Blueblood 5: Exposed The Secrets about V5H Revealed - 23. Huge Wedding Plans

There would be an adjustment period for Ellis and Kev. Professionally, George and Kev were very close. They were kindred spirits when it came to science. They both seemed to tunnel with whatever they were doing. Kev’s century of learning about what we were was very...on topic and very accurate.

I worked with the boys every night. Showing them, using my laptop and other devices; showing them letters and words in hopes of teaching them to read as well as putting together sentences and understanding sentence structure itself. English was the chosen language as...well, that’s what I spoke and almost everyone here at the VUN including Vlad knew. There was the Delkenzie program that was being used to translate their language where they used their expressions, but they needed a language to start with, even if it was in sign language. That was structure. They were learning quickly.

The overall change at the VUN was…now, it was very busy here! I didn’t spend that much time in the office part of the VUN or for Holms’ Laboratories before, but now it was impossible not to see that it was very active. Calls were coming in now from around the world. We had sent various extensions of our computers to various offices…all were parts of Buddy with his security and exclusive access to us, our data and resources. The Language Buddy was in the beginning stages of being marketed to the public as a whole headed by Robert Cummings, who we met in Romania, was starting to head that up. I knew but didn’t think about the business portions until now. There were many employees that worked for us that were not here but in other cities in other states. We had manufactured for the parts for our computers and other products. There were heads of these divisions that had say and control; to a point. All answered to Colin and George, but mostly Colin. I smiled thinking about all those people who didn’t know they were working for vampires. There had to be the usual labor disputes and...let’s be honest, there were lazy people in the world. And some people were just downright dishonest! Vampires were not all the pillars of communities either. We had some...not so nice ones and a few that were just plain evil ones; Iilya, Marissa were ready examples. Don’t forget Brett Marshall, the vampire the bit and turned Colin and Gabriella…yes, he was truly evil. Insane! We were human! My life took place...in the upper offices? The vampire upper inner sanctum? That sounds too lofty and aloof to me. I don’t know, but I was in the VUN part in control. George was in the VUN but in the medical and science part of the VUN/Holms’ Laboratories. Colin was in all of it, but only in the business aspects of it all. I was grateful that Colin wasn’t so...caught up in this “business” that he was this a workaholic that had to be so focused on business that was all he thought about. He and George were heads of an international conglomerate that had stocks, bonds, and holdings in the billions...business ventures in many things. When other men did that, having a limited time frame to do business, they became...obsessed with all of it. George was a genius, but so was Colin, but George’s brilliance was medicine and science for which he got the rewards from the treatments he came up with. Colin was the business genius and managed the business, but there was no rush to get more quickly. That was a difference between them and other business moguls, CEOs and those of that type.

I came into our apartment as Colin was on a business call. That was rare! He didn’t really make or receive calls.

“...that’s for you to handle,” Colin said calmly. He never got angry when doing business. “Yes, I read their proposal you sent in the email, but no, I don’t agree. It won’t pay off in the long run. There are the initial profits, but that is short term. I’m saying no. That’s my answer.” He looked up and smiled at me. “Listen, I have to go. My husband just came in.” He turned and sighed. “Okay, so we lose the million-dollar deal this time. There will be others...” I heard the raised voice, either because of my increased hearing or the other man was upset. I think it was both. “Because until your name is on the paychecks, I have the say so. Bye.” He said pleasantly and disconnected the call and rose from his computer. “Hi, Baby!” He greeted kissing me with a hug.

I gave the kiss back readily but pulled back a little. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you...doing so much business.”

Colin looked puzzled and then nodded. “I usually do business by the internet and emails, but there was a deal...Mr. Drake had that if we didn’t pounce on it, we’d lose the potential for the extra money. He couldn’t wait for the email response and called me.” He frowned. “He knows I don’t like calls unless it’s an emergency. That was no emergency, but he’s new.”

“New?” I asked.

Colin nodded. “He’s only been with us about five years.”

I grinned. “Only. I guess that is new. Sometimes I forget this is big business and not just about vampires out in the world.”

Colin nodded cuddling me closer to him. “Vampires came first.” He chuckled. “The business came about because we needed money to do the vampire stuff.” He chuckled as he admitted. “And to rebuild Wentworth.”

“So, no shady deals or people eliminated or stuff like that?” I asked.

Colin looked surprised. “What!? No! Taxes paid and all that. No underhanded deals. I never wanted someone in authority to check on the business. That would have been foolish. No. No shady deals. Shady deals are the way to make a quick buck. I prefer the more solid deals that make a sure consistent dollar.” He smiled.

