Dillon
***Author note: When you are done reading this story, chat, flirt, and sexy talk with Remy on the author’s new A.I. website, BookishBoyfriend.com.
I stared at my phone for the hundredth time, willing it to ring. 7:24 pm. Tyler was officially 24 minutes late for our date. I bounced my leg anxiously and chewed my bottom lip unable to quell the sinking feeling in my stomach.
This wasn’t like Tyler at all. We had been chatting online for weeks now, and he seemed so sweet, so genuine. I had really thought this could be the start of something real. My heart had fluttered reading Tyler’s texts, seeing how considerate he was, how interested in my life and dreams. It gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, I could find a love like my best friend Hil had.
Hil had met his boyfriend Cali so effortlessly, so instantly falling into an easy, loving relationship. Yet here I was, still struggling just to get a first date with a guy I had really connected with online. A guy who seemed to share my feelings and understand what it was like to be young, gay and searching for love.
Everything always seemed so much harder for me – making ends meet, finishing school, finding someone to love me for who I am. Now, here I was sitting alone in the cozy cafe Tyler and I had picked for our first date.
Had I completely misread the signs with Tyler? Was he just looking for a hookup and nothing more? Or worse, had I gotten my hopes up about someone who was just luring me in with empty promises?
I checked my phone again. 7:27 pm. The sinking feeling in my gut twisted sharply. Blinking back tears, I muttered under my breath, “Don’t cry, you idiot. It’s just a first date.”
But it was more than that and I knew it. This date had represented something much bigger – a chance at the true love I desperately wanted. A possibility of having someone finally see me, want me, love me for exactly who I was.
All I had wanted was what seemed to come so easily to everyone else – a loving partner by my side. But disappointment after disappointment was starting to take its toll.
A tear escaped rolling down my cheek when the cafe door chimed open. I quickly brushed it away, feeling foolish. An attractive couple walked in, arm in arm, laughing lightly together. The twist in my gut wrenched tighter. He wasn’t coming. And I wasn’t even worth a text.
Swallowing, I couldn’t bear the thought of going back to my empty apartment tonight with another failure to endlessly agonize over. All I wanted was to know what it felt like to be loved. Was that so much to ask for?
But as the minutes ticked by, the truth set in. I had been foolish to get my hopes up in the first place. So with a deep, shuddering breath, I gathered my jacket and walked out of the cafe alone.
Remy
I stood in my father’s once grand office, now transformed into a makeshift hospice room. Hil and my mother were next to me, all of us looking down at our father’s lifeless body. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the soft sobs of my mother trying to hold back her tears.
Heartbreak washed over me. But gazing over the shadows cast on my father’s face by the dim light, I felt more than that. His was a mixed legacy. I had spent my life proving my worth to him. I had done things I wasn’t proud of. Now that he was gone, I wondered if it had all been for nothing.
Hil broke the silence. “I’ll organize the funeral. I want to do this for Father,” he said, his voice wavering with emotion. I could tell he was still desperate for our father’s approval, even after his death.
I glanced at him, my heart aching for my brother who had tried so hard to escape the life of crime our family had been born into. He hadn’t been built for it like I was. Unlike me, he had never been able to hide his attraction to men. It hung around his neck like a scarlet letter. To my father’s credit, he never judged Hil for it. But when my father and I were alone, he didn’t hide his disappointment.
It wasn’t for what Hil wanted to do with other men. It was for what it meant about his ability to thrive in our unforgiving world. People wanted my father dead. Given the way Father claimed his power, I understood why.
But that meant that no one in our family was safe. Hil, and his sensitive nature, would always need someone to keep him alive. Father had no problem in doing that, but it was clear that he wanted a son who could take care of himself.
That was what I became for him. I took care of myself. Always unsure of when the pass he gave Hil would end, I soon took care of Hil too. I didn’t mind. He was my little brother. It was my job. But having to be the man my father wanted me to be took its toll.
“Thank you, Hil,” I said, my voice betraying the pain I felt.
My mother reached over and squeezed my hand, her touch tingling with a mix of sadness and gratitude. I could see the hope in her eyes for a better future, free from the violence and danger that had plagued our family for so long.
My thoughts drifted to the pact I had made with Armand Clément, my father’s most vicious rival. I had agreed to hand over my father’s illegal businesses to him in exchange for keeping the legal ones and securing my family’s safety.
We would be out of the mafia world, and under his protection. It was a desperate gamble, but I couldn’t stand the thought of carrying this on without the immense pressure I had felt from my father to do it.
Besides, our family already had so much to make amends for. At some point, I was going to need to figure out how to give back to the community. Father’s obsession with power had caused a lot of pain. That couldn’t be my family’s only gift to the world.
It was then that Dillon flashed through my mind. He was Hil’s best friend and the boy whose presence never let me forget that I wasn’t straight. His lean lines, his lightly tanned skin, his loosely curly hair that I dreamed about pushing my fingers through.
