And so began the 3 years Ethan would spend on his quest. In just a couple of weeks, he was already a completely different person than the one who had entered.

At first he, Dawn, and Jimmy went about their business without drawing attention to themselves. Jimmy’s AI was doing better at running the reactor project than Ethan could have, and they were soon spending the majority of their days planning in the cloaked office. In the beginning, their main objective was to slow Eldon’s StarForce project and not have the blame placed at Ethan’s doorstep. What they came up with was direct conflict with Eldon, through Zhang. Zhang was in a position to legitimately impede StarForce’s progress, and all the blame would be placed on him.

Zhang’s first volley was to cut off Eldon’s supply chain without warning. Zhang placed sanctions on Eldon and Whitehead Industries throughout the BRICS’s nations. Problems immediately arose in getting the parts and rare earth elements required to build Eldon’s reactors and rockets. Fabricating had to be recommissioned. This alone would set the project back by at least a year, and there was nothing Ethan could do about it.

Within his inner circle, Eldon was beyond rage. It seemed like everytime he was about to gain the upper hand on something, Zhang would intervene and counter his move. It was definitely personal. No other companies from the Western World were being sanctioned.

The icing on the cake was when Zhang expropriated all of Eldon’s factories, not just in China, but in all the BRICS nations. This was a major blow to Eldon, and what instigated the final conflict with Zhang.

While all this was going on, Eldon presented an outward calm. He continued to entertain and throw lavish parties. If someone mentioned his struggles with Zhang, he’d discount him with a wave of the hand and a nonchalant quip. As far as anyone was concerned, it was business as usual.

Eldon continued to host orgies as well. Ethan never understood why Eldon insisted on throwing orgies, particularly now when he was expected to attend them. He supposed they were meant to be some kind of reward for the loyal troops, but Ethan didn’t want to have anything to do with them. They weren’t orgies, they were mass rape. There was no way Ethan would participate in them. Not anymore. The problem was, there was no way not to participate. It was not spoken of, but it was known, attendance was required. Eldon did not attend the orgies.

‘Maybe we can sneak Dawn in,’ Ethan suggested.

‘What? What for?’ Dawn asked in surprise.

‘You can be my partner.’

‘Absolutely not.’

‘But I can’t just stand around doing nothing. Eldon will hear about it and start asking questions.

‘Well, you’re certainly not going to be having sex with me, I can assure you’.

‘Yeah, okay, dumb idea, but I’m telling you guys, I’m desperate here’.

The prospect of Dawn attending an orgy created all kinds of images in Jimmy’s mind. He was not as willing as Ethan to let it go. ‘You know Dawn,’ he said. ‘Since I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you, socially with a man, or woman. Maybe if you got your oil changed once in awhile, you’d start holding up your end of this project. Your work isn’t up to standard, and I’m pretty sure, it’s because you’re not getting laid. It builds up’.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

The truth was, Dawn was sexually repressed. It wasn’t because she wasn’t attractive. She was very attractive in her own way, if not beautiful. She was a little taller than most women, and went out of her way to remain fit and dress fashionably, albeit a little restrained. Her fine features highlighted her chin and cheekbones while not drawing attention to them, and her eyes were clear and calculating. Perhaps it was her eyes hinting of the complexity of the woman behind them, that turned away potential suitors. Her analytic approach to everything, including relationships might be another detractor.

Jimmy knew Dawn well enough to overlook her social ineptness. In fact, he took advantage of it when he was tormenting her, which was often. He was not about to let up on her today, when they were broaching the topic of sex. Sexually, Jimmy was drawn to Dawn like a moth to a flame. It was her skin as black as ebony, that drew him to her.

‘Well, if I do have a relationship, it won’t be with either of you two idiots’, Dawn replied to Jimmy, hoping to put an end to the conversation.

Jimmy would have none of that. ‘Maybe you should start dressing hornier around here,’ he pressed. ‘It’ll get your estrogen flowing, having us guys looking at you with desire in our eyes. We’ll even make untoward advances, if that will help. At least I will. Don’t you see how much better you’ll feel about yourself? I say, we give it a try.

Dawn ignored Jimmy, which he took as a sign that he was very close to pushing the right button.

Seriously,’ he added. ‘I’ve imagined you in some pretty hot outfits, and trust me, you do not disappoint.’ Then if there was any doubt to his meaning, he started beating his clenched fist on the arm of his chair to simulate masturbation.

‘You disgusting pig,’ Dawn yelled, jumping to her feet and headed towards Jimmy, fists clenched.

Jimmy’s eyes lit up. He saw he had gone too far. ‘I’m kidding,’ he said, placing himself in a defensive, fetal position within his massive massage chair. ‘I didn’t mean it’.

Dawn stood over Jimmy for a moment wanting to smack him. Her eyes were on fire, and her breathing had increased in preparation to attack. His submissive fetal position worked though, and she just kicked his chair and sat down.

Jimmy watched her from the corner of his eye, and when he felt the moment was just right. ‘My dick twitched when you were standing over me breathing heavy like that.’

Dawn was back on her feet, This time she let Jimmy have it, slapping and punching his cowering body wherever she could find an opening.

Ethan watched the flurry of fists reign down on Jimmy until Dawn’s anger began to subside.

‘Jimmy shut up. I have to figure this out. I’m not going to these orgies, and it could severely screw things up’.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Jimmy said. ‘You can use some of my wives.

‘What?’

‘You can have sex with some of my wives.’

‘Some of your wives?’

‘Yes, I have a number of wives. Eleven to be exact, and they’re a lot hornier than I thought they would be. You’d kind of be helping me out.’

‘You have eleven wives?’ Ethan exclaimed.

‘Yeah’.

‘How do you come to have eleven wives’?

‘Well, like I said. Living in China was boring, so I figured a few wives would make time pass a little more enjoyably. Turns out, I was wrong about that. Women can be very demanding sexually, especially when you have them holed up in New York and they don’t know anyone. All the responsibility falls on me. I’m not getting my eight hours of sleep every night, I can tell you that’.

Both Ethan and Dawn were silent, staring at Jimmy in disbelief. ‘It’s a completely open marriage if that’s what you’re worried about,’ he added’.

Ethan and Dawn continued to stare dumbly at Jimmy.

‘Well, think about it,’ Jimmy said. ‘It doesn’t have to be just orgies. You can come over and practice anytime you want’.