Hired, page 20
Sebastian put one hand against the window, his chest heaving. “If those panties turn out to be ruined, I’ll buy you new ones. In fact, I will gladly sponsor your lingerie from now on because it’s the single hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life, especially combined with that glorious ass of yours.”
Hadley burst out laughing as he wiped the cum from his face. As compliments went, that was the raunchiest, most sincere, and also the most flattering praise he’d ever been given by a man. “Thank you. I’ll happily take you up on that offer.”
He wasn’t too proud to accept gifts from Sebastian, not when the man had more money than he could spend and was offering it himself. Fuck knew how long this thing between them would last, but if Hadley got some nice underwear out of it, it would be worth it. He ignored the fierce stab in his heart at the thought that someday this would end. It had to. They had nothing in common, and besides, neither of them was even looking for a relationship. No, it wouldn’t last, but that was okay. He’d have fantastic memories of spectacular good sex, and that was worth a lot too, right?
“Wanna grab a shower together?” Sebastian asked, pulling Hadley out of his thoughts.
Together? Wasn’t that a bit too intimate? But then he caught himself. They’d just shared a spectacular sexual encounter, and jacking off together was more intimate than a shower. Besides, he’d been crystal clear about his intentions, about the rules, and so had Sebastian. No, he had nothing to fear. “Sure.”
Sebastian helped him up and held his hand as they walked into the bathroom together. “This bathroom is exhibit A that money doesn’t necessarily mean taste.” Sebastian let go of Hadley’s hand, stepped into the glass shower, and turned on the water. “It must've cost a fortune, but it’s ugly as sin.”
“I know, right? That was my first thought too.”
Sebastian tested the water, adjusted the temperature, then stepped under the water beams and gestured Hadley to follow him. He grabbed two towels and two washcloths and put them within reach, then joined Sebastian.
“In fact”—Sebastian closed his eyes and leaned back, the water streaming down his hair and back—“I would argue there’s a statistically significant correlation between wealth and lack of taste. Most rich people have this weird fascination with antique furniture, but they combine it in a way that hurts my eyes.”
Hadley grinned. “Your style is much more modern.”
He bumped against Sebastian, who laughed as Hadley pushed him aside and claimed the hot water for himself. Oh man, that shower was amazing. His apartment always had issues with the water pressure, so showering was more like trying to catch a decent enough water spray to rinse his hair.
Sebastian grabbed some shampoo and worked it into his hair. “I’m too fond of comfort to be a minimalist, but I would describe my style as the more expensive version of Ikea.”
He wasn’t wrong, but that was a funny description, especially because Hadley was a huge Ikea fan. Their stuff was decent in quality, modern, practical, and affordable, so what was not to like? Maybe that was why he’d loved Sebastian’s house so much, not only the actual house and the views but also the warm and homey furniture and decorations.
Sebastian shoved him aside playfully and rinsed out his hair, and Hadley took the opportunity to wash his own. See, this wasn’t too intimate at all. They were having fun, chatting and joking around. Nothing to be worried about. They got clean, rinsed off, then got out of the shower and dried off companionably.
“I’m glad to see you so relaxed,” Hadley said as they got dressed again, though in sweats and T-shirts. They’d already decided to order room service, neither of them in the mood to go somewhere for dinner.
Sebastian stopped for a moment, frowning. “I am, aren’t I?”
“Relaxed? Yes. This is the most relaxed I’ve seen you so far.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Sebastian looked thoughtful. “I haven’t had this much fun in ages.”
Hadley’s heart hurt at that statement.
Sebastian straightened himself, his gorgeous eyes meeting Hadley’s. “So thank you.”
As always when he said those words, Hadley’s belly tickled. “Why are you thanking me?”
“Because you’re the reason I’m this relaxed and having this much fun.”
He sounded way too serious, and Hadley shifted his feet. “I’m not sure what I have to do with it.”
