It was smart as hell, of course it was. But it must still have hurt for Seb to say those things and to debase everything he had worked so hard to achieve. Declan knew what it was like to see your reputation in the trash, and no matter what, it fucking hurt.
He straightened his back, then caught Seb’s eye for one second, holding it just enough to feel the connection and to let Seb know he wasn’t alone.
“You’re such a disappointment,” his father said, breaking the spell and pulling Seb’s eyes away. “I shouldn’t have expected more from you, though. You’ve always been weak.” His voice was icy, and it sent a shiver across Declan’s skin.
Seb choked on a sob. His hands were tightened into fists as he stared at his father. “Don’t tell your team,” he said. “The scientists who have been looking at my research? The teams you’ve assigned to work with me? I don’t want them to know. It’s too embarrassing.”
“Ha,” his father barked. “You’ve wasted enough of our time, Seb. I’ll alert them tomorrow that the research is flawed. You’ve already damaged my reputation. If people start relying on your stolen data and fabricated results, it will be a disaster for Horizon Zed.” He sighed, then rubbed his hand across his forehead. “You have no idea what you’ve cost me, do you?”
Seb’s face was still pink, and Declan knew that the tears on his cheek were real, considering the things that had just been said. Declan stood tall, willing strength to Seb, and so damn proud of his guy for finding a way to fight back.
Seb’s father threw his hand in the air. “I don’t have time for this bullshit. Goodbye, Sebastian. My assistant will see you out.” He cursed under his breath as he turned back to his desk, then picked up his phone as though they had already disappeared.
“Come on,” Seb whispered, nodding toward the door. “Let’s go.”
They didn’t say anything as they walked across the office, past a few desks and to the bank of elevators. Declan could feel the heat on Seb’s body. His energy was sharp, his breath ragged out of his throat. While they waited, Seb pulled his phone out of his pocket and typed into it frantically, his tongue out the side of his mouth and his eyes half-closed. Declan wanted to say a million things, to pull the younger man into his embrace, but he did his best to play the role of unaffected bodyguard, at least until they were away from the office.
Finally, the elevator arrived, thankfully empty. Seb and Declan stepped inside, and when the door closed, Seb threw himself against Declan’s chest. Declan pulled his arms tight and close, squeezing Seb’s body to feel his presence while they plummeted through the air.
“You did it,” Declan said, patting the back of Seb’s head. “You pulled it off. You totally did.”
“He was just as awful as I expected.”
“He didn’t even ask if you were hurt in the fire,” Declan said. “What an ass.”
“I’d rather he think I had failed than to have him abusing my work. At least I’m halfway there to stopping it now.”
“Halfway?”
The elevator dinged to the bottom floor. They stepped out together and crossed the cavernous room, men in suits staring from every corner. “I ran some programs on my phone,” Seb said under his breath. “Alexandria is in their network this second, replacing select files from my research with doctored ones showing false numbers. It won’t stop all the damage, but it will definitely throw a big wrench in their plans and slow them down enough for me to get a head start.”
Declan chuckled as pride filled his chest again. “Smart thinking.”
Seb paused, then looked up to Declan while he wiped tears out of the corners of his eyes. They stood by the entrance to the skyscraper, the revolving doors swinging as people hurried past. “I kind of wish you didn’t have to see me like that.”
Declan scoffed. “I thought you looked good.”
Seb laughed. “Good? Now you’re obviously lying.”
Declan cocked up the corner of his mouth in a grin. “You were fucking over the man. You always look good when you’re fucking over the man.”
Seb laughed loudly, then threw his arms over Declan’s shoulders and pulled himself up for a kiss. Declan almost moaned from the wave of pleasure at having Seb in his arms again, the professional act from the office finally breaking.
“What now?” Declan asked. “Is there a next step to this plan of yours?”
Seb zipped up his jacket, then sighed. “I guess we should go see what’s left of my house, huh?
