Page 112 of Counterpoint
Work was most certainly not amused with Adrian’s sudden celebrity status. But the building was secure and the front desk extra vigilant—one of the perks for working at a bank in New York City. He had suggested to Jackson that they not work out or take lunch, lest he be drawn into the fray.
Jackson waved a hand. “Adi, I am so unconcerned with this job and with those ‘reporters’ trying to dig into dirt on you.”
The first part of that made Adrian pause. “Did you—” He lowered his voice. “You got it?”
“Of course I fucking got it.” Jackson gave him a sly grin. “Just took a while for the paperwork to come through and for them to figure out my compensation. I’m turning in my notice as soon as I’m finished talking to you.”
Oh. A strange mix of elation and sadness rocketed though Adrian. Jackson was leaving. Off to a job that meant something.
Dominic was up in Chelsea, passionately recording his heart out and dodging the press, something he might not have had to do if Adrian hadn’t made him—less careful? More open?
Adrian caught Jackson frowning. Shit. Head in his own problems. “Hey, I’m really glad for you.”
Jackson leveled him a look. “You ain’t happy, Adrian.”
“I am for you. I’m just—” He shrugged. “There’s a lot on my mind.”
“Like your dude. And the people following him. And you.” Jackson sat against the edge of Adrian’s desk.
“Honestly, I think at this point Dominic’s more upset that I’m being drawn into the chaos that is his life than he is that he was found out. Part of him realized it would happen eventually. And when I figured it out, I think it gave him a mental heads-up that this was coming.”
“Transference,” Jackson said. “He tell you that you guys should break up yet?”
Adrian didn’t bother hiding his flinch. “Not in so many words.”
A chuckle from Jackson. “Let me guess—doesn’t want to screw up your life?”
Almost exactly the words used. “Pretty much.”
Jackson grunted. “Adi. I’m gonna go in and tell Russ I’m out of here in two weeks, which you can bet means I’m being escorted out right after they do an exit interview.” He stood and looked down at Adrian. “You know this office is gonna grind to a halt.”
“Yeah.”
“So what the fuck are you doing here when you should be talking to your man?”
The question hit Adrian hard. He hadn’t even considered heading over to the studio, not when he was being tailed. Not when Dominic was in a state of panic at the chaos. “I figured once things calmed down, we’d figure shit out.”
Jackson raised an eyebrow. “You’re not a fool, Adrian. You know better. He’s a rising star—a rock star. This is gonna be his life.”
And there was the truth. Adrian pushed away from his computer, his heart pounding. He wanted to be part of that life—part of Dominic’s world. Chaos or no. If he let go of Dominic, there’d be no more quiet moments in his library. No more waking up to that smile.
Jackson stood. “Stay for the fireworks, then get out of here and go do what I know you want to do.”
Adrian nodded, lips pressed tight, and watched Jackson exit and head down to Russ’s office. Because cube walls didn’t keep out anything, there was already murmuring around him. Whispered conversations, and this time it wasn’t about Adrian’s sex life with a rock star.
Domino. Dominic. Jackson was right. After the show, he needed to go to Dominic and argue that this shouldn’t end. That the fame, the annoyance of the notoriety, was nothing compared to the agony of losing Dominic. His passion, his beauty, and his love.
He knew his feelings were returned. Dominic loved him—wanted him. Just didn’t see a way to be together.
Adrian glanced around his cube, and thought of the email sitting in his personal account from Marcella Crane. Thought about the other from Ray Van Zeller.
Jackson was leaving this job. Maybe it was time for Adrian to, as well. There wasn’t anything at all holding him here, other than a paycheck.
He stood and wandered out into the hallway. Other people were popping up over their walls, peering toward the boss’s office. Five minutes later, it wasn’t Jackson, but William who marched down the hall. “You.” He pointed at Adrian. “You knew this was happening.”
“I knew he was interviewing, yes. That he’d found something that excited him in a way this place never did.” Adrian cocked his head and leveled a look at William. “There’s more to life than just a paycheck.” He didn’t honestly know whether he was talking to William—or to himself.
William shook his head. “It’s only going to mean more work for you.”
