Dear Folks,
Your comments are amazing as per usual! All your theories are brilliant and some might be dangerously close to the truth...
: )
This is the first whodunit I have ever written so it has been a learning process for me. Getting feedback on how you react to what I write has been invaluable. Truly.
Just to give you a little insight I always knew who the perpetrator was going to be (obvs!) but then I had to throw in some red herring characters (obvs) but they had to be believable options/culprits. That was the framework that I began with.
I have just realised that the way that reads is as if this chapter finally reveals 'whodunit'. Breathe easy. It doesn't. But there are one, two or three reveals...
You know I think you're awesome, right?
Chips x
{~}
"Right." Ste stood up from his stool at the bar and took the ice bucket. "Better go."
"Yeah. You should get back to Brendan before he starts wondering where you are." Paul said.
Ste's face dropped. "What? Who?"
Paul smiled . "Mate. I know about you two. I've known for a long time. It's okay. I know how it feels to have to keep a secret."
Ste struggled to keep his composure as he realised that he and Brendan were busted. There were three routes to go. One. Denial. Two. Defensiveness. Three. Acknowledgement. Ste opted for the first option.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
He swallowed hard. The condensation that was forming on the cold bucket of ice in his hands reflected the sweat slowly falling down his temple; a residue of his earlier bedroom antics with Brendan and his fear of being caught out by his friend.
"Come off it." Paul said.
He pointed at Ste's t-shirt.
Correction.
Not Ste's.
Brendan's.
"Brendan was wearing that earlier." Paul said.
Ste blanched in realisation. He hadn't paid attention to the clothes he flung on. He should have realised that the top he was wearing was roomier than his had been.
"Shit." He muttered under his breath as he collapsed back onto his stool. "I can explain…"
Paul smiled sympathetically. "You're a shitty liar, Ste."
"Oh God."
Ste realised that there was no getting out of this.
Paul placed a hand on his shoulder. A gesture of comfort.
"Did you honestly think I didn't know you guys had history? You are so obvious at work. The way you act towards each other." Paul smiled.
Ste couldn't deny that but,
"No one else noticed." He said.
"Maybe not but it's my job to be tuned in to Brendan and his mood and also I was the one who bought the clothes that I've seen you wear a few times at work and those McQueen glasses!" Paul reached over suddenly and traced the skin around one of Ste's eyes with his index finger in a gesture that was unnecessarily intimate. "The glasses he told me he gave a 'friend'."
Ste blinked, moistening his contact lenses. "Oh. Is that what he said?"
"I didn't realise at the time that I was buying them for his secret boyfriend."
"You should have told me you knew." Ste said.
"Honestly? I thought that you were gearing up to telling me the truth since we were getting closer as friends. When you didn't I figured there must be a reason for your secrecy and I didn't want to push you and also I got the impression that you had moved on with Simon so I didn't think there was any point bringing up the past. But then I catch you coming out of Brendan's chalet…"
Ste didn't want Paul getting the idea that he made it his business to bed hop through senior staff so he leaned in closer to his friend, lowered his voice and wet his lips before saying,
"Um. What I am about to say, you can't tell anyone. Okay? Not even Guy or Mel."
Paul nodded.
Ste took another deep breath.
"Okay. I was never Brendan's boyfriend. I mean… before working for the corporation we were… seeing each other but, like, it weren't serious."
At least not for him.
"And then we called it a day. So when I got this job and we saw each other at work it were a bit of a surprise but we decided to be grown up about it. I started to hang out with Simon but the truth was I really liked Brendan. I just thought he didn't feel the same way." Ste smiled. "But apparently I were wrong because he came up this weekend to tell me that he… um, really liked me. So now Brendan and me, we kind of, you know…"
"Found each other again?" Paul said.
Ste nodded. He couldn't help his smile. "Something like that. Yeah. We found each other but it is dead new so, like, I would really appreciate it if you didn't say anything to anyone."
"I told you. I won't. And you know, I've told you before, if you want a friendly ear, I've got one right here." Paul pointed to his right ear.
"I'm sure you don't want your gay mate to chew your ear about his love life. You've got to have better things to do." Ste grinned as he stood up. "So anyway I should go back to him."
"Wait a second." Paul suddenly looked anxious. "Look. Um. You aren't the only one who's been carrying a secret."
Ste immediately felt worried as he took in his friend's drawn expression. "What's up?"
Paul cleared his throat. His eyes darted to the door of the bar, then the bartender, then the other patrons before looking at Ste again.
"I'm going to tell you because I think you'll understand but you can't tell anyone either."
"Paul, you're making me nervous."
Right at that second Phil, Melanie and a man Ste assumed to be her husband walked into the bar with a couple of other employees. They spotted Paul and Ste immediately and aimed for them.
