(Liam's POV - Wed. 20 November 2013)

"I will need to spend another day in Houston, Liam. Can you please amend my hotel reservation and liaise with Michael?" Joshua asks me very professionally over the phone, even if I can hear some tension in his voice. He flew to Houston for business on Monday morning very early and was supposed to fly back tonight. Even if I wasn't going to spend the evening with him, it still annoys me that I won't get to see him tomorrow in the office.

"Sure, I've got it... Are things more complicated than planned over there?"

"Nothing serious... but I need to review some points with this important subcontractor here and he's a stubborn asshole. I'm going to send you pictures of a draft presentation I roughly prepared. Try to make something out of it into a Powerpoint and if possible, send it to me before you leave the office this afternoon so that I can work on it tonight. I will need you to go and work with Derek and his team too on the figures. His AP manager should be able to provide you with the latest updates on the overdues with this supplier. Also book me in New York for the first week of December... at least Monday to Wednesday... I'll need to visit one of our building sites there and I'll also spend one or two days at Cole's to finalize some things with the engineers and architects."

"Alright Sir... Is that all?"

"Hmm... I think so... How have you been doing since yesterday afternoon? I'm sorry I couldn't call you back in the evening... the dinner went on and on..." he then adds in a softer tone.

"Good... I went out jogging for an hour... then had a quiet dinner with Shan... We just watched TV and I went to bed early... Still recovering from last week-end," I reply, blushing at the thought of how great and intense the scene we played with the bench was last Saturday night.

Since that night two weeks ago when Joshua made me cum several times in a row and edged me for what seemed to be eternity, I have really improved on my self-control. That evening, I had felt awfully guilty for not being able to control my arousal and I really thought that Joshua would be mad at me but it turned out that he understood me better than I did myself and explained me how logical it was. Being a learner in sex and being directly thrown in such an intense lifestyle of kinky sex, it was normal that I would have difficulty to control the emotions and sensations I felt. Watching people having sex in front of me or me playing a scene with Joshua still arouses me terribly and it is still difficult to contain myself, but I am progressing and at least, I haven't reached an orgasm without his permission at all since then. Joshua also says that he has learned to read my body language and that it helps him in guiding me toward a better self-control.

"Hmm... I liked that bench scene too... and you got to see that it can serve for something else than punishment... Anyway, I'm glad to hear that you have been serious Baby... I am definitely going to reward you tomorrow evening..." he purrs in the phone, sending warm vibrations to my lower abdomen.

"Hmm... That sounds rather good... Shall I understand that I have to go to your place tomorrow evening?"

"Well that was the plan anyway. Your friend is still leaving Chicago tomorrow, right?"

"Yes he is... He is driving out tomorrow morning with the other guy."

"Perfect! So I do want you to spend the night at home tomorrow. I'll tell Tony to drive you anyway."

"Okay but now that you mention this... does Tony really need to drive me all the time when you're away?" I whine. Josh's driver has really gotten used to pick me up in the morning now and to drive me back after work when the boss is away and I don't really like the idea of making him lose his time for me, when he could use it more efficiently.

"Yes he does. We have already discussed this subject and I thought it was a closed matter?" Joshua replies very seriously.

"I know but... what if I need to go and do some shopping or anything else...?"

"Depending on what the else is, Tony can drive you..."

"I don't want to bother him..."

"You don't bother him, he likes driving you around."

"Really...?" I scoff. I haven't seen or heard anything that would show me that he likes it. The only things I have witnessed are the smug looks he throws me in the rear view mirror. "I don't see why he would like that... there can't be anything much interesting in driving someone to his work place..."

"Believe me when I say he does. Now are we all good for tomorrow evening?"

"Yes Sir..." I sigh.

"Watch your tone Liam, or I'll end up thinking that you don't want to come over to my place..." he warns me half playfully.

"Of course I want to! Or... perhaps you could come to my place?" I propose, knowing that Shannon won't be home, but I only get silence in return. "I know it's not as comfortable as your house, but... never mind... forget it... I'll go to your place after work..."

"It's not a question of comfort, Baby... but after four days not seeing you, I'd like to use the playroom and not have to care about neighbors who might hear you scream..." he snorts, making me blush and laugh at the same time. "I'm sure your face is now as red as tomatoes ready to be picked..." he chuckles.

