Page 59 of Rogue Royal
“Bert, I’m going to have to go. I’m needed.”
“Don’t fuck it up, asshole!”
His boss hung up, and Douglas kicked the door closed. His nostrils flared. “Does he always talk to you like that?”
Mav licked his lips and bit his bottom lip as he stared at the table and nodded. “It’s complic—”
“I don’t give a shit! Who the hell does he think he is to treat you like that?”
“He’s my dad’s best friend, and his brother is my dad’s boss.” Mav lifted his head, spearing Douglas with his gaze. “I will not allow my dad to lose his job because I can’t take a little ribbing from my boss.”
Douglas stepped forward, hands rising from his sides. “That was not a little ribbing, as you say! How long have you been putting up with it?”
Mav shrugged, transferring his gaze to the laptop screen. “Since I started working for him. At least it started small, but when I embarrassed him a few years ago, everything went to shit.”
Douglas crouched beside him. “He’s been giving you shit for years, and you’re allowing him to do so? Would your father be happy with it?”
Mav swallowed hard, knowing the answer, even if he couldn’t voice it. “Dad is a couple of years from retirement. If he loses his job now, he’ll lose the company benefits. I won’t make things difficult for him.”
Douglas rested his palm against Mav’s nape, and Mav dropped his head forward. “If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing instead?”
“What do you mean?” Mav glanced up at him.
“If you weren’t working for that…man, what would you do?”
Mav’s cheeks heated, and he glanced away. “I’ve always wanted to start my own social media company. I have a business plan ready to go as soon as my dad retires, and I tell Bert to shove it up his ass. My problem is that Bert is highly sought after in this business, and I know he’ll blacklist me as soon as I leave.”
“No, he won’t.”
“You don’t know him like I do, Douglas. He’s a manipulative asshole, but he has friends in high places.”
Douglas stood, pulling Mav into his arms and surrounding him in a warmth that was different yet similar to the sunshine through the window. Mav tucked his face into Douglas’s neck and held him tightly, feeling his muscles release. The easy way they gave and received comfort made Mav’s heart skip a beat, but he allowed himself to sink into the embrace, knowing he wouldn’t have it for long.
Mav pulled away, smoothing a hand down the lapel of Douglas’s black suit. “What brought you to my door, anyway?”
“I wanted to check if you were okay for a visit tonight?”
Mav smiled. “Sure. Apart from catching up with Zara, I’ve no other plans.”
“Say hi to her from me if I miss her.”
Mav raised his eyebrows. “You want to meet my friend?”
Douglas tilted his head. “Of course. Why don’t you want me to?”
“No, it’s not…I didn’t think you’d want to if we’re keeping this quiet.”
Douglas dropped a kiss on his lips and stepped back. “I’m not the one who wanted to keep it quiet, and besides, I trust your friend.”
“You don’t know her.”
“I don’t need to. If you’re friends with her, then I trust her.”
“Why would you trust someone because they were friends with me?” Mav still couldn’t understand why Douglas had given him such freedom.
Douglas stepped closer again, brushing the back of his hand across Mav’s cheek. “I trust your instincts, Mav. You wouldn’t intentionally harm anyone.”
Mav felt a mixture of joy and fear at those words. Joy because Douglas trusted him, but fear because Douglas shouldn’t take a chance with his life in case Mav was wrong. If Mav trusted the wrong person and Douglas suffered because of it, he’d never forgive himself.
