The Universe of Discretion: Metaman

Karina Hagen was a prodigy. She was a descendant of old Norwegian wealth, armed with a degree from the American Institute of Technology and a knack for innovation.

In a world filled with tech entrepreneurs who were all talk and no action, Karina was the genuine article. She had used her trust fund to finance her first app, which she later sold for a cool fifty million dollars, just two years after its launch.

Her latest venture was a metaverse startup that had Silicon Valley buzzing. The value of her crypto token had already doubled in the past six months, even though the platform wasn’t even open to the public yet.

And me? I was her right-hand man, her personal assistant. Sure, it wasn’t the most glamorous job, but it put me right in the heart of the action.

I was there for the TechTalk, the interview with Modern Money Magazine, and even the exclusive investor event on Sir John Pasley’s private island.

Then, one day, I was handed a task that took me far from the whirlwind that was Karina and the glitz and glamour that came with her.

Her brother, Emil, had just graduated from the Royal School of Art in London with a degree in photography. Karina had pulled some strings and landed him an internship with Todd Lowe, the internationally renowned celebrity photographer.

I was tasked with helping Emil adjust and settle into an apartment that Karina kept in the city. Oh, and did I mention that I was still expected to manage all of Karina’s commitments from afar?

I found myself standing at international arrivals, holding a sign with Emil’s name on it, when it hit me that I had no idea what he looked like. Thankfully, I was a pro at social media sleuthing, and it didn’t take me long to find Emil’s Instagram.

He was a twenty-one-year-old attention seeker…but I had to admit, he was photogenic! It was a bit ironic, considering he was planning to make a career behind the camera. But maybe for someone like him, that was just a hobby.

Emil’s styled white-blond hair perfectly complemented his steely gray eyes. His rosy cheeks stood out against his flawless alabaster skin, and his lips were so red that it looked like he was wearing a subtle shade of lipstick.

He was young, he was handsome, and he was wealthy. The city was going to love him.

But the person who walked through the gate was a far cry from the Emil I had seen on Instagram. Emil looked worn out, with dark circles under his eyes, as he awkwardly pushed a luggage cart filled with Vero Couture suitcases.

I introduced myself quickly but didn’t take his cart, thinking it was the only thing keeping him on his feet.

“Nice to f…meet you,” Emil slurred, his breath reeking of gin.

Great, Emil was completely hammered!

As soon as we reached the stunning park view apartment, Emil stumbled into the master bedroom and passed out. Thankfully, the doorman took care of the suitcases.

I called Karina to update her and, to my surprise, she asked me to cancel my hotel reservation and stay in the apartment’s guestroom for the time being.

“Do you seriously expect me to babysit him?” I asked, taken aback.

“If you could just make sure that he starts his internship on the right foot, I would really appreciate it.”

I reluctantly agreed and settled down at the kitchen table with my laptop. I took my time updating Karina’s schedule. Given that I wasn’t physically there, I couldn’t afford any mistakes.

Hours later, Emil walked into the kitchen with towel-dried hair, pulling on a black shirt over ripped jeans. I couldn’t help but notice the chiseled abs that disappeared under the fabric, but luckily, he didn’t catch me staring.

“I owe you an apology,” he said, placing a cup under the fully automated espresso machine.

“Don’t worry about it,” I said, turning my attention back to my work.

“I couldn’t sleep on the plane, so I ended up having a few too many drinks. That’s not how I usually behave,” he insisted.

Why did he care what I thought?

“It’s fine,” I said, keeping my eyes on the screen. I didn’t want him to notice how attractive I found him. All he needed was some sleep and a shower to look like his Instagram self again.

“I insist on taking you out for dinner,” he said, downing his coffee in one gulp before pressing the button for another. “I’ve made a reservation at Le Mirage for eight.”

Just a few hours ago, he couldn’t even order an Uber, and now he was taking the reins? What the hell?!

Emil was clearly accustomed to wealth, but unlike Karina, he didn’t hold back. I knew how much that bottle of Bordeaux cost because I’d chosen something similar for last year’s VIP Christmas hampers.

“So what is it exactly that you do for my sister?” Emil asked, guzzling his wine like it was water.

“I’m her executive assistant,” I replied, a bit defensively. “I organize everything around her, so she can focus on being a genius.”

Emil burst out laughing. “My sister is many things, but genius is not one of them.”

I stared at him in disbelief. Here he was, a twenty-something with a drinking problem and nothing to his name except for family money, while Karina was shaking up the Silicon Valley boys club.

“How can you say that?” I asked, after taking a moment to calm my rising anger.

“The idea for her app, HomeGrown, was entirely Jason Byrd’s, and Karina used Pappa’s money for the first build,” Emil said calmly. “They only bought it for the patents.”

What the hell? Was he right? But what did that mean for the new project? Jason Byrd wasn’t even involved this time.

Emil started laughing again before saying, “I’m just messing with you. Of course, my sister is a genius! And I’m super proud of her.”

Jesus! What a disturbingly accurate joke. He’d almost managed to shatter my world with a single statement.

“Skål,” he said, clinking my glass a bit too forcefully. “Thanks again for picking me up this morning.”

“Did your sister mention that I’ll be staying with you in the apartment for a couple of days?” I asked.

His face registered surprise for a second, but he quickly recovered.

“Yes,” he said. “As long as you’re okay with that, of course.”

When the bill arrived, he didn’t even glance at the total before handing over his credit card. Even after years of working for people with money, I was still amazed at how easily they could drop thousands of dollars on a single meal.

“So, where do we go next?” Emil asked as we stepped out into the chilly night.

“Home!” I said firmly.

“But the night is still young, and we need to dance! Do you know any good clubs?” he persisted.

“Sorry, can’t help you,” I replied. “In this city, I only know the gay clubs.”

“Oh, I love gay clubs,” he said without missing a beat.

He didn’t even bat an eye or blurt out the typical, “You’re gay?!”

What on earth had his sister filled him in on?

Emil, with a firm grip on my arm, declared, “Gay clubs are the only places where I NEVER have to shell out for drinks!”

I was still trying to gauge my level of offense when he suddenly hopped into a cab.

What the hell?! Was this his first cab ride?

Regardless, I had given Karina my word that I’d keep tabs on him.

As I slid in next to him, he wrapped his CuffPhone around his wrist and directed the cab driver to the Arsenal.

Did he just Google that or…?

“Why do you always seem so uptight?” he asked, giving my leg a squeeze. “Is Karina working you to the bone?”

Why was he so touchy-feely? Was it a cultural thing?

I couldn’t recall his sister ever encroaching on my personal space like this.

“We’re going for one drink and then we’re heading home!” I asserted, raising a finger for emphasis.

“Yes, Pappa,” he responded, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

Why did I get the sense that this was about to spiral out of control?