"Shut up..." I whisper.

"You're lucky I've got to go now or else I'd teach you not to tell me to shut up... I might as well just do that tomorrow evening instead of rewarding you..."

"I was just kidding... I have to go too anyway. My boss has left me with a ton of things to do this afternoon and I wouldn't want to displease him, you see..."

"Are you telling me that your boss is more important than I am?" he exclaims with mock offense.

"Not more important but..."

"But...?"

"He's quite demanding... a bit like you in the end..." I chuckle.

"Alright, that's enough, I'd better hang up before you really get on my nerves, young man..." he chuckles.

"Alright... I'll see you tomorrow then...?"

"Yes, and I'll call you later tonight. The dinner shouldn't last after ten or ten-thirty the latest. Now go satisfy your boss's demands."

"Yes Sir!"

Once we have hung up, I hurry to call the hotel where he is staying in Houston to extend his reservation and then the pilot of the jet so that he can schedule another spot tomorrow evening to take off. Once he has confirmed the arrival time in Chicago, I send a text to Tony to let him know about the change of plans and give a quick call to Liz to inform her too so that she doesn't expect Joshua home tonight, even if her husband might have already told her. Since it is lunch time and I am supposed to meet Elena on the first floor, I just send an email to Derek and that guy Dominic to inform them about Joshua's request on this supplier in Houston and that I'll stop by their floor in the afternoon to review the information I have.

Lunch goes by very quickly and I cut it short when Elena teases me a little too much about my "surprisingly" bright mood, using the fact that I have a shitload of work waiting for me as an excuse, though a good one since this is the plain truth. As soon as I get back to my desk, I set to the presentation I am supposed to work on, glad to see that Joshua did his best to write in a readable manner for once on his draft so that I don't spend more time on deciphering his writing than on putting the presentation together. It is nearly 3:00 pm when I am done with it, so I print two copies of the document and head to the 19th floor with a sigh, not particularly eager to meet with Derek and Dominic. I have only met him once since that day I took the lift with him and heard him call me a fag, and his look wasn't any kinder then although he didn't call me any bad name, most probably because I wasn't alone at that moment.

As soon as the lift doors slide open, I am met with Derek who is walking out of his office with Dominic, the latter as unfriendly as ever when his eyes lock with mine, sending shivers down my spine, but contrary to the shivers I get when I lock eyes with Joshua, these are rather unpleasant. As is the next hour I spend with both of them. Dominic keeps giving me the bad eye and so does Derek, though more discreetly, probably trying to keep up with the fact that he is a member of the leadership team and should behave appropriately. It doesn't prevent him from denigrating me though, pointing at all the little format flaws of my presentation although I keep repeating that it is only a draft and that I only need them to verify the figures I had. I have never been so happy to regain my quarters than after this hour of torture with two men who obviously don't like me too much, if at all.

I spend the next hour fixing the presentation and updating it with the right data before I send the file to Joshua. I just don't understand what is wrong with Derek and Dominic and why they would hate me. Even if they are homophobic, I don't see how they would know about my gayness - Is it that obvious? - and I wonder how they would react if they knew that their big boss is gay too. I doubt they would react the same way, bootlickers as they are. Just as I am about to pack up for the evening, the lift doors open and Mr. Hawler, the new compliance manager, walks in. Argh... talk about unhealthy looks... That man joined the company only about two weeks ago and Joshua introduced him to the whole team during the business review we had on his second day with the company. I am not one to judge by looks, but his greasy red hair and piercing gray eyes put me into a cold sweat.

"Good afternoon Liam," he says with a drippy voice, revealing his awful yellow teeth. I should check his file and see when his birthday is... I would offer him a bunch of toothbrushes and paste... He bends over to lay his huge hands over my desk, promising the worst to come. "I need an appointment with Mr. Pierce. When is he coming back to the office?" Oh please!!!!!! I wish he would remain standing straight... as far as possible from my desk... His breath is just loathsome and would surely kill any fly that would pass by.

"He'll be back on Friday but his calendar is already fully booked," I reply, trying to hold my breath.

"Can you please ask him if he could free half an hour for me, though? If not, I would need to see him on Monday," he insists.

