Hired, page 25
They both napped a bit on the flight to Amsterdam, and Hadley felt refreshed when they were first off the plane in Amsterdam. “I love this airport,” Sebastian said with a happy smile. “It’s the best airport in the world.”
“Why? What’s so special about it?” Maybe he hadn’t traveled enough, but weren’t all airports pretty much the same?
“Oh my god, where do I start? First of all, it’s super clean, and navigating here is a breeze because of all the signage, which makes everything easy to find. The people who work here all speak English, and they’re friendly and helpful. The shops are great, but the best thing is the food. I know most people wouldn’t associate the Netherlands with great food, but they have the best stuff.”
“Like what?”
“Stroopwafels, thin waffles with caramel between them. They’re the most yummy cookies ever. Then they have the best bread, and they serve it with delicious deli meats and cheese. But my absolute favorites are the fried snacks. I could explain, but really, you’ll have to try them. They sell them at restaurants here, so we’ll get you some when we’re meeting with Floris.”
They didn’t have to pick up their luggage, so all they had to bring were their carry-on backpacks. Once through customs, they walked through automatic doors into a hallway and were greeted by a voice calling out, “Bas!”
Sebastian’s face broke open in the biggest smile as he rushed toward a tall, blond guy and hugged him. As soon as he let go, he gestured Hadley over. “Floris, this is Hadley. Hadley, this is my old college friend Floris.”
Floris pumped Hadley’s hand with both hands. “Such a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“Come on, let’s get some food. You must be hungry,” Floris said.
Sebastian put a hand on Hadley’s shoulder. “I want Hadley to try some of your delicacies, like the bitterballen.”
The what? Hadley had no idea what Sebastian had said, but it had sounded like bitter balls? What the hell were those?
Floris laughed. “I got you.”
Hadley followed the two men as they weaved their way through the busy airport until they’d reached a restaurant. It didn’t look like much, but what did Hadley know? He obediently sat down as Floris and Sebastian said they’d get food, guarding all the bags.
Hadley watched them, their easy, affectionate interaction, and it warmed his belly. Aside from himself, Hadley had never seen Sebastian this intimate with someone. They were clearly close, and judging by the frequent touches, Hadley had a hunch they’d shared more than friendship at some point. Not that he caught any sexual tension between them now, just the relaxed vibe of two men comfortable in each other’s presence.
When they came back, they brought a plate of fries for Hadley with…what the hell? Was that mayonnaise? The Dutch ate their fries with mayo? Floris also put several snacks in front of Hadley.
“This is a kroket.” Floris pointed at a fried breaded roll. “And these are the bitterballen Bas mentioned. Be careful, as both have meat ragout inside that can scorch your tongue and lips. I also got you another classic Dutch fried snack called a frikandel.”
Hadley frowned. “Is that raw onion?”
“Yes, plus Dutch mayonnaise and a sauce we call curry sauce, which has nothing to do with Indian curry, by the way. Just try it. If you don’t like it, Bas will happily eat it all.”
Hadley tried a fry with the mayo. Damn, that was a different kind than the American one, much creamier. It was good. Really good. “You call him Bas?” he asked Floris, who chuckled.
“It would be how the Dutch abbreviate his name, and it stuck.”
“He’s the only one who calls me that.” Sebastian bumped Floris’s shoulder.
Hadley tried a bite of the kroket. Oh. My. God. That was the most amazing thing ever. “This is delicious.”
Floris nodded, smiling. “I know, right? A lot of people eat them with mustard, but personally, I like ketchup or curry sauce.”
Now Hadley had to try that frikandel as well. Feeling brave, he cut off a piece and collected some onions, mayo, and that curry sauce and took a bite. Okay, not bad. The onion offered a nice sharpness. Oh man, that curry sauce was yummy. The frikandel itself was okayish, but the sauce was delish.
“So what was so urgent that you needed to talk to me?” Floris asked, and Hadley looked up from his food.
