He chuckled. “What a fucking day. Yeah, come on, kid. This is my ride right here.”
They hopped into the back of a big SUV, and Lawrence did a little happy dance in his seat. As Rios shut his door, Lawrence reminded himself that the guys were watching his location and probably arriving at the bar at that very moment.
“Thank you again,” he purred, leaning across the middle seat as the driver shot out into traffic. “You’re a lifesaver.”
Rios stretched his arm over the back of the seat. “After all of these years ignoring me around your father, I’m surprised you remembered my name.”
Lawrence wasn’t sure how to read the anger underneath his voice. “Well, I’m talking to you now, aren’t I?” he asked sweetly, then pouted. “Or are you just going to ignore me until we get across town?”
With a chuckle, he reached out, then pressed his hand against Lawrence’s cheek. Lawrence managed not to jerk back from the touch as Rios stared at him. “I heard that Gerald’s boy was a little slut,” he said, hissing Lawrence’s father’s name. “I guess sometimes the rumors are true.”
Wincing, Lawrence pulled back slightly. That definitely wasn’t the reaction he expected. He clicked his tongue against his teeth. “Is that who you want me to be, Mr. Rios?” he asked as innocently as he could.
The man laughed. “Shameless. I can’t say I’m not impressed. Give me a minute, will you?”
Lawrence leaned back into the seat, his skin sticky against the leather interior as an eerie worry settled over him. Something was definitely wrong. The man had always been an asshole, but like all of the executives, he was usually polite and discreet. Even his come-on to teenage Lawrence had happened by subtle suggestion, and Lawrence had definitely never heard him use a word likeslutbefore.
He felt queasy as he thought about the reputation he apparently had in his father’s circle and disgusted by the realization that the men sometimes talked about him. Rios barked into the phone about cancelling an afternoon meeting, then hung up and shouted some new directions to the driver. Lawrence let out a nervous breath, glad at least they were making their way to the bar.
“Would you like to cancel your plans and join me, Lawrence?” he asked. “It seems we’re both in a mood today.”
Lawrence smiled. “Please, Mr. Rios. Take me away.”
The man chuckled. “Most people call me Al,” he said. “Although coming out of that pretty mouth of yours, I think I prefer Mr. Rios.”
“Whatever you say, Mr. Rios,” Lawrence breathed.
The driver pulled up to the front of a white stone building, then rushed out to open both of their doors. Lawrence glanced up and saw that the building stretched a good six or seven stories toward the sky. He wondered to himself if this was the kind of place his father took his affairs, to private bars that weren’t even labeled on the street.
“I’m very glad I ran into you today, actually,” Rios grumbled as they walked into the building, a doorman silently welcoming them. “I’ve had a wretched week, and I really did need something to brighten my day.”
Lawrence hurried alongside him. “I’ll brighten you all the way up.”
He laughed, but he didn’t sound happy. “I’m sure you will. Someone in your family has to be good for something, after all.”
Lawrence tilted his head to the side, but the rising edge in the man’s voice stopped him from asking questions. They approached a gold elevator off to the side, which was waiting open, but Rios still held the door in a way that forced Lawrence to brush past him on the way in, their bodies disgustingly close.
The older man sighed, then rubbed his forehead. “Your father wants to walk around like he’s better than everyone else? Fine.” He mumbled like he was only talking to himself as he punched a button. “I shouldn’t be the only damn one to know the truth.”
Lawrence puffed out a nervous breath, then cleared his throat to change the subject. “What’s the name of this bar, anyway?” he asked nervously.
The door dinged shut. “Bar?” Mr. Rios laughed. “Lawrence, who said anything about a bar?”
