Welkom bij Amsterdam ~ Part 4
Title: Welkom bij Amsterdam - Part 4
Verse: Addi Baba
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: adam/kris
Summary: AU: After accepting Addi’s (Adam’s) request to travel the world with him, Kris jumps headfirst in a whole new world. There first stop … a world conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone involved. Entirely a figment of my imagination. Not intended to offend any group.
Note: Okay, I’m sure you’ll recognize the charity Kris’ becomes interested in; I just didn’t want to use their real name.
Amsterdam Part 3 ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/87855.html
Amsterdam Part 2 ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/87768.html
Amsterdam Part 1 ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/87448.html
Original Story in NYC - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/86596.html
~*~*~*~
The morning sun poured through the open drapes, smacking Kris right in the eyes. Grumbling obscenities, he rolled out of the sunbeams and stretched, not wanting to get up. His arm moved out, seeking body heat, and he found the other side of the bed empty. Now on his back, he listened for the rush of the shower but heard voices in the great room instead. Addi and Raja were probably starting breakfast without him.
Raja had quickly become a good friend so Kris had no qualms about walking out half dressed. He slipped on the white robe and padded barefoot into the other room, rubbing his stubbly cheeks and yawning loudly.
“Hope you save me some cof - feeeeeeeeee ….”
Addi and Raja were in the great room … and so where the rest of the suits. Dark clad bodies were sitting and standing everywhere, on the phone or the computer or with their heads together talking a mile a minute. Addi was at the large dining table, talking intensely on the phone. Raja was across the room, pouring himself a hot drink. Kris got a few looks but ignored them as he scurried over to Raja for an explanation.
“Kristopher!” Raja looked shock to see him. “What are you doing?”
“Walking through my own suite … or at least it used to be my suite. What the hell’s going on?” he muttered urgently, tightening the robe around himself.
“There’s a very important conference call with the sheikh’s board of directors and ….”
“Shit,” Kris declared and ran back to the bedroom to get ready.
Raja may have yelled something after him but he wasn’t sure and didn’t have time to run back and find out. Kris showered, shaved and dressed in record time, getting back to the meeting just as everyone was setting up their laptops and taking seats. Kris found an empty spot, opened his laptop and looked around for someone to ask about connecting to the link.
“Kristopher, what are you doing?”
“Addi, wish you’d told me but anyway, can I have the link.”
When Addi didn’t answer, Kris looked up. He didn’t expect to see his boss standing over him, arms crossed, face tight.
“You have to leave Kristopher.”
“What? … Why? … I thought, it’s a meeting right?”
“Yes, it’s a meeting but not for you.”
Kris looked around and spotted a few suits glaring at him over their glasses or out of the corners of their eyes.
“I don’t understand.”
Addi opened his mouth but was then called away before he could reply. Kris felt as small as a germ on a tick. He caught Raja’s eye then lost it just as quickly.
As nonchalantly as he could, Kris gathered his things and headed out the door. He wasn’t going to hang around where he wasn’t wanted. Since he was dressed, he decided to head out to the convention hall. There were speakers he wanted to hear and opportunities to do his job, even if Addi didn’t think he could.
If Sheikh Addi Baba thought Kris was going to sit around while he played stick-up-his-ass bossman, he had another thing coming.
~*~*~*~
Running from one lecture room to another helped Kris keep his mind off things for a while anyway. The lecture he was really interested in was worth his time. The American charity raised money from grass-root donations as well as some corporate sponsors to bring fresh waters to people around the world who didn’t have easy access to it. Information folders were handed out and videos were shown. Kris was fascinated that people could have their own page and ask friends and family to donate to the charity in their name rather than give them presents for special occasion. They talked about an American singer who asked his fans to donate for his birthday, beginning with a modest goal, and it exploded raising tens of thousands of dollars. If Addi was still talking to him in the next 24 hours, Kris was going to suggest the philanthropist seriously consider donating.
Kris returned to the hotel four hours later. He’d had time to calm down and was ready to have an adult conversation with Addi. Expecting their suite to be empty, it was his second shock of the day to see it still full of suits, chomping down on food. On his tiptoes he was able to locate Addi. He was up on the dais where the large table was, a phone glued to his ears. The other man was pacing and nodding then stopped when he spotted Kris. With a little glimmer of hope, Kris mustered a small smile and wave. Addi opened his mouth, as if to call to him, but a suit got his attention instead and the moment was lost.
Silently, Kris headed to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting to see if Addi would come to him. Forty-five minutes later - nothing. Sticking his head out the door, he found the suits and Addi back at work. Cursing under his breathe, Kris changed into jeans, t-shirt and a light jacket, wallet in one pocket, phone in the other. Without looking back, he marched through the suite and out the door once more.
As he waited for the elevator, he detected a looming presence beside him.
“You don’t need to come with me,” Kris sighed, more than a little ticked off.
“The sheikh would want me to.”
“Sorry Amir, but I don’t give a flying fig about what the sheikh wants right now. I need some time alone … nothing personal.”
“I … understand.”
Kris looked at the bodyguard and smiled sadly. “I promise I’ll be careful. If he has an issue with it, he can hash it out with me later … among other things.”
~*~*~*~
Sitting on his rented bike, Kris looked over the city map and made a game plan. It was already early afternoon so he couldn’t see everything that he wanted but he was going to make every hour count. Though shopping wasn’t his favorite thing, he grudgingly admitted it was more fun buying for someone else, namely his family and friends back home … and maybe a few others … so he found a shopping area and decided to leave it til the end.
He’d only biked a few blocks when his stomach rumbled. Kris didn’t want to waste time sitting in a restaurant so he looked for street food. In the end, he compromised with Dutch fast food. It was an automat vending machine that had brightly lit compartments with a variety of fresh and hot food. If he looked hard enough, he could just make out the bustling kitchen behind. There were a lot of familiar foods, like ham sandwiches and hot dogs, but he wanted something local.
Speaking of local, he asked a local what they recommended. Five minutes later, he was holding a plate of croquettes. It sounded like a dessert - maybe in France it was - but in the Netherlands it was a veal ragout enveloped in mashed potato, breaded and deep fried with peanut sauce for dipping. It was so good, he bought another. For two bucks, why not make it three!