They all turned me into a man who dreamed every night about holding him. A guy who fantasized about sliding my hand up his tee shirt and wrapping my large hands around his narrow chest. He was my anchor in my father’s turbulent seas and now, the ocean that kept me from Dillon lay in front of me, dead, missed, and regretted.
Excusing myself before my family saw the smile that slowly crept across my face, I headed to my childhood bedroom. I couldn’t wait another second. I needed to hear his voice. My heart pounded at the thought. I had to call him.
Retrieving my phone, I found his number. Taking a deep breath, I dialed. My heart pounded in anticipation. The phone rang and my palms grew sweaty.
“Hello?” Dillon’s voice came over the line, warm and soothing as always.
“Hey, Dillon, it’s Remy.” I tried to keep my voice steady as I spoke. “I just wanted to let you know that my father… he passed away.”
“Oh, Remy, I’m so sorry.” Like all of us, he had known it was coming. But his empathy washed over me like a comforting wave. “How are you holding up?”
My throat tightened as I struggled to maintain my composure. “I’m… managing,” I admitted, the weight of my emotions threatening to spill over. Desperate to regain control, I swiftly changed the subject. “Listen, I was wondering if you could help me with something.”
“Of course. What is it?”
“Hil said that he wants to make the funeral arrangements. I think he could really use your support right now.”
There was a pause on the other end before Dillon softly agreed. “You didn’t have to ask that, Remy. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words, my heart aching to tell him the truth about my feelings for him. But I couldn’t bring myself to say it, not yet.
“Thanks. I always know I can count on you,” I said with a smile.
“It’s no problem, Remy. I like being able to help you… and Hil,” he reassured me, his voice filled with genuine care. “We’ll all get through this together. Just let me know what you need.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “I appreciate it.”
“I know,” he said assuredly.
As I hung up the phone, I wondered what I was doing. I didn’t have to restrain myself to two-minute conversations with him anymore. I was free. I didn’t know how he felt about me, but I no longer had to hide my feelings for him. It was time for me to tell him.
Heat washed through me, considering it. It was a mixture of terror and exhilaration.
“After the funeral,” I said aloud. “My new life begins at the end of my old one.”
I could barely imagine living without hiding and secrets, but here it was. I was going to embrace the truth and see where it would take us. Was being with Dillon really going to be that simple? I didn’t know, but I was about to find out.
Dillon
Ending the call with Remy, I stood in my apartment with my saddle bag still over my shoulder. I had just walked in having returned from being stood up on my date and Remy’s had been the first voice I had heard. I could no longer feel my face.
Had Remy just called me? I wondered as my heart raced, washing away the heartbreak of an hour ago. What had been the purpose of his call?
He had said it was to get me to help Hil, but he had to have known I would have done that anyway. No, there had to be more to it than that. Was he seeking comfort for his father’s death? Because as much as I have wanted us to be, Remy and I weren’t that close.
So, could the reason for his call be something else? Could it be that he was secretly in love with me and that I hadn’t been crazy all of these years for dreaming that he was?
It was because of Remy that I had been stood up on my date tonight. Well, not directly because of him. But it was because I had interacted with Remy so much while Hil was missing that I had noticed the gaping hole in my life. Could it have been the same for him?
Thinking about it, I immediately remembered the many reasons Remy would have no interest in someone like me. For starters, although I wasn’t normally a complete mess, around him, I was. There were two months after Hil and I became friends where I couldn’t even form words in his presence.
I was 14 years old, not 10. And yeah, he was super-hot, even then. But there was no reason I should have lost the ability to speak around him.
Then there was the time Remy caught Hil and me watching gay porn in Hil’s room. I had asked Hil if he had locked the door, and he assured me he had. So, when Remy burst in, finding us with our dicks in hand, I could have passed out.
And finally, let’s not forget the time when I was 16 and Hil’s parents let me stay at their place while Hil’s family took my mother on vacation with them. I had school so I couldn’t go, but thinking I had the place to myself, I had a one-man naked dance party in their penthouse, complete with towel turban and hairbrush microphone.
Remy chose that moment to come by and check on the place. It wouldn’t have been so bad if little Dillon hadn’t been so excited to be out. But who could blame the guy? Show me someone who doesn’t like to bounce to the beat of ‘Bad Romance’ and I’ll show you someone who doesn’t know how to live.
My cheeks burned at the memories. But as I always did, I reminded myself that the humiliation I experienced in front of Remy didn’t matter. Because as much as I liked to fantasize about it, a guy like Remy, with his Greek God build, gorgeous hair, and mafia princeling status, couldn’t possibly be attracted to guys, much less someone like me.
Besides, this wasn’t the time for fantasies. I needed to focus on helping Hil through this difficult time. Despite their complicated relationship, I knew how much he loved his father. Yes, his father had locked him away in their penthouse never allowing Hil to have a social life outside of me. But that wasn’t because his father was a monster. They have a dangerous life.
