by T L Dasha
It was absurd. Or maybe I was just absurd. I pulled the ring from my pocket, and fixated on its shine one more time, searching for the answers I needed in the reflection of my own eyes. And that's when Trevor walked in. Startled, I fumbled and panicked and dropped the ring, letting it fall to the carpet. Hoping he may not have noticed, I trapped the ring under my shoe, hiding it from plain sight. It was a travesty to treat such a beautiful piece that way, but Trevor finding out about my affairs would be a worse one.
“Top of the morning, brother!”
I nodded to acknowledge him, feigning composure.
“Trevor. What do you want?”
“Is that any way to greet family?”
“I could have been much harsher.”
Trevor laughed. He was always laughing no matter how cross I was with him. Perhaps he was laughing in spite.
“Dad sent me to fetch you. He's got someone he wants you to meet.” Trevor paused, some sort of wheels turning in that head of his. I watched his brown eyes scanning mine, searching my darker shades of black with the same knowing look that my aunt used to sport. “But if you're busy, I can tell him to sit his ass down and wait.”
“No, of course not.” I used my foot to slide the ring under my desk, knowing I wouldn't be able to pick it up without Trevor asking questions. “I'm about done here anyway. Let's go.” Trevor followed behind me as I exited my office, and we made our way over to the large conference room.
It was an exquisite auditorium, with vaulted ceilings adorned with white and gold. Red carpet split two hundred rows of spectator seats, with a stage encased in velvet curtains at the front and center. I located Father in the back of the room, entertaining a plethora of guests over tables of fine coffee and exotic Danishes. He was in animated conversation when we approached him.
“Aaron! Trevor! Let me introduce you to one of our largest investors. This is Maxwell Dresden.”
“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Dresden.” He shook my hand with an assertive and commanding grip. The handshake of a man who was undoubtedly ruthless in his dealings. He must have had a decade on my father, but he carried the same style and demeanor.
“And this,” my father continued as Mr. Dresden stepped aside, “is his daughter, Maria Dresden.”
“Pleased to meet you, Aaron. I've heard so much about you.” Maria extended her hand. Her handshake was more akin to holding a baby bird-- just firm enough to keep the bird from escaping, but too gentle to crush it.
“Enchanted, Miss Dresden.”
“Please, call me Maria.” She smiled back. I nodded, acknowledging her request without immediately abiding by it. I knew exactly what father was thinking, and I was already weary of how the day would play out. She was lovely, with dark hair, pale skin, and a figure that was trained and trimmed for broad appeal. Her green eyes reflected her hopefulness and her youth, and she was surely more suited to me than Jake Conner. Her pedigree and status placed her among the most desirable women in the world. I want to say I felt honored that he had introduced us, even if that honor felt strikingly similar to dread.
After enduring ten more minutes of small talk, which I would sooner forget than rehash, we began the first of the day's events. An hour of investment pitches and two of tax loopholes was enough to have anyone clamoring for lunch. I welcomed the break as soon as it came. I dodged the usual barrage of conversation by excusing myself for fresh air, taking advantage of extra time that father had scheduled into today's break. I couldn't guess his reasoning, but I wasn't about to argue the point.
No sooner did I begin heading for the door when I heard my father's voice calling from behind me.
“Aaron, Trevor-- I need to speak to the both of you for a moment. Can you join me in my office?”
Trevor had been even closer to the door than I was, but still not close enough to evade a lecture. With a dejected sigh, I turned to follow. We entered a small, private conference room, where father took a seat across from us at an oblong table.
“I know we started this conversation last night in jest, but it's something I would like to address with the both of you.”
Last night was supposed to be a joke? It certainly didn't feel funny.
“We need to discuss your future matches. As you know, I'm not going to be around forever, and there's a level of appearances you need to uphold when you're in the public spotlight. Neither one of you has put any initiative into settling down, and I've already come across rumors questioning your sexuality and affairs. We started this empire as a family business, and that's an image we need to uphold.” He turned to me.
“If you haven't figured it out yet, Aaron, Maxwell Dresden's daughter is very wealthy and very eligible. You haven’t taken any initiative in dating since that last debacle, so I think she would be good for you. If not her, Frank Miller also has a daughter you might fancy. Both have looks befitting a Craig.”
He had barely finished his sentence when I found myself shaking my head.
“I'm sure she's a wonderful young lady, but I simply don't have the time to juggle courtship and marriage. I'm lucky to get enough time to sleep between maintaining all of our investments and properties on the entire west coast.”
“That's the perk of these well-bred girls. You can marry her, put a child in her, then go about your usual work. Between her father and her brothers, she understands that men have priorities far more important than playing doting husband. Your job will be to keep money coming in, and hers will be to wear tight little dresses to banquets.”
I cringed just listening to him. I had barely met Maria, and I already felt sorry for her future.
“And who did you pick for me?” Trevor's voice took on a mocking tone, missing the usual sense of a lighthearted ribbing. He cocked his head as he leaned back into his chair. “Any of these other old bastards looking to sell their own flesh and blood like expensive little whores?”