Why did some people have such bad timing? Paul's face dropped and Ste felt uneasy as well. Faced with his work colleagues he realised the impact that his relationship with Brendan might have on his job and working environment if everyone were to find out.
"Hiya, lads." Melanie said. "Where's Simon?"
"In our chalet." Ste said quickly.
"Is he coming out?"
"No. I'm going back to him now actually."
"Fancy joining us for a drink before you scoot off?" Mel asked with a bemused smile as she observed Ste and Paul's frayed countenances.
"What's gotten into you two?" Phil asked them.
"Nothing." Ste looked uneasily at him.
They had partly reconciled their differences but Ste still didn't understand why his neighbour had reacted so harshly to the revelation that Ste was gay and/or with Simon.
"Nothing." Paul repeated. "I think I'm off to bed actually. Long day."
He quickly made his way out of the bar.
"Paul, wait up."
Ste followed his friend as they walked the path that led to the chalets.
{~}
"Wait, Paul!" Ste chased after his friend.
"Ste. No. Leave me alone." Paul said. "I shouldn't have said anything. I got carried away in a mood of sharing."
"Now you're really scaring me. Just tell me what's bothering you."
"Nothing's bothering me. I made a big deal out of nothing."
"Okay. Okay." Ste said when he realised that he was not going to get anywhere by pestering. "At least promise me that you'll speak to someone tonight about whatever it is. Tiffany maybe?"
Paul looked blankly at him. "Tiffany?"
"Yeah. She'll listen, hen party or not."
Paul gave him a small smile. "Yeah. Good idea. Yeah. I'll do that. Just… this conversation never happened, yeah?"
"Okay. It never happened." Ste said. He was confused because Paul hadn't said anything that might be considered divulging information.
"Night, Ste."
"Night."
{~}
There was a knock on the door. Brendan walked to it dressed in his track suit bottoms and opened it.
"Sorry I didn't bring a key card." Steven said.
When he saw what the lad was wearing the mystery of his missing top was answered.
He let the young man in and said,
"It's okay. I went to see Walker to make sure he didn't need an ambulance. He'll live. I persuaded him that the best thing to do was to go back to Liverpool tonight unless he wanted you to press charges against him."
Steven shuddered. "I don't want to do that. I just want to put it behind me."
"He won't be messing with you again. I promise." Brendan tried to pull Steven into his arms but there was resistance so he dropped his hands. He frowned as he said, "I brought your things over. Thought you might not want to sleep alone tonight."
Steven didn't answer him and instead walked around Brendan, toed off his shoes and fell back into the large bed to stare blankly at the wall.
Brendan looked at him in confusion. "Where's the ice and food?"
Ste covered his eyes with his hands and sighed.
"What's wrong?" Brendan asked, finally tuning into the lad's mood. He sat down next to him and placed a hand on his thigh.
Steven faced him.
"Your PA knows about us." He said.
Brendan cocked his head. "Paul?"
Steven nodded. "He saw me come out of your room."
Brendan blinked slowly. His heart skipped a beat. "What did you say?"
"I couldn't deny it. I told him to not tell anyone and I don't think he will. He has known for ages that there was something between us because you used him to buy some of my gifts."
Steven reached out and caressed over the taller man's chest, playing with the dark hair there, as Brendan looked down at him. The action was absentminded, a bit like doodling when speaking to someone over the phone.
"We need to talk about how we'll be now. You know, with each other at work." The young man said.
"How do you want it to be?"
Brendan took Steven's hand and brought it up to his lips, placing a kiss in his palm.
"I'm not sure. I don't want this to affect work."
"No. True."
"I think if people know about us they'll assume things."
"What things?" Brendan murmured as he ran his fingers over familiar warm skin.
He should have been paying attention to Steven's concerns and he was but he was also keen to make up for lost time so he kissed up the lad's wrist and arm. He twisted his body round and crawled over Steven on the bed only to continue his trail of kisses until his lips reached the lad's shoulder.
"They'll think I'm a slut because I've been seeing Simon even though I never slept with him and now I'm with you."
Brendan smiled as he kissed Steven. Knowing that he hadn't gone the distance with Simon filled the Irishman with immeasurable joy.
"And also they'll think I'm only after you for your money, power and position."
"My money, power and position are quite impressive…" Brendan lightly bit over Steven's quickening pulse in his neck before sucking gently on the soft skin. God. He had to find a way to control himself with the lad because right now Steven was far too irresistible to him. "… So please tell me they're at least part of my appeal otherwise it's all been a waste of time."
He smiled.
Steven giggled. "It's not funny, Brendan. They'll call me a gold-digger!"
"You aren't a gold digger." Brendan growled against the lad's damp skin. You make it impossible for me to lavish you with things. You're the opposite of materialistic.
Brendan placed a gentle kiss on his lips. He felt the lad's arms wind around his waist then his hands settled on Brendan's buttocks.