And, it wasn’t like his father was wrong. The one time Hil escaped his family’s protection, he ended up being kidnapped by one of his father’s rivals. Remy and Hil’s boyfriend, Cali, had had to rescue him. The guy shot Cali in exchange for letting Hil go. Cali was alright, but still. Hil and Remy lived in a crazy world and his father had had to protect Hil from it.
On the other hand, when it became clear that Hil was gay, his incredibly scary father accepted him for who he was. Hil told me that never once did his father make him feel bad for who he was attracted to. Hell, his parents even introduced the two of us and it wasn’t like anyone ever mistook me for straight.
So, despite everything, Hil’s father had been a way better dad than mine had ever been. And now his father was gone. My heart ached for him.
Taking a deep breath, I promised myself to set aside any feelings I had for Remy and focus on being there for Hil in the coming weeks. And as the tingles I always got from thinking of Remy subsided, I again picked up my phone.
I wasn’t sure why I was nervous, but dialing Hil’s number, my heart pounded. When the call connected, Hil’s voice was shaky.
“Hey, Dillon.”
“Hey, Hil… I just heard about your father.”
There was a slight pause. “Really? How?”
“Remy just told me,” I said wanting so badly to share how amazing it was that he had.
“Oh. Yeah.”
“I’m so sorry, Hil. How are you doing?” I said wishing I could reach through the phone and hug him.
“It’s just so hard to accept that he’s gone.”
“I can’t even imagine. But I’m here for you, okay? Whatever you need, I’ll be there.”
Hil sighed, his voice cracking ever so slightly. “I appreciate that. I told Remy I wanted to handle the funeral.”
“Wow, that’s a lot.”
“Yeah, but I told Cali I was planning to and he asked if he could help me with it. So, I’ll be leaning on him for most things.”
“That’s great.”
“Yeah,” he said followed by a pause.
“What is it?”
“There is something you can help me with, though.”
“Of course! Anything. Just tell me when and where.”
The next day, Hil and I found ourselves in a boutique urn store. I didn’t even know there wasn’t such a thing. But there was and here we were.
The place exuded a somber elegance, with soft lighting casting a warm glow on the polished, hand-painted vessels. Being there, shopping for the last resting place of Hil’s father, felt surreal. It was just for the significance of it, it was also for the price tags.
With all due respect, urns were just vases with tops. How could one cost $22,000? Sure, it was marble with adorned gold filigree… whatever that was. But I could barely afford the bus I took here.
As we drifted through the aisles browsing the diamond urn collection, the topic of our conversation shifted from his father to Remy. I wasn’t the one who had changed it. But I wasn’t about to pass up on an opportunity to add material to my spank-box… when such a thing again became appropriate to do… to the thought of your best friend’s brother.
“I think I’ve come to peace with Father liking Remy best. I mean, I get it. He has my father’s need to take care of everyone. He even had it as a kid.
“There were times when we were growing up that he would do the worst big brother crap to me. But if you asked who I thought would protect me if something bad happened, it wouldn’t be a question. It would be him.”
I nodded, understanding how much Remy meant to Hil. “He’s always been there for you, hasn’t he?”
“Yeah, but at the same time, I can’t help but worry about him.”
“Why’s that?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Hil sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I just don’t think he’ll ever be able to leave our family life behind.”
“And by “your family life” you mean your family’s business?
“Yeah. And I know he made the deal that’s supposed to free us, but I’m not sure there’s any way out.”
“You got out,” I said referring to Hil’s new small-town life with his boyfriend in Tennessee.
“I did, but I was never a part of that world. My father once told Remy and me that the only way to leave a family was in a body bag. I don’t think Remy could get out if he tried.”
I frowned, not wanting to believe that. “I think with the right person by his side, he could definitely leave that life behind.”
Hil glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “Dillon, are you talking about yourself?”
I hesitated, realizing how it must have sounded. “Well, I mean, not just me. But someone who cares about him and wants to see him happy.”
Hil shifted uncomfortably, clearly not liking the idea. “Can I ask you a serious question? Because I know you like to joke about things.”
“Of course you can. What is it?”
“Do you really think you and Remy…”
As soon as he began saying it, my face felt like it was on fire. I wasn’t sure if I was embarrassed or just hurt, but I couldn’t take hearing him finish what he was about to say.
“I mean, why not?” I interrupted. “Is it so ridiculous to think that I could be good for him?”
“No, Dillon, it’s not that.” Hil sighed, his voice strained. “I think he’s not good for you. You’re the greatest person I know. What if something were to happen between the two of you? The best-case scenario is that he drags you into his insane world.
“Dillon, I’ve spent my entire life planning my escape from that place. You could end up majorly regretting being with Remy.” Hil picked up an urn and held it between us. “Or worse,” he said with sadness in his eyes.
