Page 31 of A Mistake of Identity
“There’s a sacred brotherhood of lacrosse?” Ellis asked.
“No,” all three answered in unison before breaking into laughter, the sound filling the car with unexpected warmth. Even Alain’s usual stoic expression cracked into a smile in the rearview mirror.
“Though Nathaniel certainly thought so,” Gabriel added, his hand finding Ellis’ thigh again. “Now he brings the same enthusiasm to running our New York office.”
“Speaking of offices,” Lucas shifted in his seat to face them, his amused expression giving way to his more familiar efficiency. “And what exactly is Ellis supposed to be doing all day?”
“He’ll be assisting you as an intern.”
Lucas’s eyebrows shot up. “I don’t need an assistant.”
“I know that. It’s merely a cover, should anyone ask.”
“An intern.” Lucas’s voice was flat. “With no labor records in the company system.”
“I can have Nika create them,” Alain offered from the driver’s seat. “He’s meeting me for coffee in an hour, anyway.”
“Why are you meeting Nika?” Lucas asked.
Alain shrugged, remaining silent. Gabriel decided to let it go. Alain could do as he pleased while Gabriel was in-office. “That works.” He smiled, his hand finding Ellis’ thigh.
Lucas sighed the sigh of a man who knew when he was beaten. “Fine. But he’s your responsibility, not mine. I have a busy day.”
“But... doesn’t Confluence own my contract?” Ellis asked hesitantly.
Gabriel’s thumb stroked along Ellis’ thigh. “One can have multiple contracts, mon coeur. The labor board has no issue with overlapping employment agreements.” His tone was casual, as if discussing something as mundane as the weather rather than the intricacies of Ellis’ legal status.
The Mercedes turned into the underground parking garage of La Sauvegarde’s headquarters, tires whispering against polished concrete. They entered through a private entrance, Alain peeling away to park the car and meet with Nika. Ellis pressed closer to Gabriel’s side as they entered the elevator, and Gabriel dropped a kiss on his temple. “Ready?”
They emerged from the private elevator into a sleek reception area where Brenda Whitaker, who had been manning this desk since Gabriel was trailing after his father as a teenager, glanced pointedly at the clock on her desk’s embedded screen. “Ten minutes late, Mr. Rohan.”
“I’m the boss, Brenda,” Gabriel flashed her his most charming smile, the one that hadn’t worked on her in twenty years. “I’m allowed to be late now and then.”
Brenda just hummed, fingers dancing across her keyboard without missing a beat. “Your packets for London and Berlin are loaded on your computer. And the new VP of our Climate Risk Division, Jackson Razier, is rather insistent about meeting with you today.”
Her hand moved in a practiced motion across her touch screen. Lucas’s tablet chimed in response.
“Wonderful,” Lucas muttered, studying whatever she’d sent. “I’ll head down and see what’s wrong now.” He paused at the elevator, calling back casually, “Oh, Brenda, this is Ellis Anouilh, our new intern. He’ll be assisting me.”
Brenda’s only response was a noncommittal “hmm” as she continued her rapid typing.
Gabriel suppressed his amusement at her familiar efficiency as he guided Ellis through the heavy wooden doors of his office. The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the rich burgundy carpet. Ellis immediately gravitated toward the bookcases lining one wall, fingers trailing over the spines of reference guides and industry analyses.
“What am I supposed to be doing?” Ellis asked, turning from his examination of the books to face Gabriel.
Gabriel retrieved one of the oversized leather chairs near the long couch in the corner, positioning it beside his own at the imposing desk. The mahogany piece was a masterwork of old-world craftsmanship, with an enclosed design that wrapped around three sides. The raised panels and deep recesses created a private sanctuary for whoever sat behind it. Even someone standing directly before the desk couldn’t see what lay underneath.
“Just be here,” he said, motioning Ellis to sit as he handed him his tablet. “That’s all I want for now.”
Ellis shrugged, settling into the chair, and began to scroll through news feeds while Gabriel immersed himself in the London meeting packets. At precisely nine, the video call connected, filling one of his monitors with the faces of the London office executives.
Thirty minutes into the President’s quarterly updates, Gabriel noticed Ellis’ attention wandering, his petit oiseau’s fingers drumming restlessly against the tablet. Without breaking his attentive expression, Gabriel muted his microphone and made a subtle motion toward the space between his knees.
Ellis’ brow furrowed in confusion. Then his eyes widened as understanding dawned. He hesitated, glancing between Gabriel and the video feed. Gabriel’s slight nod was all the encouragement he needed. Ellis slipped from his chair to the floor, disappearing into the sheltered space beneath the desk.
Gabriel shifted in his seat, adjusting to accommodate Ellis. Without taking his eyes off the presentation, he watched from his peripheral vision as Ellis’ nimble fingers worked to open his belt and zipper. His arousal grew as Ellis freed his half-hardened cock.
Ellis took him in his mouth, sucking gently. Before he could become more enthusiastic, Gabriel gripped his hair, gently stopping the motion. Instead, he guided Ellis’ head to rest against his thigh, his length simply resting in the warmth of Ellis’ mouth. Ellis tensed briefly before settling into a more comfortable position beneath the desk, relaxing into his role as Gabriel’s cock warmer.
