Page 30 of Broken Promises (Soho Knights #5)

JASON

Simon was still being a dick at work. He wasn’t blocking Jason from delivering in his job, he was just making him feel excluded.

The others on the leadership team had all had deep dive sessions on their respective projects and teams. Simon had joined one of Jason’s team meetings and met everyone.

He was also working round the team for a round of individual coffees, which included everyone at all levels in the HR function.

That was seventy people, so not a straightforward task.

He was flying out to the US soon. His plan was to meet everyone in his function, in person, within his first hundred days.

Jason couldn’t fault the guy for getting stuck in straight away, for wanting to shake things up but also being respectful of what Jane had done before him.

What Jason couldn’t understand was why Simon didn’t like him.

He wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong, and although he hated getting feedback, because it always made him feel like shit, right now he’d take it rather than this silence.

Patrick had suggested he ask Simon if they could have a coffee to get to know each other better, but they’d already had a leadership team lunch, so he didn’t want to be seen as asking for special treatment.

He hated this feeling. His job was something he felt confident about, and now he was doubting himself all the time.

He couldn’t talk to the others because they thought the sun shone out of Simon’s arse, especially Gabriel who was harbouring a not-so-secret crush.

The strict personal relationships policy meant that would go nowhere, even if Simon was interested.

Jason already knew the man was a stickler for the rules.

Jane could be flexible when the situation dictated it, but Simon was very black and white and expected everyone to adhere to the policies they enforced.

It was a fair approach, but in reality, they were dealing with people, and they threw up nothing but shades of grey.

The Monday morning in-person meetings were also becoming a pain in the arse.

He’d had to leave Patrick in bed this morning, dead to the world.

To be fair, Jason had worn him out last night.

His hole still throbbed whenever he moved.

The ache was delicious and he could happily go another round now, but he had a hectic day ahead of him, and then he was meeting Charlie and the others later so they could be fitted for their best men’s suits.

Of course the place was on Saville Row. Sebastian wasn’t sparing any expense on the wedding, and it was the one time Charlie was more than happy to spend his fiancé’s money.

“This does nothing for my arse,” said Jason, looking in the mirror.

“People won’t be there to look at your arse,” said Charlie, exasperated.

The others all had their suits sorted, but Jason was being picky.

He was only five feet seven, so he had to take advantage of his assets, and his arse was the best. It was alright for Langdon and Paolo who were tall and jacked, so they looked hot as fuck.

Gregory had the whole sexy nerd thing going on, but Jason looked like he was wearing his older brother’s clothes.

“Is there not a slim fit on these trousers?”

“They’ve been tailored to your measurements,” said Charlie.

“I know, but I need them taken in more.”

“We can do that,” said the tailor.

It was clear the poor guy wanted to leave. The shop had closed half an hour ago, but given what Sebastian was paying, they just kept bringing champagne.

“Fine,” said Charlie. “But I don’t want you moaning on the day. Remember, you have to stand in it, sit down to eat, give a speech, and then dance.”

“Speech?”

“Yes, you’re one of my best men.”

“Paolo is going to speak for all of us.”

“When was this decided?”

“Well, Langdon and Gregory hate being the centre of attention, and I’d just pull focus. Paolo is the hottest, so everyone can just drool at him and not care what he’s saying.”

Langdon snorted.

“It’s not funny. Patrick is giving a speech, and I made this big thing about not being able to choose between you all. Why aren’t you all saying something?”

“No offence, honey, but that would be really boring.”

Charlie’s jaw dropped.

“Look. We’ve all been to weddings and wanted to pop open a vein when someone was droning on and on. If Langdon speaks, he’ll just scowl at everyone, Gregory will have visual aids, and I’ll talk about your horse cock. Paolo is the safe bet.”

“You mean boring,” said Paolo.

“No, honey, you’re not boring. You’re a romantic. That’s what we need. ”

“I was looking forward to hearing what you all had to say,” said Charlie, getting choked up.