Looking down at the glorified jar, a shiver ran down my spine. But even with what Hil said, I couldn’t shake my belief in Remy.
“Hil, if something were ever to happen between me and Remy, he would protect me just like he protects you. Didn’t you say that’s what he does? Do you think he could stop protecting people if he tried?”
Again finding Hil’s eyes I saw his frustration. As we returned to browsing, I thought the conversation was over.
“Do you even know if Remy’s into guys?” Hil suddenly blurted out louder than any one should in an urn store.
Instead of answering, I thought about all of the stolen glances and lingering touches that had fueled my fantasies over the years.
“There have been moments when it’s just been the two of us that have made me think he could be,” I said honestly.
Hil raised an eyebrow. “Wait, when have you two ever been alone together?”
“It’s not been often,” I admitted, “but it’s happened over the years. And sometimes when it does, he looks at me in a way that can’t be straight.”
Hil still seemed skeptical, but before he could say anything more, he spotted an urn that drew his attention.
“This one,” he said holding up one that screamed stately elegance. “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful. I think your father would like it,” I said sincerely.
“I’ll get it,” he said confidently. “And Dillon, please forget about Remy. I know how he looks and how charming he can be but I promise you, it comes at a cost. I couldn’t take it if I lost you too.”
Looking at him I saw the pain in his eyes. Pulling him into my arms I said, “I love you, Hil. I’ll always be here for you. No matter what.”
“I couldn’t take losing you,” he repeated hugging me back.
But holding my best friend in my arms, I came to a decision. As much as I loved HIl, I couldn’t ignore how I felt about Remy. I had to at least find out how Remy felt about me.
If he wasn’t into guys, then fine. I would accept it and move on. But if there was a chance he felt the same, I had to take it.
A few months ago Hil took a risk by disappearing on everyone who loved him. That risk led to him finding the guy he’ll spend the rest of his life with. If Remy was that for me, I had to know. And I was going to find it out after the funeral.
Remy
Glancing around the tastefully decorated conference room of the building I grew up in, I took in the soft lighting and elegant flower arrangements adorning the tables. The mood was heavy with a mix of grief and nostalgia, but it still felt like the celebration of life that it was supposed to be.
Surveying the guests, I spotted my drugged yet surprisingly sociable mother. She had been handling this better than expected. The miracles of modern pharmaceuticals, am I right?
Past her was my brother, Hil, and his boyfriend, Cali. Seeing Cali always brought a smile to my face. The hulking, college football player who had the balls to openly date a guy, was amazingly easy to fluster. That made teasing him so fun.
‘Let’s see, what was I going to call him today?’ I wondered, walking over to them. Hillbilly? No, I called him that the last time. Redneck? Overused. Tractor-chaser? Mudflap-magnet? Flannel-fucker?
Approaching my grieving brother, I clutched his shoulder and squeezed.
“You did a great job with the wake, Hil. You really did. Everyone’s impressed. Dad would have loved it.”
Before Hil could respond, I turned to Cali. “And in this situation, a great job means that he didn’t put a single picture of cousins kissing anywhere in the place. I know that’s weird for you.”
“Remy!” Hil protested.
“What?” I asked innocently. “I was ensuring that your Redneck Prince here could follow the conversation. I was being inclusive.”
Cali stuttered, wanting to respond but knowing he couldn’t out of respect for the occasion. The tortured look in his eyes brought me endless joy.
“Remy, that’s not funny,” Hil snapped.
I feigned being hurt. “Hil, you’re gonna yell at me today? Here? We’re at our father’s wake. Hil, I’m grieving,” I said hoping my smirk wasn’t lingering.
Hil, at a loss for words, quieted long enough for me to look over his shoulder. Behind him, standing by himself, was Dillon. He had been watching us. When our eyes met, I felt a vice around my heart.
As he lifted his glass to his lips, he looked away. But it was too late. I was hooked. And for the first time since we had met, I was free to get what I wanted, which was, more of him.
“Remy, all I’m saying is…”
“…that you have no empathy for my grief. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, but could we pick this up a little later? I have heartbroken guests I need to attend to,” I told my little brother, feeling rejuvenated.
Crossing the room to the man I had wanted for so long, I realized that this was it. I was going to tell him how I felt. I knew I should have been nervous, but I wasn’t. The life I had dreamed of and had planned for for years was within my sights. I couldn’t wait for it to begin.
Approaching Dillon, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Thank you for being here,” I said genuinely.
“Of course,” Dillon replied, his brown eyes soft and sincere. “If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”
My mind teetered on the edge of inappropriate thoughts, but I reined myself in. “Actually, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”
Dillon looked amused. “That’s funny because there’s something I need to discuss with you. But you should go first.”
“Really?” I asked surprised. “In that case, please take the floor,” I insisted politely.
“No, go first. Mine can wait.”
“No, no. I think you should go first,” I said showing him the type of boyfriend I would be to him.
“Remy, please,” he said touching my forearm.