“Watch your mouth!” Father's anger couldn't be overstated. “These young ladies understand their duties and what it means to be a celebrity's wife. They would be lucky to get men like you, just as you would be lucky to have them. Would you rather keep chasing strippers and low class waitresses? Do you have to get your name dragged through the mud before you realize that women like that are only interested in you for your name?”
I clenched my fist under the table and closed my eyes, trying to collect my own anger, before I responded on an impulse I would regret. Conner wasn't Maria Dresden, but that didn't mean he was worthless.
Trevor stood up next to me, drawing the heat of the conversation back to himself, before I could speak in his defense. He hit a fist against the table, and looked father dead in the eye. This was the first time in a long time that I had truly seen Trevor lose his temper.
“Is this why you flew me out here? To play matchmaker? Because-- what-- you're upset that neither one of us has knocked up as many women as you had by our age? You're upset that we actually turned out to be better men than you? Remember what happened last time--”
“You have a duty as my son.” He cut Trevor short, and I couldn’t blame him. I wasn’t interested in a rehash of old wounds either. But then he continued. “Do you think I married your mother because I wanted to? There's a reason I never touched that wretched woman again after your conception. You should be grateful that I'm giving you options. Marriage for love is for those who have nothing worth losing.” Father’s tone was steady, and his appearance was unfaltering. I might have believed he had been completely unfazed by the outburst, but the way he was stabbing each word in so meticulously told another story. “Clara Bartley of Bartley Aerospace is finally of child bearing age. I'll make the arrangements.”
Trevor was seething.
“Well, she's going to be really disappointed when she finds out Alan Craig's first heir and oldest son is gay.”
Wait, how is that possible? I looked over at my brother, trying to read his expression. This must have been a recent development. Otherwise, he couldn’t have…
“You're
what?!” Father broke my line of thought with sheer volume.
“I told you, didn’t I? I'm not sloppy. I learned from the best!” Trevor’s laugh had taken on a cruel undertone. “Oh, I'm sorry, does that upset you? Should I have asked you for permission first? I forgot this was the fucking middle ages.”
“Get out.”
“Gladly.”
Trevor stormed out of the room, not waiting for any further comments. I continued to clench my fist under the table, dispelling my own anger through its tension. Father had always taught us that appearances are important in business, and Trevor struggled to understand that far more than I did. Though, still, this seemed off. Despite all of our disagreements over the years, I had never seen Trevor lash out at father so viciously. I had barely ever seen them fight at all.
Father was still collecting himself as he turned his attention back to me.
“At least one of my sons is capable of gratitude. You don't have any secrets you want to share with me, do you Aaron? I don't know if it could get much worse right now.” His words were exasperated. This possibly was not the time to mention I had just married the 'low class’ desk clerk. I bit my lower lip, not quite prepared to answer him.
“Perhaps we should discuss this at a later time when emotions aren't so high. It's been a long morning.”
“Indeed.” Father nodded. He looked emotionally drained. Despite my success in running the business, this was the first time I had ever felt like I had more of his favor than his first son. I thought it would feel more satisfying.
I stood to leave, and pulled open the door.
“Humor me and give the Dresden girl a chance.” I paused only long enough for him to finish his statement. I took a deep breath, then I left the room.
I stopped by the front desk, but Conner had already stepped out for his lunch. I don't know why I had thought to go there anyway. It's not like he would have understood. We lived in different worlds.
I returned to my office to take my lunch hour in silence and solitude instead. I took a seat, and saw the ring sitting in the center of my desk, glaring at me with an accusing shine. Who... when did it get moved? It didn't appear that my office had been cleaned. Unless.... Trevor.
I hit my fist against the desk, no longer able to hold in my frustration.
Of all the things that Trevor could find on all the days that he could find it. It had to be him. He's the only other person with a key card that could grant him access. He must have seen it this morning. What would he tell father?
I paused and stood up straight, fixing my tie to calm myself down. There was no need to be so on edge. Even if he had found it, Trevor didn't know anything. It's not like the ring says 'Jake Conner' on it. I could just tell him it was a new piece from Jasmine's that I was evaluating.
Breathe. It was as if this whole situation had all but completely destroyed my rational thought. I was being ridiculous.
I still had half a day's meetings to tend to. Perhaps that would be enough to distract me from this fiasco.
Chapter 6
Jake Conner
Three hours to go. I spent what must have been two more hours catching up on the work emails from my lunch break, then looked at the clock again. Wait, my bad. It was two minutes, not two hours. I moved my eyes back to my monitor, and started processing check-ins for tomorrow. That HAD to have taken two hours. I looked at the clock.
Two hours and fifty-one minutes to go. Fuck my life.
Of all the things that have happened this week, attempting to go back to work after learning my boss is secretly my husband, while I couldn't get the taste of his brother off my lips no less, was easily the most torturous. I think the conclusion here is that I'm never drinking again. Or never getting in an elevator again. Maybe both. Nothing good seemed to come from either.
