by Amelia LeFay
“Fine.” I nodded at him while leaning back in my chair. “Keep looking.”
“I won’t let you down,” he said, moving to the door.
“Adams?”
“Yes sir.”
“Be smart. Don’t go digging through the man’s trash or anything.” I thought for a second. “Or at least, don’t get caught.”
“Yes sir.”
When he left, I leaned back and took a deep breath. However, that was as much as I got to relax before Scarlet, the very last person I wanted to be alone with at that moment, came inside.
“I know you’re annoyed,” she said.
“You have no idea,” I muttered. If I was going to do this, I was going to do it now. “We are going to catch him.”
“I know that but until we get something concrete—”
“When we do, we’ll be back on top, and then you can leave the company on a high note.”
She paused before tilting her head to the side. “What do you mean leave?”
“I mean I want to fire you, but I also don’t want to make this bigger than it needs to be.”
“Max! What?”
“What?” I finally looked up at her and rose from my seat. “What did you think would happen when you tried to blackmail Jane? You didn’t even try to hide it. You confronted her openly with what thought in mind? That she’d run away and not tell me?
She clenched her fists and approached me. “That woman is cheating on you, and you want to fire me? She’s an obvious gold digger—”
“That isn’t your business!” I snapped. She was pushing me and forgetting I had no fear of pushing back. “Over the years, I’ve tolerated your crush because I thought you’d eventually get it. I don’t want you. I do not care that we went to school together. I don’t care that our mothers are friends or if we look good together. None of that changes the fact that when I look at you, I feel nothing. Or at least, I didn’t. Now I’m just annoyed. Leave Jane alone.”
“You—”
“If I see that picture anywhere Scarlet… You should know me well enough by now that you know when I go after someone, I never let up.” Her eyes glanced over as she glared at me.
“Is that all, Mr. Emerson?”
“Yes, you can leave now. I have a headache.” I moved back to my seat and closed my eyes. When I heard the door slam, I let go of the deep breath I’d been holding.
“Mr. Emerson, your father is on the line,” my secretary announced.
For God’s sake!
What would I give to be in Cornwall right now? No.
As soon as I thought it, I sat back up.
I couldn’t start thinking like that, especially after one fucking day!
I was fine.
“Yes, Father.” I answered the phone while rubbing the side of my head.
“Your mother tells me you’ve actually found a woman you’d like to marry,” he said with a lighter than normal voice.
“Yes.”
He took a deep breath. “Congrats. I was starting to worry some of these faggot rumors were true. I just came back to the city so tonight—”
“She went to visit a friend. She’ll be back home next week.”
“That’s fine. I’ll be in town for a while. Maybe we could meet. I wanted to talk to you about this Governor MacDowell scandal coverage you’ve been doing.”
“I’m busy working on said story. Maybe some other time.”
“Maxwell.” There it was, that disappointed and frustrated tone I was used to. “There are some stories you should just leave alone. You’ve done well. He’s going to take huge flack for the corruption. The other stuff is just—”
“Is just an illegal sex ring?”
He didn’t speak.
“Tell me you’re not involved in this.”
“I’m telling you, son. Leave it alone.”
This was my family? These people! Why? What did I ever do to deserve these fucking people?
“You’re an odd one Jane,” Pippa said as we walked along the beach.
“I get that a lot,” I replied.
It was a cold October day, but it was still beautiful. Ahead, Wes walked alongside his mother, Brenda, and both of them were laughing about something. I could tell they were more like siblings than mother and son. She teased him and hit him like an older sister would.
“When is your birthday?”
“The twenty-first of December.” I didn’t know why she was asking, but she nodded as if I’d said something important.
“The twenty-first of December,” she repeated. “So you are a Sagittarius, which means you’re fiercely independent and straightforward almost to a fault. You seek adventure in all things and tend to be intelligent and enthusiastic, but most importantly, you are generous.”
“That’s right, you’re an astrologer. I knew I was a Sagittarius, but I didn’t know it was so positive.”
“That’s because I started with the good,” she replied with a grin. “Those born under the sign of Sagittarius are also, stubborn, restless, quick-tempered, careless—”
“Okay, let’s go back to the positive.”
“And unable to handle criticism.” She added the last part while linking arms with me. I could feel myself frowning; I wasn’t trying to prove her right.
“I’m sure every sign has its ups and downs.”
“Of course. Take my son.” She nodded up at Wes who was walking toward the ocean. “Libras are romantic, sociable, and charming.”
I could totally see that in him. “And the negatives.”
“They need approval from others, can be superficial, and hate being in situations where they aren’t in control.”
“I can see all of that, too.”
She smiled and looked up at the sky as the sun started to set. “You know most women would feel a little shameful about sleeping with two men, and I doubt they’d even be able to show their face to either of their mothers and yet, here you are, confidently proud, trying your best to get us to like you.”
I shrugged. “I’m not the best person to speak to on matters of morality. I didn’t exactly have the best role models. I try to do what makes me happy and safe. Everyone who judges does so from the outside. They don’t help me pay my bills; they don’t come to feed me when I’m sick. Why live for people who don’t care about me unless I’m living in a way they approve of?”
