The Loft And A Night Out (Patreon)

(James)

James King was, a few days earlier, working in his home office going over a few grant request sent to one of the foundations he helps manage. The phone rang; it was his sister, Katherine.

“James, come to Miami. There’s going to be a really swanky dance party at the club.”

James knew which club she was talking about—very nice and fun. James agreed.

Reaching Miami, James went to his sister’s loft where she introduced him to Gioni.

“She’s going to house-sit for me starting tomorrow when I go to Cancun. She’s going to the club with us.”

James said hello and, wishing to be polite, asked her about her work.

“I am a technical writer for some engineering companies. I take the boring engineering details and write them for the sales team and customers. I also do editing for several tech journals.”

James could not help but think her appearance and her job failed to match.

“Okay,” James’s sister said at that point, “let’s take some pictures and get going.”

Later And Alone

(Gioni)

Gioni and Katherine had, after the evening out with Katherine's brother, returned to the loft.

"I'll be out of here early tomorrow," Katherine said as she stood in the hallway outside the guest room where Gioni was staying. "I think I showed you were everything is. Did you get hooked up to the WIFI?"

"I did," Gioni replied. "Thank you for picking me to house-sit for you."

Katherine smiled. "I think I'm lucky to find you. Your references all said I couldn't go wrong!"

"I try to do a good job. I have a light week work-wise, but I'll be around the loft most of the time, anyway. I don't get out much."

Katherine smiled and looked down. "Everyone else's loss, I guess. You seemed to have a good time tonight."

Gioni nodded. "Oh, I go out. Just in moderation!"

Katherine smiled. "Well, I heard James say he'd look you up next time he's in town. He's a good man. I wouldn't say that if it weren't true."

Gioni smiled. "He seems smart. Good conversation, too. I'll look forward to it, if he ever gets back."

"Well, goodnight. See you next week!"

"Be safe in Cancun."

Katherine said she would, then went down the hall to her room.

Gioni looked around the guest room. It was more like a small guest suite. One side of the room had a small sitting area. The other had the bed. It had its own bathroom. And a view that was amazing.

Gioni undressed and turned down the bed. Then, she remembered she had wanted to make sure the edits she had made to a document had actually uploaded, so she went to her laptop and checked.

Everything seemed in order, so she stood up and looked out the window.

Miami stretched out below her. It was beautiful.

Gioni paused and thought about the night.

It had been fun. But it was qualitatively different than a lot of nights out with strangers—or potential friends, depending on what mood Gioni was in. Elizabeth was smart, focused, but relaxed and fun. James, too, was smart, and seemed more than able to have a conversation. She felt like he enjoyed her company, but he never was forward, never rude. He controlled himself and acted with decency.

She'd felt comfortable with him and even offered to take him to Nikki Beach club next time he was in town. She doubted she'd ever hear from him again, but if she did, she'd be more than happy to spend time with him.

{{ Fin }}}

• Throughout the "Running With The King!" storyline the part of James King is depicted by the Instagramer king_james_ai. The James King's creator has contributed plot ideas to this story.

• Whereas this storyline is fictional and includes NSFW content, any agencies or teams mentioned in this story are also fictional, though they might remind readers of real organizations.

• Gioni Naalk is a fictional AI character.