Heat washed through me. There was no way I could resist his request now.
“You know what? You’re right. What I have to say might influence what you have to say, so I should go first.”
“Oh!” Dillon said taken aback. “Okay,” he agreed nervously.
I straightened up, seriousness washing over my face. “I’ve been thinking about you… about us. And… I don’t know.”
With his tan complexion turning bright red, he put his delicate fingers on my chest. “Wait, before you do, I need to tell you this.”
“No, really, I should tell you this first.”
Dillon insisted, “Don’t say it until I say what I have to say.”
“Oh, shit!”
“It’s not bad. I promise,” Dillon assured me before noticing that I was looking at something behind him. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll be back in a minute and I promise you we’ll continue this conversation,” I said, reluctantly tearing myself away from him.
Crossing the room, I headed toward Armand Clément, my father’s greatest rival and the man with whom I had made my deal. In exchange for my release from the mafia world, I agreed to give him my father’s illegal businesses.
For it, I would keep the businesses I had created from scratch. On top of that, his organization would offer my family its protection. I had considered it a win-win. He got what he and my father had shed blood over, and I would be free to have what I had built… and Dillon.
Hil, my mother, and I would owe him nothing else. We would never have to see him again.
Yet, here he was flanked by two of his henchmen and a stunning blonde who was young enough to be his daughter. Fighting back my urge to strangle the life out of him, I approached him standing close enough to smell his breath.
“What are you doing here, Armand?” I asked not giving him an inch.
“Remy, I’m here to pay my respects,” he replied with a hint of sarcasm.
“Bullshit. If you wanted to show your respect you wouldn’t have stepped foot onto my father’s territory.”
“But this isn’t your father’s territory anymore. It’s mine. It’s all mine. Thanks to you.”
“And our deal was that you would back off and let us live our lives.”
“No,” Armand corrected with a smirk. “Our deal was that I would treat you like family. So, I’m here… for family.”
I stared at his smug face wanting to bury my fist into it. I couldn’t, though. Not here. Not now.
“Cut the crap and get to the point, Armand. Why are you here?”
The scar-faced man with a body built on indulgence, released a snake of a smile.
“That’s why I like you. You always get right to business. Okay, here it is. I’ve been doing some research. It turns out that the businesses I allowed you to keep are worth a bit more than I would have guessed. My accounts say more than a billion.”
“You mean the businesses I built from scratch without my father’s help.”
“No, I mean the ones that you built on the back of your father’s empire—an empire that is now mine.”
“That’s not the way it worked. My father had nothing to do with my companies.”
“But his money did. Money that came out of the blood of my people, at my expense.”
I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my cool. “Armand, I gave you everything else. What more do you want?” I demanded.
His eyes glinted with mischief. “Actually, what I want is to make you a generous offer. I won’t ask you for the share of your businesses that many would say I deserve. Instead, I’ll give you a way to ensure that no harm will ever come to anyone you love.”
“And how’s that?”
“By uniting our families.” He gestured to the young woman standing beside him. “I want you to marry my daughter, Eris.”
I stared at him stunned, then laughed. “You’ve gotta be kidding.”
Armand’s face hardened. “This is not a joke, Remy. Marry my daughter and our families will be connected by more than just business. I don’t offer this deal lightly. Refuse and I will take it as a great insult.”
My gaze traveled from Armand to the beautiful woman beside him, then to Dillon, who was watching intently from across the room. I knew what Armand was suggesting, but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t.
“Look, I appreciate the… offer, but I can’t marry your daughter.”
His eyes narrowed. “I suggest you reconsider, Remy. You don’t want to insult me. Not about this. If you did, there will be… consequences.”
Hearing his threat, my heart raced. Quickly weighing my options, I looked around the room again. I was in an impossible position. I couldn’t risk the safety of my family, nor could I put Dillon in danger. But marrying Eris would mean giving up any chance I had with Dillon, the man I loved.
How could I do this? I couldn’t do it. But how could I not do it?
Armand’s meaty hands clutched my bicep pulling me aside and snapping me back to reality. I was about to tell him to go to hell and face the consequences when he lowered his voice speaking from one man to another.
“I can see that you’re torn. Maybe there’s someone else you would prefer to be with?”
“Get to your point,” I insisted not about to discuss my feelings for another guy with him.
“My point is that we are men. And men like us can’t be contained. I wouldn’t expect you to be. All I would expect from you is a wedding and an heir. Past that, who is to say what you do? Live your life without insult to me and I wouldn’t care what you get into.”
I stared at Armand stunned. Was he proposing that I cheat on his daughter?
“In my family, it’s a tradition,” he confirmed making me hate him more.
My mind raced fueled by anger and helplessness. I again considered refusing when I looked at his henchman and the barrel-shaped man pulled back his jacket revealing the butt of his gun. Armand had come ready for bloodshed. I couldn’t let that happen in a room full of people I cared about… and Cali.
