Page 11 of Corporate Bondage

Chapter Five

(Gio)

I called myself every name I knew to describe a fool as I drove to Tate’s estate two days later. The night he had rejected me, I had all but decided I would let go the idea of us ever becoming a couple. By yesterday, I had returned to my old habit of obsessing over him. Maybe he just needed a few days to think about it. I had sprung everything on him out of the blue. It would take some getting used to for him to accept how I felt about him.

In the first place, I never expected winning Tate over would be easy, so why should I give up already? I knew it was ironic that I wanted him so badly. I didn’t imagine he was a bottom. Seeing him with Bryan, I knew for certain he wasn’t bottoming for the guy. I figured Tate was just the person for me to change my exclusivity in being a top to being more versatile. We could take turns, and I would be fine with that. Tate was worth it. He had to be worth it. He was the closest person to me.

He had been there for me throughout college. He had been my sounding board after when I decided I couldn't work for my father. It was with Tate’s support that I’d found the courage to face my father and informed him that his casino wasn't the place I wanted to work. He had been disappointed but my brother Nic had things handled so my father was appeased. My father, Piero Arcuri had even agreed to be a silent business partner for the restaurant.

I slowed the car down at the automatic gate leading to Tate’s estate and punched in the code. I frowned when I received an error alert. I punched in the code another time before I was forced to swallow the truth. Tate had changed the code. Bitterness blossomed in me, and I almost turned the car around and drive away. That mess he had up there living with him must have convinced him to change it. That Tate had listened to him hurt like hell. Before that tramp, our relationship had been fine. Even when we had just been friends, I had been able to come and go as I pleased. He hadn’t kept me out when Rachel and Kathleen were alive, so what was so special about this guy?

I needed to get rid of Bryan. I had to. That guy wasn’t only ruining our chance at a relationship but also our friendship. If he really loved Tate, he wouldn’t be trying to cut someone out of his life who genuinely cared for him. Keith’s offer started to sound pretty good. What was a blowjob if it got me my heart’s desire? It was a tiny sacrifice to pay for my happiness. If I lost Tate, there would be no one else in my life.

Instead of driving away, I decided to stand my ground. That was exactly what Bryan would want, for me to disappear from Keith’s life altogether, but it wasn’t going to happen. I’d been by Tate’s side for almost ten years, and that time was going to count. I would make it count. I punched the intercom to connect to the house.

“Tate, it’s me. Can I come up?”

“Gio?” Tate sounded as miserable as I thought he would. It was never easy for him on this day. I didn’t give a damn if he had Bryan now or if he had rejected me. I wouldn’t allow him to go through the anniversary of his wife and child’s death without ensuring he was fine. That had nothing to do with me wanting to be the man in his life either. That was simply because of the friendship we had.

“Yeah, Tate. It’s me.”

He went silent and I thought he was gone when he answered, “Okay. Come on in.”

The gates opened, and I sighed, driving up the long driveway to the house. I had fallen in love with everything about this estate the instant I had seen it. To be honest, it wasn’t exactly Tate’s taste, but I hadn’t been able to resist. I had bought it for him, believing against the odds that one day we would be together. It had always been my plan to confess my feelings for him once he returned to the city. I never anticipated he would return with another man.

Tate was waiting for me at the door. I parked the car and ran my eyes over him. His eyes were dark, haunted by the guilt he still felt about the role he thought he played in the death of Rachel and little Kathleen. I still remembered his grief when I’d rushed over to the hospital with him. It was the second day I had seen him cry. The first time had been at Kathleen’s birth. That was nothing compared to how devastated he had been when he said goodbye to them. I’d held him as he sobbed, tears silently streaming down my face.

Seeing him now, looking so dejected and torn, reminded me of that day. I opened my arms to him, begging him silently to give me this opportunity to comfort him.

“I’m just here as a friend,” I told him, hating that I had to announce my purpose.

He caved in and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me back. I held him. This time he didn’t cry, but his body shuddered. I closed my eyes, feeling overwhelmed by my need to take his pain away. This was the way it was supposed to be between us. No Bryan in the middle. No one else. Just us.

“It’s going to be fine,” I told him, releasing him. “Do you want me to get us a drink?”

“Yeah, thanks. Thanks for coming.”

“Why wouldn’t I come?” I asked, leading the way to the kitchen. “Nothing’s changed, Tate. You’re still the best friend I’ve had for the past nine years. That won’t change.”

He sat at the island, and I poured us both a drink, handing him a glass. I stood to the opposite side and watched him.

“I’m sorry you have to go through this every year,” I told him. “It sucks just as much as the day it happened, I bet.”

He downed half of the content in his glass. “It’s the part I played in it, you know. It would have been easier if I didn’t feel so damn guilty that I caused it.”

“Hey, you only told her the truth. You couldn’t control her reaction. Rachel was impulsive. If you’re being honest with yourself, you’ll admit, she’s always been impulsive, acting first then thinking.”

“God, Gio, don’t talk about her that way.”

“Sorry.” Only I wasn’t. Because of my close friendship with Tate, I’d had a good relationship with Rachel as well. Kathleen had grown up calling me Uncle Tio until she got the ‘G’ right. It wasn’t the day to tell Tate this, so I didn’t, but Rachel hadn’t been right for him. Even when I thought he was as straight as an arrow, I still hadn’t thought she was the right partner. They just always felt off.

“I’m going to the cemetery,” he stated, finishing his drink and getting to his feet. “Bryan’s supposed to meet me there, but he left me a message that he didn’t get relieved from his shift.”

“I’ll go with you,” I volunteered.

“Nah, you don’t have to,” he remarked. “Plus, he said he would head over there as soon as he’s relieved.”

I wouldn’t take no for an answer. If Bryan fucked up on this important day, here was my opportunity to show Tate who really had his best interest at heart. I always had his back, and he shouldn’t take this for granted. How could he choose that disloyal piece of shit over me?

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