Page 53 of Glow

Even so, curiosity got the better of him and he glanced up. The hand gestures coming from Richard told Prin all he needed to know. Elliott, to his credit, sat with his head bowed.

The others looked across at Prin, who shrugged. Sweat prickled his brow. Suddenly, the door opened and Elliott stormed out. He sat down at his desk and stared at the screen.

Richard soon followed. He stalked past Prin’s desk.

“A word,” he said, over his shoulder.

Prin thought he might pass out. He had to calmly remind himself that there was no way Richard could know. This had to be something else.

He dutifully followed Richard into a meeting room.

Richard sat down and gestured for Prin to do the same. He perched on the end of a chair trying to look as relaxed as possible and failing miserably.

“Something’s happened,” Richard said quietly, leaning forward. “We might be losing a member of staff.”

“Really?”

Prin hoped to goodness his innocent act convinced Richard. Lying did not come easily to him.

“I can’t go into it but Elliott is going to be suspended pending some ridiculous investigation by the twats in HR or the People Team or whatever bullshit they’re calling themselves this week. Can you and the others cover his work?”

“Richard—”

“Can you?”

Prin nodded.

“If I find out who is behind this, a few lost dildos will be least of their problems. You can tell them that as well.”

“Do you think whatever has happened has come from the team?”

“Fuck knows,” Richard said. “I’m not going to stop until I find out though. You can bet on that. All I need from you is an assurance that the work won’t go tits up. I don’t need that on top of everything else. Do you get me?”

Anxiety gripped Prin so he counted in his head. That was what he’d done when his uncle had torn strips off him and even earlier when kids in the playground had bullied him. When he calmed, he stared Richard in the face.

“Of course,” he said.

Richard rubbed his temples. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s a good thing.”

Prin was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. A raging Richard he could handle, but a vulnerable one? He hadn’t expected that.

“You must be upset,” he managed. “I’m sorry.”

Richard sat bolt upright. “It can’t be helped. Dinner is going to be interesting tonight. Right, come on, let’s get back to it.”

Prin followed him back into the main office.

“Oh, Elliott?” Richard called out.

His son spun round. Fury written all over his face.

“You’re grounded as well.”

“I’m over eighteen.”

“Homeless or grounded. Have a think while you clear your desk.”

That was the Richard Prin was more familiar with. He even felt a little sorry for the poor lad. Richard got up. He glared at his son for a second more before storming off.