The following day Aiden called Dylan again. " I-I want to meet you."
" I knew you would," Dylan smirked." Come to my office."
" C-Can we meet somewhere else?" Aiden asked reluctantly as he didn't want to be alone with Dylan.
" Are you kidding me?" Dylan spat. " Come right now," he said and hung up.
Aiden didn't want to meet Dylan alone, but he had to go for Noah's sake. Finally, gathering up his courage, he hesitantly walked towards Dylan's office. The receptionist he had met the last time was replaced by someone else, and this lady seemed too polite. She personally escorted Aiden to Dylan's office even though he refused multiple times. He felt awkward and wondered what was going on.
Dylan was on his phone and indicated Aiden to wait. Aiden took his time to observe Dylan's office for the first time. It was simple yet elegant. A dark-walnut bookcase lined the entire left-hand wall. The window was big and gave a spectacular view of the city.
" So, what did you decide?" Dylan asked, making Aiden jolt in his seat.
" C-Can you stop whatever you are doing with Noah's company?"
" I will stop once you leave your lover's house."
" W-Why do you insist..." Aiden started but was interrupted by Dylan.
" You are wasting my time again. I am a very busy man and have a meeting soon. "
" But can you just listen to..."
" I just want to hear one answer. Yes or no?"
Aiden took a deep breath. Dylan was not even interested in listening to his pleas. " W-Would you stop bothering Noah and his family if I leave his house?"
" Yes."
" Okay. Give me some time to look for a new house." Aiden had considered this option because somehow, he was sure Dylan would never agree to his words. Dylan had only mentioned leaving Noah's house, so he didn't have to break up with Noah, right?
" Don't bother," