The Business Of Sin (A Kinky Romance) [1st Draft]

Lestor and Laura Bryer sat across the table from their three grown sons. Next to them, sat a redheaded woman in her late 50’s, over a decade younger than the Bryer couple.

Desmond was the eldest, now nearly forty-one, had always been the one in control. Even as a child, his brothers would follow his lead, and Desmond had been intelligent enough to know that he needed to be a good role model for his younger siblings, and he was. The older he’d gotten, the more he became no nonsense in his dealings, having groan to loathe wasting time over petty matters. Still, he was an adventurous soul, and his love of challenge led him into many types of competitions, especially when they required physical exertion.

Andrew was the middle son, just past his thirty-sixth birthday. He was always all business, in complete control over himself and his environment. Not that he was cold, he just did everything with a set purpose in mind. Even growing up, he’d never come home drunk, or high, or got in trouble. It seemed that even in his pleasurable activities he had to be in control.

Then, there was Victor. If Lestor was a betting man, Victor would be the one who would most likely fall head over heels for Celeste. In spite of his muscles, tattoos, leather, and motorcycle, Victor had a huge heart. He was always saving animals as a kid, bringing them and every stray home. Lestor had many fond memories of the gentle hands of his youngest boy, which was completely contradictory to his build. Victor had inherited genes from his mother’s side that had made him a bigger man than his father and brothers, towering over them at a whopping 6’7”.

None of them were small men, but Victor was simply a giant.

His gaze drifted to Vivica, who had on her mask as she studied the three men for several long moments. Lestor couldn’t help but feel a deep sadness, knowing what was going on, and what the future held for her. Yet, there was only one thing she wanted to get done before it was over. The man she’d loved’s last request. A dying wish.

“So, why are we here,” Desmond asked, looking between the three of the elders.

Lestor drew in a deep breath before he began. “Ten years ago, when Henry died, he asked me to do one last thing before he died. You see, your mother and I owed him a great deal and you know a father would do anything for his child. Anyway, he made us all swear to help out when she reached the appropriate age and that time has come.”

“I’m not following, Dad,” Andrew said.

Lestor ran a hand through his hair, but Vivica leaned forward and motioned for Lestor to stop. She turned her attention at his three sons, then pushed three folders to Desmond.

“Please, pass those on to your brothers,” she said softly. “Now, here’s the deal. Our daughter needs a suitable husband. I am…. I’m dying and Henry made me promise not to leave her alone if something should happen to me. I have a year, maybe two at best, and I have to make sure that she’s not alone. Celeste is… special.”

“Special how,” Andrew asked, passing the last folder to Victor.

“To put it simply, son, she’s a genius,” his mother answered. “As in IQ is off the charts and she graduated high school at fourteen.”

“Holy shit,” Victor said, whistling low.

“And, many people of that intelligence level have certain… difficulties, particularly when it comes to socializing. She can go pick up guys just fine, it’s forming a connection that she finds hard. But, no one really sticks around and even Henry knew she would have trouble finding and keeping any partner back then. But, she was always the youngest person in her class, and often skipped grades, so she didn’t have a lot of consistency with schoolmates,” Vivica explained. “I mean, imagine being twelve in your sophomore year of high school.”

“That must have been hard,” Victor said, fingering the folder as he looked deep in thought. “And lonely.”

Vivica nodded in agreement. “She never said anything, but I could see it in her eyes. Celeste is a sweet lady. It’s been a joy to watch her grow up. Now, please open your folders. There are pictures of her along with a fair bit of information on her. As you can see, Celeste is quite a beautiful young woman.”

Victor hummed and nodded, agreeing immediately.

“She’s pretty hot,” he admitted.

Desmond murmured an agreement, while Andrew lifted one picture to look at it more closely.

“Grey eyes… what a contrast. But… she doesn’t look anything like you.”

Vivica smiled and nodded slightly. “Not biologically. Her mother died when she was barely two, and wasn’t quite four when I met and married Henry. So, I’m the only mother she’s every known and as far as I’m concerned, she is my baby. We went through hell when she was little, trying to keep her little brain occupied. She didn’t even go to kindergarten – I mean, she taught herself how to read before she was three, and she was doing college level algebra by the time she was four. I didn’t work for years because someone needed to keep her busy at all times, and there weren’t any babysitters who can handle an adult mind in a child’s body.”

“It sounds like she was lucky to have you,” Victor said with a smile.