With his stomach sated … for now … Kris worked off his lunch with a bike trip around the city. On his travels, he came across Dam Square. It was huge and surrounded by impressive buildings. In one area of the square was a large obelisk shaped monument. When he got closer, he saw sculptures around the bottom and an info plaque. It was a tribute to all the Dutch who died during the Nazi occupation of WWII. Kris took it all in, spending time honoring these people. He remembered from history class reading about what this country had endured. At one point, food had been so scarce they resorted to eating tulip bulbs.
After honoring them in his own small way with a silent prayer, Kris turned his attention to the activities happening around him. The open space was full of tourists, locales and pigeons. Street performers and buskers entertained. One band caught Kris’ attention. They played modern and historic instruments, all plugged into amplifiers. They were really good and Kris wanted to leave a gift of appreciation. He looked around, trying to spot an upside-down hat or open instrument case; he never expected the gratuity jar was actually a porcelain gratuity toilet!
A Madame Tussaud Museum occuppied one side of the square but he decided to check out the huge, elegant building across from it - the Royal Palace. It was open to the public for tours so after locking up his bike, he stepped back into the 17th century.
This was one of three palaces the Dutch Royal Family had. It was overwhelming and grand and elegant and Kris couldn’t happen wondering if Addi’s family estate looked like this in its own way.
Damn, he’d almost gone two hours without thinking about him. Kris’ burgeoning good mood soured a little.
Back on his bike, he started curving his way around kids and pigeons, slowing down to watch a living statue scare the shit out of someone when they got in the statue’s face. About twenty feet away was a food cart and Kris got closer. The wind was blowing in his direction, carrying the smell of the sea. Deciding to check it out, he discovered it was a herring stand. He liked fish, though he’d never tried herring. The fish was cleaned and prepared in front of him. The vendor told him the herring was fermented and served with chopped raw onions and chunks of pickle. Kris swallowed hard but not hard enough to squelch his curiosity. In Rotterdam, one picked the herring up by the tail, held it over your mouth and ate from the bottom up. The Amsterdam way was using a toothpick to spear a chunk of dill pickle then a piece of fish. It was slimy and crunchy and oniony and sour. He liked it but not enough for seconds after he finished what he had.
On the way out of the square, he found a place to buy a pack of breath mints.
For his next stop, he rented himself an audio tour and spent a little over an hour at the Amsterdam Museum, loosing himself in 1000 years of Amsterdam’s history. There was also an amazing quilted display representing the 180 nationalities that call the city home. Walking through time was a little tiring, on top of cycling, and he ended up in the museum’s café, ordering a steaming cup of coffee. Kris was delighted it came with a free cookie covering the top like a lid. Then he tried to bite it - it was hard as a rock. He couldn’t get his teeth through it, nor could he break a piece off.
A little disappointed … it looked so tasty … he set it aside and sipped his coffee.
“Neem mi niet kwalijk,” a woman said from the table beside him.
Kris smiled but shook his head, feeling a little awkward, “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Dutch.”
“Oh! My apologies,” she laughed, “I was saying ‘excuse me’. Your stroopewafel ….”
“My what?”
“With your coffee.”
“My cookie!”
“Ja. You looked concerned.”
Kris lowered his voice, “It’s stale I’m afraid.”
“Nee, that is how they are, when they are cool. When they are freshly made, they are sweet and gooey but they are delicious either way. Eat … like this.” She took her own cookie and dipped into the hot liquid, moving it slowly. He wanted to tell her to be careful; he’d lost many chocolate chip cookies at the bottom of his hot cocoa leaving a cookie in too long. “The heat softens the stroopewafel, melts the filling.” She lifted it to her mouth and easily bit into it. “Mmmmm licka licka… try!”
He followed her lead and agreed, it was licka licka. He downed it in four bites and thanked her profusely for her help and for sharing that stroopewafels could be bought all over the city. Kris was determined to buy a pack or two somewhere before heading back to the hotel.
History is a wonderful thing … without the past, we don’t have the future … but Kris had had enough history for the day and wanted some fun. He asked a man who looked like he knew things for a nearby suggestion.
Twenty minutes later, he was crossing a walkway over an expanse of water and heading towards the largest science and technology museum in the country - NEMO. I was designed to look like a cargo ship coming towards you. Inside, it was an open concept with five floors and LOTS of staircases. Passing through admissions, he quickly familiarized himself with the visitors’ rules, the most important one being that you can touch and play with ANYTHING! Kris lost track of time experimenting with electricity, driving a space simulator, playing with water, and becoming a kid again surrounded by robots, 3D images, holograms, touch screens, conveyor belts and fantastical contraptions.
Kris had thought the museum was named after Captain Nemo, you know cause is was ship shaped and all, but it turned out he was wrong. Apparently, the name ‘Nemo’ had been used for centuries to describe something on the edge of fantasy and reality. He had to laugh at the irony. Isn’t that were he was right now? Literally and figuratively? He was his own reality and Addi and the wonders he brought to Kris’ world were the fantasy. He felt his face warming up at the thought of how they’d make up. Taking out his phone, he intended to hit speed dial then snapped the phone shut. If Addi was still up to his neck in work, Kris didn’t want to distract him; instead, he’d distract him tonight.
It was getting a little late and Kris still hadn’t gone souvenir shopping. Wandering aimlessly from one local shop to the next - he didn’t want a cheesy souvenir - he found some gems. Kris bought for his mama a blue and white Delftware tea service and tulip bulbs for their garden. He got his dad a Delftware beer stein and his brother a pair of genuine wooden clogs painted to look like 1940s dress shoes. As a bonus, he bought each of them, and himself, several packages of stroopewafels, making note to send a text on how to soften them. After making arrangements to have the items mailed directly to Arkansas, he set out to find a couple more gifts.
Wandering aimlessly, not sure what he was looking for, he got thirsty and headed into a coffee shop, only to turn around and walk right back out, a cloud of sweet marijuana smoke in his wake. Then, to top it off, he found himself in the middle of the Red Light District. There were lots of ‘ladies’ willing to give him direction, just not the directions he wanted. In the end, he found a cop and found his way out.
