My eyes shoot to his, but he continues before I can say anything.
“I don’t give a fuck where you stick your dick, who you fuck, or who fucks you or when, but it does not leave this fucking house. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir,” Arch replies. I glare at him, but his head is down, and he is staring at the table.
“Sign it!”
He barks at me, and I look down at the papers he’s just thrown across the table. NDA stamped across them.
“You will not jeopardise all I’ve fucking worked for, you understand me? You will still marry Chelsea at the end of next month and give us an heir. Whatever else you do stays secret, in this house. Do I make myself fucking clear?”
“Yes, sir.” Arch nods again,
He throws a pen at me. “Sign the fucking papers, or your dick goes nowhere near him again, do you understand?” I nod, my hand shaking as I reach for the pen.
“Make sure your bit of”—he looks me up and down in disgust—“rough signs the papers or leaves, Archibald!” And with that, he turns and leaves.
Arch sighs. “Shit… I thought that was going to be so much worse.”
“Worse, Arch? You’re getting married? How the fuck is that not worse? Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”
“We don’t love each other. We haven’t even slept together yet. It’s an arranged marriage. I must marry her and have a child, but we can still be together. I was sure Father was going to make us end it, but this way, it’s a win-win.”
“Arch, how the fuck is that a win, win?”
“We get to be together, Ryder. Didn’t you hear him?”
“What I heard was him saying I’m a ‘bit of rough’ you have to keep a secret, and we can only be together behind closed doors in this house.”
“Yeah.” He sighs with relief. “I thought that was it. At least this way, we get what we want.”
“Arch, are you serious? How is this what either of us wants?”
“It’s a compromise, Ryder, I’ll admit. But Chelsea and I will only be married on paper. It will be a front we don’t have to even like each other, just play the part in public.”
“So let me get this fucking right, because I feel like I’m missing something. You’ll get married. You, a gay man, gets married to a woman and has kids, and I get to ignore you out in the real world, but I can come here and fuck you all over the house before heading back home and ignoring you again?”
“Yeah.” He grins and leans in to kiss me. “It’s gonna work out, Ryder. We can stay together.”
I shake my head and push back from the table. I storm towards Arch’s room and throw the door open, and I walk in and grab my bag. Arch comes running in behind me.
“Ryder, what’s wrong? This is an amazing outcome, and we still get to see each other. Father won’t stand in our way. It’s not ideal, but it can really work for us.”
“Arch, I say this with the utmost respect. I fucking love you, but I will not be a random fuck on the side. I will not be hidden from everyone like a dirty fucking secret. I will not be your bit of ‘fucking rough’ who fucks you and sends you home to your fucking wife and kids. If you think any of that sounds okay, then you’re fucking delusional. You didn’t even fight for us, just yes fuckingsir.” I shake my head. “Fuck this, Arch. All or nothing, you know where I’ll be, but it won’t be hiding in the fucking closet.” I storm out of the house and drive away.
Arch
Chapter 42
I’m so confused. He doesn’t sign the agreement, and he just leaves. I don’t see a better outcome for us than what Father’s offering. I thought he loved me, but he just walked away. I’ve been promised to Chelsea since we were five, an alliance to strengthen our families. It wasn’t an issue till I met Ryder. But now, have I lost him for good? Will he come around eventually? I hope so. Father’s being generous, letting me keep this side of me, and I was foolish to think I could walk away from Chelsea and have Ryder, but this way, we can still be together. I hope he can see that.
I haven’t seen or heard from Ryder in nearly a month. He hasn’t replied to my texts or my calls and the courier I sent the NDA over with returned it as refused. I don’t know how to get through to him; the wedding is next week. I just wish he would talk to me and listen to reason that this is the best option for us. I don’t want to lose him.
Ryder
Chapter 43
I’m still reeling. I look at the messages and listen to the voicemails, but I still can’t wrap my head around them. I still can’t believe he thinks the only option is for him to get married and for me to hide in the shadows, like some cheap fucking side piece. I’m angry, and I’m hurt, and I don’t know what to say to him, but when the NDA comes with the courier, I tell him to fucking shove it. I’m fucking heartbroken. The man I thought I would be with for the rest of my life literally just tossed me aside, wanting to reduce me to an affair. A fucking closeted affair as well.
