Jason wasn’t sure he’d breathed during that download. Why was he so nervous? One thing he was uber confident about, other than his blow-job skills, was his job. He could be in Simon’s shoes now if he hadn’t made a stupid error of judgement.
“Thanks, Jason. Harriet, let’s look at yours?”
What. The. Fuck!
Gabriel and Dexter both gave him a strange look. Why had Jason not been asked the same follow-up questions? Was Simon less interested in what Jason did, or did he want to rip Jason’s priorities apart later when they were alone? His one toone was today, and everyone else was having theirs on Wednesday. Why was his different to the others?
Harriet, as predicted, had a spreadsheet, but Simon didn’t seem bothered. He asked her similar questions to the others about her plans. After that, he asked them to provide two to three bullet points on what was happening in their areas at the end of each week, so he could share anything that was a priority with the executive team, who met in the afternoon each Monday.
Once the meeting was done, Jason checked his calendar. He had nothing else for another fifteen minutes, so he headed downstairs for a coffee. It would be his second of the day, but he needed a breather, and coming back with coffee would mean nobody would ask questions about where he’d been. It wasn’t usual for people to ask where you’d been when you left your desk– JenSure wasn’t that kind of company– but he couldn’t get a read on Simon, so he didn’t want to give him an excuse to ask questions.
Jason was in the queue for his coffee when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
“What was all that about?” asked Dexter.
Jason turned round and saw Gabriel was with him as well.
“Where’s Harriet?”
“She had a meeting. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just getting a coffee.”
“Maybe your priorities were just really clear, which is why he didn’t have questions,” said Gabriel.
“You’re just standing up for him because you want to fuck him,” said Dexter.
“No, I do not.”
“Well, get fucked by him then!”
“Be quiet,” hissed Gabriel.
Jason had seen a few lingering glances from Gabriel towards Simon. He was definitely his friend’s type. Gabriel went for older men in the hope they’d be tops, but as soon asthey saw what he was packing, they had their legs over their head. It would be good for him to have a crush on someone else and stop pining for his sister’s fiancé. But now he was thinking about his boss? Did Gabriel only want complicated? It was like a romance series of forbidden love stories. Hopefully he didn’t have a stepbrother!
“Simon gives off alpha dom-top energy,” said Jason, deciding to have some fun. He didn’t have a clue what Simon got up to in the bedroom, and he didn’t want to know.
“You think?” said Gabriel, metaphorically wagging his tail and falling for Jason’s trap.
Jason and Dexter laughed.
“I hate you both,” he grumbled.
The day was a blur of meetings and catching up with his team. Some of them were only just back from holidays, and he enjoyed checking in with them all. Half of his team were based outside the UK, so he rarely saw them in person, but he made time for them as much as they needed. Some just wanted to bounce ideas around with him, others needed guidance, and there were a few who saw Jason as a safe space to vent. He was happy to be whatever they needed.
He wasn’t sure what Simon’s management style was like, but after stewing on it all day, he decided it would be best to ask him why he’d not probed on his priorities in the team meeting. It would be awkward, and he’d rather not do it, but it would keep playing on his mind if he didn’t. They were due to meet at four o’clock, but twenty minutes before, his PA cancelled the meeting. There was no alternative date offered, or an explanation. Simon wasn’t at his desk, and Jason didn’t want to email or send a Teams message. He wouldn’t be able to get the tone right. Just as his thoughts spiralled, he got a message from Langdon.
Langdon:You free to meet me at Knights Corner after work? We need to talk about Grant.
Ugh – Grant was the last person he wanted to talk about, but he liked the idea of seeing Langdon. He could vent to Langdon about Simon, and he would just threaten to punch him. Jason would never take him up on it, but the others were far too logical. He didn’t want to rant to Patrick either. Things were going well so far, and he didn’t need to see firsthand how obsessive and crazy Jason could get. The man needed to fall in love with him first, then Jason could let out his inner demons. He chuckled to himself and focussed back on his work after confirming to Langdon he’d meet him at five o’clock. He rarely left on time, but he’d been in since eight, and he just wanted to put today behind him.
Jason walked into what would become Knights Corner, the new restaurant bar that Langdon, Gregory, and Sebastian were opening. It would be the first queer social space in the heart of the city. Langdon was in charge of the development, and would run the place when it opened. Gregory was the one with the vision, and Sebastian had just thrown some money at a project he believed in.
“It’s looking good,” said Jason.
Langdon smiled, looking around. The floor-to-ceiling windows would bring in so much light once the boards were taken down, and there were quieter, more intimate booths on the other side. It would be suitable for anyone, whether it be for a business meeting, a drink after work, or to get laid. Speaking of which.
“Where are all the workmen?” Some of them were hot as fuck.