"I'll do that. And I will send you an invite from his calendar..."

"Alright... thank you and have a good evening!" he says with a grin before he turns around to the elevators, to my utter relief.

Jesus Christ!!! How can someone let themselves go like that? I don't know whether he is married or not, but I sympathize with his wife if he has one... unless she is the same. Damn! That guy's breath really reeked. I'm glad that it is time to leave or else I would have had to open the windows for fresh air. As usual, I meet Tony on North Canal Street and don't even try to argue with him about sitting at the front. Joshua explained me that even he is not allowed to do so, so I have resigned myself to sit at the back. Tony is as silent as ever throughout the whole ride and hurries to open the door for me when we reach my place.

"Have a good evening, Mr. Reed," he says politely when I hop out of the car, making me scowl at him.

"If you expect me to sit at the back, Tony, then I expect you to call me Liam..." I kindly remind him. A smile finally tugs at his lips.

"I will pick you up at 7:30 tomorrow morning, Liam."

"Thank you... Have a good evening too."

Just as I begin to climb up the staircase, my phone goes off. Shit... Mom... I completely forgot to call her back as I had promised in a text yesterday. I might not be as close to my parents as I used to be when they were still in Chicago, but I still love them of course. I always spend Christmas with them and at least two weeks in the summer. When they moved to California, we used to call each other every day, until it moved to every other day, then once a week, but now it is more like once every two weeks... they're always more and more involved in their work at the university and well... I am also more and more busy. However I haven't spoken to them in more than three weeks now and my mom texted me yesterday evening just as I was about to go to bed, I promised to call her back over my lunch time today... and I forgot.

"Hey Mom... Sorry I didn't call back earlier..."

"No problem sweetie, I believed you were too busy again. It's good to hear you though! How have you been?"

"I'm good Mom... just hold on a second... I'm opening the door..." I tell her as I reach our floor. I hurry to unlock the door and slam it shut, dropping my bag on the floor.

"Do you want me to call later, Liam?"

"No, no that's fine. I was just on my way back home, but it's all good now. So how are you? Is Dad with you too?" I ask, shrugging off my coat and hanging it at the hook behind the entrance door.

"No, your Dad is still at work. He has a meeting with some students. And we're fine baby, just as busy as ever... And you? How's your job going? Are you still coping with all the work? You know, you're an intern baby, and you shouldn't work that much... if your boss gives you too much, you should..." she rambles on and on.

"Mom, mom, it's okay... I do have a lot of work, but I really like it... It's very interesting... and you know that I've always wanted to do that... Working with the CEO is a great opportunity and I can't complain on doing too many hours..." I reassure her.

"I know sweetheart, but does he treat you well at least?" she asks with concern and I suppress a chuckle. Yes he does Mom... He just molests me sometimes, I gave him my virginity, and apart from a few spankings and ramming into my ass, yes he does treat me well. As if I could tell her...

"Sure... He's very kind, you don't need to worry."

"You don't sound so sure..." she comments warily.

"I promise Mom! This job is perfect and Mr. Pierce is a good man..."

"Really?" she chuckles. "When you say that, I imagine one of those old wealthy CEOs, almost bald and with a side strand of hair thrown across the top of their heads..." This time I burst out laughing, imagining my handsome Joshua bald and with just one strand of hair... Did I just think my Joshua?

"He's not like that all, Mom... He's young you know..." I reply, maybe a bit too dreamily.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, you told me already... Still older than you...," she hints at me and I hurry to change the subject. I haven't told my parents about my relationship with Joshua. Not even the unofficial one. I haven't even come out to them yet.

"Have you and Dad already planned your next trip?"

"No, not yet but we still have time until spring." My parents have been doing this for a few years now. They use the springbreak to visit a new part of the world each year. Last year they were in the UK and the year before in Japan.

"Are you still thinking about Spain?"

"Spain or France, we're not quite sure. We might do both actually," she replies enthusiastically.

"Lucky you... I'd love to visit Paris..."

"Aaahh... the City of Love... Is my son getting romantic all of a sudden?" Oh God... what's her problem tonight? If she knew what I'm doing with Joshua, she'd see how far I am from being romantic... although if I have to be honest, the date he took me out on last Friday evening in a beautiful restaurant was very romantic.

