In Your Arms Again

by David Horne

  "Are you saying the company isn’t going bankrupt?" a deep male voice asked.

  "I’m not saying anything." Jason was not a fool. He wasn't about to tell the media that his company was bankrupt without first telling his board of directors.

  "What about your partner? You two started the company together. He hasn't been seen for a few months." Jason was asked.

  "I'm so sorry. I have a meeting to attend to at exactly nine. As you can see," he said, taking a glance at his wristwatch, "the meeting is starting in exactly five minutes."

  He turned to go and found Sarah waiting.

  "Wait...rumor has it that your partner ran away with the company's money."

  Jason ignored them and walked away. Sarah smiled.

  "Good morning, Jason. You look great this morning."

  "Thank you. I left my briefcase and laptop in my auto, send someone to pick them up."

  She nodded and he stood still, looked at the ten-story building and sighed with sadness.

  "You really did work hard for this," Sarah told him.

  "I did. Look at me, now. I’ll have to sell it." He smiled sadly.

  "I really wish I could be of help."

  "You can't or you would have helped."

  "Shane surprised and disappointed me at the same time." She hissed when she mentioned his partner's name.

  "I’ll throttle him alive if he makes the mistake of showing himself again. I hope he runs to the end of the world because when I close the deal and sell this company, my hard earned company, I’ll go after him." Jason vowed, feeling one kind of anger he didn't know he was capable of feeling.

  "Jason, please, as you said before, you have already spent a fortune searching for him. Let it go. After you sell this company, you’ll still have some money for yourself. Thankfully, you've invested your money in so many..." Jason cut her off by waving his hands.

  "Don't tell me that. I have money, yes, but the money couldn't save my company. What use is that money?"

  He walked away toward the glass doors of the building. The doorman smiled and greeted him as he walked in.

  Jason had intentionally refused to take the private elevator leading to his office. As soon as he entered, he smiled again. This was the business world. There were more than twenty people all dressed corporately. They were going up and down. The hall went hush as soon as the CEO walked in. He ignored them and continued walking toward the elevator.

  "Why are they all staring at me?" he asked Sarah

  "They all heard the news."

  "That's bad." He stood in front of the elevator and pressed the button. It popped open and the two stepped in. Jason pressed the button to his floor and the elevator immediately began to work.

  "You look calm, considering the fact that you’re about to make a drastic decision," she told him.

  The elevator stopped and the two walked out. He passed by the secretaries working for him and hastily walked into his office.

  "The meeting is starting in exactly two minutes and the board of directors is already waiting."

  "Let them wait." Jason sat down in his chair and stared at his perfect office. He had taken his time to see to it that it had the best of everything. Soon, it would no longer be his.

  "You’re never late for your meetings," she told him.

  Yes, Jason had never been late for his meetings. He took great pride in always keeping to time but today, he felt no need to be early for his meeting. He felt he had failed the people under him.

  At exactly five minutes after nine, Jason stood up and walked out of his office. He found Sarah waiting by his door.

  "Let's go," he told her and began leading the way to the boardroom.

  He walked down the corridor and took a left turn. Soon, he was standing in front of a large oak door. He touched the knob and reminded himself that he needed to be calm and in control.

  Jason turned the knob and walked into the room. He looked about and smiled inwardly. There were at least a dozen people in the room. They all stood up as soon as he walked in.

  "Good morning to you all,” he said, as soon as he sat down at the head of the table.

  "Good morning, Mr. Sawyer," the room chorused.

  "I've got bad news for you all. This company is bankrupt and I have decided to sell it." Jason didn't want to waste time saying too much so he had gone straight to the point.

  He watched their faces carefully and began reading their minds.

  "What..." some of them cried.

  "So the news is true?" a female shouted.

  Jason sat back in his chair. The meeting was about to begin.

