“Wanna dance?” she purred, her voice low and needy, the kind that probably worked wonders on most guys she came across. I turned to face her fully, taking in her features. Her pretty eyes, the heart shape of her plump lips, the curve of her jaw, the way her dress clung to her immaculate figure, the whole package entirely. Objectively, she was a gorgeous woman. But I felt nothing. No spark at all of interest or adrenaline rush looking at her. Just a vague sense of annoyance.“I’m afraid I’m a terrible dancer,” I replied, offering what I hoped was a polite, but firm brush off. “You would be better off finding someone else to dance with.” I suggested calmly.But she wasn’t deterred, a brave woman if you ask me. Instead, she leaned closer, her hand grazing mine softly, sending a feeling of something unpleasant up my arm. “I could teach you,” she whispered, her lip curling into a playful bite. The message was clear. It wasn’t dancing she was after.My eyes narrowed as I stared her
The light at the bar was dim, but not too dim that I couldn’t see all of Gavin’s expressions. The way his mouth moved, the way his eye brows creased, I could see all so clearly. Gavin's voice was low and pleading. "What can I do to make it up to you Logan?" He said softly but firmly.I turned away from him, "Leave me alone Gavin." I didn’t mean that but it was a reflex reaction, a perfectly practiced dismissal, but a part of me, a stupid weak part wanted him to fight me to stay with me. I wanted him to prove to me that he wasn't just going to give up just because I ask him to.But then he was behind me, as his hands firmly wrapped on my shoulders. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear, "I'm afraid I can't leave you alone, no matter how many times you chase me away, I'll never leave you." He murmured into my skin and I could feel a tingling sensation. I tilted my head, giving him a sharp skeptical look. "Then why did you disappear? Why go ghost all this time?" I sounded
-I just arrived the country little cutie. I'll come over-He was back? Finally! I felt extreme joy as I read his text. After years of his self imposed exile, he was finally back in the country. Alexander was my childhood best friend and the one person who truly understood me. Well..save Peter. But I met Peter a few years ago, but he’s still a good person and very observant. But Alexander said he was coming over. Did he perhaps mean tonight? Or tomorrow? My fingers flew across the keys on my phone as I typed out my message. -Do you mean tonight or tomorrow?-I texted back and his reply was almost instantaneous.-Not tonight Gan. I’m jet lagged so I’ll see you at the office tomorrow-Tomorrow then. I could wait. I really wanted to see how much he’s changed these past few years. Alexander has always had the looks of a Greek god, so I’m convinced he’d look even more enthralling, that’s if he has been taking care of himself. I turned back towards the gate, and saw Gavin’s car was still
After a few minutes on the road, we finally arrived at Hartley Holdings building. Gavin parked at the usual spot he always parks and I unfastened my seat belt. "Alright," I said as I grabbed my brief case from the back seat, "Thanks for the ride. I'll see you later then." I reached for the door handle, but his words made me stop."Can I come over tonight?" Gavin asked, his voice soft and gentle. He’s been speaking so gently these days but I knew where he was going to."Oh, Gavin, I would love you to, but Alexander's coming over tonight." I said sweetly but firmly. A frown creased his brow, it was a predictable reaction. I rolled my eyes, and leaned back on my seat, as I took his hands in mine, my touch deliberately soft. "Don't be like that," I murmured, "he's been out of the country for years and just got back. He's also my best friend, I haven't seen him in ages. You understand, right?""I could come too," Gavin suggested, his voice tight.My eyes narrowed. No, absolutely not. That
"I know not to cross the line," he says, all innocent with a wink as he heads inside the office. I just shake my head and sigh as I follow after him. “I hope the schedule for today is not packed?” I asked as I took off my long coat and dropped it on the coat hanger. He looked at me and shakes his head as he picked up the coat and hanged it up properly.“Well, since you are expecting a friend I can free up some unimportant schedule and fix them for tomorrow. If that’s fine by you anyway.”“Yeah, that’s fine. First of all get all the documents needed for signing so I can get that done with.”“Yes boss.” He said as he turned to leave. Just as Peter was retreating, my phone buzzes with a phone call and Alexander’s name lights up the screen. “Hey, are you on your way now?” I asked him."Umm, I’m actually here already. I’m at the receptionist desk," He says and a genuine smile spreads across my face. "Okay buddy. Come right up." I said and he hangs up.Peter who had stopped on his steps