Sebastian quirked an eyebrow. “Excuse me, but didn’t we just have the same experience with you in those deliciously sexy panties?”
Oh, right. He meant that. Why did that realization fill him with both relief and a strange sadness? “In that case, you’re welcome.”
Since neither of them was super hungry after the snacks and meals they’d had on the plane, they ordered a cheese and charcuterie board, or, as the menu described it, a selection of artisanal cheeses and cured meats. Hadley didn’t even want to know how much it cost, but it sure as fuck was good food. And so was the cheesecake Sebastian had ordered for him, stating that he couldn’t leave without eating New York–style cheesecake. He wisely skipped it himself, though he didn’t seem to have any issues with his stomach anymore.
They watched some TV, a rerun of Pretty Woman, Hadley curled up in a chair, knitting, while Sebastian lay stretched out on the couch, browsing through his phone. “The sound of your knitting is almost hypnotic,” Sebastian said and yawned as if to prove his point.
“It’s so relaxing. I started knitting a few years ago when I stumbled across this guy on YouTube who made amazing creations, and I figured I’d give it a shot. It seemed like an affordable hobby and one I could do from home. Well, the latter was correct, but the first part has been a struggle, what with how addicting buying yarn turned out to be.”
“Buying yarn is addictive?”
Hadley chuckled. “You have no idea. Lagan has forbidden me from buying any more yarn because we don’t have the storage for it.”
“If your apartment is that small, I can imagine it’s a problem. But feel free to store some at my house. You know I have more than enough space.”
Hadley’s insides fluttered at that casual offer. “You’re a total enabler.”
Sebastian shrugged, but he was smiling. “I aim to please.”
He had changed. Hadley studied him as Sebastian turned his attention back to his phone, while on the TV, Vivian was giving her good-bye speech to her friend Kit. Hadley couldn’t have imagined Sebastian would be like this, so kind and almost sweet. Who would have thought? It made Sebastian much more endearing than Hadley had counted on, and those warning bells he’d heard earlier were going off again. He was playing with fire, and he’d damn well better make sure he wouldn’t get burned.
22
The meeting had gone even better than Sebastian had hoped. Marcy, the CEO of the Finnigan Group, had agreed to run a trial with LeClerc products in ten hotels, and they would evaluate in two months. She’d been enthusiastic when Sebastian had shown her the data on the performance of their robotics vacuum, the low maintenance cost, and the much lower environmental impact compared to traditional vacuum cleaners.
“That went well, right?” Hadley asked as they’d left the building and stepped outside.
Flurries were drifting down from the gray sky, already causing that yucky mush on the sidewalks. Sebastian liked New York better when there was no snow. “I thought so too. She seemed impressed, right?”
He trusted Hadley’s ability to correctly read emotions much more than his own. Wouldn’t be the first time he’d been wrong.
“She did. If the trial goes as expected, you’ll score a major contract. You were good in there.”
The praise bloomed warm in his chest. “Thank you. It may sound crazy, but I don’t mind the sales part of my job, probably because I stand behind the quality of our products. I don’t feel like I have to convince people to buy it for the wrong reasons.”
“I can see that. You impressed her with your knowledge about the vacuums and mops as well.”
Sebastian grinned. “That’s easy when they were both my idea to begin with.”
“I figured as much.”
Hadley shivered in his coat, and without thinking about it, Sebastian wrapped his arm around him and pulled him close. “It’s chilly, huh?”
Hadley stiffened. Sebastian had noticed that seemed to be his usual reaction, always freezing for a moment before relaxing again. As if he had to remind himself he was safe. He’d done the same thing the night before when they’d gone to bed. After they’d crawled under the comforter, Sebastian had turned toward him, and it had taken Hadley a few beats to become comfortable. It happened now too. Hadley exhaled while snuggling close to Sebastian. “It is. I underestimated the weather here this time of year.”
“How about we find a nice restaurant and have a nice meal together?”