It was nearing 5pm and he still hadn’t found a gift for Addi or Raja. Amsterdam was famous for its diamonds but it was a little early in their relationship for Kris to be buying diamonds. Besides, he didn’t know Addi’s ring size - there was a lot he didn’t know about him still - plus technically, they were still in the middle of an argument until they weren’t. With time flying by, Kris went into a chic boutique and picked up two pairs of designer sunglasses.
After Kris returned the bike, he casually strolled back to the Amstel. Rounding a corner, the majestic and elegant hotel came into view, along with some unexpected action around the entrance. He counted four police cars, sirens silent but lights flashing, and uniformed bodies moving in and out of the lobby. A crowd had gathered outside, watching the action, but Kris’ adventures were catching up to him and he just wanted to get up to the suite, kick his shoes off, and relax.
Maneuvering through the entrance, he found more action inside. Police officers were talking to people. He thought about asking the concierge what the scuttlebutt; the man-in-the-know was busy talking with two officers so Kris didn’t bother him.
Going up the elevator, he hoped it didn’t involve a bomb threat or something like that.
The elevator doors opened and Kris stepped into utter chaos. The double doors that led from the suite’s private lobby into the suite proper were wide open and the place was crawling with suits and more police. Panic vibrated Kris’ bones as the notion of something happening to Addi blossomed in his head. He rushed inside, dropping his shopping bag on the floor inside the doors. Frantically he looked around for that beautiful black hair and within ten seconds spotted what must be him coming out of the smaller reception room with two new suits jotting down notes.
As he got closer, Kris was taken aback by the fear veiling the other man’s face. About ten steps away, Addi looked up and they made eye contact. The fear fluttered away and a whole wash of emotions took their place. In the end, the stoic, professional mask Addi showed most people stuck but in his blue eyes, a maelstrom swirled. One thing he’d learned about Addi was that he wasn’t prone to PDA’s with other people around, particularly strangers. He’d lighten up a little, like when they dined at the Silver Mirror or had the canal boat to themselves, but the real emotions only came out in completely private moments. So when Addi smiled and greeted him with a handshake and a firm clasp to his shoulder, Kris didn’t take offense.
“Kristopher! Praise the heavens, you’re safe!”
Safe? Of course he was safe … but then again, he didn’t exactly tell the man where he was going after he swept himself away around lunchtime.
“Yes … I’m safe. Is something happening? Why the police?”
Raja appeared and not one to hold back, he gave Kris a huge … a polite hug … but a huge one none the less.
“We tried calling you when the conference call ended and we couldn’t reach you.” Raja looked at Addi and Kris saw the corners of the sheikh’s lip twitch. “We were concerned something had happened to you …,” this time Raja’s mouth twitched as he looked at his boss and Kris’ eyes caught the tension, “… there was speculation perhaps that you’d been ….”
“Why couldn’t we reach you?” Addi interrupted.
Kris didn’t know. He suddenly felt the weight of his phone in his jacket pocket and it dawned on him. Taking it out, he looked at the screen and grimaced.
“I shut my phone off. When I toured the Royal Palace, they asked we shut our phones off. I guess … I guess I forgot to turn it back on.”
The police seemed content with the explanation and readied to excuse themselves and withdraw the troops. While Addi finished with them, Kris retrieved the shopping bag from the door way and headed towards the bedroom to change. Raja was two steps behind him, catching Kris in another hug, this time a heartfelt one.
“Don’t ever do that again Kristopher.”
Kris hugged back tightly, replying: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry anyone. I was just upset at being left out and went sightseeing.” He reached into one bag and withdrew a leopard -print eyeglass case. “Here, I got you something … a little thank you for all your help.”
Raja opened the case and ahhh-ed at the gift inside. He put them on and posed, making Kris laugh. A cough broke the moment and Kris turned, seeing Addi standing in the doorway, arms crossed.
“Everyone is gone.”
“Look what Kristopher bought me! Did you buy Addi something?”
The atmosphere got heavy and Kris just nodded.
“Nice. Thank you for your support Raja but you can go now; I’ll see you in the morning.”
Raja removed the glasses, the glee on his face subdued. “Of course sir.” He turned to Kris. “Thank you again. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Of course. Night Raja.”
The private secretary left but not before announcing, “I’ll be in my room … if anyone needs me.”
“Tosbeho Raja.”
“Tosbeho.”
Once the door closed, the silence was deafening. Kris rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling like he’d been called to the principal’s office to explain why he disrupted class.
“So … you were having … fun,” the sheikh stated, somewhat accusingly.
“I was sightseeing yes … it wasn’t as if I had anything else to do.”
“It was business Kristopher … I couldn’t run off and play tourist.”
“I thought I was part of your business.”
“This didn’t concern you.”
“So I’ve already been told … quite explicitly I might add.” Kris tossed the shopping bag on the bed and scrubbed his face with his hands. “I thought I was part of the team … that my job wasn’t an excuse to make our relationship look respectable. I thought I was actually going to have a chance to make a difference.”
“You are … you will … but not now.”
“Oh, I see … just when you feel like it. Give the man a fancy suit and limitless credit card but only take him off the shelf for special occasions. I get it. I get it Addi … and I don’t like it.”
Addi’s brow furrowed and started pacing, arms still crossed.
“And I don’t like not knowing where you are.”
“I may be sleeping with you and working for you … although the ‘working’ part is still questionable … but I don’t belong to you. If I want to spend some time alone, I damn well will.”
Kris didn’t want to have this conversation; he just wanted to get off his feet. He felt stupid for thinking they could spend the rest of the evening as if nothing had happened that morning. He took off his t-shirt and headed for the bathroom when his elbow was grabbed.
“I’m not finished.”
Kris tugged his arm free and gave Addi a death glare: “I am. I’m sweaty and tired and I need a shower.”
“You need to explain yourself!”
“I need to explain myself?! I’m not the one who pushed you aside like you were nothing!”
