Whatever happens, don’t leave me, Roy.That sentence played around in a loop in his head till it actually made him sick to his stomach.His fingers balled into a fist at his sides where he stood in a corner of the general conference room, which looked more like a hall.Kristine stood beside him, glancing at him occasionally, probably to see if he was going to cry, ready to offer him solace.Ah well, he was hanging on by a thread.All the employees of Anderson Inc. had been waiting for the past thirty minutes for their CEO to show up but it seemed it would be a very long wait.Roy set his gaze straight, ignoring the pitiful and sometimes, spiteful glances most of the workers shot him.It was clear that they’d all seen the headlines and were curious as to how Roy would act. Asides from the trembling of his fingers that were hidden in his fist, Roy was miraculously and impressively stoic.The conference room/hall suddenly became hushed and Roy swallowed hard, realizing that Bryan Anderso
When he dragged himself from bed in the morning, he had a murderous migraine that threatened to split his brain in half, but the oppressive sense of betrayal was gone. It was gray and blustery outside, but the rain had stopped.He could only recollect bits and pieces of the conversation he’d had with his siblings and Hailey’s grumbling about Roy dating Anderson for his money.He couldn’t bring himself to tell them that they were right as usual and Anderson like every other man that had come into his life to only use him.But it was only a matter of time before Hailey would see the news. Since Anderson Inc. and Siemens holdings were big names in the business world, their engagement was aired on wall street journal TV.Throwing down a bottle of water and aspirin, he quickly washed his mouth that felt like he’d drank cat piss, and padded out of his room.It was only when he got halfway down the hallway that he noticed that he was still in the clothes of yesterday.He should call the head
When he dragged himself from bed in the morning, he had a murderous migraine that threatened to split his brain in half, but the oppressive sense of betrayal was gone. It was gray and blustery outside, but the rain had stopped.He could only recollect bits and pieces of the conversation he’d had with his siblings and Hailey’s grumbling about Roy dating Anderson for his money.He couldn’t bring himself to tell them that they were right as usual and Anderson like every other man that had come into his life to only use him.But it was only a matter of time before Hailey would see the news. Since Anderson Inc. and Siemens holdings were big names in the business world, their engagement was aired on wall street journal TV.Throwing down a bottle of water and aspirin, he quickly washed his mouth that felt like he’d drank cat piss, and padded out of his room.It was only when he got halfway down the hallway that he noticed that he was still in the clothes of yesterday.He should call the head
When hearts tear, they make no sound. He should have known that by now. Acting indifferent for an hour and Roy was already dazed and reeling from the hurt. The only noise in the bathroom besides the drumming beat of that lifeless organ inside his chest was the splashing of droplets of water from the tap. On a shuddering breath, Roy stared at his reflection in the mirror and then at the door, and then at the faint love bite on his neck, the tiles but the image that burned in his mind and made him ache was Bryan’s stark, haunted features in his room two nights ago. He saw Bryan’s wild black hair falling uncombed over his perfectly arched brow and gleaming green eyes. Saw his sensual mouth compressed in pain. Saw the shadows of exhaustion between his empty eyes. Saw new lines carved deeper into his brown flesh. Saw the slight slump of his broad proud shoulders. Remembered the agony in his eyes when he’d said, “Whatever happens Roy, please don’t let go.” Why couldn’t he hate Bryan f
On a shuddering breath, Roy stared at his reflection in the mirror and then at the door, and then at the faint love bite on his neck, the tiles but the image that burned in his mind and made him ache was Bryan’s stark, haunted features in his room two nights ago.He saw Bryan’s wild black hair falling uncombed over his perfectly arched brow and gleaming green eyes. Saw his sensual mouth compressed in pain. Saw the shadows of exhaustion between his empty eyes. Saw new lines carved deeper into his brown flesh. Saw the slight slump of his broad proud shoulders.Remembered the agony in his eyes when he’d said, “Whatever happens Roy, please don’t let go.”Why couldn’t he hate Bryan for abandoning him?He should take off the stupid black obsidian ring from his finger and flush it down the drain.When then did he fall to his knees and curl his fingers against the grey tie on his neck that’d belonged to Bryan? He buried his face in the soft material, inhaling his scent that was still faintly
Anderson—Come to me.Roy—Not in your wildest dreams.Anderson--I’m saying this as your boss.Roy--And I’m saying this as your employee who doesn’t report directly to you. If you need anything, you can contact my superior.Anderson--Let’s kiss and make up. I promise it’ll be better than before.Roy—You’re such a jerkAnderson—Your jerk (an eggplant emoji)Roy couldn’t help it. He laughed. It’s been a while since he’d laughed.“Who are you texting?” A raspy male voice broke into his thoughts and he quickly shoved his phone away.“No one.” He muttered, licking his suddenly dry lips as guilt washed through him. was he really texting back and forth with Anderson while on a dinner date this Angelo? Eff, this was so messed up.He should have ignored Bryan’s text after that incident in the alley but how could he when his heart skipped a beat and his blood heated almost as if he’d been waiting for that text?“Are you sure?” Angelo narrowed his eyes while tucking a napkin into his shirt collar,
Roy’s P.O.VThirty minutes later, Bryan made sure I was third-wheeling on my own date. With his good look and grace, Angelo was smitten with him and I was shoved out of their conversation, left to be picking at my food.I wasn’t sure if it was jealousy or anger but something that burning fiercely deep inside me. Bryan Anderson had no right to show his face in front of me. He had no fucking right to turn Angelo into a blushing mess that was trying to please him at all costs.Brimming with ill-concealed irritation, I cleared my throat and turned a sickly sweet smile on Bryan, “How’s your wife, Ms. Andorra? Don’t you think she’d be waiting up for you now?”I bit back a grin on seeing the dismayed look on Angelo’s face. He flushed a beet-red, probably thinking that he’d been flirting with a straight man while his date was right across.This was definitely a red flag and nothing was going to make me agree to date him.It seemed I was simply a magnet for men who’d never truly care about me.
Roy’s P.O.V His expression was like a cold star, his nose straight, and his silence was as cold as ice. Quite similar and also different from Bryan’s indifference, Cain’s indifference has a hint of malice and death, like a daffodil that died quietly. “Little bunny,” A smirk pulled the sides of his lips up as he pushed back his head and took a swig from the bottle in his hands. “Don’t call me that.” I snapped, my voice had a familiar shake in it as a lump formed in my throat, “What are you doing here?” “It’s a club. A public place Roy,” He stood before me, looking down at me through his nose with a mixture of lust and loathing. I knew that look too well. It’s as if two parts of him fought—the part that liked men and the part that loathed the idea of men being together—and the latter always wins in the end. Eff, I shouldn’t have drunk so much. The world was starting to have a blurriness to it. “You’re right. It is truly a public place which means you don’t have to be in front of m