AN: thank you for all your reviews; I have taken some comments into consideration. One of those is that I will be reworking the title (I should've realized it would've been already taken) to Laters, Baby: A Love Deferred. Also, I will include a character list at some point and I have been putting together a Pinterest board for the story with who I see as the characters, as well as some quotes and music that go with the story (I have placed the link in my profile.)

Chapter 2

Christian took a swig from the crystal glass in his hand as he watched Alexander Wenn walk tiredly out of his office, their negotiations for the night complete. Normally he wouldn't have invited the man- or anyone outside of his family for that matter- into his inner sanctum, but with the threats against Alex he had thought it best to negotiate here are Escala. When he had invited the other man into his home office he had done so forgetting the portrait that graced the wall across from his desk. Ten years after he had purchased it from the now sort after Jose Rodriguez, he forgot that it was there- her face a reminder of the fact that he could be more than he had ever thought he could. That he could be a family man, and have a 'normal' relationship- if he was so inclined. But, instead of the normally calming effect it had on him, tonight it had brought up feelings he had long ago had to leave behind- he felt a combination of jealousy and ire that the picture had drawn Alex's attention. Perhaps, part of the problem was that he didn't know what had fascinated Wenn so much, after all, it was well known that Alex only had eyes for his fiancé…

"Boss," Taylor called from the door, bringing Christian back to the here and now. "We might have a problem."

Christian sighed as he signaled for Taylor to come into the room as he put his drink down on his desk. "What's going on?"

"Someone's been looking into who's been paying certain medical bills," Taylor informed him tensely after he had closed the door and crossed the office.

"Kavanagh?" Christian wondered aloud as he sat down.

Taylor shook his head: "Gideon Cross."

"Now why the hell would he… are you sure?"

"Welch and Barney confirmed. We're not in negotiations with him so there's really no logical reason…" Taylor continued, letting Christian know that the problem didn't just pop up in the last hour or so.

"He and Wenn?"

"Only connection between the two is the fiancés."

"And it's not either Alex or Cross's style to get personal unless the deal's personal to begin with. Cross is something of an unknown to me in that arena. Alex and I don't have bad blood that doesn't have to do with one of us besting the other in a deal, and the only connection I have to Cross or his fiancé are some old dealings with her stepfather. Besides that, from everything I've heard, Kent doesn't need help from a friend's fiancé to get a deal through. Hell, from tonight's negotiations I'd say she's the force behind this collaboration and not Alex," Christian reasoned as he unbuttoned his suit jacket. "Still I don't believe in coincidence."

"It does seem like one…"Taylor reluctantly admitted.

"I still don't like that he's digging into that particular venture…"

"Permission to speak freely?"

"That's what I pay you to do in situations like these, isn't it?"

"Take your negotiations with Wenn to NY. He'll be more focused there since he won't be away from his fiancé. She'll be able to explain her part in this particular deal, and you can do an in person with Cross once this has been settled."

Christian nodded as he tapped his finger against the top of the desk, taking in the way things could play out: "you work out security with his?"

"Just waiting for your ok."

"Then work out the details.
Have the NY apartment ready. I want to know why Cross is digging into this!"

"On it," Taylor said and quickly left the room.

Tiredly Christian leaned his head back, his eyes catching those in the picture across from him: "and why do I think you're involved in this somehow that I'm not catching onto…" he asked it and then cursed as he got to his feet.
He was getting too old for this shit, he thought as he headed out of the office and to his room to get changed. He might not have a sub he could call, but he could work off some of his stress in his home gym…