The question he had just asked hung in the air and Alexander's words were so direct and pointed. My deal with Gavin? What the hell was he talking about exactly? He couldn't possibly mean...no! I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, the leather suddenly too warm and definitely too constricting for me."What... what do you mean by my deal with Gavin?" I stammered and my voice was very strained right now. I was surprised I even managed to get the words out of my mouth.He hissed as he started rubbing his temples, he looked down, a flicker of something I couldn't quite decipher crossing his face. Then looked up again, his eyes meeting mine, and the intensity in them was almost unbearable. It wasn’t like he was judging me, but he was definitely judging me. I don’t know if you understand that mixed feelings. That was what I was feeling right now and it made me so conscious and sweaty in my palms. "Look Logan, I know it's not my place since I haven't even been here for you for a long time. I
The repeated click clack of my pen, in and out as I kept pressing the ball at the end of it was the only sound in the office after Alexander had left. He had suddenly breezed out after dropping a bomb on me, leaving me only with a promise of coming over later to have dinner. My mind was currently a total mess and I desperately needed to regain some atom of control over my messed up emotions, to anchor myself a bit. And right now, that meant dealing with Peter. I had already called for him, so he should be here any moment from now. There was a sharp knock on the door, it was Peter’s usual way and I knew he had arrived. He stepped in, his eyes immediately scanning my face, he could definitely sense that I wasn’t okay. He could always seem to sense my emotions. I saw the flash of worry in his eyes as he stared at me. “Why did Mr Alexander leave so soon? I thought you two were going to spend more time together? I had even cleared up your schedule for you.” Peter asked, his voice filled
We just stood there staring at each other silently, without uttering a word. We were both trying to understand one another and also calm down. His eyes finally dropped to the floor. "Sorry," he mumbled, the word barely a breath. Peter always looked so put together and sharp, but right now, he was a mess of nervous energy, biting his lip nervously like a trapped rabbit. "I didn't… I didn't think that part through, about the control and the fact...I didn’t see it from that perspective. I just… I wanted to make sure the company made it through Logan. And… and I thought it would be a good opportunity for Gavin too. You know, since he was trying to… to make amends. I just. I’m so sorry.”“Look Peter, I understand where you are coming from and as much as I want to be so pissed and blame you, I can’t . Well technically I can but I just don’t it to. But do you finally admit that you were the one who snitched about our location when we went to Ignito? It was because you told him that was why
TRIGGER WARNING!!!~ Peter’s POV ~For as long as I could remember, I have always felt worthless. There has always been this ringing in my ears, it was the sound of my own insignificance. A hunger ate at me, a desperate urge to be seen, to be valued, to be loved, to be needed. Because without that, what was I? Just a shadow, a ghost drifting through a world that didn’t seem to notice my very minute existence.Even as a kid, I understood, on some instinctive level, that my worth was a commodity, traded and bartered. I was held on to based on how much I was wanted. My mother… she was a rising star in her youth, a fascinating presence on the stage that captivated all that beheld her. Being young and beautiful, she had caught the eye of a wealthy man who already belonged to someone else. A powerful politician with a supposed happy family. She thought she had seen a chance, a way out of the shadows, a ticket to a life of comfort like she had always dreamed. They struck a deal, “Be my wom
"How the hell do you know he has a tattoo on in his hip crease?"He froze, and when he regained himself, he’s a stammering mess. "Uh..I ..I just... rubbish Logan. I’m just spewing rubbish.” He looks away from me.I scoffed, "Rubbish? You think I'm an idiot don’t you? It isn’t rubbish Peter, because as a matter of fact Alexander does have a tattoo there. A broken chain link like you just accurately said. You couldn't have just pulled that out of thin air." My eyes narrowed, focusing on the bead of sweat trickling down his temple. I have to corner him so he’d confess everything.He waved his hands in the air, a desperate attempt to brush me off. "Look, I got work to do. I’m heading back to my desk." He wanted to scurry off again to avoid confrontation."You take one step out of that door and you're fired," I snarled, my voice measured. I did that to scare him and I hope it worked. I need the tea and he must give it to me. He sucked in a harsh breath, "Stop asking Logan." He forced out.
