Page 13 of Forbidden Lust (Sinful Knights #1)

DANIEL

Daniel was being ghosted!

Not to be an arrogant fuckwit, but he had never been ghosted in his life.

That was, until he’d met Josh Carter, the man who was occupying all his conscious thoughts– and unconscious ones if last night’s wet dream was an indicator.

He hadn’t had one of those in thirty years.

Daniel was also ghosting his best friend.

He wasn’t sure he’d be able to speak to Gavin and not say something about Josh.

He couldn’t believe how he’d treated his own son.

Realising he’d get nothing done on his to-do list, he decided to head over to Oscar’s office under the guise of inviting him for lunch.

He’d try and get a few minutes alone with Josh.

If he would just speak to him, he’d realise Daniel was on his side.

He just needed to understand everything, and then he’d go to Gavin and hear his side of the story.

Arriving at the office, he noticed Josh wasn’t at his desk, but his cup of coffee was still warm.

If he waited outside and Josh saw him, he might do a runner, so he walked into Oscar’s office.

The door was open, and Oscar was engrossed in something, so didn’t notice someone standing in front of him until Daniel cleared his throat. Oscar startled before looking up.

“What can I do for you, Daniel?”

“Lunch?”

Oscar looked at his watch and glanced at his laptop.

“Where?”

“I’m feeling sushi. I’ve got a meeting with an obnoxious client later, so I feel like breathing raw fish on him all afternoon.”

Oscar laughed before grabbing his suit jacket.

“Did you see Josh when you came in?” asked Oscar.

“No. Maybe he’s at lunch?” He tried to be nonchalant.

“Did I tell you he resigned?”

Daniel’s eyes widened. “What?”

No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening? Josh hadn’t resigned because of what happened between them, had he? Daniel couldn’t have that. If only he were here, so Daniel could talk to him.

“Yeah. He said it was personal, but I’m not willing to just accept it yet. He’s the best assistant I’ve ever had.”

“I’m sure he’s got his reasons,” said Daniel, keeping his voice neutral as they stepped into the lift.

“Yes, but what are they?”

“Isn’t that his business? Maybe there’s a reason he doesn’t want to tell you.” He was hoping he wasn’t coming across as too snippy.

“Yes, that’s what I’m concerned about. What if we’ve got another conduct issue going on, and I just let my exec assistant walk out and do nothing about it?”

“I wouldn’t worry about that. The regulator aren’t interested in personal matters that are nothing to do with the firm.”

“I know, but . . .”

Oscar looked at Daniel, who could feel his face heating, and he couldn’t keep eye contact. What the fuck was wrong with him? He had the best poker face of anyone he knew.

“You know something, don’t you?”

“No. Of course not.”

“Please tell me you didn’t fuck him.”

The lift opened at that precise moment and there were some startled people who caught the end of their conversation. Daniel couldn’t help but smirk, but he had to get away from Oscar before he asked anything else.

He was out of luck when he felt the big man grip him by the shoulders. The guy was a tank.

“So, this is how it’s going to go down. You’re going to buy me lunch, and then tell me what’s going on with Josh. Then you’re going to fix it, so he doesn’t leave me.”

“That bossy bottom tone doesn’t work on me, you know,” he said, unable to keep a straight face.

Oscar put his arm round Daniel’s shoulder.

“We’ll see about that.”

Now Daniel had to decide how much he was going to tell Oscar about Josh’s private business.

The thought of talking to a friend appealed to him, but the last thing he wanted to do was alienate Josh further.

He needed to talk to someone about this, though.

He could hardly call Gavin, and he’d drifted apart from his other friends after the divorce.

Daniel wasn’t going to bother his mother with this either, or anyone who worked for him.

He’d only known Oscar a few weeks, but he was one of those people you meet who becomes an instant friend.

His lunch with Oscar had been interesting.

The gentle giant could be a ballbreaker when he was pissed off.

Daniel had been given one instruction by his new friend – fix it!

If he knew how to do that, he’d have done it already.

He’d asked Oscar to give him Josh’s address.

He knew the building but not the flat number.

Naturally, he’d refused. Daniel knew he needed to play dirty if he was going to get Josh’s attention, so he fired off a text message.

Daniel: Going to speak to Gavin tonight and get his side of the story. I’ll be at the office until 7 if you want to talk before xx.

Now he would wait, unsure if he would actually see Gavin later, but Josh didn’t need to know that.