That brought a genuine smile to Vivica’s face. “I feel as if I’m the one who was lucky, but thank you.”

“These grades… perfect. All across the board,” Desmond commented in amazement. “And you said she had two masters plus a PhD?”

“Yes. The first masters was in chemical engineering, the second in biochemistry, and the PhD was in physics,” Vivica said proudly.

“Holy…,” Andrew said before trailing off. “That’s some serious study. Those are all very heavy subjects. And she’s been going to college for how long?”

Vivica looked up a moment to think. “About eight and half years now. She went in when she was fourteen and she’ll be twenty-three in two months.”

Desmond shook his head, completely blown away by the mental capacity of this woman. Victor paused on a page, frowning as he read over it in confusion, then bewilderment.

“Is this a list of her kinks?”

“Yes, it is,” Vivica responded with a mischievous grin. “She has very… alternative tastes when it comes to intimacy.”

Andrew looked over to see what Victor was looking at, then tried to find it in his stack. When he did, he began to read it over and his brows shot up.

“Wow, alternative is a good word for it,” Desmond commented, his lips playing in a secretive smile. “Clearly, she’s experimented a lot.”

Vivica smirked before she shook her head. “I know she has some kinks, but I don’t want to know what all they are.”

Andrew sat back and squinted at his parents. “So, this is nice and everything, but what is all this about, exactly? We’re supposed to be doing what, here? Be her friends? Her lovers? What?”

Lestor smiled as that had gotten all their attention once again. “Well,” he started, leaning forward and clasping his hands to rest them atop the table, “all three of you are going to romance her, and whoever wins her over will get primary control of Bryer Investments once you two are married. It has to be a real marriage, though: no lying, cheating, or otherwise hurting her with failure to act appropriately. The other two will be put in charge of the other two businesses. However, if more than one of you make that connection, and decides you both or all want to be with her and she is agreeable, then you will all receive ½ or 1/3 ownership of the entire enterprise and your trusts. Until your mother and I both die, of course.”

“You’re putting the businesses up on this,” Desmond asked in shock.

Their father nodded. “Yes, I am. That’s how important this is. Your mother and I have known Celeste since she was a toddler. She’s a lovely girl, but she can present herself as very standoffish. She needs one, or more, who can get through that barrier and give her someone she can just be with.”

“You want us to love her, too,” Victor inquired, looking between the three elders.

“It would be nice,” Vivica responded. “She deserves it and she’s certainly worth it. However, if none of you can love her… there are a few other options.”

“What kind of ‘other options’,” Andrew asked with a concerned look.

“Well, there are a few others, though they aren’t as quality as you are. Part of choosing you was that you all have your own fortunes. Celeste… well… she can be generous and… a little naive,” Vivica added.

“You want her to be with someone who won’t take advantage of her, then,” Desmond surmised. “Someone who isn’t with her for the money.”

“Exactly,” she agreed, nodding. “There are precautions in place to help protect her and a prenup will be required of any spouse she ends up with, but you three are all successful on your own, well experienced with the ways of people in the world, which makes you suited to help protect her from leeches and con artists. I can only put so many protections in place, especially since she’s a grown woman and has full access to everything, any time she wants it.”

“Does she manage her finances well?”

“Well, without counting property, staff, and college expenses, about fifty grand a year,” Vivica stated with certainty. “With her income and inheritance, she more than manages. Most of it goes back into the business or is invested in one thing or another.”

“How are you so sure,” Victor asked with a frown.

“Celeste doesn’t like dealing with the money. She could take care of it herself, but I think she secretly likes to have something to depend on me for. I’ve handled things since she was a young girl, and it’s comfortable, at least for now.”

“Does she even know how much she’s worth?”

Vivica shook her head and looked between the three men seriously. “She doesn’t care. Money to Celeste is a convenience. It’s sending an email instead of a hand-written letter. It’s searching on google instead of using a library.”

“That’s poetic,” Victor said with a smile.

“She involves herself in any charities,” Desmond asked curiously.

“Oh, yes, several. I think last year, she donated some twenty million dollars to over a two dozen different charities. She holds and attends a number of fundraisers every year, as well,” Vivica said, her pride shining through.

“She sounds like the whole package. Looks, brains, generosity, educated, her own money,” Andrew said, pausing before he added, “and you’ve given us a good idea of why you’ve gone this route in search of someone for her, but… does she know about this?”

