"Let me get this straight. If I stay with Ben, you'll tell people about our relationship."
"Like I said, you leave me no choice. Potential clients deserve to know the truth. A known prostitute and possibly a thief. That knowledge could affect your credibility."
"So if I finish with Ben, you'll stay quiet."
Edward smiled again. "Let's talk about the merger, shall we."
"There will be no merger, Edward."
"Oh, I think there will be. Ben, remember?"
"Hang on. Let me get this straight. If I don't finish with Ben and sign the papers for the merger, you'll tell people about us? Really? Do you seriously think that people knowing about my relationship with Ben would have that much of an impact on my business?"
"I do. Chinese whispers. One innocent comment in the right ear can cause serious problems for your business. We both know that. I want your business, and I have no problem doing what I have to, to get it. I will ruin you. Maybe I should, it would probably cost me less to buy you outright when you're ruined, then I'll own your company."
Geoff stared at Edward. Wow, he really was something. He knew he wanted Edward to threaten his business, but witnessing him in action was something else. He did all with a smile on his face!
"Look, there's no need for this."
"I think there is, Geoff. I want your company, and I want you to get rid of Ben, and I have the information that can damage you, which I will use if I have to. Sign the forms and save yourself a lot of heartache and misery. I don't want to ruin your reputation, but if you leave me no choice, I will destroy you. Imagine what people will think? Your boyfriend's a prostitute. How many did you use before you found the right one? How much money did you spend fucking your way through them all? Using and abusing them. Whispers, Geoff, can cause so much damage."
Geoff raised his eyebrows at Edward. "I can't believe you'd go to this extent just to get me to sign a contract with you. Why? There are plenty of other businesses out there for you. Why mine?"
"Your father was a wonderful man and he has built up an impressive company with a fabulous reputation, which you have carried on. My name merged with that?" Edward smiled again.
"The answer's no. I won't sign anything, and Ben stays with me."
Geoff watched Edward clench his jaw, gripping his hands tightly together. He leaned forward, staring into Geoff's eyes.
"You really don't want to mess with me, Geoff. I can ruin you. Is that what you want? When I'm finished with you, there will be nothing left to salvage. You and your business will be destroyed. I've done it before, and I can do it again. I always get what I want." Edward paused, giving Geoff a slight smile. "Remember Thomas Standing? He said no to me, and where is he now? Hmm. Not working, is he? His business is finished. He said no to me, and I ruined him. It was easier than I thought it would be. The right comments said in the right ears, and it spreads like wildfire, and before you know it, boom, the business is gone. I'll do the same to you, Geoff. I want your business, so sign."
Geoff was stunned, staring at Edward with his mouth falling open. Had he ruined Thomas? Surely this was enough for the police. Where the fuck were they? Why hadn't they come charging in and arrested him? What else could they need?
"So you caused Thomas' business to end. Who else, Edward? Who else have you destroyed? Who else have you blackmailed? Who else has lost their livelihood because you wouldn't take no for an answer?"
Edward smiled sickly sweet at him. "Now, now. I'm not going to tell you every conquest, am I? And I don't call it blackmail. All I have to do is say a word or two in the right ears and..." Edward face suddenly transformed, and he stared at Geoff maliciously. "Sign, Geoff. Don't give me a reason to ruin you too. Once you've signed, we can talk about how to end things with Ben."
"No."
Edward shook his head, leaning forward in his chair. "You leave me no choice then. Good luck, Geoff, you're going to need it. When I've finished with you, you'll have nothing. No business, your reputation ruined, and no..."
It was at that moment the door flew open, and the room filled with officers. Edward was handcuffed and led from the room, smiling as he went. Geoff sat back wearily in his chair, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead.
He heard someone clearing their throat and opened his eyes to the male detective who had turned up that morning.
"Was it enough?" he asked him.
"You were fantastic. Really. We had always wondered about Thomas Standing, but there was hardly any information to incriminate Edward. Are you up to answering a few questions?"
Geoff nodded as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He just wanted this to be finally over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
By the time Geoff got home, Ben was frantic. Geoff hadn't called him once today to let him know what had happened in his meeting with Edward. Had Edward threatened him? Had the police gotten the information they needed? Had Edward been arrested? On and on, the thoughts scrambled around in his head and he was slowly going out of this mind when he heard the key in the door.
Ben rushed to the door and was going to demand Geoff answer his questions when he saw his face. Geoff looked pale and drawn. He looked exhausted with dark circles under his eyes. What the fuck had happened?
"Sit down and I'll get you as a drink."
Ben rushed into the living room and poured a shot of whisky for Geoff. He didn't think beer or wine would be good enough. He heard a noise in the doorway and saw Geoff standing there, staring at him intently. Oh, this didn't look good. Again, what the fuck happened?
"Is everything okay?"
Geoff nodded, walking over and taking the glass out of Ben's hand, pulling him in for a hug. He squeezed him so tightly that Ben thought he might die from lack of oxygen. Geoff suddenly released him, kissing him fiercely on the lips. Ben groaned, opening his mouth, taking Geoff's tongue in and stroking it with his own. They kissed like this for several minutes before Geoff eventually ended it and rested his forehead against Ben's.
"I love you, you know that, right?"
Ben nodded. Where had that come from? What had been said today?
"They've arrested him and they got it all on tape. Threatening to ruin my business and he admitted to doing the same to someone else's. I had to answer questions for hours afterwards. Go over everything. When I left, they informed me they were searching his home and businesses for further evidence. They had warrants in place and were just waiting to see how the meeting went. They said they have enough to prosecute him. It seems he wasn't content to just spread rumours. Apparently they have already found incriminating evidence at his home and work. They couldn't tell me a lot." Geoff shrugged.