“The meeting didn’t involve you … there was no need for you to be there.”
“The hell there wasn’t! Every other person in this caravan you call your staff was at that meeting except me!” A revelation came to him. “That phone call last night … that was about this morning wasn’t it?” Addi didn’t reply. “WASN’T IT?!”
“It was.”
“And you said you’d tell me about it this morning but you fucking didn’t. Instead I woke up to a suite full of people, leaving me to think I was late for something important. Then when I show up, you coldly tell me I’m not invited in front of everyone. Do you know how embarrassing that was? I know what most of your staff think of me, that I’m just a trophy executive, a colleague in title only … just an excuse to have me as harem boy!”
Addi’s face turned bright red, not from embarrassment but from rage.
“Don’t you dare speak to me like that! This is not about what happens in the bedroom ….”
“Right, it’s what happened in the boardroom … and damn it, I’m part of that too!”
Kris had had enough. Was it too much for the man to just give him an apology? Even a half-ass one would have been okay with him. He waited for Addi to say something that wouldn’t make his blood boil even more. Instead, all he got was ….
“I’m not having this discussion … not now.”
“No not ever you mean. Fine … fine … you don’t want to treat me like a valued employee then …,” Kris picked up the laptop and flung it on a nearby chair, relishing the thud it made as it bounced off and hit the floor, “… take this job …,” the credit card and papers from his unused briefcase followed suit, “… and SHOVE IT!”
Grabbing only his shirt and jacket, he stormed out of the bedroom and towards the front door.
“KRISTOPHER! GET BACK HERE!”
Kris wanted to ignore him, stomp out in self-righteous silence, but something had to be said.
“Where’s Amir? I didn’t see him when I got back.”
“He’s in his room … packing.”
“You fired him?! … Of course you fired him!”
“He let you go out alone … he should have gone with you. It’s his job to protect you and he didn’t.”
“Amir tried to come with me but I just wanted to go alone. I told him if you had a problem with it, I’d take care of it. Don’t let him go because I kept him away. He’s loyal to you … I don’t know why, the fuck right now … but he shouldn’t pay for listening to me.”
“Why not? I’m paying for listening to you now.”
“Oh … my … God … you didn’t just say ….” He’d had enough and left without another word.
The elevator doors closed, cutting off the sound of his name blaring out of the suite.
~*~*~*~
Dramatically storming out, Kris charged out of the hotel and stopped by the canal, clutching the railing until his hands hurt and sucking in fresh air, trying to clear his head. How could it have all gone to hell so quickly? Because he was impulsive and horny and let an exotic, exciting man sweep him off his feet and into a world he had no right being in.
Now he was trapped overseas, far from his family, homeless and jobless.
He had some meager savings in his bank account back in the States and a basic credit he’d come into this relationship with that would get him back to New York. Problem was he didn’t want to go back, have to explain to his friends what happened. He didn’t want to go back to Arkansas either, embarrassed about letting this happen. Maybe he’d backpack around Europe, do some meager jobs to pay his way, until he decided what to do with the rest of his life.
Lost and a little frightened, Kris headed to the nearest bar and spent a good chunk of the evening sipping beer and munching pretzels, planning his next step which was somewhere to sleep. He asked about nearby hostels and was glad to hear they were responsibly price.
Of course they were no five -star Amstel Hotel.
Shit, he’d left all his belongings in Addi’s suite. He certainly didn’t want to have a round two but he needed his stuff.
Maybe Raja could get it for him. He went to call then thought better of, not wanting to use up the precious minutes he had left for the month. The man’s rooms were on a different floor from Addi’s so Kris went in person. It would give him the opportunity to properly say good bye to his new friend.
Before he could get a word out, the moment Raja’s door opened, Kris found himself engulfed in tight hug.
“Baby, where have you been? You stormed out hours ago.”
“I … I’m sorry Raja … I just couldn’t … I’ve been hanging out ….”
“And drinking. Kristopher, you smell like the Heineken Brewery.”
“I’m not that drunk,” he sulked, “just had to take the edge off. I came to say good- bye and ask if you could get my thing’s from Sheikh Baba’s suite. I’ll come back in the morning and get them.”
“You’ll do nothing of the sort. Now I have you back, I’m not letting you go and sleep on the streets.”
“I won’t be on the streets … I’ve got the address of a hostel that’s not too expensive.”
“Nonsense, you’ll stay with me tonight.”
“Thanks for the offer but I don’t think ….”
“… and neither does Addi.” Raja let him go and glared at him, hands propped on his hips. “I could hear you two screaming down here.”
“No you couldn’t.”
“Alright, I couldn’t hear it here,” he pointed to his ears, “but I heard it here,” he pointed to his heart. “Please, Kristopher, stay the night so I won’t worry. In the morning, I’ll help you anyway I can.”
Kris was tired in body and mind and gave in. Raja wanted him to take the bed but Kris refused to put him out further and insisted he’d be fine on the sofa. His friend brought him a pillow and blanket and wished him well. Once alone, Kris stripped down to his briefs and settled in. He wanted to cry but didn’t have the energy and started drifting off.
As sleep overtook him, he heard Raja talking softly. It would have been too much to expect he wouldn’t be calling Addi.
All Kris needed was some peace and he prayed Addi would give it to him.
Pic of Dam Square - http://www.amsterdamlogue.com/www.amsterdamlogue.com/files/2007/11/adamdamsquare.jpg
Exterior of Royal Palace - http://www.bestourism.com/img/items/big/521/Amsterdam-in-Netherlands_Royal-Palace-in-Dam-Square_2841.jpg
How to eating herring - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt050JawRI8
Stroopewafel picture - http://www.teresadavisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/stroopwafel.jpg
NEMO museum ~ http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1312234114-courteys-of-flickr-cc-license-bart-van-damme-busy.jpg
Delftware tea service - http://www.hardinsdelft.com/images/tts120905.JPG
Delftware beer stein - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RAqnTmimXAQ/SeNrY1BL2uI/AAAAAAAADCk/lKk5U-F71B0/s800/Blue+Blog+Post+2.jpg
Wooden clogs - http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mVfqhRIR-E9MYuG--BVGszQ.jpg
Verse: Addi Baba
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: adam/kris
Summary: AU: After accepting Addi’s (Adam’s) request to travel the world with him, Kris jumps headfirst in a whole new world. There first stop … a world conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone involved. Entirely a figment of my imagination. Not intended to offend any group.
