Page 71 of Havoc
“Shouldn’t you have asked me that when you told me you were coming over?” Remy teased.
“Just say you don’t want it. You don’t have to be an asshole,” Lawrence shot back, doing an about-face and leaving the living room.
“Woah, hey,” Remy stated, getting up, brow furrowed as he followed him into the kitchen. “I was joking. What’s wrong?”
Lawrence didn’t respond, pulling a plate from the cabinet. Remy watched him momentarily, and when it was clear he wouldn’t get an answer, he placed a hand on Lawrence’s waist, only for the other man to move away from him.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Still, he didn’t receive an answer.
When Lawrence went to pass him with his newly made plate, Remy took it from him and sat it on the counter. With a frustrated groan, Lawrence exited the kitchen towards the hall.
“Stop,” Remy stated, his voice leaving no room for argument. “Come here. We’re not doing whatever this is.”
Lawrence paused for a minute before his shoulders sagged, and he returned to Remy, standing in front of him. He gripped the younger man’s chin, making him look him in the eyes. He wouldn’t ask him again; his boyfriend seemed to sense that because he sighed.
“I was helping my co-workers and team members all day with meetings because, for some reason, most of them decided to fuck around until the last couple of months.”
Remy was aware of that; Lawrence had previously told him about it and how their raises and bonuses were calculated by performance and contracts. However, he knew there had to be more that caused Lawrence to be upset. He knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t act like this because of something going on with someone else.
“The last meeting I helped with today was a client I had on my books for next year to start the year off on a high note. My fucking co-worker tried to poach them by telling them that I wanted them to come in and sign before the year was up. It was the only reason they wanted my help because my name was already listed as theirpoint of contact. They tried to use all of my hard work to help them get a contract signed at the end of the year and slap their name on it along with mine.”
Remy had long ago stopped believing that people you worked with wouldn’t try to get over on you or use you at every turn if they thought they could. The fact that Lawrence was so willing to help meant that he would always be on someone’s radar, but for the other person to think he would allow them to take a client he’d worked with and establish a rapport with was almost unbelievable.
“I apologized to my client for the mix-up and told them I’d see them at our previously scheduled meeting when the new year came if they still wanted to do business with me. Luckily, they were fine with that because it could have cost me a contract that had the potential to be almost as substantial as my largest one.” He took a deep breath. “When the client was gone, my co-worker and I had words, and I tried to rise above and be the bigger person because I hold a higher position, but then he put his finger in my face, and I snapped. I probably shouldn’t have, but I cursed him out six ways from Sunday. It got loud, and when our boss came in, that jackass tried to blame the whole thing on me. I saw red, and I walked out.”
“So you came to take it out on me instead?” Remy asked with a raised brow.
“I…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, you shouldn’t have, but it sounds like you had a stressful day. Next time, talk to me.”
“I did, and I will. I got a call on the way here that I have a meeting with my boss and human resources tomorrow, and I guess it wound me up again because I thought I’d at least calmed down a little.” He groaned. “They’re probably going to write me up. They might even fire me.”
“You did walk out, baby.” Remy pulled him into his arms. “You want me to buy it for you?”
“Yes,” Lawrence responded.
“Done.”
“No, Remy. I was kidding.”
“I wasn’t.” He leaned down and kissed him. “Say the word, and it’s yours.”
Lawrence kissed him again. “I’ll think about it. Let’s eat, and then I’ll apologize properly for taking my frustration out on you.”
Remy nodded, releasing him and making a plate. He’d tell Lawrence about the auction after he’d helped him work out the day's frustration.
28
Thank you,” Remy said, taking his drink from the bartender. He turned his attention to the large ballroom.
The Christmas party was in full effect, and everyone was having fun. There was food and drinks, a talent show had been held, and people took turns stepping onto the raised dias and partaking in karaoke. It was amusing.
Several people who’d participated in the talent show had Remy wondering if the talent was in the room with them, and some now singing karaoke were obviously tipsy. He couldn’t help but shake his head as a slurred, off-key, and offbeat rendition of “When Dove’s Cry” ended, and soft music began to play. He knew if nothing else had ever made someone roll over in their grave, that had done the trick. The DJ must have thought so since they were taking a break from amateur performances.
“I’ve never heard anyone so tone-deaf in my life.”
Remy glanced over at the newcomer to find Henry standing there. It was the first time they’d seen each other at the celebration. Or, at least, it was the first time Remy saw him.
