No wonder they needed to find the rat. They’d been losing millions with each fucked up shipment.
“Check it against this list.” Henny held out a clipboard in my direction.
I reluctantly took it without looking him in the eye. Scanning over the page, I saw the crates all had numbers with inventory lists. It was very detailed, which was to be expected when dealing with anything Henny put together.
Once I confirmed what I needed to do, things were easy. I made it through the crates in a matter of minutes. It wasn’t the most exciting, but it kept my mind on something other than my current personal issues.
At least it did until I heard my name a little while later while working on the next section of crates.
“Pip,” Henny called out.
I raised my head from where I’d been leaning over inspecting one beauty of a piece I might beg Rel to let me test. My eyes went to a spot over his shoulder so I could avoid eye contact when I turned his way. I didn’t want to see whatever emotion he wore.
“How do you feel today?”
My jaw went tight. I didn’t feel like answering something so fucking stupid. How did he think I felt? I wasn’t walking on rainbows and shit. I’d come to do what Rel told me to do. Nothing more.
Talking to him wasn’t on the agenda.
Henny didn’t like my silence. He stomped over to me as I contemplated how to get out of this awkward situation. I couldn’t leave like I’d been doing. And keeping to myself didn’t appear to be an option anymore.
“We need to talk about what happened, Pip,” Henny declared.
“I don’t believe we do. We’re good. You delivered what you said you would. No need to rehash it all.” My tone was bored. I wanted him to believe he hadn’t affected me.
Sure, he’d seen the tears. I knew heknew.
But past that night, I’d managed to keep myself in check. And it needed to stay that way.
His voice turned sharp. “You know that’s not what I meant. I should have stayed.”
“Eh,” I shrugged. “It is what it is.”
“Is it? Because you’re acting like you don’t care, but I know you, Pip. You care.”
I scowled, my gaze connecting with his as I let the anger I felt at all this show. “Don’t tell me how I feel. It’s none of your business anymore. The deal is done. We can both move on working for Rel.”
“Stop.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“Yes, you damn well are!” His shout startled us both. After taking a breath, he continued. “You’re pretending not to care. I get why you’re doing it, but you have to stop.”
“I have to stop? Why? Because you say so? That’s not a good enough reason. Whatever you think we need to discuss isn’t all that important. Let’s forget it all happened. Maybe then you’ll see all of this isn’t needed.”
“Forget—you want me to forget what happened? Do you even think I can? For fuck’s sake, Pip, it’s all I can think about.”
His words lingered in the air between us. Everything in me froze at the things he didn’t say.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean, Henri. You’re not making sense.”
“STOP FUCKING CALLING ME THAT!!”
I smirked. “But it’s your name… Henri.”
Quicker than I thought he could move, Henny’s hand was at my throat. His tight grip forced me to look in his eyes. The fire in them made my traitorous cock come to life.
“You don’t call me that.” He leaned closer, his lips close enough to graze mine. “I’m your Henny. And you’re my good boy. I might have fucked up, but I learned my lesson. And now I’m thinking I need to teach you one as well.”