"Hmm I was rather thinking about nice food and places to visit..." I mutter.

"Talking about romance, how's Shannon doing?" she suddenly asks, making me burst out laughing again. Shannon and romance are just two opposite concepts and she knows it. Talking about the devil, I wonder where he is...

"He's doing good... He's leaving tomorrow morning to do some works in another farm with the guy he met recently. He'll be away for at least two weeks."

"That's good, at least it keeps him busy. And he still hasn't managed to drag you to the dark side of the force?" she asks with a mischievous tone that I am not used to with her.

"Mom!!! What's it with you tonight??" I exclaim, blushing although there is no one around to see my embarrassment.

"I don't know what you're talking about...." she replies with mock innocence.

"You do know!"

"Well... I'm just wondering... if maybe you have finally... you know... met someone... I'm just worrying a little darling. I know that you've always wanted to focus on your studies, despite Shannon's influence, but... you're an adult now... You should start enjoying the pleasures of life and of being young..." she stutters, obviously not at her ease.

"Mom... I am still young... And I do enjoy myself... I actually go out more often now..."

"Oh... that's good to hear then... I hope Shan will get you to meet some people and maybe soon you'll introduce us to a beautiful young l..."

"Mom... please!!"

"Okay, okay... just don't forget the condoms and everything..."

After another fifteen minutes of small talk and promises to call each other soon, I finally hang up. I love my mother but she can be a tad bit annoying sometimes, although this whole sex and romance talk is new to me. It is not as if I was an extravagant kid when I was younger and considering that I never had friends, we never had to have that kind of awkward conversation that parents have with their teenagers when puberty hits them, since puberty never really hit me until I met Joshua. I guess I'll have to tell her at some point, but I'm not as confident with telling her for now as I was with Shan. After all, it's not as if she was around and I had to account for everything I do or every place I go... So I can keep this to myself for now. The other thing she mentioned before we hung up is Christmas because my parents obviously expect me to visit them in California end of December. I told her that I would have to speak with my boss and ask if I can take a few days off; her answer was that she would call him herself if need be.

We haven't discussed this at all with Joshua yet and I know that I will need to bring up the subject as soon as possible in order to book my tickets to Los Angeles. I wonder how and where he spends Christmas. From what I understood, the sole vacation he takes every year is two weeks in the summer, but what about the Christmas celebration? I also understood that he doesn't seem to be very close to his mother but I suddenly realize that I don't know much about him and his family. Over the past two weeks, I have come to spend more time with him, feeling much more confident around him, and I got to learn a little more about his friends, but he never speaks about his parents. I will have to remedy to this at some point.

After a nice warm shower, I set to cook dinner for Shannon and me, wondering where he could be. Seeing how cold it is outside, I am definitely up for a warm soup and it would perfectly fit the healthy diet that Joshua has imposed on me through our agreement, even if I add a bit of cream and croutons... Just as I am done mixing the cooked vegetable, Shannon barges into our apartment, jumping everywhere and squealing and squawking.

"It's fucking cold!!! So fucking cold!!!" he screams, trying to slip his cold fingers under my sweatshirt.

"Oh damn, Shan!!! Stop that!!" I shout back, trying to dodge his attempts.

"But you're so hot Bunny..." he says, using his lascivious voice.

"I swear to God Shan... if you just put one freezing finger on my skin again, I'm gonna throw the pan of boiling soup to your face!" I warn him seriously.

"You wouldn't do that..." he scoffs.

"Wanna bet?"

"No thanks... However, I'd love a bowl of this soup... It smells delicious... for soup... Not as good as a mouthwatering and greasy hamburger, but... What's it with all this cooking you've been doing recently?" he asks, taking off his coat and discarding it on a chair before he tugs his boots off and leaves them lying in the middle of the kitchen. Shannon and tidying up... another two opposed concepts...

"Where have you been?" I ask, deftly dodging his question.

"I needed a new coat... mine was completely worn out so I went shopping. By the way, we're going out after dinner!" he informs me, as if I had no other option.

"It's already past 7, Shan! And I have work tomorrow!" I tell him, serving two bowls of soup and putting them on the small kitchen table.

"Seven is not late and I also wake up early tomorrow. That would be great if you could wake me up before you leave by the way..."