With my thoughts racing towards panic, I gritted my teeth and said, “All right!” It came out before I knew what I was saying.
“What was that?”
My jaw clenched after taking a moment to consider the situation. He had me.
“I’ll marry your daughter,” I told him stunned by the words coming out of my mouth.
Armand’s smug smile returned. Quickly walking away from me, he addressed the room commanding everyone’s attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have great respect for the man we are here to honor today. We might have had our differences but the time for disagreements is over.
“To that end, I would like to announce happy news on an otherwise sad day. It is the engagement of my daughter, Eris, to Remy Lyon, a union that will allow peace and prosperity to flourish for all. Let our once bitter rivalry end here and let our great families now become one.
“Let’s hear it for the new couple,” he demanded smiling from ear to ear.
Polite, confused applause filled the room. Disbelief was etched on my family’s faces. It was surreal. What had I done? The reality of my decision didn’t hit me until a shocked Dillon caught my eye. His disappointment and hurt were inescapable.
The tingling excitement I’d felt about talking to him was gone. Replacing it was a hollow, aching emptiness. I’d given up my chance at love. And for what?
But staring at him, I realized that after coming so close to having him, I couldn’t just let him go. Even if I couldn’t be with him, I had to have him near me. I knew I had to offer him something.
“Dillon,” I called out, as he headed for the back door looking like he was about to cry. He stopped. Catching up to him, I wrapped my hand around his bicep. He was so small. Pulling him close, he refused to look at me.
“Is that what you were gonna tell me? That you were gonna marry that woman?” he spat mired in jealousy.
“No. It wasn’t that at all.”
“So you just weren’t gonna say anything about it?” he said finally looking me in the eyes.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“What then?”
He had a point. What was I going to tell him? Should I tell him that I had just sold my soul for the life of everyone in here? It was the truth. But not even I had such a martyr complex.
No, I had had other options and I had made my choice. Now I had to live with it. But that didn’t mean I would let Dillon go. According to Armand, I didn’t even have to. Though, my proposal for him to be my boyfriend probably had to change.
“Would you consider working for me? I could use someone I trust in my businesses.”
He hesitated, his gaze locked on mine. Caught off guard, he looked confused.
“Remy, you know I’m still in college, right? I’ve got at least a year left before I graduate.”
“But, it’s about to be summer break, isn’t it? And when you graduate, you’re gonna need work experience. So, to that end, I would like to hire you as my…”
“…your secretary?” Dillon interjected.
I looked at him surprised by his modest assumption. I had come up with the idea on the fly so I didn’t actually know what I was going to propose. But it helped to know his expectations.
“No,” I retorted. “My assistant. You’ll help me on a daily basis and I’ll have access to you whenever I need you.”
“Sounds like a secretary to me,” Dillon persisted.
I shook my head, “It’s not.”
“Would I be sitting at a desk outside your office?”
The thought of being able to look up at any time and see him instantly made my cock hard. “Absolutely. That part is non-negotiable.”
“That’s a secretary,” he concluded still not hinting how he felt about the idea.
“Call it what you will. The only thing that matters to me is, do you accept?”
Dillon
I sat in the chic Soho coffee shop, rubbing my sweating palms against my jeans, waiting for Hil. My heart raced, wondering what he’d say about me accepting Remy’s job offer. He’d been right about Remy not leaving the Mafia world behind. And now I was willingly entering it.
The coffee shop was a blend of modern and vintage, with exposed brick walls, sleek leather seating, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. It was a place we had frequented as kids. So many of our summer afternoons were spent here sipping coffee, imaging ourselves more grown up than we were with Hil’s bodyguard a booth away.
I saw the same memory in Hil’s eyes when he entered. Giving him a nervous smile when his gaze settled on me, he made his way over.
“I chose this place because I thought it’d bring back a few memories,” I told him as he sat down.
Hil looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings.
“If it weren’t for you, I would know nothing about New York,” he admitted. “We used to come here pretending to be adults. Now I’m living with my boyfriend and you’re a year away from graduating college. It’s weird.”
“Yeah. Weird,” I said with a chuckle, the nostalgia warming me despite my anxiety.
Taking a deep breath, I soaked in the last of our old dynamic and said, “Hil, Remy offered me a job.”
His expression remained unreadable. “You shouldn’t take it, Dillon,” he said firmly.
My eyes welled up. Looking at my lap, I muttered, “Okay.”
A tear slipped down my cheek, and Hil’s hand reached out to comfort me.
“Why are you crying?” he asked softly.
I sniffled, meeting his gaze. “Why do you think I’m not good enough for your family?”
Hil sighed, his eyes filling with concern.
“That’s not it at all, Dillon. That’s not it at all. My whole life, I’ve felt trapped in my family’s crazy life. I don’t want you to join me in this cell.” He paused, reminiscing. “You don’t know what it was like growing up in that penthouse cage, where the only friend I had befriended me out of pity.”
