in a much better mood today.”

They share a knowing looking between them and smile.

“We had a counselling session last night,” Jessica informs me.

“Yeah, a Big Linda counselling session,” Holly giggles.

“Big Linda?” I ask not knowing what that means.

“That’s the name of our biggest strap on,” Holly informs me.

“And, ahh, how was it?” I can’t help but ask hoping for some juicy details.

“You know I might actually like the real thing better now,” Jessica says as her eyes instinctively go to the front of my pants.

“Well, how about that!” That was something I never expected to hear from the lifelong lesbian.

Holly seems to be having the same thoughts I am, “we’re trailing a new duty manager this weekend. If they work out it will mean we can all take a night off together. We haven’t had you and Yui over for ‘dinner’ in a while now.”

Dinner with the four of us has involved much more than sharing food together.