Note: Okay, I’m sure you’ll recognize the charity Kris’ becomes interested in; I just didn’t want to use their real name.
Amsterdam Part 3 ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/87855.html
Amsterdam Part 2 ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/87768.html
Amsterdam Part 1 ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/87448.html
Original Story in NYC - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/86596.html
~*~*~*~
The morning sun poured through the open drapes, smacking Kris right in the eyes. Grumbling obscenities, he rolled out of the sunbeams and stretched, not wanting to get up. His arm moved out, seeking body heat, and he found the other side of the bed empty. Now on his back, he listened for the rush of the shower but heard voices in the great room instead. Addi and Raja were probably starting breakfast without him.
Raja had quickly become a good friend so Kris had no qualms about walking out half dressed. He slipped on the white robe and padded barefoot into the other room, rubbing his stubbly cheeks and yawning loudly.
“Hope you save me some cof - feeeeeeeeee ….”
Addi and Raja were in the great room … and so where the rest of the suits. Dark clad bodies were sitting and standing everywhere, on the phone or the computer or with their heads together talking a mile a minute. Addi was at the large dining table, talking intensely on the phone. Raja was across the room, pouring himself a hot drink. Kris got a few looks but ignored them as he scurried over to Raja for an explanation.
“Kristopher!” Raja looked shock to see him. “What are you doing?”
“Walking through my own suite … or at least it used to be my suite. What the hell’s going on?” he muttered urgently, tightening the robe around himself.
“There’s a very important conference call with the sheikh’s board of directors and ….”
“Shit,” Kris declared and ran back to the bedroom to get ready.
Raja may have yelled something after him but he wasn’t sure and didn’t have time to run back and find out. Kris showered, shaved and dressed in record time, getting back to the meeting just as everyone was setting up their laptops and taking seats. Kris found an empty spot, opened his laptop and looked around for someone to ask about connecting to the link.
“Kristopher, what are you doing?”
“Addi, wish you’d told me but anyway, can I have the link.”
When Addi didn’t answer, Kris looked up. He didn’t expect to see his boss standing over him, arms crossed, face tight.
“You have to leave Kristopher.”
“What? … Why? … I thought, it’s a meeting right?”
“Yes, it’s a meeting but not for you.”
Kris looked around and spotted a few suits glaring at him over their glasses or out of the corners of their eyes.
“I don’t understand.”
Addi opened his mouth but was then called away before he could reply. Kris felt as small as a germ on a tick. He caught Raja’s eye then lost it just as quickly.
As nonchalantly as he could, Kris gathered his things and headed out the door. He wasn’t going to hang around where he wasn’t wanted. Since he was dressed, he decided to head out to the convention hall. There were speakers he wanted to hear and opportunities to do his job, even if Addi didn’t think he could.
If Sheikh Addi Baba thought Kris was going to sit around while he played stick-up-his-ass bossman, he had another thing coming.
~*~*~*~
Running from one lecture room to another helped Kris keep his mind off things for a while anyway. The lecture he was really interested in was worth his time. The American charity raised money from grass-root donations as well as some corporate sponsors to bring fresh waters to people around the world who didn’t have easy access to it. Information folders were handed out and videos were shown. Kris was fascinated that people could have their own page and ask friends and family to donate to the charity in their name rather than give them presents for special occasion. They talked about an American singer who asked his fans to donate for his birthday, beginning with a modest goal, and it exploded raising tens of thousands of dollars. If Addi was still talking to him in the next 24 hours, Kris was going to suggest the philanthropist seriously consider donating.
Kris returned to the hotel four hours later. He’d had time to calm down and was ready to have an adult conversation with Addi. Expecting their suite to be empty, it was his second shock of the day to see it still full of suits, chomping down on food. On his tiptoes he was able to locate Addi. He was up on the dais where the large table was, a phone glued to his ears. The other man was pacing and nodding then stopped when he spotted Kris. With a little glimmer of hope, Kris mustered a small smile and wave. Addi opened his mouth, as if to call to him, but a suit got his attention instead and the moment was lost.
Silently, Kris headed to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting to see if Addi would come to him. Forty-five minutes later - nothing. Sticking his head out the door, he found the suits and Addi back at work. Cursing under his breathe, Kris changed into jeans, t-shirt and a light jacket, wallet in one pocket, phone in the other. Without looking back, he marched through the suite and out the door once more.
As he waited for the elevator, he detected a looming presence beside him.
“You don’t need to come with me,” Kris sighed, more than a little ticked off.
“The sheikh would want me to.”
“Sorry Amir, but I don’t give a flying fig about what the sheikh wants right now. I need some time alone … nothing personal.”
“I … understand.”
Kris looked at the bodyguard and smiled sadly. “I promise I’ll be careful. If he has an issue with it, he can hash it out with me later … among other things.”
~*~*~*~
Sitting on his rented bike, Kris looked over the city map and made a game plan. It was already early afternoon so he couldn’t see everything that he wanted but he was going to make every hour count. Though shopping wasn’t his favorite thing, he grudgingly admitted it was more fun buying for someone else, namely his family and friends back home … and maybe a few others … so he found a shopping area and decided to leave it til the end.
He’d only biked a few blocks when his stomach rumbled. Kris didn’t want to waste time sitting in a restaurant so he looked for street food. In the end, he compromised with Dutch fast food. It was an automat vending machine that had brightly lit compartments with a variety of fresh and hot food. If he looked hard enough, he could just make out the bustling kitchen behind. There were a lot of familiar foods, like ham sandwiches and hot dogs, but he wanted something local.
Speaking of local, he asked a local what they recommended. Five minutes later, he was holding a plate of croquettes. It sounded like a dessert - maybe in France it was - but in the Netherlands it was a veal ragout enveloped in mashed potato, breaded and deep fried with peanut sauce for dipping. It was so good, he bought another. For two bucks, why not make it three!
