Page 16 of Unmasking You

“Who’s the client? I’m sure we can afford to lose them.”

“Of course we can. With your genius, we’re set for life. However, this company is doing a lot for the LGBTQ+ community, and I thought you’d be interested in working with them.”

Ah, damn. Alexi said the magic words. The words that’ll convince me to do basically anything.

I’ve got it marked inside my body, what being an outsider means, even before I knew I was gay. After that, though, my life became a living hell. At that moment, I promised myself that once I had money, I would do everything in my power to prevent other kids from feeling as I did—judged, hunted, and rejected.

“When is the meeting?”

“Thursday, at seven p.m.”

“Seven p.m.? That’s late for an office meeting.”

“The customer wants to have dinner with us. He wants to discuss the project in fine detail with the person who’ll be working on it. He’s busy during the day, and then he’s travelling, so he won’t be available until the end of March. Problem is, he wants the project to be well under way before that time.”

“I really don’t want to have dinner with them. Can’t we change it to a normal meeting? During regular working hours? It’ll be faster, and I can be out of there as soon as we’re done.”

“Jamie.”

Uh-oh. I’m in trouble. But I’m fed up with rich people, and a very rich one appears in my mind.

For crying out loud.

I need to stop thinking about Shane, and I need to stop my body from reacting to the mere thought of him.

“You need to go out more, and while I understand you don’t want to spend time with rich people…”

I zone out, following my thoughts once again. Alexi knows me too well, and he knows why I hate rich people. I wish it was only Shane, then I could have survived, but it was more than him. So many more…

My pulse quickens at the thought of what I lived through. I jump backwards, nearly falling out of the chair, when a hand lands on me.

I’m not usually this bad. I can hide it better. But my last nightmare has left my nerves exposed, like a fuse ready to blow, and so close to the surface my skin is buzzing. My body hurts as though I never left that nightmare.

My recurring encounters with Shane are not helping either, as they’ve left me unstable, like I’m walking on broken glass.

I need to call my doctor, but it’s like admitting defeat at the very first obstacle life places in front of me.

Shouldn’t I try to deal with these emotions and Shane without having to go back to square one?

“Fuck, man. I’m sorry,” Alexi says while taking a step back. His face is as white as I believe mine is.

It’s fucking upsetting that the only touch my body didn’t reject was from the man who made my life hell when he touched me out of nowhere.

“Jamie, I’m s—“

“No, I am,” I placate him, trying to take a couple of breaths to calm my heart. “Never apologise for this. I was just lost in thought.” I extend my hand, and I’m glad it’s not trembling. I smile when he takes it and squeezes.

“You’re spending way too much time indoors. Come out with me tonight. It’s Friday, and you don’t have any life-or-death matters to resolve.”

“Hmm. I’m not sure.” A polite way to say no.

“I bet your laptop is dreaming of a night’s rest.”

I smile gently, but it’s clear he’s doing everything in his power to return to the casual conversation we were having before. If I say no, it’ll be like I’m punishing him for touching me.

I make a promise to myself not to allow Shane to win anymore. Not to allow them to control my life any longer. Tolive, despite everything.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

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