"It's freaking cold outside and I really need to get some sleep Shan..." I argue.

"And you're young and healthy and should be able to deal with an evening out on a week night... Stop acting like an old bachelor, Li! And I never said we'd come back late!"

"But it's still cold..."

"Oh come on... please!! Remember I'm leaving tomorrow... And your boyfriend's not even here... pleaaaaaase..." he begs, batting his eyelashes and pouting his lips.

"You look so gay when you do that..." I laugh at his puppy expression.

"That's because I'm so gay..."

"Thought you were bi..."

"Yeah, I am that too and... hey, I know what you're doing! Don't try to change the subject... Please Li... just a drink and we're getting back home..." I try to think it over very quickly... Joshua never said I wasn't allowed to go out... and he probably won't call me until 10 or 10:30... If we go right after dinner, I should be able to drag Shan back home early enough...

"Okay, but we're not staying late..."

"Deal, Bro!" he cheers with a huge grin.

* * *

"Here you go..." Shan says with a proud smile, putting his third and my second round of beer on the table as he sits back across from me. We've been in this bar for one good hour now, talking about silly things as we often do, him commenting about people's looks or faces in this crowded place and getting a few winks from cute guys who notice how Shan is looking at them. "Jeez... that guy over there with the pink shirt just groped my ass while I was at the bar..." he chuckles. "Actually... I wouldn't mind those firm hands to grope my front..."

"Argh Shan, you don't even know him... And he looks much older than you..."

"Huh... remind me how old your Joshua is?" he sneers playfully.

"He's below 30, so that's not old... that guy is at least 35..."

"That's not that old... I've done much older..."

"Eww..."

"No ewws... The guy was a little over forty but he looked much younger... and it was just for a blow job in the restrooms of a club... I wouldn't have minded to go further but his wife called him back home just when he was pumpi..."

"Shan!! I don't need details!!"

"Don't play your saintly hypocrite Li... and don't tell me you haven't done that with your man... by the way... when do I get to meet him?" he asks wriggling his eyebrows. I knew that this question would pop up at some point. Shan hasn't met with Joshua yet because either Tony was sent to pick me up when I was going to Joshua's place or we left from the office or Shan just wasn't home when Joshua would drop me off. Not that I really mind them meeting, but I have a feeling that these two might not get along very well...

"I don't know... Why would you like to meet him?" I reply casually.

"Are you kidding me Li? You're my best friend! You're like a brother to me! Your question should be Why wouldn't I like to meet him? And my next question is: how come I haven't met him yet? Are you hiding him? Are you scared I might pinch him from you?" he asks with a giggle.

"Huh... no... You wouldn't do that... and as much as you can get into about anybody's pants - or rather get almost anybody in your pants - I don't think you're his style..." I tease him.

"Don't underestimate my charms... but I wouldn't do that anyway... And you still haven't answered my question..."

"I don't know Shan... I'll introduce you when I get the opportunity..." I mumble.

"You could at least show me a picture... From what you said, he's good looking and tall and has beautiful eyes, but... Does he have a big dick?"

"You're such a perv, Shan! That's none of your business..." I take offense, making him guffaw.

"I just wanted to see you blush... though I'm still interested..."

"He's much bigger than I would have thought," I reply, giggling like a girl, the end of my second beer probably helping.

"I haven't seen you limp though... so it can't be that big..."

"That's only because you haven't seen me after the first time..." We both burst out into laughter as we continue in our rapturous and rubbish talk.

I am not used to drinking alcohol and the vapors get me a little tipsy even if I am far from the state I was last time I drank at that nightclub. Anyway, I am not ready to repeat the experience any time soon. I think our laughter doesn't go unnoticed, especially Shannon's, and soon enough, there's a guy who comes to sit beside him and starts hitting on him. Seeing how my friend looks at the guy and how late it is, I take it as my cue to leave and go home. I reassure Shannon that I can walk back home on my own and remind him that I will wake him up tomorrow morning, before I head out to work. Half way home, I quickly peek at my phone and see that it is already past 10:30 so I pick up my speed, hoping to feel warmer and glad to see that Joshua hasn't called yet. Well so much for my luck... His name displays on the screen of my phone just as I was about to shove it back in my pocket.