  Chapter Nine

  As Jason was in the meeting, carefully planning his next move and answering so many questions from his Board of Directors, Fred was still sleeping. After Jason had left the previous day, the house had seemed so empty that he had gone walking.

  "Why can't I get you off my mind?" Fred asked over and over again.

  By the time he returned, he was too tired he fell on his bed and slept like a newborn. All the chaos that had shaken the internet and the media about the ruthless business tycoon whose company was about to go bankrupt went by without Fred’s knowledge.

  When thinking, he took his phone and dialed Jason's number. After two dials and Jason didn't pick up, Fred threw the phone away and slept again.

  He didn't wake until two hours later. He sat up, walked to the kitchen and thought of Jason in it, cooking, smiling and teasing him.

  It had only been a day but it felt like a lifetime. He heard a knock on his door and went to get it. He snapped the door open and found himself staring at Maurice.

  "Hi, lover," Maurice greeted, revealing his perfect white teeth.

  "What do you want?" Fred asked

  "We made a promise, a long time ago." Maurice reminded him

  "Yes. Yes, we made a promise but you were so money hungry that you broke it without even looking back," Fred reminded him.

  "Won't you ask me to come in?"

  "No, I won't ask you to come in."

  "Why ever not?"

  "Isn't it obvious? I want nothing to do with you ever again."

  "We had something special." Maurice wasn't ready to accept defeat.

  "What we had was nothing."

  "Jason..." Maurice started.

  "Don't you dare"

  "We need to talk."

  Despite himself, Jason let Maurice into the house. Once inside, Maurice looked at the expensively furnished room very greedily. Fred, no fool, saw all this but wisely said not a word.

  "What do you want?" he asked him

  "I'm here to apologize for walking out on you that fateful night. I was young and stupid. I should have stood by you."

  Fred looked at Maurice for a full second. He found himself comparing Maurice to Jason. Where Maurice stood six foot tall, Jason stood six foot three inches tall. Maurice was almost chubby but Jason was well-built. Although Jason was very handsome, Maurice was more handsome than him.

  Looking at Maurice, Fred realized that he wasn't angry with Maurice anymore and most importantly, he wasn't heartbroken anymore.

  "Tell me you don't love me," Maurice asked.

  "I don't love you."

  "You promised to love me forever."

  "Yes, I promised to love you forever. Then, I realized you do not deserve my love."

  " I made a mistake." Maurice was still trying to defend himself.

  "You knew perfectly what you were doing."

  Maurice wasn't ready to give up. He seductively walked to Fred and forcefully brought down his lips upon him. Fred was too shocked at first and then finally angry. He angrily shoved Maurice away.

  "You used to love my kisses." Maurice looked surprised.

  "You disgust me, Maurice," Fred shouted angrily.

  "It’s him, isn’t it? The guy that I met the night of..."

  "Get the hell out of my house before I call the police!" Fred shouted.

  "Why don't you call them? I’ll have to
tell the whole world that American sweetheart, Fred Jacobs is gay!" Maurice threatened.

  Fred was momentarily blinded with rage.

  "Are you trying to blackmail me?" he asked.

  "No, I’m giving you a choice."

  Jason looked at Maurice. The last thing he wanted was to allow Maurice to blackmail him. He had already promised to not let another man have so much influence over him. He would be damned before he let Maurice take advantage of him.

  "Get the hell out of my house!" he shouted, his blue eyes darkening with rage.

  "I’ll tell the world that..."

  Fred cut him off before he could go further. "Tell the world whatever you want to Maurice. I’m a damn adult and I have a right to choose how to live my life and who to date. No one, I repeat, no one has a right to judge me!"

  "You will lose fans, you nitwit!" Maurice shouted at him.

  "I don't care. If my fans won't respect my choice of lovers, then they can go to hell and burn to ashes for all I care. I’m gay and I’m proud to be gay. Please, kindly do me the favor: tell the world who I am."