"No. But I am superficial." Steven murmured. "I think you look so hot. Confident and broody. And I think your bum is sexy."
Brendan sighed heavily and grinned. "It's not your fault. I have an arse that won't quit."
Steven smiled at that but then got serious again. "And they might find out about how we met. Can you imagine if they did, Brendan?"
Brendan stared down at him, combed his fingers through Steven's hair and stated the obvious,
"So what you're saying is…" Kiss on one cheek. "…telling them that I've gotten together with my ex-escort," Kiss on other cheek. "… and letting them know that I think he is incredible…" Tug on earlobe with teeth and then a suck. "… Is not a good idea?"
Steven pulled him down for a passionate kiss then said, "You think I'm incredible?"
"Did I say that out loud?"
"Yeah."
"Well then I must have meant it." Brendan whispered.
Ste said softly. "No one thinks I'm incredible."
Brendan smiled. "You are. Take the compliment."
"Okay. Thanks." Steven said as if only half believing Brendan.
That needed correcting; that lack of self-confidence. Brendan wondered where Steven had picked it up from. Someone had put him down in the past and made him feel like scum perhaps.
"Anyway. It's still a really bad idea to let anyone at work know about us." Steven whispered. "For both of us."
There was urgency to his tone that made Brendan wonder whether there was another reason why his employee wanted to keep their relationship quiet.
He was surprised at how much he did not like the idea. The problem was the possibility of chancers like Walker trying to dive in and try their luck with Steven meaning that Brendan would have to powerlessly stand back and watch while they flirted and came onto the lad.
None-the-less what Steven said made sense. Waiting allowed the dust to settle on his 'relationship' with Walker and also allowed a time lapse that buried evidence of Steven's escorting past.
"Okay." Brendan whispered as his hands crept over Steven's top and bunched up the material to expose his torso as he went along. "For now."
He placed a kiss on Steven's navel before giving him one long lick up his chest until he reached and kissed a pierced nipple.
The lad moaned and trembled with need but then pushed his top down reluctantly. "We're not done talking yet, Brendan."
"We're not?" Brendan hid a smile. "An hour has to be a record for a relationship sexual drought."
Steven smiled at up him with such gentleness that Brendan felt his belly summersault. "I want to explain why I left before we do..."
"Why you left?"
"Why I left you. The contract we had." He rested his hands on Brendan. "I want you to understand."
Oh.
That.
Ridiculous how the memory of Steven's departure at the end of the dinner party still stung.
"You made it clear. You told me that I didn't make you happy."
Steven nodded as he traced his hands over Brendan's bare chest. "But I didn't tell you why."
"It's cruel to piss on a man after you've stabbed him to death, Steven."
"I really liked you." Steven said as he took one of Brendan's hands in his. "And every day that we were together I felt myself liking you more and more but I was sure that you didn't feel the same. I mean I knew you liked me but I thought it were just because we had fun when we, you know." Ste briefly looked at where their groins were flush to convey his meaning. "I didn't think you valued me. I thought that you thought that as long as you paid you could get what you wanted out of me. I hated the fact that you assumed that how I were with you were an act that I put on because it wasn't. I were just being me."
"I didn't just see you as an escort. That's the problem." Brendan whispered.
When Steven pulled away slightly he added,
"That came out wrong. I'm shit with words. Basically I felt like I was getting myself into trouble with you."
"Thanks." The lad said.
Brendan smiled and said, "Hear me out. I would look at you and I would think this. Here's this guy. I call him for his services. He does his job. I pay him. But every time he leaves I have these feelings and thoughts. So I try and figure out a way to see him more. I tell him that I don't want him to be with anyone else. That I'll pay him for that exclusivity. And I'm thinking- you're an idiot, Brendan, because the lad is just doing it because it's his job and you're paying him well. How desperate are you? So then I would act like a dick so I didn't feel like an idiot. But a dick is still an idiot."
Steven nodded thoughtfully as he continued a slow languid tactile exploration of Brendan's body. "I know how dumb it sounds but the way I've been with you at work is because I was your escort before. So every time you treat me slightly differently to everyone else, like give me something, I think that you're trying to buy me."
"I treat you differently because I like doing things for you."
Brendan groaned and then bit Steven's lower lip in response to the lad's hand roaming further south on his body.
The Irishman wasn't sure he was able to carry out a rational conversation if the lad did what it looked like he was planning to do.
"I like doing things for you too." Steven whispered as his hand reached Brendan's groin and began to stroke his shaft through the material for his tracksuit bottoms.
Brendan took a few deep breaths. "Good because it gets me going…," he groaned when Steven rubbed against the head, "… when I can make you smile."
Was this a 'talk' or foreplay? Brendan wasn't sure but as long as Steven wasn't complaining he encouraged the lad to slip his hand into his sweats to continue working his magic on his engorging cock.