"Hello?" I answer as I slow down my walking pace, trying to sound natural. Maybe I should have ignored his call... I'm only two minutes away from home and I could have pretended that I was taking a shower...

"Why do you sound out of breath? Have you been running a marathon that late at night?" he asks, his voice full of suspicion.

"Hmm no... I'm not out breath..." I wish my voice wasn't that hesitant.

"Where are you, Liam?" he asks commandingly. Damn car that just honked!!!

"I'm on my way back home... so... I'm in the street right now..." I reply, feeling a bit light-headed.

"At that time of night?" he exclaims. "Shouldn't you rather be in bed and ready to sleep?"

"I'm not a child... And as far as I know, there's no law forbidding me to go out with a friend of mine when I am almost 21..." I reply, slightly annoyed by his bossy tone, as I walk into the building and begin to climb upstairs. I know that I shouldn't use sarcasm against him, but the two glasses of beer I drank must have given me some guts...

"I guess that's right, as long as you respect the rules... However, I don't really like you being out when it's that cold outside and late at night... Chicago is not exactly the safest place... You could have taken a taxi!"

"I was only ten minutes from home..." I sigh as I get inside my apartment and relish in its warmth.

"And where were you by the way?"

"Does it really matter?"

"I'm just curious..." or suspicious yeah...

"Curiosity killed the cat, they say..." I giggle as I plop down on my bed.

"Have you been drinking, Liam?"

"Yes I have... a good homemade soup... with carrots, potatoes and leek... and also some herbs and..."

"What else, Liam?" he interrupts me, annoyance now clear in his voice.

"Maybe a beer... or two... but I'm not drunk, Daddy..." I reply with a bit too much sarcasm. The sigh of exasperation I hear suddenly brings me out of my tipsy state and I sit up on my bed, realizing that I have just thrown myself into some trouble. "It was only beer, Joshua... nothing strong..."

"You are underage... and breaking a rule... if not more. Now get ready to sleep. We'll discuss this tomorrow. Have a good night."

Before I can apologize or say anything else, the line goes dead. I am tempted to call him back or to send him a text, but that would only aggravate the situation. I am a bit confused by my emotions now... On one side, I am angry at his bossy and disapproving tone. Okay I disobeyed his rule about alcohol, but it is not that serious... I am an adult and a rather responsible one at that. I have never been into drugs, never smoked and never gotten drunk as a teenager. In barely a month, I am going to turn 21. It is not as if I were sixteen... and for some reason, I doubt that he was the perfect teenager himself... so his reprimand annoys me slightly.

On the other side, his tone before he hung up left me cold and upset, but in a different way. It was firm and dry, but it also held a lot of disappointment and maybe some sadness and pain too. Over the last two weeks, I have gotten used to his constant praise and encouraging words. He never misses to tell me how good I am, how great I do and how proud he is of me and my general behavior. Although my parents often congratulate me about my grades, they have never been the kind of people to show off that much on their emotions and pride in me. My mom does call me with sweet names now, but that's only been since they left Chicago and over the phone.

So hearing all this appraisal and kind words from Joshua is something quite new to me and I really like it. In the end, the disappointment I heard just a few minutes ago hurts me much more than his lecture. I don't really regret my evening out with Shannon, but I know that I will have to take the responsibility for my actions. What annoys me even more is that we had reached a more comfortable level in our relationship. He still does impress me of course, but I have felt much more at ease around him, and over the last two week-ends, I have discovered that he can be a really funny and relaxed person. I hope that this little incident is not going to ruin everything...

Published on 7 Oct 2016

Sorry for the messy schedule of updates this week, but I've just had a hard time reconciling a busy week, family and Wattpad, and considering that this chapter and the next end on cliffhangers, I wanted the one after next to be ready too, so that's why it took so long.

About the characters mentioned in this chapter, so there was Elena (the HR assistant), Derek Jones (the CFO with whom Liam worked in the beginning), Dominic (the Accounts Payable Manager who called him fag in the lift before), Devon Hawler (the Compliance Manager who is a friend of Derek), Liam's mother (it was time I should speak about his parents lol but since they live in California, they're only secondary characters) and Shannon (oh yeah... you already know that one :p )