“Really? That’s why you came here?” I asked, my voice laced with disbelief. “To talk to me about Alexander?”“It’s a serious matter Logan.” He pressed on like he was talking about saving the world or something. “He keeps calling you Baby Gan like you are some damn toddler,” he said visibly annoyed. “I feel like Alexander is going to cross a line one day. I can see it in his eyes.”Fuck. I wanted to scream, I wanted to seriously punch something. Preferably him. “Stop,” I hissed “Just… stop talking. And leave.”He gave me that look. Like I was the one being unreasonable. “You’re impossible,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. I felt like I was losing my mind. Matter of factly, I was.I gripped my hair tighter, a strangled sound escaping my throat. Frustration, pure and raw, bubbled up and overflowed from my mouth. I just… screamed. A short, sharp burst of pure rage. I was so mad at this point. At Gavin, at myself. Gavin just watched me vent, his expression unreadable.I glared
I hung the damp towel so it will dry before tomorrow morning. Water droplets from my hair traced a cold paths down my neck. I grabbed the hairdryer and switched it on as I began blow drying my hair. I had just showered and I was really exhausted. When I was done, I switched off the hairdryer, the sudden silence amplifying the thrumming headache that had taken root behind my eyes and at the back of my head. That damn lunch was a total and complete waste of time. The fact that three grown men could squabble like little kids was such an irony. Actually, Peter was just unbelievably quiet through out and only Alexander and Gavin acted like over grown babies.I had barely managed to choke down a few bites of my food, the whole damn thing tasting like stale regret. I had wanted to talk to Gavin, because we still had unresolved issues, and I also couldn’t talk to Alexander, to maybe figure out what the hell was going on between him and Peter because they had been ignoring the hell out of eac
I swear, my life has become some kind of twisted reality show, and I'm the unwilling star forced to play in it. Where are the cameras? I don’t want to be in this crazy rollercoaster anymore. Now it’s just the four of us, standing here in the parking lot with tension like electricity, like we are about to reenact some cowboy gun standoff, and I'm stuck in the middle, playing the goddamn tumbleweed just tossing about with the wind.Gavin and Alexander stared each other down and they were practically radiating heat, like two suns about to collide. If they do clash, it could burn down the whole earth. I don't even know what the hell they are fighting about. Or maybe I do. It's me, isn't it? Of course it is."Gavin," I finally manage, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears. "What are you doing here?"He snaps his head towards me, the intensity in his eyes making me want to flinch. "Logan I," he says, his voice breathy as his trying to make his tone soft. "I've been doing some thi
I narrowed my eyes. “You tell me.”He gave me that look, the one that screamed ‘you’re being ridiculous’ before he rolled his eyes. “How am I supposed to know what you two argued about?”“That’s not what I’m asking. I want to know what the hell is going on between you and him. You’ve both been acting… off.” There was definitely tension between the both of them and I needed to know. It’s not fun not knowing.Peter’s shoulders tightened. “I’m not acting weird. You’re the one who’s got a bee in your bonnet. Just drop it and tell me why you pissed off Alexander.” He gave that annoying look of his as if I’m the one pissing him off. He’s the one not telling me anything and he keeps complaining that I’m tight lipped when he’s worse off than me.I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Fine. If he wanted the story, he’d get it. “He came over last night, wanted to crash at my place like old times. That was no problem, right? Except I didn’t have any clothes that fit. So, I gave him… Gavin’s.”
“I thought so.” I looked away too, as I let my mind wander in the compressing silence of the car.Then he spoke up, his voice barely audible. “I’ll return the other shares Logan. But fifty percent stays with me. And this is non negotiable.”My blood spiked. How dare he? I turned, my gaze locking with his. “How much?” I asked, the words clipped and precise. “How much do you want for them?” I asked him outright.He didn’t flinch, as if he was expecting me to say this. “I’m not selling.” His eyes were as hard as rock and unyielding. “And you can’t afford it anyway. You are still rebuilding the company Logan. Remember?” he arched his brow. “Do you really think you can afford to take out such an amount when you are still struggling to put things in order?”The reminder was a big slap. He was right, and damn him too. But I wasn’t about to let him have the upper hand. I had to do something. Anything. And that’s when I had the idea. Was it foolish? Maybe. But I needed it to get me what I want
It was morning again. I usually got up early since I had to work, but honestly, I hated being an early bird. It was exhausting. I sometimes wish I could sleep in, but then Hartley Holdings will be drowning in debts. I dragged myself out of bed and straight to the bathroom. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and yep! I needed to shave. I did a clean shave before finally getting under the shower to let it’s wet droplets wash me clean for the day. After shower, I sorted out my clothes and placed them on the bed when I heard my ringtone. I picked up since it was Peter."Good morning boss, I’m almost at the house. I hope you are out of bed and ready," his voice chirped through the speaker, a little too bright for this ungodly hour.“Oh! So you can get here this early huh?” I teased him."Of course Mr Logan. I certainly wouldn't want to get a slash on my pay, would I?"I snorted. "You're making damn sure, aren't you?""Hey Logan, I was late once it’s just one time!" he protested with
"These are actually Gavin's... they should fit you." I said stupidly without reasoning, but as soon as my words got to my own ears I knew I had definitely fucked up. I saw the flicker of confusion which changed into a hard, angry stare in Alexander's eyes as his jaw stiffened. He moved his attention back to the shirt, the fabric bunching in his fist, and stared at them like they were contaminated with some sort of infection that could kill a whole nation. Then, his eyes snapped back to mine, a dark, accusing fire in them. "You gave me Gavin's clothes?" he asked, his voice terribly reduced like the undercurrent of a wave, waiting to pick up that fast current and wash you away.I didn’t say anything. I just stood there, cussing myself for my own stupidity. I should know things I should say and things I shouldn’t say at this point. But I keep slipping up.When he didn’t get a reply but the look on my face confirmed it, he sneered, and with a fling, he threw the clothes to the floor. Th