Sebastian took a deep breath, then leaned forward in his chair. “I want you to become CEO of LeClerc.”
Floris’s mouth dropped open, and Hadley was right there with him. Whatever he had expected, he hadn’t seen this coming.
“You want me to what? Are you okay? You’re not sick or something, are you?”
Floris’s English had been flavored with a subtle Dutch accent so far, but now it had gotten much stronger.
“I’ve made the decision to step back as CEO of the company and, instead, focus on leading R&D. Management at this level is not my thing, Floris, and it took me too long to see that. It’s killing me, and I can’t keep doing this. But I can’t just hire anyone to take over from me. It’s still my company, my family’s company, and I want someone we can trust. Someone I know, someone who combines management talent and experience with sufficient technical knowledge for the branch we’re in. That’s you. You said you and Anne had been considering moving to the US. Well, here’s your chance.”
“You’re serious about this.”
“Dead serious. I haven’t asked, approached, or offered the position to anyone else. I only talked to my father and my sister, since they’re part owners with me. They both agreed you’d be the best choice.”
Floris dragged a hand through his hair, making it stick up in every direction. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I’m not expecting an answer right now. Of course you’ll need to talk to Anne, and there will be a whole process we have to go through, including applying for a green card for you, but the first step is for you to consider if you want this job.”
“Hell, yes.” Floris nodded. “Absolutely. I won’t deny it’ll be a challenge for me, and I’d be skipping a few steps on the ladder up, but wow, I can’t think of a company I’d rather lead than yours.”
“It would be yours too. If you come on board, you’ll become co-owner.”
“Bas, I don’t have the money for that kind of buy-in, not with what LeClerc is worth right now.”
Sebastian waved his hand. “Let’s not worry about the financial details. We’ll work those out.”
“I’m… Dude, I don’t even have words. You made me speechless.”
Hadley had been following the whole interaction while devouring the food. Sebastian hadn’t been lying about how good these snacks were. But even better than the food was watching these two men as they got up and hugged. Seeing such open friendship among men was so rare, and it warmed Hadley’s heart. He sat quietly, finishing all the yummy snacks, as Floris and Sebastian chatted, teasing and ribbing each other.
He’d never seen this side of Sebastian, not with anyone else than himself, and how was that for a realization? He really was one of the few people Sebastian trusted enough to be himself with, and that knowledge stayed with him, even after they said good-bye to Floris and continued their journey home. What did it all mean, Sebastian’s affection, the gifts he kept buying him, all the gestures and signs that they were more than friends? And why did it mean so much to him, much more than it should?
28
For the first time ever, Hadley debated coming up with an excuse to get out from under the weekly dinner with his brothers. No one ever missed it, except when they were ill or traveling, which was usually Nordin. Hadley had only skipped a few, and all those had been because he’d legit been too sick to attend, save one—and that had been when Sebastian had taken him to Iceland. Hell, one time they’d even met at his hospital bed after he’d had to go in for an emergency appendectomy. So why was he so reluctant to attend now?
He stared out the window of the bus into the depressing, rainy sky. He’d gone home on time, like he always did on Fridays, but darkness was already falling. It was only January after all. The weather in Seattle had never bothered him, but it did now as he desperately wished for sunshine. He didn’t even mind the cold so much, but he needed to see some blue skies like he’d experienced in Iceland. That trip ranked in the top three of best experiences of his life, and he doubted it would be surpassed anytime soon.
Maybe he just had the winter blues, and that was what caused his somber mood. He’d love to promise himself he’d try and find sun, maybe go on a trip, but he’d only be lying to himself. Yes, Joyce had given him the four-week bonus, and he’d been overjoyed to have a little buffer in his bank account. But he couldn’t justify spending that on a trip just because it would make him happy. He needed to save it for emergencies. Life had a habit of kicking you in the teeth, and when that happened again, he wanted to be ready.