With his stomach sated … for now … Kris worked off his lunch with a bike trip around the city. On his travels, he came across Dam Square. It was huge and surrounded by impressive buildings. In one area of the square was a large obelisk shaped monument. When he got closer, he saw sculptures around the bottom and an info plaque. It was a tribute to all the Dutch who died during the Nazi occupation of WWII. Kris took it all in, spending time honoring these people. He remembered from history class reading about what this country had endured. At one point, food had been so scarce they resorted to eating tulip bulbs.
After honoring them in his own small way with a silent prayer, Kris turned his attention to the activities happening around him. The open space was full of tourists, locales and pigeons. Street performers and buskers entertained. One band caught Kris’ attention. They played modern and historic instruments, all plugged into amplifiers. They were really good and Kris wanted to leave a gift of appreciation. He looked around, trying to spot an upside-down hat or open instrument case; he never expected the gratuity jar was actually a porcelain gratuity toilet!
A Madame Tussaud Museum occuppied one side of the square but he decided to check out the huge, elegant building across from it - the Royal Palace. It was open to the public for tours so after locking up his bike, he stepped back into the 17th century.
This was one of three palaces the Dutch Royal Family had. It was overwhelming and grand and elegant and Kris couldn’t happen wondering if Addi’s family estate looked like this in its own way.
Damn, he’d almost gone two hours without thinking about him. Kris’ burgeoning good mood soured a little.
Back on his bike, he started curving his way around kids and pigeons, slowing down to watch a living statue scare the shit out of someone when they got in the statue’s face. About twenty feet away was a food cart and Kris got closer. The wind was blowing in his direction, carrying the smell of the sea. Deciding to check it out, he discovered it was a herring stand. He liked fish, though he’d never tried herring. The fish was cleaned and prepared in front of him. The vendor told him the herring was fermented and served with chopped raw onions and chunks of pickle. Kris swallowed hard but not hard enough to squelch his curiosity. In Rotterdam, one picked the herring up by the tail, held it over your mouth and ate from the bottom up. The Amsterdam way was using a toothpick to spear a chunk of dill pickle then a piece of fish. It was slimy and crunchy and oniony and sour. He liked it but not enough for seconds after he finished what he had.
On the way out of the square, he found a place to buy a pack of breath mints.
For his next stop, he rented himself an audio tour and spent a little over an hour at the Amsterdam Museum, loosing himself in 1000 years of Amsterdam’s history. There was also an amazing quilted display representing the 180 nationalities that call the city home. Walking through time was a little tiring, on top of cycling, and he ended up in the museum’s café, ordering a steaming cup of coffee. Kris was delighted it came with a free cookie covering the top like a lid. Then he tried to bite it - it was hard as a rock. He couldn’t get his teeth through it, nor could he break a piece off.
A little disappointed … it looked so tasty … he set it aside and sipped his coffee.
“Neem mi niet kwalijk,” a woman said from the table beside him.
Kris smiled but shook his head, feeling a little awkward, “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Dutch.”
“Oh! My apologies,” she laughed, “I was saying ‘excuse me’. Your stroopewafel ….”
“My what?”
“With your coffee.”
“My cookie!”
“Ja. You looked concerned.”
Kris lowered his voice, “It’s stale I’m afraid.”
“Nee, that is how they are, when they are cool. When they are freshly made, they are sweet and gooey but they are delicious either way. Eat … like this.” She took her own cookie and dipped into the hot liquid, moving it slowly. He wanted to tell her to be careful; he’d lost many chocolate chip cookies at the bottom of his hot cocoa leaving a cookie in too long. “The heat softens the stroopewafel, melts the filling.” She lifted it to her mouth and easily bit into it. “Mmmmm licka licka… try!”
He followed her lead and agreed, it was licka licka. He downed it in four bites and thanked her profusely for her help and for sharing that stroopewafels could be bought all over the city. Kris was determined to buy a pack or two somewhere before heading back to the hotel.
History is a wonderful thing … without the past, we don’t have the future … but Kris had had enough history for the day and wanted some fun. He asked a man who looked like he knew things for a nearby suggestion.
Twenty minutes later, he was crossing a walkway over an expanse of water and heading towards the largest science and technology museum in the country - NEMO. I was designed to look like a cargo ship coming towards you. Inside, it was an open concept with five floors and LOTS of staircases. Passing through admissions, he quickly familiarized himself with the visitors’ rules, the most important one being that you can touch and play with ANYTHING! Kris lost track of time experimenting with electricity, driving a space simulator, playing with water, and becoming a kid again surrounded by robots, 3D images, holograms, touch screens, conveyor belts and fantastical contraptions.
Kris had thought the museum was named after Captain Nemo, you know cause is was ship shaped and all, but it turned out he was wrong. Apparently, the name ‘Nemo’ had been used for centuries to describe something on the edge of fantasy and reality. He had to laugh at the irony. Isn’t that were he was right now? Literally and figuratively? He was his own reality and Addi and the wonders he brought to Kris’ world were the fantasy. He felt his face warming up at the thought of how they’d make up. Taking out his phone, he intended to hit speed dial then snapped the phone shut. If Addi was still up to his neck in work, Kris didn’t want to distract him; instead, he’d distract him tonight.
It was getting a little late and Kris still hadn’t gone souvenir shopping. Wandering aimlessly from one local shop to the next - he didn’t want a cheesy souvenir - he found some gems. Kris bought for his mama a blue and white Delftware tea service and tulip bulbs for their garden. He got his dad a Delftware beer stein and his brother a pair of genuine wooden clogs painted to look like 1940s dress shoes. As a bonus, he bought each of them, and himself, several packages of stroopewafels, making note to send a text on how to soften them. After making arrangements to have the items mailed directly to Arkansas, he set out to find a couple more gifts.
Wandering aimlessly, not sure what he was looking for, he got thirsty and headed into a coffee shop, only to turn around and walk right back out, a cloud of sweet marijuana smoke in his wake. Then, to top it off, he found himself in the middle of the Red Light District. There were lots of ‘ladies’ willing to give him direction, just not the directions he wanted. In the end, he found a cop and found his way out.