“Oh, I would never go behind her back like that. She is aware of the agreement and she is aware of the fact I’ve come here to set things in motion. I’ll admit, she hasn’t shown much interest in the whole thing, but she’s also been working on an experiment of some sort.”

“So why us? I mean, I’m close to twenty years her senior, and even Victor is a decade older. She’s just twenty-two… a kid,” Desmond said, clearly concerned.

Laura Bryer sighed softly. “Celeste was doing calculus by the time she was seven. She has two masters degrees and a PhD at twenty-two. Just how many young men her age are going to be capable of handling a woman like her? With age comes patience, tolerance, and experience. No, a man her age doesn’t stand a chance – their egos can’t handle it, by and large. Plus… she requires some patience. Her socialization skills aren’t the best. Imagine always being the youngest person everywhere you go. She was barely a teen when she was in college. Forming relationships was next to impossible. It… hurt her a lot and so she just keeps to herself unless she goes out to pick up a one-night stand.”

“One big warning,” Vivica added, cringing. “Celeste has always been quite open and straight forward, which isn’t always very tactful. If you ask a question, be prepared, she won’t mince her words. It will be blunt and honest and without malice, but… sometimes it seems a little harsh. I’ve learned to understand it’s meant to be honest, not hurtful,” Vivica said, pausing for a moment as a memory made her smile.

“Hi, sweetie. Mommy’s about ready to go. What do you think of my dress?”

Little Celeste’s gray eyes blinked at her a couple times before she looked up at her stepmother. “You look better in the purple one, Mommy. It makes you look happy.”

Stunned for a moment by the little girl’s answer, Vivica smiled. “The purple one, huh? Well, how about I wear the purple one next time? Is this one passable in the meantime?”

Celeste looked at the tall, red-headed woman she considered her mother before she finally nodded. “It’s two steps down from purple, so it’s still in a good range.”

“Two steps? What’s the one between red and purple?”

“That blue like the stone on your necklace,” the little girl answered immediately.

“How do I look wearing this one, if the purple makes me look happy?”

“It makes you look too pretty. A man might steal you away from Daddy and me.”

Vivica’s eyes watered at the memory. “No matter what you do… just please don’t hurt her. She might not show it, but she does have a soft heart.”

“I’m in,” Victor said, closing the folder and sitting back. He looked between his other two brothers. “She sounds like a dream and vulnerable. I want to see if there’s any potential there.”

“Well, of course I’m in,” Desmond answered. “It’s our inheritance….”

Andrew shook his head at Desmond. “Really? You’re worried more about who controls the business than the heart of this amazing girl? When does a guy get a chance to meet a woman this special? This unique? I think we’re lucky to be given first shot.”

Victor nodded, but didn’t say anything. He was pissed off at Desmond’s response and knew if he opened his mouth, it would end up being settled with fists.

“Well of course I do, it’s just… well, I’ve worked hard for all of this. I’m not going to avoid dating a… significantly younger woman after everything I’ve put in this far.”

Andrew glared at him. Desmond looked at his parents, then Vivica and saw nothing but disappointment in their eyes. He dropped his head, closing his eyes, and fisting his hands.

“You’ll never take over with that attitude,” his father spat angrily. “Have you not learned that compassion is key and that locking your feelings away will only destroy you in the end? If you aren’t willing to make an effort – “

“– Dad, I was 18 when she was born! Pardon me if I’m not exactly thrilled about that! It feels… wrong,” Desmond said as he calmed down, then deflated. “She’s just so young.”

Vivica leaned forward enough to reach Desmond’s hand. “Don’t close off to her like everyone else has because of her age. You’ll find she is nothing like others her age. My mother used to call her an old soul, and the only thing youthful about her is her body.”

Desmond looked at her, really looked at her. “You’d really allow your daughter of 22 marry a 40 year-old man?”

“If there were a 22 year old man who I knew could handle her, I would be thrilled. Her professors are pretty much her only friends in college, and even most of them are older than she is.” Vivica sighed and shook her head. “Celeste needs more. Only experience can provide that.”

Desmond looked back down at the picture on top – one of her riding a horse at a dead run. She was ducked down, just behind the horse’s head clinging to the mane with a wild smile on her face. It was pure delight; joy, even. The next picture at a gala, dressed to the nines with her hair in a fancy updo with a ton of tiny braids. She stood proud, chin high, looking nothing like a 22 year-old college student. He couldn’t deny how beautiful and appealing she was. Desmond lifted his head and looked at his father, before turning to Vivica.

“Okay. I’m in.”