Hadley snorted. “That sounds nice. As long as it’s indeed a nice restaurant, and the meal is nice.”
Sebastian chuckled. He’d asked for that one. “Whatever. What are you in the mood for? Sushi, Thai, Chinese, steak, something super fancy French? This city has every cuisine you can imagine.”
“I’m not the kind of person who appreciates high cuisine. If it has Michelin stars, I’m out. I’d be so nervous I’d fuck up that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. Besides, I always feel they charge crazy amounts of money, and is it really worth it?”
“I can’t say I have a lot of experience, as I’m a simple guy when it comes to food myself, but I’ve dined in Michelin-starred restaurants. Some of them were meh, but I’ve also eaten in a few that were worth every penny. But I do agree it always brings pressure and a level of formality I’m not often in the mood for.”
“Okay, so no French. That still leaves a lot. What would you like?”
Sebastian shook his head. “Nope, I asked you first.”
“What are we, back in high school?”
“No, but I want to treat you, take you out to something you’ll love, so you get to pick.”
Hadley stopped him, his eyes serious as he met Sebastian’s. “Take me out? As in a date?”
“Yes. I mean, no. Like a business dinner, something to celebrate our hard work. Isn’t that what people do?”
Hadley searched his eyes, then slowly nodded. “Okay.”
“Would it be so horrible if I had intended it as a date?” He wasn’t sure why, but Hadley’s words had hurt him, almost like a rejection.
They were standing in the middle of the sidewalk, people slaloming around them as they hurried to wherever it was New Yorkers hurried to. Sebastian didn’t care. This conversation was too important to interrupt.
Hadley’s face softened as if he sensed Sebastian’s emotions. “Horrible? No. But I want to be honest with you. I’m not looking for anything more than something casual.”
“Neither am I, but are you saying we can’t hang out together outside of work? That it’s sex only? I’m not saying no to that, don’t get me wrong, but let’s define the boundaries and rules here.”
Hadley frowned. “I’m… I didn’t say we couldn’t hang out. All I wanted was to clarify we’re not dating.”
“Okay, so I can take you out to dinner as long as I don’t call it a date?”
Hadley’s frown intensified. “No? I guess so? I’m only managing expectations.”
“Consider them managed. Now, where would you like to go for dinner?”
Hadley blinked, then took a deep breath. “Steak? I love a good steak, and it’s not something I often have the money for.”
“Steak it is. I know the perfect place.”
He hailed a cab, then held the door open for Hadley as it stopped. “Keens Steakhouse,” he said to the driver. “You know where that is?”
“Yes, yes. Close to Empire State Building.”
“That’s the one. Thank you.”
It was a bit of a drive from the financial district, where they’d had the meeting, but at least they were warm and dry in the taxi. Hadley kept looking outside, craning his head to see everything. It was a shame the weather wasn’t cooperating. Sebastian would’ve loved to show Hadley a bit more of the city. Not that he was an expert, but he’d visited enough times to know some cool, off-the-beaten-track spots. Maybe another time, like in the spring. Or the fall. Central Park would be gorgeous in the fall with the changing of the leaves.
By the time they arrived at the restaurant, the flurries had become real snowflakes, and Sebastian was even more glad they’d gone out for dinner. The restaurant was warm, and the smells were mouth-watering. They were seated at a cozy, private table in the back, and Sebastian ordered sparkling water for himself and, after checking with Hadley, red wine for Hadley.
They chatted for a bit, pausing when their drinks were served, and then Hadley asked, “Please tell me if you don’t want to talk about this, but how do you feel now about being CEO? Have you given more thought to how you want to continue?”
Sebastian leaned back in his chair and took a sip of his water. “I keep going back and forth. Rationally, the choice should be clear and easy. I’m not cut out for this. But emotionally, it’s hard to let go.”
“I can imagine. Your father intended for you to take over, and not only do you co-own the company, but it also has your name. That’s a lot of emotional weight.”