The afternoon marched on, forcing me to sit in a painfully awkward silence with myself. Did Aaron even know we were married? He still acted like such a stuffy jerk. He was probably sitting in his office, drawing up the divorce papers right now.
Actually, maybe that's not fair. He's oddly been on my side lately. Just this morning he was acting all concerned about my well being. And just this morning he was saying he wanted me to speak to him more casually. And he was trying to get me away from Trevor so he didn't lose me. And then he asked if Liz was my girlfriend...
Jake, you're an idiot. He knows. One thousand percent he knows. He probably even remembers what I look like naked. I let my mind search my mental picture database, trying to imagine what he must have looked like-- to make it fair, of course. I could tell how muscular he was just by the way his tailored suits rested on his body. Maybe a little more muscle than a swimmer's build, a smooth chest, and flat, hard abs. He would look at me with those dark eyes, lost in a haze of lust. His back would be defined and firm, my nails digging into his shoulders, then running down his biceps. His lips would taste like a fine wine, and his strong hands would dig into me with desire, grabbing my hips and pulling me onto him...
“Conner.”
I jumped out of my skin, and my entire world started falling backwards. Literally, as I accidentally knocked my chair off balance and crashed to the floor. I laid on my back, still in seated position, looking up at Aaron Craig as he stood over my counter.
“Are... you alright, Conner?” He looked perplexed, but he still looked like Aaron. Serious and calm and collected and unflinching. I took odd relief in hearing him still call me Conner.
“Mr. Craig! How good to see you.” His palm hit his forehead before he moved behind my desk and helped me to my feet. I held his hand a moment longer than I needed to, then I dusted myself off.
“Shouldn't you be in the... uh... tax something...”
“It's already 4:00. Meetings are done for the day. Did you hit your head while you were down there?”
Oh, NOW time decides to start passing. I see how it is.
“Don't you have a dinner to attend still? You look like you're heading home.”
“It's been a long day. And I,” he paused with a serious look on his face, then his expression softened. “I don't think I can sit through another dinner like last night's, honestly.”
“Are you just going to leave me to navigate awkward Craig family dinners alone then?”
He laughed. I liked his laugh. This conversation almost felt comfortable.
“No, I doubt Trevor will be attending either. You're off the clock. Take the night off.”
“Did something happen?”
“You've met my father.” He frowned. “He has a knack for upsetting people.”
“I guess that explains why Trevor was free at lunch.”
“You saw him at lunch?” Aaron's eyes looked as if they were scanning my entire body. “Did he take you out?”
“J-just for work. I mean, to replace my coat. He said it was a work expense.” The way his expression changed left me suddenly regretting I mentioned it.
“Did he now...” I watched his eyes sliding down my neck. Lower and lower. I knew where they would end up, but I would rather them stop there than make it to my pounding heart beat. I nonchalantly raised a hand to rub my neck, making sure he wouldn't see any trace of Trevor. Although, even if Aaron knew the situation, it's not like he would be jealous. Just because we stood on an altar drunk together, it wasn't like we were in love. It wasn't like we were even dating. Or that he even liked me. We weren't anything other than a mess of paperwork.
Why did that thought make me a little sad?
“That's good. You deserve it.” he finally broke the tension. “You deserve a lot more than people give you credit for.”
“Even you?”
“Maybe especially me.” His eyes were soft again as he bit into his lower lip. “Can I give you a ride home, Conner?”
“Me? I have a bus pass.”
“That's not what I asked.”
“You really don't have to go through the trouble.”
“That's also not what I asked.”
“You know what? I think I would really appreciate that.”
#
Instead of stopping by the entrance to wait for a driver, I followed him to the valet lot, passing cars that required a down payment higher than my yearly salary. Aaron nodded to the attendant, and he immediately rushed off to retrieve his car.
“I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me that you were literally going to drive me home.”
He looked down at me, his black eyes inquisitive and studying my face.
“Driving is one of life’s simple pleasures. What would be the point of owning a nice car if you never use it yourself.”
The valet returned with a gaudy yellow sports car. The exaggerated lines and vibrant color were in such stark contrast with everything that was Aaron, that I couldn't hold in a laugh.
“Are you giving me a ride home or taking me out to race for pinks?”
There was a flicker of a smile in his eyes, but he kept a straight expression.
“Have you ever been in a race, Conner?” His expression relaxed into a slight grin. “It’s a sensation like nothing else.”
“I used to run track in high school. Does that count?”
He nodded.
“It counts. I was a swimmer.”
I tried to be subtle as I let my eyes move up his body. A swimmer. I could see that. The valet opened the door, and I climbed into the passenger seat. He took the seat next to me and clipped in his seat belt. He motioned to grab a pair of sun glasses from an overhead compartment, but stopped himself short. He withdrew his hand and shook his head, before he turned to me.
“Will this do?” There was a certain comfort in being allowed to read his eyes.
“I think I can suck it up for one day.” I smiled. “Do you know where I live?”
