Page 58 of Rogue Royal
Mav had followed Douglas to Windsor, and they’d convened in Douglas’s room after Mav had stopped to grab what he needed from his own room. Douglas’s schedule had been packed with appointments, but Douglas hadn’t complained about it. Mav had been worried he was uneasy about the previous day’s activities, but when Mav had asked, he’d been upbeat and seemingly content.
They had slept in each other’s arms again last night at Douglas’s apartment this time. Mav knew they were taking tremendous risks of being found out, but he couldn’t find it in him to care.
Douglas had found out the guy who’d hurt the subs had been arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm, but they had given no other information to him despite his royal status.
As he wandered the corridors of the castle back to his room, Mav decided to ring his father and try to slip into the conversation about taking early retirement. If he could get his father away from Bert’s brother, then Bert would have nothing to hold over his head, and Mav could get a clean break. He knew he’d lose his position as Douglas’s social media manager, but he needed to get away from his boss. He couldn’t take much more.
He made himself a cup of tea and settled on the chair near the window, enjoying the sunshine seeping in and warming him.
“Hey, Dad. How are you doing?”
“I’m good, thanks. How’s life treating you? Did you get yourself sorted out since our last conversation?” His dad laughed, the sound taking Mav back to his childhood.
“Life is…interesting. Let’s put it that way.” He smirked and shook his head as he remembered everything that had happened since he’d last seen his dad.
“Life should be interesting. What’s the point if it’s not?”
“True. How’s work?”
“Ah, same as always. Jimmy has announced his retirement, lucky bastard.”
If that wasn’t a segue into Mav’s chosen subject, nothing was. “You could take early retirement, you know. You only have a couple of years left.” He waited for the answer, though he had a feeling he knew what his dad would say.
“Nah, what would I do with myself if I didn’t work? I’d be bored to tears staying at home all day.”
Mav chuckled, though his heart broke. “You’d find plenty to do. Don’t kid a kidder, Dad. You always find things to do, especially if you shouldn’t do them.”
His dad guffawed. “You wouldn’t want me any other way.”
“You got that right.” He inhaled and pushed away his plans for his father’s early retirement with a heavy heart. “Have you been climbing ladders again, Dad?”
“Not since yesterday.” He gave a hearty laugh. “You worry too much, Mav. Tell me about your young man.”
“He’s not my young man! Jeez, Dad.”
“Whatever you want to call him. How are things going?”
Mav rubbed his eyes, allowing the sun to heat him further. “Things are good. There have been a few hiccups, but we got over them. It’s not… We’re short-term, but we’re taking what we can get.”
“No matter how long you’re together, you’re living. That’s the main thing. Don’t let anyone tell you any different.”
Mav’s phone beeped. He pulled it from his ear to see Bert ringing. Rolling his eyes, he told his dad he needed to take the call, but he’d ring or see him later.
“Good morning, Bert.”
“What have you been doing, Maverick? I’m hearing mixed responses about some things you are doing over there. Do I need to replace you with someone else?”
Mav gritted his teeth and put the phone on speaker as he strode to his desk. Opening his laptop, he logged on while Bert rambled on about Mav’s apparent transgressions. He was used to the recap and only listened with one ear until he heard, “—your shitty work ethic and making my life harder than it needs to be.”
“Wait, what?”
“Were you listening?”
“Yes, but I don’t have a shitty work ethic.”
Bert snickered. “Really? I’m sure I’m not the only one who can attest that you create more problems than you solve.”
Mav’s door opened, and Douglas stood there, face red, eyes stormy. Mav was aware Bert was singing Mav’s praises—not—and had no knowledge that every word was being heard by someone who could take him apart in one phone call.