It was nearing 5pm and he still hadn’t found a gift for Addi or Raja. Amsterdam was famous for its diamonds but it was a little early in their relationship for Kris to be buying diamonds. Besides, he didn’t know Addi’s ring size - there was a lot he didn’t know about him still - plus technically, they were still in the middle of an argument until they weren’t. With time flying by, Kris went into a chic boutique and picked up two pairs of designer sunglasses.
After Kris returned the bike, he casually strolled back to the Amstel. Rounding a corner, the majestic and elegant hotel came into view, along with some unexpected action around the entrance. He counted four police cars, sirens silent but lights flashing, and uniformed bodies moving in and out of the lobby. A crowd had gathered outside, watching the action, but Kris’ adventures were catching up to him and he just wanted to get up to the suite, kick his shoes off, and relax.
Maneuvering through the entrance, he found more action inside. Police officers were talking to people. He thought about asking the concierge what the scuttlebutt; the man-in-the-know was busy talking with two officers so Kris didn’t bother him.
Going up the elevator, he hoped it didn’t involve a bomb threat or something like that.
The elevator doors opened and Kris stepped into utter chaos. The double doors that led from the suite’s private lobby into the suite proper were wide open and the place was crawling with suits and more police. Panic vibrated Kris’ bones as the notion of something happening to Addi blossomed in his head. He rushed inside, dropping his shopping bag on the floor inside the doors. Frantically he looked around for that beautiful black hair and within ten seconds spotted what must be him coming out of the smaller reception room with two new suits jotting down notes.
As he got closer, Kris was taken aback by the fear veiling the other man’s face. About ten steps away, Addi looked up and they made eye contact. The fear fluttered away and a whole wash of emotions took their place. In the end, the stoic, professional mask Addi showed most people stuck but in his blue eyes, a maelstrom swirled. One thing he’d learned about Addi was that he wasn’t prone to PDA’s with other people around, particularly strangers. He’d lighten up a little, like when they dined at the Silver Mirror or had the canal boat to themselves, but the real emotions only came out in completely private moments. So when Addi smiled and greeted him with a handshake and a firm clasp to his shoulder, Kris didn’t take offense.
“Kristopher! Praise the heavens, you’re safe!”
Safe? Of course he was safe … but then again, he didn’t exactly tell the man where he was going after he swept himself away around lunchtime.
“Yes … I’m safe. Is something happening? Why the police?”
Raja appeared and not one to hold back, he gave Kris a huge … a polite hug … but a huge one none the less.
“We tried calling you when the conference call ended and we couldn’t reach you.” Raja looked at Addi and Kris saw the corners of the sheikh’s lip twitch. “We were concerned something had happened to you …,” this time Raja’s mouth twitched as he looked at his boss and Kris’ eyes caught the tension, “… there was speculation perhaps that you’d been ….”
“Why couldn’t we reach you?” Addi interrupted.
Kris didn’t know. He suddenly felt the weight of his phone in his jacket pocket and it dawned on him. Taking it out, he looked at the screen and grimaced.
“I shut my phone off. When I toured the Royal Palace, they asked we shut our phones off. I guess … I guess I forgot to turn it back on.”
The police seemed content with the explanation and readied to excuse themselves and withdraw the troops. While Addi finished with them, Kris retrieved the shopping bag from the door way and headed towards the bedroom to change. Raja was two steps behind him, catching Kris in another hug, this time a heartfelt one.
“Don’t ever do that again Kristopher.”
Kris hugged back tightly, replying: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry anyone. I was just upset at being left out and went sightseeing.” He reached into one bag and withdrew a leopard -print eyeglass case. “Here, I got you something … a little thank you for all your help.”
Raja opened the case and ahhh-ed at the gift inside. He put them on and posed, making Kris laugh. A cough broke the moment and Kris turned, seeing Addi standing in the doorway, arms crossed.
“Everyone is gone.”
“Look what Kristopher bought me! Did you buy Addi something?”
The atmosphere got heavy and Kris just nodded.
“Nice. Thank you for your support Raja but you can go now; I’ll see you in the morning.”
Raja removed the glasses, the glee on his face subdued. “Of course sir.” He turned to Kris. “Thank you again. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Of course. Night Raja.”
The private secretary left but not before announcing, “I’ll be in my room … if anyone needs me.”
“Tosbeho Raja.”
“Tosbeho.”
Once the door closed, the silence was deafening. Kris rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling like he’d been called to the principal’s office to explain why he disrupted class.
“So … you were having … fun,” the sheikh stated, somewhat accusingly.
“I was sightseeing yes … it wasn’t as if I had anything else to do.”
“It was business Kristopher … I couldn’t run off and play tourist.”
“I thought I was part of your business.”
“This didn’t concern you.”
“So I’ve already been told … quite explicitly I might add.” Kris tossed the shopping bag on the bed and scrubbed his face with his hands. “I thought I was part of the team … that my job wasn’t an excuse to make our relationship look respectable. I thought I was actually going to have a chance to make a difference.”
“You are … you will … but not now.”
“Oh, I see … just when you feel like it. Give the man a fancy suit and limitless credit card but only take him off the shelf for special occasions. I get it. I get it Addi … and I don’t like it.”
Addi’s brow furrowed and started pacing, arms still crossed.
“And I don’t like not knowing where you are.”
“I may be sleeping with you and working for you … although the ‘working’ part is still questionable … but I don’t belong to you. If I want to spend some time alone, I damn well will.”
Kris didn’t want to have this conversation; he just wanted to get off his feet. He felt stupid for thinking they could spend the rest of the evening as if nothing had happened that morning. He took off his t-shirt and headed for the bathroom when his elbow was grabbed.
“I’m not finished.”
Kris tugged his arm free and gave Addi a death glare: “I am. I’m sweaty and tired and I need a shower.”
“You need to explain yourself!”
“I need to explain myself?! I’m not the one who pushed you aside like you were nothing!”
“The meeting didn’t involve you … there was no need for you to be there.”