“It is. There’s also the aspect of not knowing someone who could take over, so it would mean starting a formal process and ending up with a complete stranger. How would I ever know if they had the company’s best interests at heart?”
Hadley pursed his lips. “True, but you guys would still own the company, correct? I’m sure you could set up a structure where, even though someone else is CEO, you could limit their power and even still fire them if necessary.”
“I’m sure we could, but it’s still a lot of trust to put in someone, especially with the potential growth the company could realize in the next few years.” He sighed as he rubbed his right temple. “And there comes the guilt again, the feeling that I shouldn’t walk away from this, that I should want to claim the honor of expanding the company even further.”
“For what reason other than your own ego? You already have more money than you need, you already own the company, many products you guys are so successful with come from your brain, so what more do you need? Isn’t it time to look at what you want?”
Sebastian let those words sink in. His father had always taught him that the worst thing a leader could do was surround himself with only yes-people. He said contradicting opinions kept leaders sharp, as did a healthy discourse with people who had different viewpoints. Somehow, Sebastian had still managed to have too many people on his staff who didn’t dare disagree with him. Shame filled him. His brusqueness, which he more and more realized was a byproduct of his stress and unhappiness, had cultivated the exact opposite culture from what he’d always strived for.
But Hadley was different. From the moment they’d met, he hadn’t been afraid to share his opinions or speak up. Hell, Sebastian had learned more from him in a few weeks than he’d had from Drew in the last few years. Hadley had the rare talent to be considerate and gentle while still speaking the truth.
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right,” he said softly. “But I know I’d feel so much better if I had assurance the company would be in good hands.”
“And you don’t know anyone who you feel would do a good job? You must have a network of other CEOs or similar managers.”
Oh god. Why hadn’t he thought of that sooner? The solution was so blindingly obvious he couldn’t believe it had taken him this long to come up with it. A huge weight fell off his shoulders now that he’d solved the problem. He grasped Hadley’s hand, lifted it to his mouth, and pressed a kiss on it. “Thank you. You just gave me the best idea ever, one that could be the perfect solution to this problem.”
Hadley’s face broke open in a wide smile. “Glad to hear it. I hate to see you under so much stress again.”
He was so sweet to worry about him like that. “I appreciate that. Come on, let’s order because I’m getting ravenous.”
The food was as fabulous as the last time Sebastian had been there, and Hadley couldn’t stop raving about the ribeye he’d ordered. They chatted about everything and anything, and Sebastian was happy to get to know Hadley better. He shared a little about his brothers, for example, how his brother Jaren had gotten dumped the day before his wedding but had found love again.
“But he was straight before that?” Sebastian asked. That was a stupid question. “I mean, clearly he wasn’t, but he thought he was?”
Hadley cocked his head. “Do you think sexual identities are stable or fluid? Not even specifically for Jaren, but in general. Could someone be straight and grow bisexual or gay later on? Or, I don’t know, become asexual?”
“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t rule it out. We tend to think people can’t change, but the reality is that we change a lot throughout the years. Our bodies but also our habits, preferences, and characters. So why wouldn’t our sexual identity change?”
“Some people would argue that if you’re attracted to the same sex later in life, you always were but didn’t realize it.”
Sebastian sipped his water. “I see their point, but I’m not convinced. That would suggest that they’d denied the attraction early on or had closed themself off from it to the degree where they didn’t even notice it. I legit believe it can change, that someone can become gay or bi or pan later in life.”
“My brother Jaren is into romance novels now, including gay romance, and he described a common plot in those that’s called ‘gay for you.’ Men who have always been straight fall for one specific person who happens to be a guy. Like, they’re still straight but gay for that one person.”
Sebastian smiled. “Judging by your tone, I can tell you have an opinion on it.”
“Well, yeah. If you’re a man who’s into other men, you’re not straight. You can identify as bi, pan, gay, whatever, but you’re not straight.”
