Kieran ended the virtual meeting with a clipped "Thank you," then clicked the tab closed. His shoulders relaxed — just a little. He didn't expect the meeting to be this stressful. He shut the laptop with a soft click, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Behind the laptop, there was the soft clink of glass.
Caelum was already at the bar counter, pouring amber liquor into two tumblers like he'd been waiting for the moment all day.
"You move fast," Kieran said, brows raised.
"I figured you'd need it," Caelum replied, sliding a glass toward him. "You looked like you were one email away from flipping the table. Are you planning on firing all of them"
Kieran huffed a laugh and took the glass. "You think you're funny? but yes I might just fire them"
"I think I'm right." Caelum smiled "Then drink this first. Fire them with grace."
They tapped glasses — no dramatic cheers, just a quiet clink between them — and drank. The alcohol burned smooth.
Kieran set his glass down. "Earlier... you didn't mean it, did you?"
Caelum blinked. "Mean what?"
"You called me beautiful."
Caelum didn't flinch. "I did."
"And?"
"I meant it."
Kieran stared at him for a long moment, then looked away — not flustered. Just… thoughtful.
He didn't deny it.
A couple of glasses later, Kieran slurred "Caelum you're drinking way too much"
"You're the drinking wayyy more" Caelum laughed.
"Let's go to your room, boss" he said as he helped Kieran off his chair. Kieran kept mumbling things as they went up the stairs.
They missed their steps and tripped severally, but they kept laughing like idiots. They didn't care.
Once they got to the room, Kieran dropped to the bed while Caelum rolled to him and laid his head on his shoulder.
"Isn't this beautiful?" Caelum giggles.
"Yeah it is..." His voice lower "Kinda reminds me of her"
Caelum glanced at him but didn't press on the topic. "Oh I have an idea."Caelum beamed as he sat up.
Kieran's eyes followed him lazily "What are you doing with my tie" he said.
"I'm going to blindfold you, boss" Caelum said with a drunken smile"so you can imagine I was her "
He struggles to blindfold him, giggling the whole time. Kieran eventually let him in.
"Hello Kieran" he giggles, in a light, teasing voice as he laid beside him.
Kieran didn't speak so Caelum kept blabbing.
"I'm just relaxing beside my—" He silenced.
Kieran grabbed him by the waist and pulled him close.
"what's going on, boss?" Caelum said, his voice now normal.
Kieran leaned in slowly, deliberately, for a kiss and Caelum didn't stop him.
Kieran pulled Caelum's slender body, even closer to his, running his hands from his hair to his back. The kiss deepened, heavy with unsaid things. They were breaths shallow but rhythmic.
The blindfold slid down.
Caelum struggled to fix it but
"I don't need a blindfold to kiss you, Caelum" Kieran murmured.
And then kissed him once more.
They later fall asleep in each others arms but Caelum wakes up first. Struggling to check the time on his phone, a call come in.
He simply walks away.
"For the love of God! WHAT?!" Caelum screamed.
"We're about to leave boss, are you still coming?"
"Oh shit, yes. Drive outside Kieran's house, I'll be outside waiting"
"Okay boss. Be there in 5" the call ended.
Caelum rubbed his eyes as he checked the time "4:35am!!" He screamed. "How long did we sleep?"
He takes his jacket and leaves a text for His boss.
"I'll be back sir please go ahead first. I'll join you at work " he sent it and dashed out to his pickup ride.
"We're making a stop at ...." Caelum said as the driver accelerated.
"Where's Charles? Is this driver new? I haven't seen him before" Caelum said staring at the driver from the front mirror.
Caelum had his gun on standby, as soon as the car took an unrecognised route, Caelum shot his head. Killing him instantly. He takes over the wheel but notices he had been surrounded.
Still a bit drowsy, Caelum shoots at everything that moved until he's tossed the head of Dave, one of his workers in standby. He realised he was outnumbered and surrendered.
He slid his gun across the ground and the rival gang members rushed in and hit him until he collapsed. Passing out instantly.
He later awakens, in chains and wounds.
"You'll be here for a long time" the gang leader said.
Caelum didn't flinch. He wasn't scared of anything they planned on doing. He was dead inside already.
"We'll go after that your pretty boss too. We'll mess with him a bit" they laughed at Caelum.
Caelum's eyes gleamed with worry. "Don't touch Kieran! He knows nothing about this!" He screamed out.
That scream earned him a punch across his face and several punches to his ribs.
Caelum screamed out in Pain.
The boss leaned towards Caelum " no one is coming for you" and he laughed.