Jason rushed towards Charlie, causing the tailor to topple over.

“Oops, sorry, babe.”

He gave Charlie a hug and summoned the others in for some group action. Langdon and Gregory looked like they wanted to be somewhere else, but they obliged.

“Why don’t we all say something at your stag do? You know, the boring one at home you wanted to have.”

“I just want to spend the night with you four.”

“We could still do that in a bar, or in Gran Canaria.”

They broke apart the hug.

“What would be the point of going to gay mecca when we’re all in relationships?” asked Charlie.

It was a fair point. On their first visit to Gran Canaria, Jason had walked around with his pants by his ankles for most of the week.

It had been wall-to-wall cock. But the wedding was in March, and the Canary Islands were the only place close by that could guarantee some sun at this time of year.

It would only be a weekend, so they couldn’t do long haul.

“Isn’t Sebastian going to New York for his?” asked Jason

“Yes, because all his friends are there.”

“Patrick isn’t.”

“Patrick’s going with him.”

Jason didn’t know about that. Why hadn’t Patrick said anything to him?

Not that he needed to ask permission or anything, but he thought Patrick would have mentioned if he was going to be away for a weekend.

With their busy jobs, it was the only time they got to do anything outside the flat.

He loved having dinner together, and fucking– which was his favourite– but when Patrick arranged outings for them on the weekends, he loved it.

With Charlie and Sebastian’s stags being on different weekends, that would be two he wouldn’t be seeing Patrick in the next month.

“It’s okay, Jason,” said Paolo. “Max is going as well, so we can do something that weekend.”

Jason smiled at Paolo being his sweet self as always.

“Look forward to it,” he said, meaning it.

They wrapped up the fitting, and the tailor agreed to make the alterations Jason asked for.

He would come back on his own in a week to try it on, which Charlie was happy with.

Jason was going to suggest they grab dinner or a drink, but they were all rushing off back to their men.

Jason was feeling shitty after another day in the office, feeling like he no longer belonged, so he wasn’t sure he wanted to see Patrick.

Given his low mood, he would just go home and call Patrick later.

He needed to hear from his daddy before he went to sleep, but he knew if Patrick saw Jason tonight, he’d be worried.

Jason said goodbye to the others. Usually they’d have questioned why Jason was happy to just go home, but they had their own lives now, so were less concerned about what he was doing.

It wasn’t far to walk to the flat from their location, so he headed off.

His brain was going a hundred miles an hour as he thought about everything that was going on in his life right now.

His home was splintering. Charlie had moved out, Gregory had as good as moved in with Oscar, and Paolo was moving to another country.

If Jason and Langdon were the only ones left in that flat, they would kill each other.

But, even they were going to want their own place soon as well.

Then there was Grant, who felt like a noose around Jason’s neck.

He just didn’t know when he was going to pull it tight.

Perhaps if he just spoke to him, instead of always being scared.

If Grant had wanted Jason dead, it would have happened a long time ago.

There was no doubt in his mind, Grant had always known where Jason was.

He’d just chosen now to appear back in Jason’s life.

Before he could overthink it, he pulled out his phone and dialled. Grant answered on the second ring.

“This is an unexpected pleasure,” Grant purred down the phone.

That voice used to excite him. Now it made him shudder in fear. He wasn’t sure how it had ever turned him on. The scouse accent was hardly sexy.

“Can we talk?”

“What’s the magic word?”

“Can we talk, please ?” he gritted out.

“That’s not what I was thinking. I’ll give you a clue, it starts with a D.”

Jason froze. There was no way he would use that word with him. He might have said it when he was being fucked, like he had with lots of guys, but knowing what a real daddy was like, he wouldn’t call anyone else that again. He decided to be his usual sassy self.

“Dickhead?”

Grant chuckled down the phone. “Blue Lagoon in twenty minutes. Ask for me at the bar. Don’t be late.”