His Secret (s)

Seth sighed for the hundredth time that morning. It hadn't been an easy day, and it was just an hour to twelve.

He took off his glasses, massaging the corner of his eyes slowly, clearly out of exhaustion. He hasn't had the time for proper rest and he could blame no one except himself. Now, it's taking a toll on him.

Thunder clapped in the background, it's been raining heavily the past few days which makes it even harder to want to get anything done under the gloomy weather.

The rain had stopped sometime before dawn, leaving the city slick and gleaming. By mid-morning the top floors of the Blackwood Group tower were washed in faint light from the sun.

Seth’s office smelled faintly of coffee and polished wood, the faint hum of the central AC the only sound between his sudden sighs.

His desk had several folders of contracts but he’d read the same line three times without absorbing a word. The faint headache behind his eyes didn't make things any easier.

He needed to take a break.

Seth closed the folder and leaned back, rubbing his temples.

“Do you ever sleep? You look like a ghost.”

The voice came from the doorway before the knock. Arian strolled in without waiting for an invitation, suit jacket open, tie hanging loose. He looked like he's had too much coffee and too little patience.

Seth didn’t look up. “You’ve got a bad habit of ignoring doors.”

Arian dropped into one of the chairs opposite Seth’s desk, sprawling like a cat.

“You’re the one who gave me a badge that works for every floor. Don’t complain.”

Seth raised an eyebrow at him, then pushed the folder aside. “What do you want?”

“To piss you off.” Arian’s grin was lopsided. “And to stop my brain from spinning in circles.”

“That makes two of us.” Seth closed the folder fully. Who was he kidding? He wouldn't be able to get anything done anyway..

Not in this state. Seth's eyes finally focused on Arian who suddenly looked lost in thought. “You okay?”

Arian rolled his eyes up to the ceiling. “Yeah.”

“If you're here to sulk, get out.”

Arian’s mouth twitched. “You’re worse than Daisy.”

That name caught Seth’s attention. He sat forward, elbows on the desk. “What’s happening with you and Daisy?”

If Arian did as much as hurt his wife's friend, he'll make sure to break at least five bones in his body.

Arian reached for the glass paperweight on Seth’s desk, turning it over in his hands like it could save him. “Nothing.”

“You said that already.”

He hesitated, then sighed and put the paperweight down. “I told her how I feel. She freaked out. End of story.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Seth studied him. He could tell Arian was leaving out the bulk of it.

The tension between him and Daisy at the café already told him something was up. The way Daisy had gone pale when she’d seen him walk in. But pushing Arian when he didn’t want to talk was like trying to wring water from stone

They were friends for the exact reason.

“You’re sure you’re telling me everything?” Seth asked.

“No,” Arian admitted with a crooked grin. “But you’re smart enough to guess the rest.”

Seth leaned back in his chair, letting it go. “Fine.”

Arian propped one ankle over his knee and watched Seth with the lazy focus of a predator.

“Don't worry about my love life. I promise you, it will get progressively worse.” Arian smiled.

Seth shook his head, he knew it would without knowing the details of it all.

“Speaking of worse…When was the last time you went to see your doctor?”

Seth blinked. “What?”

“You heard me.” Arian’s tone was casual but his eyes weren’t. “About your…issue.”

Seth’s jaw flexed, it's been a while that had come up in their conversation. “It’s been a while.”

Arian let out a low whistle. “You’re serious.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Busy with Thea? Yeah. I know.”

Seth sent him a death stare and Arian raised his hands in surrender, knowing his friend would beat his ass up if he talked smack.

“Thats not what I meant and you know it.”

Seth's gaze returned to his tablet. Of he can't approve contracts, he could at least keep himself updated about the company operations.

Arian tilted his head. “Is it still the same? Only her?”

Seth’s eyes flicked up, dark and unreadable. “Yes.”

The air between them went taut. Arian sat back, expression softening. “You know I don’t mean to pry. I just worry you’re ignoring it.”

Seth raised an eyebrow. “Pry? Ypu do worse than that..”

“Guilty,” Arian said, spreading his hands.

Another round of silence. “But you're okay right?”

Seth nodded. “Couldn't be better.”

Arian nodded. “I'm glad you're good man..”

“How's Thea?”

Seth met his gaze, his eyes suddenly softened at the mention of her name. “She’s doing okay. She is in school right now.”

Arian sighed. “Have you told her?”

“About what?”

“Donald.”

The words landed like a dropped stone.

Seth’s fingers stilled on the desk. His breath went shallow for a second before he forced it even. He turned his head just enough to look at Arian. “Why would I tell her about him?”

Arian winced at his own bluntness. “I don’t know. It just…crossed my mind. He's still in jail. It's just..”

Seth’s expression didn’t change but something in his shoulders tightened. “Yes,” he said finally.

“Yes?”

“I think about it.” His voice was flat, careful. “More than you’d guess.”

Silence again. Arian looked down at his hands. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“No.” Seth’s tone softened. “You were right to ask.”

Arian’s eyes flicked up.

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” Seth said quietly. “What happens if he does get out. What it means for the company. For me.” He drew a slow breath. “If it ever comes to that, I’ll do what I have to do.”

Arian nodded, the apology still in his eyes. “I didn’t mean to drag it up.”

“You didn’t drag it up.” Seth leaned back, running a hand over his jaw. “It’s always there.”

Arian stared at him in silence. It was rare for either of them to say this much; rarer still for Seth to show the edges of the weight he carried.

Arian cleared his throat, trying to shift the mood. “We sound like two old men in a retirement home.”

Seth gave a faint smile. “Speak for yourself.”

“I am.” Arian grinned. “I’m already halfway there. All that’s missing is the whiskey before noon.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Seth said.

“Maybe you should. Might loosen you up.”

Seth shook his head, a real smile ghosting over his mouth this time "You're one lucky bastard, you know that right?”

If it was someone else, he would have dragged him out of his office himself.

“True.” Arian leaned forward, elbows on knees. “But I’m still your friend.”

“I know.”

Arian studied him for a long moment. “And you’re sure about her? Cause I will kill you if you hurt her. I mean it.”

Seth didn’t have to ask who. “I know. And I'm sure.”

“Alright.”

“Alright.”

Arian’s grin softened into something almost wistful. “Don’t mess it up.”

Seth met his gaze. “I’m trying not to.”

Arian smiled. “You won't. This is the first time you're trying hard for something like this.”

“Tell that to Celine.”

“Oh, she would love to hear about all of it!” Arian chuckled.

Finally Arian stood, smoothing his tie. “I’ve got a call with Han in ten minutes.”

Seth arched a brow. “Tell him I said to stop sending me late-night memos.”

“I’ll tell him you’re grumpy before coffee,” Arian said, heading for the door.

Seth allowed himself a small chuckle. “You’d be right.”

Arian paused at the threshold. “Seriously though, see a doctor. And…if you need to talk about the other thing…”

Seth met his eyes. “I know where to find you.”

Arian gave a brief nod and slipped out, leaving the office quiet again.

Seth turned back toward the window, hands braced on the edge of the desk, and let his eyes drift over the city. Somewhere below Thea was moving through her day and the tiniest bit of it seemed to make Seth curious.

He wondered, not for the first time, how long any of them could keep her safe before everything comes tumbling down.