“Like I said, independent, straightforward, and intelligent,” she repeated, staring out at the sea. I couldn’t look away from her. She was attractive in a strange way. I’d noticed that of Wes’ two mothers, she was the calm, collected one. It was kind of funny how she was the one who loved all this zodiac stuff.
“I’m a Virgo. Do you know what that means?” she asked; I shook my head. “It means my negative traits say I’m judgmental, too logical and analytical, inflexible and interfering.”
Not this again! I sighed, already knowing where this was going. “Let me guess, you’re judging me and this situation with Wes and Max.”
“It’s hard not to.” She unlinked her arms from mine.
“You’re also going to try interfering somehow?” Because apparently I was mom repellent. And here I thought they liked me—well, liked me in a more normal way than Max’s mother.
“I might. Haven’t you thought of what may happen next?”
“Next?”
She nodded, breathing in through her nose. “I’m talking about when Wes and Max get over this issue they are having. Let’s say you all choose to continue like this. One of you is just bound to get jealous. Boston is a big city and Maxwell is well known. So if you were to be on his arm one moment and then Wes’ arm the next, people wouldn’t understand. We are still fighting for equal rights in the LGBTQ community. Now you want to add polygamy to the mix?”
I didn’t like that word—polygamy—but I didn’t have another one.
“We aren’t thinking like that—”
“No, you’re keeping your head in the sand even though it is obvious y
ou are in love with Wes, seeing as you check to see where he is every four minutes. And you’re also in love with Max since you’ve kept him in the loop all day. That and you grin like a crazy woman when you mention either of them.”
Save me please…someone…anyone…
“We’re just having fun.” I took a step away from her, not an obvious one, more like I was hoping we’d just keep moving closer to Wes and Brenda.
“Sagittarians are overly logical too, so I know you don’t believe that.”
“Not all of us fit into a perfect model of an ancient circle of animals in the sky,” I snapped, running my hand through my hair.
“Jane? Mum?” Wes came over looking for us. “Everything all right?”
“Everything is fine; we were just talking about the stars. Where did your mum go?” Pippa asked, looking over her shoulder.
“She went inside to get something for us to drink.” He nodded back to the house.
“I’ll help. If I’m not out in ten minutes, send a rescue party.” She kissed his cheek before walking up the beach toward their home.
Turning away, I stared back at the ocean, part of me wanting to run toward it.
“What were you both really talking about?” Wes asked, stopping beside me.
“The stars.”
He groaned. “She didn’t go overboard with the zodiac stuff again did she? I swear if it were an official religion, she’d be the head pastor.”
I didn’t answer. I wasn’t sure what to say. Her words were digging deep into my head.
“You leave me no choice,” he whispered, and when I turned to him, he was taking off his clothes.
“Wes! What are you doing?”
“I’m distracting you from whatever just happened,” he replied while taking off his sweater and undershirt and throwing them at me.
“Wes, don’t—”
Off came his underwear as he ran toward the ocean.
“Woah!” he screamed and his ass was the last thing I saw before he dove in. One second later, he came up for air. “It’s not that bad. Come in!”
“Really? Cause your teeth are chattering.”
“Don’t be a pussy!”
“I’m not a pussy!”
“PUSSY!”
Laughing so hard, I nearly peed myself as he ran out. I took off my sweater and jeans and ran into the sea. For a split second I felt nothing, and then it hit me. It was like hugging the iceberg that sunk the Titanic.
“OH MY GOD!” I screamed. “COLD! SO FUCKING COLD.”
Fuck this shit! I ran out of the water as fast as I could, grabbing my wool sweater and wrapping it around myself.
“Jane!” He laughed, running with me all the way back into the house.
“What the…” I heard one of his mothers question, but I couldn’t even see her face. I just went for the warmth. In the house, I jumped up and down while hugging myself.
“You know cold water makes your wee-wee shrivel up, right?” Pippa said, feeding a cracker to Mozart, who sat on her shoulder.
“You’re not helping.” Wes, who had just cupped his dick, ran back upstairs, leaving me there. She stared at me and then started to giggle.
“Oh to be twenty again.” She shook her head and walked outside.
Running upstairs, I made it into his room and heard the shower running. Stripping off my bra and underwear, I ran in and turned my back to him. The heat of the shower was just what I needed.
“Dumbest idea ever,” I muttered to him. “It felt like I had icicles hanging off my tits.”
“Yeah, but it was fun.” He hugged me for a second before letting go and turning around. “Right, no Max, no sex.”
“Yep,” I said, and so we stood in the shower ass to ass, trying to defrost.
Of all the places this asshole wanted to meet me, it had to be Wesley’s restaurant. In the reception area stood a young man, most likely in his twenties.
“Do you have a reservation this afternoon?” he asked, his dark brown eyes fleetingly wandering up and then back down my body.
“Emerson.”
He looked at the computer and nodded. “Your company has arrived. Would you like me to take your coat?”
