Page 83 of A Hard Sell

How’s it going?

Emails weren’t very helpful. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to prove it.

There must be something. We’ll figure this out, Luka.

Thanks. I’ll have to talk to Tawney, I guess.

Having Thomas on his side felt good. He took a deep breath and grabbed another slice of pizza.

After he ate, he had another look at the timeline he had scribbled. He had done a lot of work for Morgan. God, he was a dumb motherfucker. Berating himself, he flopped onto the couch and picked up his guitar. He plucked a few chords, hoping it would help him relax.

He thought about the first time he had played for Morgan, early on. Maybe the third time Morgan was there, when they had left the bed long enough for him to spot Luka’s guitar. Luka had flat-out refused at first. There was no way he’d be brave enough to perform for a professional like Morgan. But their relationship was still new and exciting, and Morgan had a lot of cards in his hand. He wheedled and cajoled and pleaded as he played all those cards, including the ones that had involved being naked. Luka had relented.

He had chosenBlackbird, an old favorite. It was one of the first songs he had taught himself. He remembered plodding through the finger picking that now came to him as easily as breathing. He had tapped the beat with his foot on the hardwood as he played.

When he finished, Morgan had stared for a second. “You’re really good,” he had said.

Luka had blushed as a little thrill had gone through him. “Thanks.”

“No, I mean,reallygood. I had no idea.”

He had been so happy at the time. But the memory blackened and curled around the edges when he thought about what Morgan had done with that knowledge. Anger built again, as he pictured Morgan’s smug, lying face in Ilona’s office.

Something shifted as he strummed, and he saw Morgan’s face that night at his apartment when he had thought about kissing him again. He heard Kazio’s voice saying Morgan had been heartbroken. He heard Morgan’s mumbled confession in the hallway today—“I did care about you.”

It clicked… Morgan wasn’t just jealous of Thomas… He was hurting.Because of me.Hiding Luka’s mug and markers in his desk wasn’t him being a dick—it was him clinging to a piece of the guy who broke his heart. He had let the elevator doors close because it had hurt too much to share that tiny space with him. Morgan had gotten dumped, and not only had he had to see his ex every day at work, he’d had to watch him get closer and closer—and okay, flirt—with the stunningly beautiful new VP.

Iamthe selfish prick.

It was probably way too late, but it needed to be done. He grabbed his phone and tapped out a message.

I’m sorry I hurt you, Morgan. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t even realize I had. I was a jerk when I broke up with you. And I’m really sorry.

Send.

Three dots as Morgan read the message. Then nothing.

He phoned Tawney.

* * * *

Just before ten the next morning, Luka and Morgan arrived at Ilona’s office at the same time. He held Morgan’s eyes for a second as he opened the door for him.

He placed a folder on Ilona’s desk and took a seat. Thomas followed him in. Morgan sat in the farthest chair, head hanging.

Ilona watched them, looking as polished and perfect as ever in her deep purple pencil dress, although Luka could see the tension in her jawline. “Thank you. Let’s have a look.” Ilona flipped open Luka’s file.

“Wait.” Morgan jerked his head up, his voice quiet. They looked at him. Morgan took a deep breath. “It’s true. What Luka says. I…I blackmailed him.”

Luka’s jaw dropped. They all stared at Morgan in silence.

Then Ilona spoke. “Thank you, Morgan. Thomas, Luka, will you excuse us, please?”

Still stunned, Luka got up and followed Thomas out. Before the door shut, he turned to look back at Morgan. Morgan was watching him with wide, wet eyes.

“Holy shit,” Luka said, falling into his chair when he got back to their office. “Holyshit.”

“Yeah.” Thomas scrubbed his face. “Wow.”

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