Page 83 of Perfect Night

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian was a bag of nerves. They hadn’t settled since Charlie had left him a week ago. He was back in London, and everywhere he went reminded Sebastian of the man he loved.

“He’s here,” said Candice, popping her head through the door of his office. “You sure you want to be in this?”

He nodded. He wasn’t backing out now. Getting up, he followed her to the boardroom. She opened the door and there he was. Charlie. Looking hot as fuck in a suit. Sebastian wanted to manhandle him over the boardroom table, but he needed to push those inappropriate thoughts away.

They shook hands, which reminded him of the first time they’d met. The charge of electricity between them was still there. Candice grabbed water for everyone as they took their seats.

“I must say I was surprised to hear from you, Charlie,” said Candice. “I thought you weren’t interested.”

“I’d like to make a counter-offer.”

Sebastian sat up straighter in his seat, unsure where this was going. He thought this was about Charlie taking the offer and would be a simple discussion. Now he was intrigued.

Candice nodded for him to continue.

“This isn’t a money thing. That side, I have no issues with. The role itself, again, is something I know I could do exceptionally well for you.”

Fuck, was it getting hot in here? This confident Charlie was something else.

“I’m proposing I take the position, but only for twelve months.”

Sebastian and Candice glanced at each other. Charlie smirked, but didn’t look at Sebastian.

“Let me explain. This isn’t a permanent role and you know that. You need someone to set things up, and with the right strategy, people and processes, it will run itself. I’d effectively be making myself redundant. Can I share my thinking with you?”

Candice nodded. Charlie took out his laptop and was set up quickly. He then spent fifteen minutes talking through how they could use social media to generate business in the UK and Europe. Sebastian couldn’t help but beam with pride as he took them through his plan. Candice was salivating and if Charlie had asked for her to double his salary, she would probably have made it work or begged Sebastian for more money. He’d have given it to her.

“Can you start on Monday?” asked Candice, causing them all to laugh.

“Not Monday, but I can start in two weeks. I have another work commitment until then.”

“I thought you’d left Sumptua?” said Sebastian, not being able to keep quiet.

“Oh, I have.” He took something out of his bag and passed it over. “This is a letter confirming they made me redundant.”

Sebastian burst out laughing. He had to know how this had happened. He looked at Charlie.

“I’m sorry, Mr Steele, but you’ll have to ask my union rep about that.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Jason.”

He laughed again. Oh, there had to be a story there.

“I’m helping one of my friends out for a couple of weeks. It’s a short contract. I can start the two weeks on Monday. That’ll give you a chance to get the paperwork sorted. I assume the benefits remain the same, even for a fixed-term role, and the bonus will be paid upon successful completion of my contract?”

Candice couldn’t agree quickly enough, but was thrown when Charlie made it clear there would be no extension to his contract. It was to be written in the terms that it was only for a year. She asked him why.

“Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to use my services. You’ll just need to go through my company.”

Candice laughed. It initially hurt that Sebastian couldn’t just give the man he loved everything he wanted, but then he wouldn’t be Charlie unless he did it for himself. Charlie was achieving the dream he’d talked about, and Sebastian couldn’t be happier for him.

The VIP lounge was quieter than it had been the night he met Charlie. The barman was the same, but nobody else looked familiar. Sebastian sipped his Jack and Coke, thinking about the meeting with Charlie the day before. He couldn’t help but smile.

“And what are you smiling at?”

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