“Grazie,” Giorgio said with a flat look. As soon as Graeme turned around to head back to the counter, he put the mug on the side table and didn’t look at it again. “I am perfectly serious,”he went on, as if he and Ryan were the only ones in the room. “I want you back,caro.”
“I believe I told you not to call me pet names, like you do with your other minions,” Ryan said, crossing his arms again. He hadn’t taken a seat, and he had no intention of doing so. He wanted all the advantages his height would give him with Giorgio. He would need them.
Giorgio shrugged like Ryan’s rebuff didn’t matter, but his shoulders were bunched and the charm had gone out of his expression. It was replaced with the ruthlessness that had helped him to reach the heights of the fashion world.
“There is no need to be rude,” he said, slipping into his business tone. “I am here to offer you a place in my house once more, a senior position.”
“And why would I accept any position with you when I left specifically to start my own line?” Ryan asked.
Giorgio huffed a laugh. “And how is that working for you, eh?”
Ryan’s crossed arms suddenly felt more like he was hugging himself. “I have a spot in London Fashion Week.”
Giorgio smiled, like that was cute. “Good for you. And after that? Do you have sponsorships? Celebrities vying to wear your designs? Do you have deals with retailers or plans to open a shop somewhere in London?”
Ryan felt sick. The feeling was eased slightly when Graeme appeared at his side, offering him a mug of tea made just the way he liked it. He took it with a grateful and affectionate smile, sipped it, and for a moment, concentrated on the milky sweetness of the tea and the support in his lover’s eyes.
“Those things will come,” he said, putting the mug down once he’d given himself a moment. “I’m certain of it.”
Giorgio chuckled. “So confident and sure of yourself. That’s why I want you to come back to Milan to be my lead designer.”
It was a massive, juicy carrot, but Ryan wasn’t tempted. “Why?” he asked. “Are you out of ideas yourself? Or are you just feeling lonely?”
Art started laughing, then clapped a hand over his mouth and shifted in his chair like he was trying to make himself smaller.
Giorgio glanced at him, seeming to notice him for the first time. That was all he did, though. He didn’t acknowledge or speak to either Art or Graeme. “I will only make this offer once,” he said, turning deadly serious as he stared at Ryan. “You come back to me or you have no career at all. The choice is yours.”
“I have more choices than that,” Ryan said.
“No, you do not,” Giorgio said with a confidence that chilled Ryan. “What will it be,mio caro?”
The pet name wasn’t an accident. Giorgio was trying to put him in his place. He might have fallen for it last year, too. Any sort of senior position at a fashion house as well-established as Giorgio’s was a dream job for any designer. But it was obvious the position came withallthe strings attached. If Ryan said yes now, Giorgio would own his balls for the rest of his career. What he gave, he could take away in a heartbeat. He’d already done it once.
“It’s a no from me, Giorgio,” he said with confidence to match his former boss’s. “I won’t be coming back to work for you. Not now and not ever.”
“I see,” Giorgio said tightly. He slapped his hands on the arm of his chair and pushed himself to stand. “Then that is that.”
“That is that,” Ryan agreed.
“I will see myself out,” Giorgio said, striding for the door. He reached into his jacket’s inside pocket and took out his cell phone as he did, almost like he wanted Ryan to see the action.
They all waited about ten seconds after Giorgio had left before simultaneously letting out their breath.
“That man is a nightmare,” Art said, jumping out of his chair and racing to give Ryan a huge hug. “He’s like some sort of gay movie villain.”
Ryan appreciated the hug and squeezed Art in return. Seconds ago, he’d been so proud of himself for standing strong on his own two feet, but having someone to embrace him and to feel that support meant so much more than stark independence.
“He really was scary,” Graeme said, coming over to join them.
Art rocked back a little, reaching for Graeme and pulling him into the hug. Graeme was surprised at first and nearly lost his balance, but soon enough they were one mass of arms and bodies locked in an embrace.
And Ryan loved it. He loved the feeling that he wasn’t alone. He was part of something bigger than himself. Without both Graeme and Art by his side, he might have easily caved in to whatever Giorgio wanted.
“Why do you think he’s so eager to have you go back to designing for him?” Graeme asked once the hug had performed its purpose and they inched back from each other.
“Our man said it best himself,” Art pointed out. “The old geezer is probably out of ideas. Or he wants Ryan to come work for him because he’s threatened by the competition.”
“It could be any or all of those things,” Ryan said with a sigh. He rubbed a hand over his face, then reached for his tea. Goddess, he needed that tea! “Giorgio hasn’t done much of his own designing for years.”