  Maurice stared at Fred as if he were seeing a stranger. The Fred he knew was nothing like that. He would have pleaded with Maurice to not let the world know he was gay.

  "What happened to you man? You've changed."

  "Yes, I've changed, all thanks to you."

  He walked out of the door without turning back.

  "Well, good riddance to bad rubbish," Fred hissed, walked to his door and shut it.

  He took his phone and looked at the picture of Jason. The only picture he had of Jason. Jason had come into his life and turned everything upside down. He realized he no longer loved Maurice. Whatever he felt for his ex-lover was gone.

  For the first time in years, Fred was at peace.

  He had a shower, made breakfast of tea, and toast bread. He was halfway through when another knock sounded at his door. He went to get it and smiled at Benjamin.

  "Since I’m welcomed into your house, I guess your lover is gone." Benjamin grinned.

  "I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable. I had to stop you from meeting him," Fred defended.

  "Care for some breakfast?"

  "No, thanks. I had breakfast before leaving home."

  "So what brought you here?"

  "You've had your rest. It’s time you return to work."

  "Work? Isn't it too soon?"

  "You had a week of rest."

  "I know."

  "Good. You made me clear up your schedule the week before. You have to make up for the lost week."

  "I need a vacation."

  "Your career is at its peak. Don’t let emotional matters weigh you down."

  "Okay..."

  Benjamin took his phone and glanced through it for a few seconds.

  "Who could have believed it?" he muttered.

  "Believed what?" Fred asked.

  "The ruthless business tycoon has finally fallen. How the mighty fall."

  "Who's that?"

  "Don't tell me you’re the only one who doesn't know about Jason Sawyer."

  "Who is he?"

  "He’s one of the richest men in America. According to the media, the man made his first million at the age of twenty-one."

  Fred sat up.

  "Surely, you’re kidding," he asked.

  "I'm dead serious."

  "How did he make it?"

  "After college, he had used his savings to buy a depleted house. He had the house renovated and within a few months sold it and made a huge profit."

  "Wow..."

  "By the end of the year, he got a huge business deal. He accepted it and when it was completed, he had become a millionaire."

  "He was only twenty-one?" Fred asked.

  "Yes. The following year, with his capital, Jason Sawyer and his childhood friend, Shane Hilary started their own real estate company with Jason as the CEO and Shane as the COO. The two were good businessmen. They worked hard and built a multi-million dollar empire. They were household names in the business sector."

  "Why is Jason Sawyer called ‘Ruthless’?" Fred was curious.

  'He made it in the business world by being ruthless. Mr. Sawyer is a man who never forgives nor forgets. His employees are extremely loyal to him and he keeps few friends. Little or nothing is known about his private life."

  "You mean he lost everything?"

  "Yes"

  "How could a business tycoon like Mr. Sawyer lose everything?"

  "Rumor has it that his partner ran off with his money."

  Ben walked to the TV and turned it on.

  "I'm sure the news would carry news about all this."

  He changed the channel and soon, the newscaster was talking about Jason Sawyer.

  Fred was shocked. He sat up and stared at the TV as if he were dreaming. Before him was his lover, Jason dressed in a pair of expensive suit and oxfords. He looked rich, handsome and every bit a millionaire.

  The Jason he was seeing was very different from the Jason he made love with two days ago except for the fact that they had the same face, build and height.

  "Damn it," Fred shouted, realizing that he had been played. Jason had been lying to him all this time. He wasn't even listening to the news.

  "Damn it, Jason," Fred shouted.

  "You know him?" Ben asked.

  "I don’t know him. He’s my lover and the Jason I knew wasn't a millionaire!" he shouted, feeling betrayed and angry.

  "Fred, what are you talking about?"

  "Of course, I was a fool. I don't follow business news and he thinks he can make a fool out of me and get away with it?"

  "Fred..." Ben began.

  "I need to be alone."

  "Fred..."

  "Please leave."