"I won't be so funny about you giving me gifts then." Steven whispered then kissed him as he slowly jerked him off.
Brendan trembled at the sensation of Steven's hand on him. "The Apple store wouldn't take your last present back. They seem to have a problem with the fact that they could only re-sell it to people called Steven."
"I'm a Steven so."
"Are you saying you'll have it now?"
Steven looked up at him seriously. "Yes."
Brendan smiled. It was the way Steven looked at him. It was like being bombarded with warmth.
You're fucked, mate. He has you by the balls and you don't even care, He thought to himself. Now stop acting like a girl and fuck him silly.
He muttered against the soft skin just under Steven's collar bone. "Are we done talking now?"
Steven smiled as Brendan began to unfasten his jeans. "Yes."
Brendan gave him a sly look. "Then next time for my sanity please don't lie on my bed dressed in one my tops looking cute …" He sniffed down Steven's chest, "… smelling like we just fucked, lips begging to be kissed, trying to rub one out of me and conduct a serious conversation with me at the same time. A man's brain isn't designed for that."
{~}
There was some explaining to do on Sunday. Brendan was surprisingly good at giving an explanation for Simon's sudden night time departure.
Much like the day before he and Ste barely spoke to one another in the company of others.
In the afternoon, as the weekend drew to a close, there was a sense of camaraderie that had been forged from the tasks of the weekend. The retreat had done its job for another year and Ste was grateful that he had gone. It had given him a networking opportunity that was never normally given to regular staff.
Brendan remained quiet in the background while he got a few offers for a ride back to Chester. Eventually he settled for riding with Paul.
He said a hasty goodbye to Brendan in his chalet, then joined his mate in the hotel's car park.
"This is yours?" He said and let out a soft whistle of appreciation.
Paul's smile was embarrassed as he looked at his luxury sports car. "Yeah."
"I didn't know it paid so well to put up with Brendan!"
"I do okay. It's not like I have kids to think of or anything." He realised how insensitive that sounded. "Sorry."
"It's okay. I know what you mean. Kids are expensive." Ste said. "But worth it."
Paul patted him on the shoulder. "I'll take your word for it, mate."
They got in.
While Ste wasn't an expert on cars this Jaguar looked top spec. How the hell did Paul afford it? The insurance had to be through the roof!
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to give you your phone back." Paul said. "I charged it up for you overnight."
"Thanks." Ste looked for messages. He didn't expect many. He had spoken to Amy and the kids on both Friday and Saturday.
There were three missed calls only. All from blocked numbers. No voicemail.
"Missed anything important?" Paul asked as he started them on their journey.
Ste said. "Blocked numbers."
"Hate those."
"I'll just call Ames and let her know that I'm on my way."
After he was done Paul said, "So you and Brendan, you look good together."
Ste looked over at his friend.
"I kind of caught you in a lip lock when you were saying bye." Paul said as a slow blush came over him.
Ste smiled. "Your cheeks have gone all red!"
"No they haven't!"
Ste teased, "Are you feeling all weird about your boss and your mate doing gay things together?"
"No!" Paul said. "This situation isn't awkward for me at all. It's not like I was having nightmares last night of walking in on you two doing it in Brendan's office! No! I am so cool about all this it's not even funny!"
Ste laughed, "You actually dreamed about that? That's kind of gay, you know. Imagining two guys together."
Paul gripped the steering wheel hard. "I know."
Ste's laugh died. "Huh?"
"I know that it's kind of gay."
"Oh." Ste said. He sat back and looked closely at his friend. "Wait. Huh?"
Paul drummed the fingers of one hand on the gear stick.
"Paul. What?"
"It's what I was trying to tell you last night in the bar, Ste. I'm not straight."
{~}
Brendan had an overwhelming need to share so he called his sister.
"Chez?" He said into the quiet of his SUV as he powered down the motorway heading back to Chester.
"Just a second, Bren." His sister's voice carried through the speakers, filling the silence of the car. "I am savouring the fact that you phoned me and not the other way round for once. It's like a miracle or something."
"Yeah, well. Don't get used to it."
Cheryl laughed. "So what can I do you for? Where are you anyway?"
"Driving back from Scotland."
There was a pause. "Are you telling me you went in the end?"
Brendan couldn't help but smile. "Yep."
"Well, go on then! Tell me what happened?! And don't leave out any details."
"Arrived. Slept in a tent. Thumped Walker. Got Steven. Slept in a chalet. Job done." He smiled.
"Alright, Tarzan!" She said. "You can stop beating your chest!"
"It may have been a little tougher than I've just explained."
"I know you're a man of few words."
"Thought I'd let you know since you've been on my case about him for a while."
He found himself smiling as he remembered how that morning they had fooled around. Then Steven had casually draped over him, reached for Brendan's phone and entered in his house number under his contact details.
'Just in case you want to get me at home or whatever.'
