My move to NYC was now complete. I was living a dream in midtown Manhattan. Small apartment, very small, but still my apartment. I could walk to the theater. I could walk to 100 plus fabulous restaurants. I could walk to Times Square. Yes, there was still the covid situation and maybe more importantly the crime situation but I was still fulfilling my dream of living in the City.
I did still have to work daily but it was actually mostly a work from home job. I had to go into the office to meet clients maybe once a week for a few hours. Sometimes I went into the office just to change my environment and to have an excuse to go out (not that I really needed one).
Very soon after arriving in the City I started to explore the local bars and restaurants within walking distance. Given the work situation I really had not met many co-workers and no one yet in my building so I was largely on my own. During these forays I was careful not to increase my alcohol consumption to much. I would sit at a bar and nurse a single drink for an hour rather than down multiple drinks and stumble home.
One evening I was in a new, at least new to me, bar -- a very upscale bar with an Irish pub type atmosphere and a corresponding food menu. I was sitting at the bar, enjoying a pint of Guinness when I noticed another lone sole a couple of empty bar stools away. Just as I noticed him he turned to me and gave a quick nod of his head as a greeting. I returned the greeting and made some meaningless comment about the bar and that is how it began.
We were soon engaged in a wide ranging conversation and had a very nice evening. Before departing we exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet the following week in the same bar. And in fact did so. And the week after that. Our meetings had now expanded to a variety of close bars and also were now including dinner. They also expanded several times a week rather than just weekly.
It turned out we were both in the financial business though I suspected Chris's job was a significant step up from my position though interestingly we never got to deep into work related talk. We did talk a lot of about sports, travel, politics and much more. In fact one night when I had probably had a glass or two too many tequilas we had a short conversation about sex. He talked a little bit at a very high level of some of his escapades and I probably said a bit more then I should have about my own experiences but that was a one time event, not to be repeated at least in the short term.
One evening while having a having a drink sitting at a bar a young man came by and said hello to Chris. He spoke to Chris in a friendly manner. I could not hear the actual conversation except for one word 'Sir'. He had called Chris Sir. It seemed rather odd but I did not over think it.
Chris's friend left after a few minutes and Chris turned back to me.
"Well Dennis I think I ought to tell you a couple things just to prevent any future awkward moments that might come up in a meeting such as the one that just occurred. Most importantly is for you to know is that I am gay. If that offends or bothers you in anyway just say so and we will part friends. There is also another small point I should make. I am also a Dom. I am going to assume you know what that means. That young man who just came by was a sub of mine several years ago. We are still good friends but have no current relationship. I am only telling you this in case another of my past associates come by to say hello and you find the conversation very odd." Chris did not say this in an apologetic or embarrassed manner. He just stated the facts.
I do have to admit I was rather surprised, not to a 'shocked' level, but still very surprised. And no, neither of his admissions bothered me. And I immediately told him so. In fact in an attempt to lighten the moment I add a 'Sir' with a big smile to the end of my statement. Chris took that in the good humor that I had intended it.
I think that moment cemented our friendship. In fact I started calling Sir with some frequency in a very light and friendly way. I even admitted to him that I had a bit of a submissive side. I think I told him this to sort of off set the Dom statement he had made to me previously. As an aside, I had in fact had numerous Domme/sub engagements but all of those were years in the past.
One Friday night we had had a very light dinner and then were sitting at the bar with a glass of wine when the power went out in the bar. The emergency lighting came so there was no reason to move away until an employee came out of the back and said they had been notified a transformer in the area had blown and it would be a minimum of 3 hours before power was back and that they would be closing.
Chris spoke, "The night is still young. Let's walk back to my place -- worst case is my building is also affected but it has good emergency power so we will have lights and refrigeration -- all we need. Maybe we can have one or two extra for a change."
I agreed and we started the short walk to his apartment which we reached in less then ten minutes and as luck would have it his building was fully lit.
I noted that this building was a multiple step upgrade up from my apartment. We quickly were up the elevator and into his rather spacious (by NYC standards) apartment. He was on the thirtieth floor and had a beautiful view of Central Park. It was pretty obvious this apartment was more than a little out of my price range. The view alone would put the rent out of my affordability range. I was a bit surprised because in all of our conversation Chris did not even hint his income allowed him to afford this life style.
Chris pointed out the bar and asked me to pour him a glass of Scotch. " Neat please. Pour yourself what ever you might like but that Scotch on the bar is one of the best singles I have had. I suggest you at least try it. I am going to take the opportunity to get a bit more comfortable" With that Chris disappeared into what I assumed was his bedroom and I went to the bar, got a couple of Waterford Lismore Old Fashioned glasses (I did say this was a high end apartment) and poured us both a generous glass of his Macallan Sherry Oak 25 year old scotch.
Chris soon emerged now clothed in a very nice robe and pair of slippers. He sat down on the leather couch and I took a seat on a matching easy chair.
"To us" Chris said as he raised his glass in a toast jester. I repeated the statement and lifted my glass accordingly.
We talked a bit -- mostly me making comments about the beautifully decorated apartment and of course the view.