All Chapters of Inappropriate Conduct : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Chapter 21: The FalloutPOV: JulianJulian wasn’t supposed to be there.The meeting invite hadn’t come to his inbox. He hadn’t been copied on the prep emails. Technically, Franklin wasn’t even his client anymore — he’d handed them over to another senior creative two months ago.But when he’d overheard in the kitchen that Jamie was presenting, he’d found himself drifting toward the conference wing like a man following smoke to fire.Now, leaning against the frame of a side office across the hall, he could see Jamie through the glass wall of the boardroom.It was the first time he’d seen him truly on.Hair just slightly mussed, suit jacket tailored enough to sharpen his shoulders, eyes bright with focus. Jamie wasn’t just talking; he was commanding. The entire room leaned in when he spoke.Julian told himself he was there to make sure the kid didn’t get eaten alive. But watching him… he knew better. This was about him. About how every damn day lately felt like a war between wanting Jami

Chapter 23: Lines in the SandPOV: JamieJamie’s heart was still racing when he stormed out of the conference room. His lips tingled, his shirt collar was crooked, and his skin still hummed where Julian had touched him.Every nerve screamed at him to turn back. To grab Julian again. To finish what they started on that table.But he didn’t.Because he was done.Done being the one who carried the weight, while Julian wore his mask of restraint and control. Done being the one to ache alone, while Julian pretended their fire was a passing spark.Jamie ducked into the bathroom, splashed water on his face, and stared at himself in the mirror. His reflection was wild-eyed, flushed, trembling.“Get a grip,” he muttered.Except—why should he?Why should he keep shrinking himself to fit the narrative Julian had written? The one where Jamie was temptation, a mistake, something to hide?Fuck that.The rest of the day dragged like molasses. Every time Jamie caught sight of Julian in the halls—comp

Chapter 25: No More SecretsPOV: JulianJulian had survived plenty of scandals.Clients storming out of boardrooms. Campaigns collapsing in flames. Lawsuits. Competitors gunning for his throat.But nothing—nothing—had prepared him for waking up with Jamie Reyes in his arms, the imprint of his body warm against his chest, his curls tickling Julian’s chin, his soft breaths reminding him of everything he’d sworn he couldn’t have.The problem wasn’t the sex. Or even the intimacy.The problem was that Julian didn’t want to let go.And when the world found out—as it inevitably would—he’d lose everything.The retreat ended with a town hall.Everyone packed into the ballroom, cheap coffee in hand, clapping politely while executives made speeches about “collaboration” and “synergy.”Julian sat near the front, jaw tight, pretending he was listening. His skin still buzzed from the night before, from the way Jamie had whispered ruin me like a prayer, from the way his body had answered without hes

Chapter 27: Breaking PointPOV: JamieJamie hadn’t slept.Not after Levi’s words. Not after the slam of that office door. Not after Julian’s kiss that felt like both an ending and a beginning.His phone buzzed with texts he couldn’t answer. Avery’s frantic: WTF happened?? People are saying HR is calling an emergency session?? Then another from his mother: Your brother sounds upset. Call me.He couldn’t. Not yet.Because the truth was bigger now. He’d said it out loud—I choose him. There was no undoing that. No taking it back.And part of him felt weightless. Free.The other part was drowning.The boardroom smelled like coffee and paper when Julian walked in the next morning. Sharp suit, sharp jaw, sharper silence. Jamie sat two seats down, not supposed to be here, but he was—because apparently, he was the problem.HR. Legal. Two senior partners. The regional VP. Even Marlene, her face pinched in self-satisfaction, like she’d finally caught the scandal she’d been waiting for.“This mee

Chapter 29: Fractures at the TopPOV: JulianJulian had been in this boardroom a hundred times.Usually, he owned it.Usually, people leaned forward when he spoke, nodded at his strategies, scribbled notes like his words were gospel.But today, they stared at him like a liability.The long mahogany table stretched before him, lined with senior partners, department heads, and the regional VP. The air was stale, the blinds half-drawn, as if sunlight itself was too risky for this conversation.He didn’t sit. He stood at the head of the table, hands braced against the wood, back ramrod straight. The predator in him knew posture was half the fight.“Mr. Black,” the VP began slowly, “you understand why we’ve called this session.”“Yes.” Julian’s voice was steady, even. “You’re concerned about my personal involvement with Mr. Reyes.”A murmur rippled. A partner adjusted his glasses. Another avoided his gaze.“Concerned,” the VP echoed, “is one word for it. Some of us might say alarmed.”Juli