“I would want people to know that Benji is a very sweet, kind person,” Noah said. “He’s also very private and doesn’t appreciate being hounded. Neither do I.”
“Noted.” Katee scribbled to a stop, clicking her pen twice. A tic she did when she approved of something that had been said. Noah didn’t know if she realized she did this, and he wasn’t about to point it out. He liked Katee, but she was still the press. He had to have the upper hand.
“Okay,” she said. “Before we start talking about the company, I have to go over some more gossip.”
“Go for it.”
“There’s been talk that your brother has been having some trouble.”
Noah’s smile tightened. As far as he knew, the board didn’t know about any of Michael’s embezzling. And they wouldn’t know about any of it until Noah handed them proof, including several pissed off investors. But he’d been wrong before.
“Trouble?” he said lightly. “In what way?”
She opened her mouth. But before she could put Noah’s racing mind at ease, her phone started buzzing at the edge of Noah’s desk.
“Shit.” Katee leaned over with a sigh, clicking pause on the recording. “I’m so sorry, it’s my daughter. I have to take this.”
“Of course.” Noah watched her go. Then he got out his own phone, half of him expecting it to be blowing up with angry texts from a newly fired Michael. But the only text waiting for him was from Benji.
Photos. Just like Noah had asked for.
Noah clicked into them. The first one was the corner of a painting. Benji still wouldn’t take the sheet off when Noah was around or let him see the canvases he’d discarded. But he would send photos: a sliver of canvas, even smaller glimpses of gold.
The next photo was of Benji’s hard cock straining against a pair of white lacy panties.
Noah checked the timestamp. One minute ago.
He typed out a reply.Don’t come.
The reply came almost immediately:i know. hate u.
Noah sent him a heart emoji. After a moment, a heart emoji popped up in response.
Noah bit his cheek, forcing his smile down. It didn’t matter that Benji wasn’t moving in, that his new apartment would be confirmed soon. They werecommitted. And Noah had time to talk him into taking that next step. He’d show Benji how good life with him could be. Benji would stop being scared eventually. And if he decided Noah was too much, then… well, Noah would cross that bridge when he got to it.
Katee sped back into the room, smiling apologetically. “Sorry about that. She’s homesick, I was worried.”
“Of course,” Noah repeated. He waited for her to set up her phone to record, bracing to answer some questions he hadn’t prepped for. “What was that about my brother?”
“He’s getting thrown out of clubs,” Katee said. “Multiple incidents of public indecency. And there was an incident witha waiter at a restaurant last week. People have footage of him screaming at some teenager for dropping a glass.”
Noah kept his smile in place, sighing internally. Michael must’ve stopped those stories from getting out the way he usually did—with money and threats.
“No comment,” Noah said. “And if you try to print that?—”
“I know,” said Katee easily. She’d been on the other end of Michael’s threats before. She was one of the rare journalists who never folded. “So, you haven’t noticed him being stressed? Maybe something’s setting off his bad behavior?”
Noah pretended to think about it.
“I can’t think of anything he’d have to be stressed about,” he said finally. Then he checked his phone. Another photo from Benji.
Noah’s thumb itched to click it. He pocketed the phone instead, giving Katee another pleasant smile. “I’m afraid we’re out of time.”
Katee blinked. “Oh! Sorry, your assistant said we had your full lunch break. I was going to ask you about?—”
“She’s not with us anymore. That must’ve been lost in the handover. My new assistant, Jenny, has a lot on her hands.” Noah stood, clicking Katee’s phone to stop the recording and holding out a hand for her to shake. “Good to see you again, Katee.”
“You too,” Katee said, shaking his hand firmly. “And congratulations on the boyfriend.”