I shook my head, denying his claim. “That’s not why we’re friends, Hil. We’re friends because I love you.” My voice trembled as I continued, “And I’m really tired of being your family’s charity case. I’m grateful for it. Don’t think I’m not. But I want to stand on my own.
“If I accepted Remy’s offer, maybe I could do that. And maybe if I earned my way, I could take you out instead of always depending on your generosity.”
Having heard what I said, Hil wiped his eyes, sniffling.
“I don’t want you to get involved with Remy, Dillon. And it’s not because you’re not good enough for our family. I already think of you as a brother.”
“Then, I don’t understand. Why don’t you want us together?”
“It’s because I need you, Dillon. And I know if you got involved with him, he’ll do something that will get you hurt. Once that happens, you’ll realize you’re too good for people like us, and then… you won’t want to be friends with me anymore,” he admitted as his tears continued to flow.
“I know it’s selfish, but I couldn’t stand to be alone again, Dillon,” Hil added, his voice cracking. “And you’re all I have. I don’t want to lose you.”
I reached out and squeezed his hand. “Hil, nothing will ever break up our friendship. And you’ll never be alone again. Not only do you have Cali but I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
Hil smiled through his tears, nodding. “I’m so lucky to have you both. But please, promise me you won’t get involved with Remy. I’ll do anything. If you need more money, I can get the scholarship committee to increase your stipend.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want that, Hil. I want to start earning my own money. And I want to take Remy’s job offer with your blessing.”
Hil hesitated for a moment, then finally gave in. “Alright, Dillon. You have my blessing. But promise me one thing – don’t fall for my brother’s charms.”
I smiled. “I promise.”
“Thank you,” he said leaning in and hugging me.
Holding him, I looked around at the place we had once pretended to be adults and wondered if I had made a promise I could keep.
A week after accepting Remy’s job offer, I walked into his stylish Brooklyn brownstone for my first day. I didn’t know what to expect but when Remy stepped out of his office to greet me, my thin suit pants couldn’t hide my excitement.
Remy’s 6’2″ muscular frame filled out a crisp white shirt like it had been painted onto him. And with his sleeves rolled up, his forearm tattoos were on full display. I could barely speak, feeling a wave of desire wash over me. It was like I was 14 again, uncontrollable boners and all.
“Dillon, I’m so excited to finally have you…”
“… here?” I stuttered.
“Where ever you’d like,” he replied with a smile and enough suggestion to drop me to my knees. “Now, the first item on our agenda, come with me,” he said quickly changing to a serious tone.
“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice sounding weak as I barely had time to set down my belongings.
“We’re doing a walking meeting. That sounds professional, right? Yes, we’re doing a professional walking meeting,” he said, leading me back outside.
“Will I need to take notes?” I replied reaching for my phone and some semblance of professionalism.
As I pulled it out and navigated to my notes app, he looked at my ancient device and sighed.
“Nope. That will not do. The first thing on your agenda, get yourself a new phone. We’ll call it a company phone, but it’s yours. Get whichever one you’d like,” he said assertively.
“Okay,” I replied, surprised by his generosity.
“The next thing on our agenda, there’s a Japanese crepe shop nearby that I’ve been dying for you to try,” Remy declared.
“For me to try?” I asked, trying to keep my composure despite barely being able to see straight.
“Yeah. I had it in Japan, then again in Taipei. When I discovered a shop just down the street, I thought, ‘you know who would love this? Dillon. Dillon would definitely love this.’ Now here you are.”
“You were sure that I would love it?” I asked, overwhelmed by his crackling charm.
“And here you are,” he repeated.
“And here I am,” I confirmed, trying to concentrate on anything but the way Remy’s shirt clung to his muscles.
Approaching the shop, I noticed a huge line snaking outside the door. Remy smirked, pulling out his phone.
“They have an app?” I observed, raising an eyebrow.
“They didn’t,” Remy confessed. “But then I tried one of their crepes, purchased the company, and then built them an app.”
I chuckled. “Yet there’s still a line.”
“The app’s still in beta. I wanted to give it rigorous testing before we released it to the public,” he explained devilishly.
“So this is your personal app to get Japanese crepes whenever you want?” I asked, my heart pounding from the intensity of his gaze.
Remy smirked. “You’ve gotta watch them make it. It’s very cool.”
As we watched the crepe batter being smoothed and flipped on a circular hot plate, I was fascinated. With it cooked, sliced bananas were placed on it and rolled. Filling it with ice cream and topping it with whipped cream, it was torched into a crème brûlée. It looked amazing! But nothing could prepare me for my first bite.
“Oh my god!” I exclaimed, my eyes fighting to leave my skull.
“Right? Best million I’ve ever spent,” Remy said with a satisfied grin.
I coughed, hearing the price. But then took another bite.
“Yeah, probably,” I agreed digging in.