  Benjamin stood up and took his leave. It wasn't until Benjamin was gone that Fred let his anger got the better of him. He felt angry and used.

  That night, he tried to sleep but couldn’t. He took his phone and search for the name “Jason Sawyer.” He was surprised to find out that someone like Jason Sawyer existed but he didn't know because he was so engulfed with music and the entertainment world.

  Two days later, Fred decided it was best he forgot all about Jason and move on with his life. He buried his head in work and hardly had time for anything.

  He worked so long and hard that Ben became very worried. Fred didn't want to ever think of Jason, but it was easier said than done. Try as he might, he couldn't get his mind off Jason. When he closed his eyes to sleep, he saw Jason's handsome face, whenever he opened his eyes in the morning, he saw Jason. Jason seemed to be haunting his every move.

  "Damn you,” he cried.

  Two days later, Fred, who couldn't sleep, poured out his heart on a piece of paper.

  He titled the song My Heart's Betrayal.

  Chapter Ten

  Exactly two weeks later, Jason was at home resting when he heard the doorbell ring. He lazily left his seat and went to get it.

  "Hello, Jason," Shane smiled at him

  "How dare you," Jason shouted. The anger, the disappointment and the pains of the previous months set in.

  "Please, Jason...let me explain."

  "Explain?" Jason gave his partner a punch on the nose. He immediately began to bleed.

  "You can hit me, man, I sure deserve it, just as I deserve to give you an explanation."

  "It took you almost half a year to do that?" he asked.

  "It was something I couldn't control."

  Shane pushed his way into the house. He sat on one of the sofas and retrieved his handkerchief from his pocket. He slowly began to wipe his nose clean.

  Jason, on the other hand, was trying all he could to not beat his partner black and blue.

  "Start talking before I lose my temper!" he threatened.

  "Jenny is dead," Shane announced, looking so very grief stricken.

  "What?" Fred asked.

  Jenny was Shane's sister. She was a doctor living in Texas.

 
; "What happened?"

  "After your accident, you remember you had to spend a couple of months at the hospital to recuperate, don't you?"

  "This isn't something you need remind me of. I know that already.”

  “You see, I took over the company and began running it.”

  “Sure, but then you had a bad business deal and without informing me, you took millions of dollars in loans. When the loan sharks came, you dared to steal five million dollars from the company's account and took off. How on earth could you be so heartless?"

  "I did what I had to do."

  "That's a selfish thing to say."

  "Come on Jason, we've known each other since we were kids. Do I look like one who would steal money that doesn't belong to me and disappear?"

  "You did that, didn't you?"

  "I had to."

  "I’ll ask you just once, where in the hell is my money?" Jason asked

  "Jason, I lost it. I don't have anything."

  "You selfish son of a bitch," Jason said and started toward Shane, his hands curled into fists, ready for a fight.

  "Wait, please... Jenny was kidnapped...I had to use the money to..." This time, tears were rolling down Shane's cheeks.

  "What are you talking about?" Jason asked him.

  "I know I screwed up by betraying you. I shouldn't have signed a business deal with the Starlets without telling you. I definitely shouldn't have gone to the loan sharks for a loan without first informing you and lastly, I shouldn't have stolen the five million dollars I took from the company's account. That money is meant for the company and not mine."

  "Don’t try to claim ignorance."

  "I won't. After the business deal went sour and I took loans, I received a call from Alice. She said they had been kidnapped."

  Jason listened attentively. Jenny and Alice were twins. While Jenny had become a doctor, her sister had become a dancer.

  "What happened?"

  "The kidnappers demanded the total sum of fifteen million dollars. Jenny and Alice are my sisters and I love them. I cleared my account and stole the money from the company's account."

  "What the hell..." Jason began.

  "What I didn't count on was the kidnappers killing Jenny. I didn't even know she was dead until yesterday. I knew what I did was wrong. I am a coward, and like the coward I am, I took off and ran away without shame."