Sebastian had talked to him about going on another trip, but Hadley had been reluctant. He wanted nothing more than to spend time with Sebastian and see and experience new things together, but would it be such a smart idea? Sooner or later, things between them would be finished, and he’d end up on his own again, in his crappy little apartment, dead broke. The more he got used to the luxuries Sebastian showered him with, the harder that transition would be.
He let out a long sigh. His mood would go away at some point. No matter how bad things got, he always got through them. Whatever was bothering him now would pass too. And in the meantime, he’d hang out with his brothers, his family. Maybe they could help him figure out what was going on inside his head, why he had this strange sadness lingering inside him when he had no reason for it.
At least he’d be seeing Sebastian tomorrow. Sebastian had even invited him to come over after the dinner with his brothers, but that felt so…needy. Hadley had never spent a Friday night with him, though he had to admit it was tempting and not just because Sebastian’s bed was comfortable. He loved being with him. Yes, the sex was amazing, but so was the man himself. Underneath that gruff exterior lay the heart of a softie, a marshmallow, and his bark was much worse than his bite. The more time Hadley spent with him, the more he looked forward to the next time. And the next.
He couldn’t even bear to let the thought in that one day, this would end, and he’d be alone again. With his brothers, of course, but they’d find love too at some point, just like Jaren had, and what would happen then? His heart grew cold, and he shivered as he got off the bus. Best not to think about that too much.
He was the last one to arrive at Reid’s loft, and this time, Reid was joining them as well. He did that about once a month, making himself sparse the other weeks they met at his place. Hadley respected the hell out of the man for understanding that even though they had fully accepted him, they still needed time with the four of them.
As always, the delicious aromas of food surrounded him as soon as he was let in. “Oven-roasted tomato soup and lasagna,” Lagan said as he closed the door behind him. “I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”
Yeah, no kidding. As darkness fell for real outside, the lights all came on inside, and they huddled around the dinner table and enjoyed the food. Hadley listened as the others chatted. Jaren loved his new job as an accountant at Grey Sloan, Reid shared a few anecdotes about his weirdest customers, Lagan bitched about some law professor he’d clashed with, and Nordin excelled at providing a funny running commentary on all of it without ever revealing much about himself.
“You’re quiet,” Nordin said to Hadley as they were almost done with dinner.
Hadley shrugged. “Not much to share this time, I guess.”
Nordin studied him. “How are things going with Sebastian?”
He’d told them all about Sebastian and him seeing each other. These were his brothers; they knew pretty much everything about him, including things he’d never told another soul in his life.
“The same.”
“Still having amazing sex?” Jaren teased.
“The sex is spectacular. We have great chemistry.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Nordin asked.
Hadley opened his mouth to deny something was off, but then he closed it again. Hadn’t he wanted his brothers to help him figure it out? “I don’t know. I’m feeling down, and I can’t figure out why.”
They all leaned forward, concern painted on their faces.
“I’ll go upstairs, listen to some music, and sketch,” Reid said to Jaren, pushing his chair back.
“No, no, it’s okay,” Hadley said. “You’re… This is your home. You belong now. I trust you.”
Reid blinked. “Are you sure? I promise I won’t be offended.”
“I’m sure, but thank you for offering. That means a lot.”
Apparently, Jaren thought so too, judging by the kiss he pressed on Reid’s lips and the way he held his hand after. They were so sweet together, so in love. Hadley was delighted for Jaren. If anyone deserved love, it was him. Reid would have to be crazy to ever break up with him. And if he did, Hadley wasn’t sure Jaren would survive that. Not after what he’d been through with Bridget, even though they hadn’t been as in love as they’d all assumed. Being with someone and giving them your heart was so risky, basically setting yourself up for getting hurt.
