Grayson

The J'ennessi bar smelled of leather, tobacco, and citrus. Wayne slammed his laptop shut: the reports were done. Boston sat next to him.

"Grayson will be here soon," he said. "Owner of the Goles Vionte chain. Expensive perfume. He's good with contracts—will come in handy for your writing."

"Are you trying to set me up with someone again?" Wayne lit a cigarette lazily.

• No. I'm expanding your social circle.

Wayne rolled his eyes. Grayson appeared about five minutes later, his shirt sleeves rolled up, his gaze calm. He sat down across from him. — Boston said you write songs?

"Texts. Spreadsheets by day, rhymes by night," Wayne nodded at the closed laptop. "And you, boutique owner, do you also wave papers?"

— Supplies, franchises, contracts. But I know how to protect the interests of creative people. If needed, I'll help with the legal side. So you don't get ripped off.

• Thanks. They haven't screwed me over yet, but you never know.

The door opened. Derek walked in. He froze when he saw the group. Jealousy and fear of losing control clenched his insides, but he resisted the urge to snap. For Wayne's sake, he could be civilized.

“Hi,” Derek nodded to his friend and extended his hand to the stranger. “Derek.”

• Grayson. Nice to meet you.

"Boston mentioned you're from the perfumery?" Derek sat down next to Wayne, pointedly close.

— The "Goles vionte" chain. Premium segment.

"This is serious," Derek breathed out, trying to keep his voice even. Derek ordered a whiskey and buried his face in his phone, clutching it with a death grip. He wasn't trying to make a scene, but the tension was still there.

Grayson ignored Derek's antics, focusing on Wayne.

— So what about the texts? Send me the link. And I'll send you a sample contract to protect my rights. Just in case.

"Deal," Wayne smiled genuinely. It wasn't flirtation, but relief: he was finally being taken seriously.

Boston raised his glass: — For "J'ennessi" and a normal acquaintance.

The four of them clinked glasses, and that's when things got interesting. Grayson doesn't yet know that a brash guy like Wayne is still a virgin. Whether it's a shame or the norm, his friends took it in stride.