"You know what; you are sounding like a different man. All happy and stuff!" Cheryl said merrily. "If I was there with you I'd give your cheeks a squeeze!"
"Please." Brendan groaned.
"Brendan."
"Yep."
"Don't fuck it up."
{~}
"You're gay?!" Ste said in shock.
"Not exactly." Paul said. "I like what I like."
Oh jeez.
"You're bi?"
"Guilty." Paul almost looked apologetic.
Ste shook his head in surprise. "So like how far one way are you?"
Paul shrugged. "Depends. If I'm with a bloke I'm pretty far down one way and if I'm with a girl then-"
"No. Wait but right now you're with Tiffany. Right? I've seen pictures."
"Tiffany's an ex. She's a mate now."
"What?"
"Those pictures are clipped from nights out. I don't have a girlfriend."
Ste shook his head as he remembered all the times that Paul came up with a reason why he couldn't meet his girlfriend. He recalled how Guy always insisted that Paul was 'setting' his 'gaydar off big time' while Ste got no vibe off him at all.
It was so obvious in retrospect.
"I don't get it. Why lie about something like that?"
"Other than the fact that some people think that bisexuality isn't a thing?" Paul seemed to clam up. "It's necessary."
"You're kidding, right? In this day and age?"
"Yes."
"It's okay to be out." Ste said.
"I have a reason why I'm not."
"What is it then?"
"It doesn't matter. The point is that to me it's worth it." Paul said. "When I realised about you and Brendan it was good to know that I wasn't the only one keeping big secrets. I thought I'd found someone that I could talk to who wouldn't judge me."
"I'm not lying about my sexuality though."
"No. But you're hiding who you really care about from the world. We're not so different."
Ste lifted an eyebrow. "Are you saying you are with someone?"
Paul smiled. "Nosy."
"That's a yes then. Is it a man or a woman?"
"You'll probably never know." Paul cleared his throat. "After a while you get used to living a double life."
That's so true, Ste thought.
From being the victim of violence to being an escort to being on the receiving end of malicious mail Ste knew all about displaying himself one way in public while hiding who he truly was and felt.
"Are you happy at least?" Ste asked.
"Yes." Paul said emphatically but his eyes held a tinge of doubt. "Mostly."
"I don't know. It seems like a big sacrifice to make."
Paul shrugged. "So are you going to tell me what happened with Simon last night?"
"You don't want to know."
{~}
By the time they got to Chester it was night time.
Paul declined Ste's offer of a cup of tea so Ste furtled in his travel bag for his house keys.
His mate tapped him on his shoulder and whispered,
"Mate, there's a guy over there staring at us."
Ste found his keys and then looked up.
"Where?"
Paul frowned.
"He's gone. He was over there a second ago." He pointed at one of the neighbour's gardens. "He must have gone into his house."
Ste shrugged. "They're a nosy lot here. They're probably wondering why there is a flashy car parked outside my place!"
Paul shuddered. "Creep. He was half in the shadows."
Ste smiled. "Are you sure you don't want to come in for tea."
"No. I've got to get going."
"Meet up with your secret boyfriend/ girlfriend?"
"Bye, Ste." Paul said not giving anything away.
Ste smiled as he got out of the car and walked up the path to his front door.
As Paul drove off, Ste saw Phil's car pull up into his drive so Ste rushed into his house before having to speak to him.
He was met by a wall of Amy, Doug and Benji.
He groaned. He hoped that he would have at least had a night's sleep before having to explain what happened during the weekend to his friends.
{~}
"So, yeah. That's what happened." Ste said as he finished his account of events then defiantly waited for his friends' reactions to his revelations about Brendan, Walker and the stalker.
"So on Friday you were dating Simon." Amy said quietly. "And now you are going out with Brendan. Have I got that right?"
That was worrying her more than the vicious phone call he received and the skipping stones?
"So you aren't bothered about the stalker?" Ste said incredulously. "I could have been standing right next to him next to a body of water, Ames. He could have thrown me in!"
"Of course I'm worried. That's why we're going to the police station after this."
Ste rolled his eyes.
"Until then let me get this straight. You are dating a different man to the one you went up to Scotland with."
Ste swallowed hard then nodded.
He counted slowly in his head waiting for the inevitable outburst…
One.
Two.
Three.
"You WHAT!" Amy raised her voice in distress. "Ste! Brendan is an ex-client!"
"I know."
"But do you?!"
"Yes!"
"Oh my GOD!" She turned to look at Doug and Benji in despair. "Am I the only one who thinks this is messed up?"
"No." Doug said.
"But if it's what Ste wants then we should be happy for him." Benji said kindly.
Ste gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks, Benji."
"That's not helpful, baby." Doug said to his boyfriend.
"Who are we to pick and choose who Ste decides to go out with?" Benji said. "Look at what happened with Simon. We all thought he was the bee's knees and he turned out to be a right twat thinking that he could sleep with Ste provided the price was right."
