Page 31 of Corporate Bondage

Chapter Thirteen

(Keith)

I was humming. It was unbelievable that while I dressed for the charity function, I was humming, and a love song of all things. As soon as Gio had left my office earlier today, I had called my therapist just for the assurance I was doing the right thing. She had disapproved of Gio demanding that I fire Carlo, but it was already done. Carlo had been relieved to leave which had made it easier. It was a clean break for the both of us.

The intercom buzzed as I shrugged on my jacket. It was the security advising me I had a visitor.

“Who is it?” I asked Barry.

“Said his name is Tony, sir.”

“I don’t know any damn, Tony.” The instant I said the words I remembered. That waiter from the strip club I had brought home with me had said his name was Tony. What the hell was he doing here? I never expected to see hide nor hair of that fellow again.

“He’s in the clear, Barry. Send him up.”

I checked my watch when the knock sounded on my door. Whatever Tony wanted, I hoped it wouldn’t require much of my time. I had to pick up Gio, and I didn’t want to show up late. Our relationship, if it could be called that was perched atop a very steep cliff and could blow in any direction. I didn’t want to blow it before it barely started.

I opened the door to the waiter who entered, limping, his face full of bruises. One of his eyes was swollen, and his shirt was torn.

“What the hell happened to you kid?” I asked, pushing him toward a chair to sit. “You look like a tornado spat you out.”

“I was in the neighborhood?” He grimaced and let out a moan.

“Don’t lie to me kid. What happened?”

“Can I get some water, please?”

I got down on one knee in my suit, fucking it up for this kid, and it pissed me off. If I weren’t trying to be a better man so I didn’t end up losing Gio I would have wheeled him out on his ear the moment he walked across the threshold.

“Listen, kid, I’ve my first date with a really special guy,” I told him. “You don’t want to mess that up or it’ll be your ass nailed to my bed every night. I’ve seen both your asses and his looks much better, but I’ll make do with yours if you fuck this up for me. Now for the last time tell me what the hell happened to you and what you’re doing here.”

He swallowed hard. “My boyfriend stole the money you gave me and kicked me out,” he answered, rubbing at his temples. “I’ve been trying to get by on my own but it’s hard, so I-I went home with a bloke I thought would be really generous after the night. He wasn’t. He got violent and started beating the shit out of me, so I got out of there. I didn’t know where else to go. I thought he was going to kill me.”

I felt like I was asphyxiating at his words. I climbed to my feet and stalked to the kitchen, his sobs at my back. I placed my elbows on the countertop and closed my eyes tight, trying to block out the memories that threatened to return. No, no, not tonight. I couldn’t deal with this tonight.

It took several minutes and some practiced deep breathing, but I finally regained my composure. I drank a bottle of water before grabbing another and brought it to him. I couldn’t just send him away after that, but I couldn’t stay with him either. Gio was expecting me.

I gave him some money just like the last time. In the spare room, I found a pair of jeans and a shirt that had belonged to Bryan and handed them to him.

“Take a bath, some ibuprofen in the medicine cabinet, take a breather if you need to then find yourself somewhere to stay for the night. I’ve somewhere to be so I can’t stay.” I gripped his chin hard. “So help me God if I return home to find anything missing.”

“I’m not a thief,” he argued.

“For your sake, I hope not.” I walked to the door, car keys and my phone in hand. “The door will lock once you pull it up from the outside. Tomorrow at noon, come back here, and we’ll talk about what you need to do to get back on your feet.”

I drove quickly, following the directions Gio had given me to get to his house. Thankfully traffic was light, and I arrived at his home just five minutes late. I parked and hopped out of the vehicle, almost tripping up the steps of his porch in my haste. For that reason, when he opened the door I was still scowling at almost falling down the steps.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, peering over my shoulders.

“No, not at all, just an unexpected hiccup. Sorry I’m late.”

“Don’t sweat it. These things almost never start on time.”

I surveyed him from the tips of his shiny shoes to his glossy curly locks. He looked good enough for me to almost suggest we skipped the event. “You look great.”

“That’s a given.”

Cocky bastard. “Are you ready to go?”

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