Page 76 of Total Creative Control
“Sorry,” Lewis clipped out unapologetically. “There’s a lot to think about, and I need time to do that.”
He yanked open the door and strode out. Behind him, he could already hear Toni using her soothing reasonable voice.
Crossing the big hall quickly, he made for the stairs, taking them two at a time, a restless urgency fuelling him as he made his way to Aaron’s room. As soon as he got there, he pounded on the door.
Aaron opened it more quickly than he expected, as though he was spoiling for this. He didn’t look the least bit cowed. In fact he looked as pissed off as Lewis felt, his usually easy, smiling mouth compressed into an uncompromising line, his jaw set.
“If you’re here to apologise—” Aaron began, his voice tight and angry.
“Apologise?” Lewis exclaimed. “Forwhat?”
Aaron’s gaze narrowed, and he folded his arms over his chest. “Okay, in that case, I have no idea why you’re here.”
“You have no idea? Really?” Lewis fisted his hands by his sides. “You lied to me.”
“I did not!” Aaron raked back at him, equally furious. “Just because I didn’t tell you that I wrote—”
“It was a lie of omission,” Lewis ground out. “You knew how I’d feel about it. Why else wouldn’t you tell me? Fucking hell, I told you everything aboutLeeches.You know every goddamned thing that’s happening in the show for the next season and a half. And you honestly didn’t see fit to tell me that you’re part of a fucking fanfic community that obsessively rewrites the show online?” He threw up his hands. “You can’t see that that’s a potential conflict of interest here?”
Aaron looked away, but his jaw was still obstinately set.
“And you decide to spill this, when?” Lewis went on relentlessly. “In a fuckingmeeting with Charlie Alexander?The one guy we need to keep sweet. Fucking hell, Aaron!” He rubbed at his shoulder, which was aching again, a gesture that only served to remind him of the night before and Aaron’s hands on him.
His stomach twisted, and he dropped his hand to his side.
“You’re making way too big of a deal about this,” Aaron said wearily. “It’s just…for fun. We don’t even talk about the sort of stuff I learn about through work. Hell, most of what I write is AU.”
“What the—?” Lewis broke off, shaking his head.
“AU—alternate universe. You know, a different reality than the one in the show.”
Lewis scowled. “I know what AU means. I just don’t see what that’s got to do with anything.”
Aaron sighed. “I know you don’t. You’re angry, and you want to have an argument. What’s more, you want towinthe argument—you always do when you’re in this mood. So, you’re not going to listen to anything I have to say right now. The best thing for both of us would be to end this conversation and go and cool off—”
“Don’t do that,” Lewis fumed. “This isn’t like that.”
“Fine,” Aaron said mildly. “It’s not like that. I’m imagining that you’re having one of your tantrums.”
“One of mytantrums?”
Aaron gave a humourless laugh. “Yeah, you know those mood swings you have? The ones that I’m expected to manage as part of my highly rewarding career? Along with replacing your iPhone charger every couple of weeks, talking your ex-lovers off ledges, and making sure you eat a couple of portions of fucking fruit and veg each week, so you don’t die of scurvy.” He shook his head. “Christ, I’m a mug.”
“I—What?” Lewis blinked, unsure where that conclusion had come from.
Aaron knotted his hands behind his head and brought his elbows together, letting out a noisy rush of air before turning away and walking back into his room. Lewis followed him, letting the door close behind him.
Aaron was now staring out of the window, frustration in every lean line of his body.
“I’ve been such a fucking idiot,” he muttered without turning around.
“Youhave?” Lewis shot back. “How do you think I feel? My personal assistant just announced that he’s a fucking security risk—”
Aaron whirled around at that, his arms dropping back to his sides, his expression furious. “No, I didn’t,” he bit out. “Jesus, will you just be honest about what’s happening here?Nobodythinks I'm a security risk. Charlie apparently thinks fanfic is hilarious, and Toni obviously thought you were being a dick throwing me out of the meeting. Despite all this ridiculous posturing, not evenyouthink I’m a risk—that’s just something you’ve come up with between chucking me out of the meeting and knocking on my door to justify your weird reaction!”
Fury and outrage fired through Lewis. “Myreactionis weird? You’re the one writing fuckingLeechesporn.”
Aaron paled at that, though a slash of red still stained his cheekbones. As mortified as he plainly was, though, he still insisted through gritted teeth, “It’s not porn. And you need to calm down, Lewis. What I do in my own time is none of your—”