Doug and Amy stayed quiet.
Amy sighed. "But I don't get it. It seemed as though he really liked you. What got into him?"
"I don't know." Ste shuddered as he thought about how Simon's behaviour had flipped like a switch. "But you wouldn't have liked him last night."
"Not from what you're saying. I wonder how he found out about the escorting." Doug said.
"Does it matter? He was aggressive and threatening and also, if I'm honest, he was more like a mate anyway. I mean I fancied him but it wasn't like with Brendan." Ste felt all hot and bothered thinking about the Irishman. "I am not asking you to like him even though that would be nice. I am telling you that I am giving it a shot with him because he makes me happy. He told me that he loves me for who I am. Isn't that amazing?"
Ste knew he was smiling like an idiot. He didn't care.
He saw the looks of scepticism and concern on his best friend's faces. He didn't care about that either.
{~}
"Morning, boss." Paul said as he entered Brendan's office on Monday morning while Brendan worked industriously at his desk. "The retreat looks like it has done you a world of good."
"I suppose I should thank you for keeping that chalet on ice for me." Brendan said.
Paul grinned. "It's all in a day's work. Do you reckon you'll come to the next retreat?"
"No chance!" Brendan looked up from his desk while his PA sat down opposite him and slid over a mug of coffee.
"I thought as much." Paul said with a grin.
"What's the week looking like?"
"It's a busy one." Paul flicked his hand over the touchscreen of his tablet. "You've got two projects approaching crossroads. They both need your final say. Kilner and the corporate rebrand. Melanie asked me to make a meeting with you and her team at some point. I've scheduled you in for Wednesday. Lionel and Swift will be ready to pitch their final drafts on Thursday. A few other bits and pieces. I've forwarded the timetable to you and will keep you up to date with any changes."
Brendan sipped his hot drink. "Sounds good. Anything this morning?"
"Uh yeah. Actually." Paul looked uneasy. "I know you hate it when he does this but Simon called. Told me that he is on his way over. He wanted to see you. I tried putting him off but-"
Brendan was livid but he said. "It's fine. I need to talk to him anyway. And Paul, just so you know this will be the last time I expect to see Simon Walker on Clover Corp soil. Let security know that he is no longer to be allowed in after today's visit."
Paul nodded solemnly. "Okay. Sure. Is there a reason I should give them."
"No."
"I'll let him through as soon as he arrives then." Paul made his way to the office door.
"One more thing."
"Yes."
"Steven told me that you know."
Paul looked blankly at him. "Know? I don't know what you are talking about."
Then he gave Brendan a wink.
Brendan smiled. "Attaboy."
"Let's get this week started, boss."
{~}
"So I want to hear all the goss." Guy sat on Ste's desk, preventing the lad from doing any work. "Because news is filtering down that the big man himself turned up for a bit of Wilderness and Hardship."
"He did." Ste said and cleared his throat and looked anywhere but his friend and unfastened the top button on his shirt.
Was it suddenly really hot in the room? He felt like Guy was probing his mind. Reading his thoughts.
"So what was it like?"
"Fine. Yeah. Beautiful spot."
"Did you and Simon 'get it on'?" Guy asked suggestively.
"No." Ste coughed. "Actually we broke up. So."
"What! No!" Guy pouted. "Why?"
"We didn't gel."
"Really? It looked like you were gelling just fine."
"But we weren't though."
"That's a shame."
"Not really. It were good to get back on the dating scene but being with Simon, it made me realise that he is not what I really want."
Guy smiled. "Look at you! That smile! Something's different! What gives?"
"Different how?" Ste asked.
"I don't know. You tell me. Are you sure you didn't get nasty with the bad boy?"
"How do you think that just by looking at me?"
"What can I tell you? I'm good at reading people." Guy said. "I'm a people watcher."
"Well you're wrong. Nothing happened between me and Simon."
{~}
"You have some nerve coming here." Brendan said the minute Walker stepped into his office. He stood up and rounded his desk.
The Brummie's face was busted; bruised and swollen from Brendan's attack.
"I am not here to fight. I wanted to explain what happened with Ste." Walker said as he started to lower himself into a chair.
"Don't bother to sit down. You've got five minutes and then I never want to see you again, Walker."
"Fuck's sake, Brendan. How long have we known each other? You're honestly going to sentence me without a trial and lose all the business I bring your way because of what happened?"
"I know what I saw. You are lucky that he doesn't want to press charges because if I had things my way you would be answering to the law."
"Shit. You've gotten back together with him haven't you? You are a foolish man." Walker said in disbelief.
Brendan could feel his blood boil.
"Okay. Fine. Five minutes." Walker said. "The truth is I don't know what came over me. I liked the lad but he had been stringing me along for weeks; giving me just enough to think I had a chance. He as much as told me that this weekend we would seal the deal. He was a cock tease, Brendan."