The truth slammed into him, and he gasped. All of a sudden, he was that ten-year-old boy again, sitting in the director’s office, watching Albert and Lily choose their unborn baby over him. His heart had been shattered, fragmented in so many pieces that it had never healed again. When he’d walked out, he’d left parts of himself in that office, and he’d never gotten them back.
He couldn’t go through that again. He’d never survive a second rejection of that magnitude. And once that realization hit, the feeling inside him was so easy to identify he couldn’t believe he’d missed it. Fear. He was terrified. Absolutely scared to death of having to go through that again…with Sebastian.
Oh, fuck.
He’d done what he’d vowed not to do. He’d fallen for Sebastian. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Judging by your face, you just had a moment,” Nordin said softly.
This time, the tears weren’t subtle, and they weren’t stoppable either. He broke down, putting his head in his hands as sobs tore through him. Hands touched him, then lifted him, and he recognized him by his smell. Lagan. He buried his face against Lagan’s neck as his brother held him on his lap, not saying anything. The tears wouldn’t stop, and Hadley didn’t even try anymore. Maybe this was the inevitable result of never crying.
He was so tired of being alone, of always being afraid to get too attached to someone. And he’d tried so hard to keep things casual with Sebastian, to keep him at an emotional distance, and he’d failed spectacularly. He loved him. Not some crush or infatuation, but love. The kind where he wanted to spend the rest of his life with him. Be his husband. Raise a family. All those things he thought he’d never have, maybe never even realized he wanted. But how he wanted them now. With Sebastian.
When the tears stopped, he felt exhausted and empty. He gratefully accepted the tissues Jaren had put next to him and cleaned himself up.
Before he could say anything, Nordin held up a finger. “Don’t you dare apologize. We’re here to listen if you want to talk, but you’d better not be apologizing.”
Hadley laughed through the last of his tears. “I won’t, I promise.”
He blew his nose, then let out a deep sigh. With a kiss on Lagan’s cheek, he slid off his lap. “Thank you.”
“Always.”
Hadley took his own seat again and looked around the table, finding nothing but love and acceptance. Others might look at him and hear his story and pity him, but he considered himself blessed. His real family might have been shit, but the family they had created stood stronger than anything else. “I fucked up,” he said. “I fell in love with Sebastian.”
When he saw only soft smiles, he frowned. “Why are you guys not shocked or even surprised?”
“Because we know you?” Lagan said. “It wasn’t our call to confront you with a truth you weren’t ready to face yet.”
Hadley blew out a breath. He should have known. Lagan especially knew him better than anyone, and Nordin never missed a thing either. Jaren had maybe been the most surprised, but he’d been distracted by his newfound happiness with Reid. “I didn’t want to fall for him. In fact, I tried very hard not to.”
“I can tell you from experience love doesn’t care much for what you want or try,” Reid said while sending a sweet look Jaren’s way. “I fell for Jaren the first time I saw him, and no matter how often I told myself I shouldn’t because he was dating my sister, it never worked. All I could do was distance myself from him, but I never stopped loving him.”
Hadley’s throat got tight all over again. “I don’t know how he feels about me.”
Nordin snorted. “That’s a joke, right? You’re joking?”
Joking? What did he mean? “No, I’m not. Why? Do you know something I don’t?”
Nordin’s expression softened. “Hadley, darling, of course he’s in love with you. Do you really think he would fly you halfway around the world to fulfill a bucket list item just because the sex is great?”
“No, but… He’s rich. It’s not that big a deal for him.”
“Right. And how many times has he taken off time from work?”
Never. He’d never taken time off. In fact, Hadley had been shocked to hear the rumors after Sebastian had missed work that Monday. First, he’d been sick, and now he was taking off? His employees didn’t know what to think.
But did that mean what Nordin thought it pointed toward? Wasn’t buying things the way Sebastian expressed his… It was his love language. They’d even discussed it. Sebastian liked to buy presents for those he loved. He’d bought Hadley a goddamn trip to Iceland. How had he been so fucking blind?
