Tangled lies 

Alex walked out of Rowans office his shirt a little crooked and his mind reeling. The thing about the brother had changed something between them. Trust was still a long way off. Every step he took towards the elevators felt like he was being watched. He kept his face neutral until he got to his floor then he locked himself in a meeting room and pulled out his phone. The last message from that number was still deleted, but he had not forgotten it.

He needed some air, not the kind that comes from a corporate air conditioner. Of going to lunch he took the stairs down two floors and found Lena waiting near the part of the building where they deal with following the rules. She handed him a cup of coffee without asking him if he wanted one.

"You look like you have been through a war " she said, her voice low. "Is it because of Vale again?"

Alex took the cup feeling the warmth of it in his hand. "It is something like that. You seem to know a lot about what goes on."

Lena looked around before she spoke. "I have been working here for three years. That is long enough to see how things work. Rowan does not let people get close to him. When he does things get bad. His last advisor left in a body bag. The official story was that it was a car accident.. The real story was that he dug too deep into the companys money."

Alexs grip on the cup got tighter. "The brother."

Lenas eyes got a little wider. "You already know about Elias? Most people who work here do not even know that name."

Before Alex could ask her questions his phone rang. It was Rowans line. He answered it on the ring.

"My office. Now. Do not bring anything with you that people can see." Rowan sounded stressed.

Alex ended the call. Looked at Lena. "You should stay out of sight for a while. Something is not right."

He took the elevator up to Rowans office his heart beating faster with every floor. When he got there Rowan had the blinds closed and two computer screens on. One was showing security footage. The other was scrolling through financial records.

Rowan did not waste any time. He pulled Alex in. Kissed him hard like the time they spent apart was too much to bear. Alex kissed him back away his hands going under Rowans jacket. They stumbled towards the couch taking off their clothes as they went.

This time it was slower. Just as intense. Rowan took control touching every part of Alexs body like he needed to remember it. Alex gave it back his nails digging into Rowans shoulders making him make sounds that showed the man behind the mask of the CEO. When they came together it left them both shaking and sweaty.

Afterwards Rowan put his head on Alexs chest breathing unevenly. "The board wants you suspended by the end of the day. Victor showed them some evidence. He said you changed the time on your login and even I almost believed it."

Alex ran his fingers through Rowans hair. "Then why am I still here?"

"Because I stopped them. For now." Rowan lifted his head, his gray eyes serious. ". It cost me. I had to promise them that I would find out who is behind the leak by Friday or they will make me do what they want."

Alex sat up. Started putting on his shirt. "Friday is three days away. We need a plan."

Rowan watched him get dressed his eyes hungry. "We? Be careful Rivera. This is not a partnership yet."

"After what we did it feels like one." Alex buttoned his cuffs. "Tell me about Elias. The real story."

Rowans face closed off. He stood up and put on his trousers his movements sharp. "Elias was my brother. He was smart and reckless. He found out that our father was taking company money and putting it in accounts in countries before he died. It was blackmail. Power. The kind that can destroy a companys reputation. Elias wanted to tell everyone about it. Someone made sure he never got the chance."

Alex stepped closer. "And what about the man who got close to you?"

Rowans jaw got tight. "His name was Julian. He helped Elias dig up the truth. Then they both disappeared within weeks of each other. The police said it was a coincidence. I know better."

There was a silence. Alex touched Rowans arm. "You think the same people are behind the leaks that are happening now."

"I know they are." Rowan. Gripped Alexs shoulders. "That is why you should leave this building and never come back. I do not want to lose another person I..."

He stopped, the word hanging in the air.

Alexs chest got tight. "Say it."

Rowan let him go and stepped back. "Do not push me. Not today."

The intercom buzzed. Victors voice came through. "Rowan the board chairman is on his way. He wants to talk to you."

Rowan cursed. "Hide in the side room. Do not make a sound."

Alex slipped into the room next to Rowans office just as the main door opened. He left it open a crack so he could hear.

The chairmans voice was loud. "You are playing a game, Vale. Protecting that new hire makes you look like you are not doing your job. The leaks are getting worse. If this continues we will vote you out."

"You need me " Rowan replied coldly. "Without me this company will fall apart in six months."

The chairman laughed. "You are as arrogant as always. We have an offer from Meridian Group to buy us out. It is a deal. All they want is for us to cooperate on some files."

Alexs blood ran cold. Meridian was the company he had been working on. This was not a coincidence.

Rowans tone turned deadly. "You will not sell this company while I am still alive. Get out."

After the chairman left Rowan opened the side door. His face was pale with anger. "Did you hear?"

"Every word." Alex came out of the room. "They want you gone. The leaks are the way they are going to do it."

Rowan pulled Alex into another kiss this one deep. They did not make it to the couch this time. Rowan took him against the desk possessive. Alex met every thrust with fire whispering challenges that made Rowan lose control until they both shattered.

Panting in the aftermath Rowan pressed his forehead to Alexs. "Stay at my penthouse tonight. It is the place with security that I can trust."

Alex looked into his eyes. "Is that an order or an invitation?"

"Both." Rowans voice was a little softer. "I need you close to me."

They left separately to avoid suspicion. Alex worked through the afternoon trying to focus. He could feel the hostility from his colleagues growing. At six he got a text from Rowan with an address and instructions to take the service exit.

The penthouse took up the three floors of a sleek building ten blocks from the tower. Rowan opened the door himself wearing a black shirt and trousers. No tie. No armor.

Inside the space was simple but warm. Large windows looked out over the city. Alex stepped in. Felt a change right away. This was Rowans space.

Rowan poured two drinks. Handed one to Alex. "No talk about work for one hour. Just us."

They tried. They talked about things that had nothing to do with work. Alex told Rowan about his fathers debts and the pressure that made him take this job. Rowan listened without judging him shared parts of his childhood watching his father hurt everyone around him. For a moment Alex saw vulnerability behind the dominance.

One hour turned into two. They forgot about their drinks. They ended up in the master bedroom exploring each other with patience. Touches lingered. Kisses slowed. Rowans control fractured into something tender though the hunger was still there. Alex surrendered in ways he never had before and in return he made Rowan make sounds that felt like victory.

Later tangled in sheets Rowan touched a scar on Alexs ribs. "Where did this come from?"

"I got it in college. I was with someone who did not like being left." Alex paused. "What about the scar on your eyebrow?"

Rowans finger stopped moving. "Elias. We fought the night before he disappeared. He threw a glass. I still hear his words sometimes. 'You will end up like him.'"

Alex pulled him closer. "You are not your father."

The moment broke when Rowans phone lit up on the nightstand. He reached for it frowning at the screen.

A video file. No sender.

They watched it together. It showed Alex and Rowan in the office that day the desk encounter captured from a hidden angle. The footage was clear enough to destroy both their reputations.

A text followed the video.

**One million dollars by tomorrow night. This goes public. Tick tock, brother.**

Rowan went rigid. "Elias " he whispered. "He is alive."

Alex stared at the phone his pulse roaring. The brother was not dead. He was the one pulling every string. The ultimate twist in a game full of blood and desire.

Rowan looked at Alex, his eyes wild, with betrayal and fear. "He wants me to choose. The. You. Because he knows I will make the choice."

Alex gripped Rowans hand. "Then we choose together. We burn it all if we have to."