"So it's over, right? No more threats, and we don't have to worry about him coming after your business again?" Ben asked him with trepidation and some small amount of hope to finally have this over and done with and to be able to live without this fear hanging over him.
"No more threats. We may have to go to court. It depends on his legal team and how he pleads, but yeah, it's over with."
Ben stepped back into Geoff's arms and dropped his head onto his chest. He breathed in deeply, taking in Geoff's unique scent, one he loved that reminded him of home. He suddenly felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from him, and he could finally breathe again.
"I love you, Geoff."
"I love you, too. Now, what's for dinner?"
Ben laughed, looking up at the man who had saved him and had given him a new life, a second chance. Taking his hand, he walked them out of the living room and into a new life filled with love and hope.
Epilogue
About a year later
Ben smiled when arms wrapped around his waist and lips pressed a kiss to the back of his neck. Placing the wooden spoon in the pan, he raised his arm and threaded his fingers through Geoff's hair, pulling him closer.
"How did it go?"
Ben felt his breath on the back of his neck when Geoff sighed. "We won. I'm glad it's ove
r and done with now."
"And Seb's case?"
"We lost."
"You both expected that to happen and at least Tom will be there for him." Ben reminded him.
Twisting in his arms, Ben faced him and wrapped his arms around Geoff's neck, tugging him down for a kiss. When they separated, Geoff said, "I know, but I hate to lose a case. Seb didn't do anything wrong. It was the outcome we both knew would happen."
"Lamb and veg for us and cheesy pasta for the boys, before you ask."
Geoff smiled, leaning down to kiss Ben again. "My favourite. You didn't have to go to all this trouble."
"I know, but I wanted to. You've worked so hard these last couple of weeks. Going in early and finishing late and by the time you've come home, you've been asleep before your head's hit the pillow."
"Sorry, babe." Geoff kissed him again. Longer, deeper. Tongues tasting each other as they danced languidly.
Ben moaned. Even thought they'd been together for over a year, the sex between them remained off the chart. He couldn't get enough of Geoff, and he was the same way. The last two weeks had been hard, pun intended.
Breaking the kiss, Ben said, "Go. Shower. They'll be here soon."
"Love you." With one final kiss, Geoff left the kitchen and Ben watched him go.
So much had changed in the past year, the majority for the better. But, there were a couple of times when Ben had struggled. Adams funeral had been one of them. Watching his coffin move away as it went into the crematorium. That absolute concrete knowledge that Adam was dead. It had hit all of them hard, but thankfully, Seb and Geoff had been there for them.
The other one was the fallout from Edwards blackmailing scheme. With all the evidence the police had gathered, Edward had wisely pleaded guilty and had been sentenced to ten years in prison.
Ben sighed. All water under a bridge now, or so the saying went.
Thirty minutes later and the front door bell rang. Geoff went to open it, and Ben pulled out a chilled bottle of white wine from the fridge and poured three glasses. Lou was the DD for the night so for her, Charlie and Finley, Ben gave them orange juice.
As usual, Geoff came in with both boys attached to him, laughing as they tried to pull him over and start a wrestling match. Lou smiled as she shook her head. Ben hugged both Lou and Harry and passed them their drinks. No sooner had he handed them their glasses them he heard his name shouted.
"Uncle Ben!"
He turned and caught Finley as he threw himself into his arms. Ben lifted him up and, as he passed Geoff, took both Charlie and Finlay into the living room. After a couple of minutes, he heard a raised voices coming from the kitchen and walked in, seeing Geoff hugging Lou.
"Hey, is everything okay?" Ben asked as he slowly approached them.
Lou looked like she was crying but strangely smiling at the same time. She handed him a picture, and as Ben looked at it, he realised it was a scan. He furrowed his brow as he counted arms and legs.
"Er, did something go wrong? There's too many..."
"Twins," Harry said, grinning widely.
"Twins?" Ben repeated.
"Yes. My poor body. I won't be the size of a house. I'll be the size of a mansion!" Lou exclaimed. "Why did I let you talk me into it?"
"Because you love me and because you want a little girl." Harry reminded her.
"Knowing my luck, they'll be boys." Turning to face Ben, Lou asked, "So, how do you feel being the uncle to four little terrors?"
"I...wow. I just..."
"Our family is getting bigger, isn't it?" Geoff stood behind Ben and pulled him back to his chest.
Ben nodded, staring at the scan again. Was it only a year ago that he had been living on the streets with no family of his own? And now he was going to be the uncle of not two, but four children.
He looked at Harry and Lou then up at Geoff, swallowing past the sudden lump in his throat. "Our family," he muttered.
"Yes. Our family."
He was home.
The End
About the Author
Megs Pritchard lives in England and is a mother to two small boys. When she isn't working or being mummy, she is busy writing about complex characters that know the harsh realities of life but want a HEA.
A lover of M/M and M/F romances she believes everyone deserves to be happy, healthy and loved.
Growing up in a military family, Megs has travelled Europe and has a great deal of respect and gratitude for all the men and women who have and who still serve. Her dream job was to be a Bomb Disposal Expert and even had her own 'kit' when she was younger.
She is currently working on her first full length series called Second Chances.
Coming Soon
The Bonds Within
Book Three in the Second Chances Series
Releasing Sep 2017
Breaking Free
Book Four in the Second Chances Series
Releasing Dec 2017
Contact Information
You can learn more about Megs' writing at:
http://www.megspritchardauthor.com
Or you can follow her on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megspritchardauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megspritchardauthor/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/megspritchard1
Tumble: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/megspritchard
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/megspritchard1/
New Beginnings (Second Chances Book 2) Page 19