Nodding, I took it off and his hand grazed over mine. I didn’t react or even pretend to notice. Gay men often did. Since people weren’t always open with their sexuality, they put out little feelers. Is there eye contact? Did he notice the touch? If he did, did he react? All of those small things helped figure out how to approach someone.
“Follow me please.” Still not looking at him, I took out my phone and texted Wes quickly. ‘Your maître is putting out feelers. I’ve counted three crotch glances, a onceover, and a graze of the hand. Apparently I’m worth the risk.’
“Maxwell.” My father didn’t bother standing once I arrived. I hated how much we looked alike. Same blue eyes and black hair—even though his was gray on the sides—and we even stood at the same height.
At least balding wasn’t in my future.
“Let’s make this quick,” I muttered, taking a seat. The host left, but not without trying to make eye contact. The guy apparently didn’t get it. Finally, he walked away when I pretended I didn’t realize he was still there.
“Tactless as always. You are your mother’s son,” he replied, drinking his whiskey.
“Would you prefer I was a womanizer and cheat?” I questioned without emotion. I didn’t really care. At one time I had pitied my mother, but I wasn’t going to go down that rabbit hole again.
“Don’t nag. It’s a female trait,” he instructed.
“Still worried I could be one of them faggots?”
His jaw cracked to the side. “Well are you?”
“I should say yes just to watch you have a heart attach. However, that’s not why I’m here. You and the governor, what are you both hiding?”
“As I said on the phone, leave this alone, Max.”
“As I said on the phone, I won’t, Alistair.” Leaning over the table, I made sure he could look into my eyes. “If you were involved in any of this, I’ll tear you down with him.”
“You hate us both that much?”
“Thanks for the lunch.” I got back up. “But I realize you still make me sick, so I’m going to eat my lunch alone.”
“Maxwell. I’m warning—”
“Enjoy your lunch; I hear the food here is to die for.” I didn’t want to waste another moment with him.
‘Your maître is putting out feelers. I’ve counted three crotch glances, a onceover, and a graze of the hand. Apparently I’m worth the risk.’
“What the fuck?” I hissed, sitting up.
“What is it?” Jane came out of the bathroom drying her hair with a towel.
“Nothing, I’m just firing someone,” I muttered more to myself than to her. The first text he sends, and it’s this shit. He was fucking with me on purpose.
I tried to think of what to say to that, but nothing came to mind. Dropping the phone, I laid back down.
I fucking hate this shit.
“Wes?”
“I’m fine,” I snapped.
“Just call him.” She sighed and lay beside me, resting her head on my chest. “You and I both know he’s not going to give in.”
“I can’t.” If I did, we wouldn’t work. He would never get it. Picking up the phone again, I held it above both of us and took a photo.
“What are you doing?!”
“Replying.” I sent him an image and typed out, ‘I doubt he or anyone else could make up for the two of us.’
“You two are getting on my last nerves!” She kicked me while grabbing a pillow from under my head.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m sleeping on the couch downstairs. From now on, I’m not indulging you either. Keep your hands to yourself. Don’t hug me. Don’t kiss me. Nothing until you two stop acting like children and start acting like my men again.” She slammed the door behind her.
She wanted us to just kiss an
d make up? I’d have loved to, but how could I make up with someone who didn’t realize the problem to begin with?
Chapter Nineteen
“Door open,” the automatic voice said.
Stepping around the kitchen island, I went to the door expecting it to be them but instead, Irene stumbled in with a bottle of wine and a bag of Thai food.
“Not who you were hoping for, huh?”
“How did you get in here?” No one knew the code with the exception of…
“Jane,” she replied, letting herself into the penthouse. “And before you get mad at her, she said your password would be changed tomorrow anyway, so let’s eat.”
I didn’t have the energy to argue, so I ignored her and entered the living room.
“Max this place is a pigsty!”
Sitting down, I flipped through the time logs in front of me.
“Where do you keep your plates?”
He was there on the twenty-second. Why does this keep overlapping?
“You can ignore me all you want, but I’m not going home.”
LL. Goddamn it, if I see this name one more time.
“Max!”
“WHAT?” I hollered at her, not realizing she was right next to me. She jumped back, eyes wide. “I’m sorry Irene, but I’m working. This is important to me. I can’t deal with whatever shit you’ve fallen into right now.”
She glared for a second then downed both glasses of wine. She bunched up her fists and took a deep breath before speaking. “First off, you asshole, I came here because Jane begged me to. She said you weren’t replying to her texts or calls any more. She said she was worried and was coming back tonight. I’m sorry it had to be me, your screwed up cousin, but seeing as how Jane has no one else’s number because you make it a habit of pushing everyone who cares about you out of your life, I thought I’d actually come and check up on you seeing as how it’s been three days since I last saw you on air either. Glad to know you aren’t dead, you dick.”
Three days? I reached for my phone, but it was dead.
“I’ve been working,” I whispered, staring at it. “Honestly, I didn’t realize she’d been trying to contact me.”