Brendan had already had enough but he wasn't about to assault the Brummie again so he walked to the office door and peered out to tell Paul,
"Call security. I want Walker escorted out as soon as possible."
Paul said. "Right away. Are you okay in there?"
He cracked his knuckles as they curled into fists.
"Down boy." Brendan said. "Everything is fine."
He closed the door once again and faced his business associate.
Walker pleaded. "I just don't get why he had such a problem with my offer."
Brendan grabbed the collar of Walker's shirt into a fist and sneered at him at point blank range. "Shut up. Shut up right now. You cannot justify forcing yourself onto him."
"I didn't. He consented. I gave him an offer and he accepted."
"You blackmailed him."
Walker released a short sharp laugh that blew cigarette breath in Brendan's direction.
"You paint him out to be a saint. You seem to have forgotten that he was a prostitute, Brendan. He was a pro who had a fat portfolio of twelve rich clients some of whom he had been seeing for over a year. All flavours of man. Black, white, Arab, Italian, couples, married men with families. All willing to part with some serious cash for his services. And you. You might want to forget his past but that is what he is capable of doing, screwing around with people and potentially fucking up families. So don't make this black and white and me into the villain of the piece."
Brendan frowned. He released his hold on Walker a bit. "How do you know all that?"
"What?"
"About his clients. Did he tell you?"
"Of course not."
Security rushed into the office. One guard restrained each of Walker's arms.
Paul was right behind them looking on curiously.
Walker shook himself out of the security guards' hold and said, "Relax lads. Let's be civilised, yeah?"
Brendan gave them the nod to give him an inch of room. "Who told you?"
"One of his friends if you can call him that. This lad, he told me …" Walker looked at Paul and the guards before gazing meaningfully at Brendan.
Brendan said. "Paul, I need you to step out for a second."
His PA did as instructed and shut the door behind him. The guards maintained poker faces and kept a close eye on Walker.
"Go on." Brendan said.
"This friend of … Caden's said that Caden was playing hard to get; that that was his thing and that he had told this friend that actually he was really into me. This 'friend' also said that Caden still supplementing his pay check with a his previous 'job' so if I was willing I could always offer him a 'deal'. So when Caden went ape shit over the weekend at my propsal I was shocked. Whoever that friend is has a screw loose."
"What was his name?" Brendan asked as he felt a ripple of anger. "This friend."
"Can't remember. I only met him once at your club in town. Young guy. Jet black hair. Rake thin. Was dating an American guy who said he was an artist whatever that means."
Brendan remembered the cocky waif-like creature who had intercepted him at Large; a boy who looked like he couldn't hurt a fly but had an acid tongue.
'I was worried that maybe you only bought his art work to further a business deal or to impress your whore so it's good to know that's not why you did it.'
Walker shrugged. "If you don't mind I've got a couple of people I'd like to say bye to on my way out."
"Not him."
Walker grinned. "Whatever you say. You've got my number if you change your mind."
{~}
Brendan briskly walked to his car at the end of the day. The senior staff's car park was empty with rows of fluorescent tubes casting bright, white and eerie light on the grey tarmac and creating shadows out of the structural pillars of grey cement.
His eyes played a trick on him; probably a symptom of working too long and hard today. For a split second he thought he saw a human shadow cast on the ground but it was gone the second he blinked. It gave him the disconcerting feeling that he was not alone in the vast empty space.
When he saw Steven leaning on his SUV he realised that he wasn't alone. He smiled as he approached the lad, hopping over a metal drain in his path without looking down it.
"I don't want you waiting out here for me alone." Brendan said. "It's not safe. There are car thieves about."
"I thought you'd like the surprise." Steven pouted.
Brendan smiled. "I do."
He plastered Steven to the car and swooped in for a kiss.
"Jesus, Bren!" Steven smiled after they parted breathlessly. "Are you scared that an evil clown will come out of them drains and hurt me?"
"It could happen."
Steven laughed as he wrapped his arms over Brendan's shoulders. "Yeah. Right."
"So to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Obviously I wanted to see you." Steven said.
"Obviously."
"But also Ames has the car today so I thought I'd grab a ride with you." He gave Brendan a shit eating grin.
"I charge for chauffeuring services."
"I'll pay anything you want."
Brendan raised an eyebrow, looked around them to make sure they were definitely alone then pushed his body into the lad's, trapping him against the car.
"There is no one else here." He whispered, less than an inch away from the lad's mouth. "Do you know what that means?"
"That we're all alone." Steven said softly.
"I always knew you were clever." Brendan teased him with the intention of a kiss only to pull away before delivering it. "I've always fantasised about having sex in a car. FYI my car is very roomy."
"Like you haven't had sex in a car before!"
Brendan frowned. "I haven't."