Sitting at a two-top opposite the guy I had been in love with my whole life and eating the most incredible desert I’ve ever had, I was in heaven. I never wanted this moment to end. When it did and I was left dipping in and out of the pools in his eyes, I brought up the obvious.
“So, I’m here. You have me. You can do with me whatever you want. What’s my job going to be? And if you say Japanese Crepe app tester, know that I will test the crème brûlée out of that thing.”
Remy laughed. “If that’s your dream, have at it. Personally, as long as you show up every day looking gorgeous, I don’t care what you do. And, by the way, you’re doing an excellent job so far.”
I playfully rolled my eyes hiding that my suit pants had lost another round to my erection. But eventually, when I was again able to stand, we got up and walked back to the office.
“So, what does your business actually do?” I asked as the blood slowly returned to my brain.
“During the last downturn in the economy, a lot of companies were cash-strapped. I provided the capital for them to meet their expenses in exchange for a stake in the company and generous interest rates.”
“Wait, are you a loan shark?” I blurted out.
Remy burst into laughter. “When you’re rich, it’s called being a Series D investor.”
We approached the brownstone’s office door and entered. “Does the ‘D’ stand for dick? Because that’s what loan sharks are,” I quipped.
“Officially, it doesn’t. But let’s be real. Sometimes a little dick is what some people are looking for,” Remy replied, smirking.
I blushed. “I wouldn’t know anything about that.”
“You’re more familiar with the bigger dicks? I would never have guessed that about you. But rest assured, Mr. Harris, my firm can help.”
Knowing I was turning bright red, I subtly brushed the front of my pants wondering how much was showing. But hearing someone clear their throat, we both looked up. Seeing who stood in front of us, I froze in panic.
Remy
Seeing Eris Clément in the waiting area of my office ripped me out of the fantasy that I had briefly allowed myself and threw me back into reality. Armand’s pampered princess sat posed on my Le Corbusier chaise with her perfectly sculpted blonde curls and icy blue eyes that made clear her disdain for anything that got in her way.
Instinctually, I turned to Dillon beside me. He was visibly unnerved. I hated how she affected him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, annoyed.
Eris offered a coy smile. “Can’t a girl just visit her soon-to-be husband at work?” she asked making the hairs on my arm stand on end. As I gritted my teeth she added, “I brought you an engagement gift, Silly.”
“What?” I asked, thrown off by her gesture. What was she doing?
“Things between us may not have started the way either of us would’ve chosen, but we can still make the best of it, can’t we?” She gestured toward a small box on the table. “Open it.”
I hesitated again looking for Dillon’s reaction. He was as confused as I was. Turning back to the pale blue box with the white ribbon, I picked it up and stared at it.”
“It’s not a bomb, Remy. I’m sitting here with you,” she said sarcastically.
Wanting to get this exchange over with, I pulled back the ribbon and lifted the lid. Inside was a watch that took my breath away.
“How did you know I collect watches?” I stammered, looking up at Eris.
“Remy, you’re a man of class and taste. Of course, you’d collect watches,” she replied with a pleased smile.
Dillon stepped closer, curiosity getting the better of him. “What is it?”
“It’s a Richard Mille RM 56-02 Tourbillon Sapphire. It’s a very rare watch,” I said trying to remember the last time I saw one in person.
Dillon leaned over for a closer look. “You can see straight through it. It’s like the parts holding the hands are floating between glass. It’s amazing,” he admitted.
I looked at him, then back at Eris. “It’s two million dollars amazing,” I said, struggling to find the right words. “I can’t accept this. It’s too much.”
Eris folded her arms. “I’ll be your wife, Remy. Nothing is too much for my future husband.”
Seeing Dillon’s shaken expression, I got ahold of myself. “Yeah, I’ve been trying to find one of these,” I said casually.
Eris’ eyes gleamed as she asked, “Can I put it on you?”
Fighting the urge to refuse her, I relented as she slid the watch onto my wrist. Still overwhelmed by what I was looking at, I said, “Eris, I don’t know how to thank you.”
“I do,” She replied with a sinister smile. “Never take it off.”
Jokingly, I responded, “I’m not sure I would want to.”
“And fire him,” Eris continued, nodding toward Dillon.
“What?” I asked, again caught off guard by her.
“I think you heard me,” she said smugly.
“I can’t do that,” I declared, darting my eyes over to Dillon, who looked shell-shocked.
Eris scoffed. “Why not? Secretaries are a dime a dozen, aren’t they? And it’s such an easy way to make your future wife happy.”
I glared at her feeling a fire that could melt steel. “Dillon isn’t my secretary,” I said fighting not to explode.
“Oh, really?” Eris asked, her eyes narrowing. “What is he, then—your lover? Because, forced marriage or not, I will not be humiliated like my mother was,” she said unraveling. Quickly catching herself, she paused. Straightening her back she added, “I’ll have your head on a plate before I let that happen.” And then smiled like she had just shared a weakness for chocolate.