Just after six o’clock he was informed Josh had arrived, so he asked for him to be brought straight to his office.

Most people had left for the day, but his assistant always stayed until he did, unless Daniel was pulling a late one.

If that was the case, he’d call her a cab and push her into the lift.

She’d scowl at him, and refuse to make him a coffee the next morning, but he’d have flowers delivered by lunchtime and all would be well with the world.

Daniel couldn’t function without her, like Oscar couldn’t without Josh.

Good assistants were hard to find. Excellent ones were so rare that finding a dodo egg would be easier.

“Josh Carter for you, Daniel,” said Claudette, showing him in.

The look on Josh’s face told Daniel exactly what he was thinking – he was pissed.

“Thanks, Claudette. Please, can you close the door and tell anyone who calls I’ve already left for the day?”

“Of course,” she said with a knowing smirk. That woman was far too intuitive.

As soon as the door closed, Josh advanced on him. He was angry, but kept his voice low.

“What are you playing at? Threatening to talk to Gavin. Why would you do that? He doesn’t need to know what happened between us. You’re the one who’ll lose something. He’s nothing to me. Do you want to throw away two decades of friendship over a dirty weekend?”

“Oh, Josh,” he said, putting his hand on his cheek. “You are so much more than that. ”

Josh leaned into his touch for a second and then moved away.

“You can’t talk to him. Please. Do this for me.”

“I will not let you quit your job because of me, Josh.”

“I’m sorry, let me? My reason for quitting has nothing to do with you, Daniel.”

Daniel wasn’t sure he believed that, but he had no reason to doubt Josh. He’d never been dishonest with him before.

“He asked to me to quit.”

“Who?”

“Who do you think?”

“Gavin? Why on earth would he do that?”

“He doesn’t want his son working for his biggest competition.”

“Why didn’t you tell him to get fucked? You don’t owe him anything.”

“He offered me thirty grand.”

Daniel was stunned. Gavin offered his son thirty grand to quit his job. Why would he do that? The money was nothing to Gavin. He was worth more than Daniel, which is why he was so pissed off with his friend. How could he ignore his own kid and not provide for him?

“Why did you take his offer?”

“I made him up it to sixty. He said yes.”

“Sixty grand?”

“A year’s salary. Thought that was the least he owed me. I can get another job, pay off my debts, Carly’s fees, and finally have a bed to sleep in.”

“Wait. What do you mean, have a bed to sleep in?”

“It’s a one-bed flat, Daniel. Carly has the bedroom. I sleep on the sofa. Why do you think I didn’t want you coming up to the flat? I wanted to keep the fantasy going as long as possible.”

Daniel’s heart broke for him, but he was also filled with rage at Gavin.

His son was sleeping on a sofa and the guy had fucking millions in the bank, with two daughters who had wanted for nothing their whole lives.

How was this the same man he’d known for half his life?

And now he was buying off his son because he was working for Oscar?

This was about saving face. If word got out about who Josh was, and that he was working for Oscar Montgomery, a few guys would tease him at the bars in Leadenhall Market.

That’s what this was about. He loved the guy, but Gavin’s ego had always been the size of a solar system.

“Don’t quit your job, Josh. I know you love it there, and Oscar doesn’t want to lose you.”

“What does Oscar know?” His eyes narrowed.

“He knows we spent the weekend together.”

“And?”

“And that your dad’s my best friend.”

“Oh my God,” said Josh, pacing around.

Daniel hoped Claudette wasn’t listening to all this.

She would lap it up. Thankfully, she’d also be discreet, but he didn’t need her judgy mum look tomorrow morning.

Maybe he should hire a cute young guy, like Oscar had.

Maybe he could offer Josh a job... No, that would be ridiculous, and not good for his willpower having that temptation in front of him every day.

Even now, with Josh fuming and pacing round his office, Daniel wanted nothing more than to take him over his desk.

Josh was mumbling to himself. Daniel needed to do something.

“I’ll give you the money,” he said, without thinking.

“What did you say?” asked Josh, stopping and looking at him incredulously.

“Don’t quit your job if you don’t want to. If it’s about the money, let me give it to you.”

“Why would you do that?”

Should he tell Josh how he felt about him? Not now. This wasn’t the time. He didn’t want it to come across as manipulative.

“I want to make this right.”

“Make what right?”

“Me and you.”

“What about us? It’s done.”