His sexual repertoire had been far from vanilla but car sex was something that he hadn't gotten round to.
Looking at Steven now it was obvious that the lad had cleared that sexual level a while ago. Suddenly Walker's words seemed to carry weight. Steven was someone with a past and a very colourful sexual one at that.
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
Steven stroked his hair gently then kissed Brendan on the cheek.
"Do you want to?" The lad asked almost tentatively. "Do it… in your car?"
Brendan pulled himself away. What had felt like a great idea just a second ago suddenly held no appeal. Thoughts of Steven doing it with others distracted and detracted.
"Not tonight." Brendan said and rounded the front of the car to get behind the wheel.
After a pause Steven sat on the passenger side. Brendan started the car and drove out of the car park. What followed was a sombre mood. Steven stared down at his nails with a downturned expression.
The silence dragged on as they drove until Steven spoke softly,
"Why don't you just talk to me instead of giving me the silent treatment?"
Brendan didn't look at him. Couldn't.
"I know what you are thinking. You are wondering who I slept with in a car? Am I right? And you're probably thinking what else have I done and who with."
Brendan turned to face him after pulling up to a stop on the side of a road. He saw the unspent tears in the lad's eyes.
"I'll tell you if it makes you feel better." Steven said. "If you want me too. I'll tell you every last detail but I can't change what's happened in the past, Brendan. So if you can't take it and move on like I am trying to then please tell me now because I can't stand the way you are looking at me right this second."
Brendan cleared his throat. How could he explain that how he was feeling was less about Steven and more about himself?
He leaned in and gave the lad a kiss. A slow one. Not sexual as such. More sensual. Brendan was trying to explain himself. What he had felt was upset and perhaps a bit jealous. He didn't think Steven was loose, easy or slutty or whatever was swirling around the lad's mind. He was angry that the lad's sexual experiences had been forged out of sexual transactions with men who hadn't really cared about him beyond his function to get their rocks off. Men that were like Brendan had been.
That fucked Brendan off no end; that the man in front of him had been used like that.
Steven blinked at him uncomprehendingly so Brendan gave him a smile. "I was thinking you could come over tomy place and have takeaway before you go home. You like Moroccan, don't you?"
Steven's watery smile came with a sigh of relief. "Yeah. I love it."
{~}
"You should just stay over tonight." Brendan said casually as they walked from his parking spot to the front of his apartment.
"Can't. It's my turn to get the kids off to school tomorrow." Ste said.
Brendan slid a hand over his butt. "Are you sure?"
"Stop that!" Ste said.
"Don't know what you're talking about!" Brendan smiled then slapped his bum for good measure as they walked the last few steps to his front door.
"Yeah, you do!" Ste said but he had lost Brendan's attention.
The Irishman was looking at something in the middle distance, frowning.
"Someone's staring at us." He mumbled and put some physical distance between him and Ste.
"That's weird. Paul said the same thing last night at my place. Scotland's made you both paranoid. It's probably a homophobe. Whatever."
"No. I'm serious. Look."
Ste felt a ripple of trepidation as he followed Brendan's eye line to a spot across the road.
I am watching you.
Through the shadows a familiar figure emerged. Ste stumbled backwards as the purest form of fear ran through him.
"Do you know him, Steven?" Brendan asked.
Ste backed away slowly. "Yes! Shit!"
"Ste!" The man called out as he jogged over to them.
The instinct of self-preservation kicked in. Ste broke out into a sprint that took him into the street in the opposite direction of his chaser.
{~}
"Wait, Ste!" The man called out as he too started to run at full speed.
Brendan intercepted him, grabbing the man by his waist and pushing him down to the ground.
He looked down at a young man at his feet. He could only be described as a scally; baseball hat, faded grey tracksuit, old trainers, a faint whiff of the unwashed about him.
Brendan's initial feeling was that Steven had recognised an ex-client but this man did not fulfil the brief.
"Who the fuck are you?" He asked the young man.
"I could ask you the same question, mate." The lad spat back at him with a strong scouse accent.
Brendan pushed a foot against the man's chest. "You could but I don't think you are in any position to get cocky, do you?"
One of the barbers from the shop under Brendan's apartment came up to him and looked down at the lad.
"I saw what happened, sir. Do you want me to call the police? Was he trying to steal from you?"
Brendan took his foot off the lad and helped him to stand. "No. It's fine. It was a misunderstanding."
The barber reluctantly walked back into his shop clearly miffed that his chance of being part of something exciting for the day was dashed.
"Look, I'm not after nothing, yeah." The young scally told Brendan anxiously. "I just want to talk to Ste. He done me wrong and I want to know why."
"I'll ask you one more time. Who are you?" Brendan sneered. He looked around briefly but Steven was nowhere to be seen.
Whoever this lad was he had terrified the shit out of Steven.
"Caden. My name is Caden."