“You’re looking at a longer future,” I said cautiously, but now aware of something else. “Most businessmen don’t think that way. They can’t afford to. They want to make money quickly or at least within thirty to forty years.” I looked at him carefully. “You don’t see how many would want this? To have a business that they could run for a century or more? Or even longer while they remain at the head of it? They won’t have to think so much about making money quickly.”

“I do now.” Colin sighed. “This is just not something I wanted but was thrust on me.” He shrugged. “I didn’t have the choice.”

“If you had a choice?” I asked.

“I can’t see it.” He admitted and then nodded at my unvoiced opinion about him not seeing it. “I know, some will want it. I can’t forget that if we don’t have the serum, we become what I was for so long. I never wanted even the possibility for you.” He shook his head again. “However, at least business hasn’t really changed. I always thought about the long-term. Somebody has something that others want or need, the one that has it tries to get it to those things wanted cheaper and with less input to have what they know is wanted or needed. As they did in the South. What better way than having employees they owned and didn’t pay?”

“But you did.”

Colin nodded. “I saw them as people, and I did pay them. That was an investment, they got part of the profits and it worked out better. Our crops increased, so our profits increased.” He shrugged again. “Cutting back on staffing or pay is not a good investment. In the South and today in the modern business world, they think the same way. Perhaps in the short term, it might be better, but not in the future.” He shook his head. “I don’t let people go from my employ because a business fails, I relocate them to another job. I won’t just let them go. It just...pays off in the long run. That is a good investment. The people remain loyal.”

I was surprised. “Have you had a business fail?”

Colin gave a shrugging nod. “I’ve had some I’ve had to...move or change a little to keep afloat, but...not really.” He grinned. “Remember in the beginning...when I said about those hedge funds?”

“The very high risk,” I said uncertainly.

“And the very high yield ones.” He pointed out. “But not just for me. Those funds can be funneled into the businesses that are not doing as well...until we find a solution.” He chuckled. “I don’t have simpletons heading those businesses. I have a track record they can’t argue with.”

“Wow.” I grinned. “You are not a pirate?”

Colin frowned. “No. Remember, the Marshalls were pirates and look where that got them!” He kissed me again gently. “Another part of my reputation is being honest and fair. Anyone that wants to do business with us, has to be the same or no deals.”

“How do you know if they are?” I thought and then remembered his ability to tell. “Oh, yes...I forgot, you just know.”

Colin chuckled. “Yes, I know.” He smiled a little more. “I read people very well. I did with you.” His voice rumbled.

“Did you?”

Colin nodded. “Oh, yes. From the very first moment, you stepped out of your car that hot Summer day.” He smiled at me a little more...remembering what he saw. “I saw a kind, smart and extremely honest soul that I was drawn to. That attraction only grew as I got to know you.” He shrugged. “I knew you were for me.”

I slapped him lightly. “Why did it take you so long to do anything if you knew that?”

“I didn’t want to hurt you, Devon.” Colin frowned. “You know that. I was afraid I’d make you like me by accident.” He defended. “What really got me, was even after you found out what I was, you were never afraid of me.”

“I wasn’t.” I agreed. “I was shocked, but never afraid of you.”

“That man in the sixties I told you about...he was frightened of me at first, but you never were. You trusted me. I saw that, so I was being careful because you meant something to me.”

I loved him. You know that. He loved me. You know that, too. That love just kept growing more and more. “I love you, Colin.”

He smiled kissing me gently. “I know. I love you, Devon.”

“I know.”

It was those, unplanned, impromptu lovemaking times that just happened were so...wonderful. They just...happened. We didn’t have to ask each other. We just did it. Being connected was the most important thing for both of us.

Ellis and Kev were becoming solidly a part of the VUN. Patrols were still done almost every night and Ellis was the one leading a team alone now. There were others with him, but he was the tracker now. We did find the occasional vampire. Most were the wild, nonverbal vampire that was simply dealt with and destroyed. There were others that were still human, but criminals or their like and gotten rid of. I still had a problem with the “no trial, just execution” style. A person attacking another just because of the need to feed? No, that was criminal.

The plans for the upcoming weddings were now getting talked about more. I am sorry, but...weddings were primarily the focus of brides! Grooms were just there to be the one they marry. Yes, I know there are some guys that will say, “that’s not true!” Really!? These weddings were...guys! Men. It is the bride that dictates the colors and what is worn...it’s all about her! From the flowers used and even what the groom wears, she’s the one saying what’s worn and what style and color! The other truth about these weddings were Mark and Stan were the only ones legally marrying. Vlad, Gaius, George, and John should have been dead! Vlad and Gaius met, but they should have been buried centuries ago. George, if he was human and still alive, should have been an old man and never have even known John existed, but they were getting married. Sure, it was legal in that they now were known by the government...in a limited fashion. They would be legally married, but they should not even be! The marriages would be recorded and certificates filed, but who carries around their marriage licenses? I didn’t, but again, I should never have even met Colin, but we were married!