“The hell there wasn’t! Every other person in this caravan you call your staff was at that meeting except me!” A revelation came to him. “That phone call last night … that was about this morning wasn’t it?” Addi didn’t reply. “WASN’T IT?!”
“It was.”
“And you said you’d tell me about it this morning but you fucking didn’t. Instead I woke up to a suite full of people, leaving me to think I was late for something important. Then when I show up, you coldly tell me I’m not invited in front of everyone. Do you know how embarrassing that was? I know what most of your staff think of me, that I’m just a trophy executive, a colleague in title only … just an excuse to have me as harem boy!”
Addi’s face turned bright red, not from embarrassment but from rage.
“Don’t you dare speak to me like that! This is not about what happens in the bedroom ….”
“Right, it’s what happened in the boardroom … and damn it, I’m part of that too!”
Kris had had enough. Was it too much for the man to just give him an apology? Even a half-ass one would have been okay with him. He waited for Addi to say something that wouldn’t make his blood boil even more. Instead, all he got was ….
“I’m not having this discussion … not now.”
“No not ever you mean. Fine … fine … you don’t want to treat me like a valued employee then …,” Kris picked up the laptop and flung it on a nearby chair, relishing the thud it made as it bounced off and hit the floor, “… take this job …,” the credit card and papers from his unused briefcase followed suit, “… and SHOVE IT!”
Grabbing only his shirt and jacket, he stormed out of the bedroom and towards the front door.
“KRISTOPHER! GET BACK HERE!”
Kris wanted to ignore him, stomp out in self-righteous silence, but something had to be said.
“Where’s Amir? I didn’t see him when I got back.”
“He’s in his room … packing.”
“You fired him?! … Of course you fired him!”
“He let you go out alone … he should have gone with you. It’s his job to protect you and he didn’t.”
“Amir tried to come with me but I just wanted to go alone. I told him if you had a problem with it, I’d take care of it. Don’t let him go because I kept him away. He’s loyal to you … I don’t know why, the fuck right now … but he shouldn’t pay for listening to me.”
“Why not? I’m paying for listening to you now.”
“Oh … my … God … you didn’t just say ….” He’d had enough and left without another word.
The elevator doors closed, cutting off the sound of his name blaring out of the suite.
~*~*~*~
Dramatically storming out, Kris charged out of the hotel and stopped by the canal, clutching the railing until his hands hurt and sucking in fresh air, trying to clear his head. How could it have all gone to hell so quickly? Because he was impulsive and horny and let an exotic, exciting man sweep him off his feet and into a world he had no right being in.
Now he was trapped overseas, far from his family, homeless and jobless.
He had some meager savings in his bank account back in the States and a basic credit he’d come into this relationship with that would get him back to New York. Problem was he didn’t want to go back, have to explain to his friends what happened. He didn’t want to go back to Arkansas either, embarrassed about letting this happen. Maybe he’d backpack around Europe, do some meager jobs to pay his way, until he decided what to do with the rest of his life.
Lost and a little frightened, Kris headed to the nearest bar and spent a good chunk of the evening sipping beer and munching pretzels, planning his next step which was somewhere to sleep. He asked about nearby hostels and was glad to hear they were responsibly price.
Of course they were no five -star Amstel Hotel.
Shit, he’d left all his belongings in Addi’s suite. He certainly didn’t want to have a round two but he needed his stuff.
Maybe Raja could get it for him. He went to call then thought better of, not wanting to use up the precious minutes he had left for the month. The man’s rooms were on a different floor from Addi’s so Kris went in person. It would give him the opportunity to properly say good bye to his new friend.
Before he could get a word out, the moment Raja’s door opened, Kris found himself engulfed in tight hug.
“Baby, where have you been? You stormed out hours ago.”
“I … I’m sorry Raja … I just couldn’t … I’ve been hanging out ….”
“And drinking. Kristopher, you smell like the Heineken Brewery.”
“I’m not that drunk,” he sulked, “just had to take the edge off. I came to say good- bye and ask if you could get my thing’s from Sheikh Baba’s suite. I’ll come back in the morning and get them.”
“You’ll do nothing of the sort. Now I have you back, I’m not letting you go and sleep on the streets.”
“I won’t be on the streets … I’ve got the address of a hostel that’s not too expensive.”
“Nonsense, you’ll stay with me tonight.”
“Thanks for the offer but I don’t think ….”
“… and neither does Addi.” Raja let him go and glared at him, hands propped on his hips. “I could hear you two screaming down here.”
“No you couldn’t.”
“Alright, I couldn’t hear it here,” he pointed to his ears, “but I heard it here,” he pointed to his heart. “Please, Kristopher, stay the night so I won’t worry. In the morning, I’ll help you anyway I can.”
Kris was tired in body and mind and gave in. Raja wanted him to take the bed but Kris refused to put him out further and insisted he’d be fine on the sofa. His friend brought him a pillow and blanket and wished him well. Once alone, Kris stripped down to his briefs and settled in. He wanted to cry but didn’t have the energy and started drifting off.
As sleep overtook him, he heard Raja talking softly. It would have been too much to expect he wouldn’t be calling Addi.
All Kris needed was some peace and he prayed Addi would give it to him.
Pic of Dam Square - http://www.amsterdamlogue.com/www.amsterdamlogue.com/files/2007/11/adamdamsquare.jpg
Exterior of Royal Palace - http://www.bestourism.com/img/items/big/521/Amsterdam-in-Netherlands_Royal-Palace-in-Dam-Square_2841.jpg
How to eating herring - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt050JawRI8
Stroopewafel picture - http://www.teresadavisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/stroopwafel.jpg
NEMO museum ~ http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1312234114-courteys-of-flickr-cc-license-bart-van-damme-busy.jpg
Delftware tea service - http://www.hardinsdelft.com/images/tts120905.JPG
Delftware beer stein - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RAqnTmimXAQ/SeNrY1BL2uI/AAAAAAAADCk/lKk5U-F71B0/s800/Blue+Blog+Post+2.jpg
Wooden clogs - http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mVfqhRIR-E9MYuG--BVGszQ.jpg
