Page 55 of Need Him
“I’ve heard rumours,” the man continued.
Ben raised his eyebrows. “Rumours.”
The man glanced around the room, and Ben followed his gaze, seeing several of them not looking at either of them and others nodding or shaking their heads, advertising their feelings on the subject.
“From what I’ve heard, you’re seeing one of your employees.”
Ben licked his lips, trying to stem the need to argue and defend himself, which his previous incarnation would’ve done. “It’s not against the rules to date an employee.”
“So you admit it?”
“I don’t need to admit anything because it’s not your business. But,” he said, holding up his hand when the man tried to talk, “I will tell you that, yes, I am seeing an employee. As I said, though, it changes nothing. Apart from maybe my attitude.”
“Exactly my point, Mr Mycroft. You were always bull-headed and forceful before. Now, you seem to have softened. Will the company achieve the same results when you’ve lost your fire?”
When other people began chiming in, Ben clenched his jaw. The employees had no right to speak to him like that, but were they right? Was it something to worry about?
****
Chapter 21
Gareth
Gareth had slept like a baby after sending Ben off to work that morning. He’d expected to lie awake for hours, wondering how Ben was contending with the cage covering his cock, but he’d fallen straight to sleep. His alarm had woken him at four in the afternoon, and he’d taken a leisurely shower before starting on dinner. After checking on the supplies, he’d decided to make a chicken casserole. Something easy to prepare and able to be shoved in the oven to cook without having to think too hard because Gareth needed to decide what he was going to do with Ben when he arrived home.
Would he remove the cage and edge him until he went crazy? Or would he keep him locked away? Gareth enjoyed the idea of the edging and decided to go with that unless Ben opposed it—within reason.
His phone rang, and he answered without checking who it was. “Hello?”
“Gareth.”
“Hey, Dad. How are things with Aunt Helen?”
“They’re going okay. She’s back home and causing mayhem by trying to take over when she knows she can’t. All the usual stuff, really.”
Gareth chuckled. “I can imagine. How are you managing?”
“Everything’s under control. I was just calling because I’m going to be here for a few weeks rather than days. I’m going to stay and do some jobs she has, but I’m going to be helping her interview for helpers, too.”
Gareth stirred the gravy he was using for the casserole as he spoke. “That sounds like a good idea. She always said she could manage on her own, but getting help would increase her business as well, I bet.”
“Exactly my argument.”
Gareth smiled. Despite their many differences, they were scarily similar in some ways. “Well, let me know when you’re heading home. I’ve been checking on the house, and it’s still in one piece.”
“Glad to hear it. I’ll be in touch.”
They ended the call, and Gareth poured the gravy into the casserole dish, mixed everything together and left it on top of the oven to put in when Ben arrived home. He tidied up, checking the clock every few minutes when Ben hadn’t arrived at the time they’d agreed upon that morning.
He was just wiping down the counters when the front door slammed shut. Showing no reaction, he finished the job, put the food in the oven and set the timer for one hour, then headed for the front of the house. Ben wasn’t in the living room, and he climbed the stairs, hearing the muttering as soon as he stepped towards his bedroom.
“—gives them the right? They don’t know me.”
“Who doesn’t?” Gareth asked, entering the room and crossing the distance between them. He didn’t touch Ben, though. The man trembled enough that one wrong move or word would make him explode. Gareth had to calm him down before he could get him to lift the lid on his anger.
Ben whirled around, glaring at Gareth. “Don’t worry about it.” He unbuttoned his shirt and threw it on the bed, following it quickly with his trousers. “Can I get this off so I can shower?” he muttered, waving a hand at his groin.
Gareth stared at him, trying to figure out what had happened without asking. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a mind-reader. He stepped closer, pulling the key from his pocket.