We were in a private room in Vamps having another dinner together. Our numbers were now too big to have in our apartment.

“Are you going to tell them?” Vlad asked Mark as we ate. They had apparently had this discussion before.

Mark gave a grudging nod. “Sure, why not?” He looked around. “Everybody, we have decided, we are all getting married on the same day.”

Mom looked up surprised. Gabriella put her fork down a little annoyed. “You don’t think you deserve a day of your own?” She asked incredibly.

Stan shrugged. “Why?”

“Because it’s special!” My mother stressed that point. “All of you will have the same service!?”

Gaius grinned. “It’s just a ceremony. Vlad and I are married.”

Vlad nodded in agreement. “We have been for centuries.”

John smiled at George. “All I want is for George to tell everyone he belongs to me.”

George grinned at his future husband. “That’s very primordial of you, John.”

To which John gave a primitive grunt. “You...mine!” He said gruffly.

Kev was smiling. “I find it still amazing that you can marry,” Kev observed simply.

Ellis chuckled. “Yeh, but it’s legal in England now, too?” He shook his head. “That’s ‘ard to believe!” He reached over taking Kev’s hand. “Kev and I ‘ave been togetha for ruddy donkey years! I know I belong to ‘im and ‘e knows ‘e belongs to me!”

“It’s what we do, Ellis,” I said glancing at Colin. “Find someone and live a life together. It is just a ceremony, but it’s a pretty important one. Colin and I knew we were going to be together, but it just added something to be able to tell others.”

Kev smiled at Ellis. “I should ask you in private, but...would you like to do that?”

Ellis was not surprised, but being who he was. “Oh, you think you know what I’d say?” He said with his Cockney on full.

Kev smiled, not bothered at all bringing Ellis closer. “Yes, I do.”

Ellis smiled. “Yeh, I’ll marry you, Kev.”

Kev looked at the various grooms at the table. “Would it be presumptuous for Ellis and I to join you at this alter?”

Stan and Mark nodded together. “Absolutely!” Mark agreed and Stan added. “The more the merrier!”

I had seen Amasis and Wayne talking softly to each other and Wayne smiled and nodded to Amasis. Amasis raised his finger. “If that’s so, can Wayne and I be included?”

Okay, I was a little surprised. “Not to be indelicate, but...are you sure, Wayne? I mean, Amasis has been married so many times before.” I raised my hand to Amasis. “I love you,” I said quickly, “you know that. I love Wayne. He’s been married but once, Amasis.”

Wayne grinned. “I know that...Dad.” He teased.

“Yes,” Amasis said smiling. “I know that, too.” He sighed sadly. “But this is the first for me.” He saw the confused looks around the table. “When I married before, I was a god!” He shrugged. “I was pharaoh! Wayne is the first...person who is marrying me.” He grinned. “I am no god. I am no longer pharaoh. I am just a man who was born in Egypt.”

Wayne nodded taking Amasis’ hand. “I told him before, I was with him because of the man he is, not the leader, god or pharaoh.”

Amasis smiled. “He came to me with equal footing. He was from the beginning...just as I was. I didn’t make him what he is. That is a first for me.”

I shook my head. “Well, you both much older than me, so...what should I say? You’re both adults.” I grinned. “We’ll just have one big, colossal wedding!” I looked at Shelly and Amir. “Unless there’s another that wants to join.”

Shelly shook her head. “No!” She saw Amir’s hurt face. “Okay,” she said to Amir, “one...you haven’t asked me. Two, I’m a girl! I want my own damned wedding!”

Amir smiled. “Oh.” He nodded. “I see.”

See? I told you weddings were about the bride.

Colin chuckled. “I guess you’ll be inviting Katy, Sean, and your grandchildren, Wayne.”

“We’re going to pull out all the stops!” I laughed excited about this turn of events. “This is going to be a huge, massive, gay, men-only-wedding the world has never seen! Five couples marrying on the same day!? Yes, this is going to be HUGE!!”

“And we’re doing it at Wentworth!” Colin said firmly. “We have room for everyone.”

Gabriella sighed. “Fine.” She said resolutely and then pointed with her fork. “But Betty and I decorate!”

“Don’t we have a say so?” Stan asked.

“Of course.” Mom nodded. “But we coordinate!” She said firmly pointing at Gabriella. “No one’s just going up and saying I do and be done with it.” She looked at Gabriella. “We can decide the colors.”

“Right, the groom couples should have their own color,” Gabriella said nodded.

“But the same style in tuxedos,” Mom added.

Willie chuckled as he looked at Colin and me. “And so it starts.”

“Yep.” I grinned as Mom and Gabriella were now talking to themselves. “The planning begins!”