Page 70 of Havoc
Lawrence spoke to his mother for a few more minutes, confirming the time her flight was supposed to land on Saturday morning so he could pick her up. Remy’s parents were flying in Saturday afternoon, and he still needed to wrap everyone’s gifts since they were doing Christmas at Remy’s condo. His apartment wasn’t small, but his boyfriend’s would be more spacious.
Sitting there, he contemplated emailing his co-workers and letting them know he couldn’t attend the meeting. He felt like dipping out early since he had a few errands. Cayman Industries was having its Christmas party that Friday evening, and he needed to pick up a new tie for the suit he wanted to wear. He couldn’t find the one he liked to wear with it and figured it might have gotten lost or left the last time he took it to the cleaners.
His internal debate went on for several minutes before he decided to suck it up and go to the meeting. He had already said he would and knew that if things went well, the deal could close that day, and it was one more he’d have his name on for helping at the last minute. He could look for a tie afterward and visit his boyfriend since he hadn’t seen him in a few days.
Remy sat at his desk, checking to ensure the packages he was waiting for were out for delivery. They were presents for Chloe and her son, and he wanted them to have them before the officeclosed for the holidays. While the entire company received Christmas bonuses based on performance, he also got Chloe something to show how much he appreciated her work throughout the year. He’d wrap them when he got home and bring them to her tomorrow.
He didn’t have any more outside meetings for the year, and aside from the final in-house meeting, the department heads would have tomorrow morning to ensure they were all on the same page for the list of products, collaborations, and mergers that were to take place once they returned after the new year. He was finished with work until then. Remy was only there now in case there was an emergency. After tomorrow’s meeting, he was calling it a year. He knew Kieran would work until Friday, though in his opinion, there was nothing to do. Remy would not be doing so.
A knock on his open door pulled his attention, and he found Alijah standing there.
“Hey, come in,” he said, leaning back in his chair.
“Hey. This isn’t a bad time, is it? Chloe said I could come in.”
“As you can see, I’m swamped,” he joked, but he knew why she was asking.
Being married to Kieran meant that people at the company jumped through hoops to appease her the way they did him. They’d see her, even if they were busy, and stop what they were doing to take care of whatever she needed.
“You’re coming to the Christmas party this year, right?”
“I am.” The first year she’d worked there, he’d still been in China over the holidays, and he’d gone to see his parents last year. “I’m bringing Lawrence with me.”
Alijah smiled at him. “I’m sure he’ll have fun, and Henry from legal will stop throwing sly looks and passing flirting comments at you once he sees you together.”
Remy chuckled. “We’ll see because telling him I was in a relationship didn’t seem to work.” He’d seen Henry once since he’d come to his office, and the other man had still given him the same energy, fluttered his lashes, and made some comment about how nice he looked that day.
“I don’t think he believed you, but I’m sure he will after the party. That isn’t why I came in here. Chayse wanted me to ask ifyou’d be interested in participating in a Valentine’s Day auction for charity.”
He tilted his head. “The one that Gorgeous has put on the past few years? Don’t they normally auction off women?”
“Yes, and yes, but they’re changing it up next year. I think it has something to do with a few women making a fuss about women being treated like livestock. In Gale’s words, she’s an equal opportunity cattle rancher.” They shared a laugh at the joke.
“I see, and she wants me to be a part of it, even though I’m not single.”
Alijah nodded. “Kieran and Nik are participating. I don’t know about Paetyn and Cruz.”
Remy wasn’t too surprised that Kieran was participating. It usually didn’t take much convincing from Alijah to get him to do most things.
“I don’t see you letting anyone outbid you for Kieran or Chayse for Nik. So, why not just write a check.”
“The auction has become a fun back-and-forth banter. It’s entertainment.”
“When do they need to know?”
“By January third,” Alijah responded.
“Mm.” Remy rubbed the beard of his goatee. “Let me see how Lawrence feels about it, and I'll let you know.”
“Works for me,” she responded, standing. “I’ll see you at the meeting tomorrow. Have a good evening.”
“You too.”
He turned his attention to his computer screen once alone. It was a little after three, and he decided to review the agenda Chloe sent him for tomorrow's meeting. He’d planned on doing it in the morning but wanted something to help the rest of the day go by.
Remy was lying on his couch later that evening when his front door opened. He didn’t bother to get up because he knew it was Lawrence. His boyfriend had texted him half an hour ago and told him he was coming over, so he’d left the door unlocked for him and accepted the request from his app to come up to the floor a couple of minutes ago.
“I brought food,” Lawrence stated as he entered the living room. “You haven’t eaten already, have you?”
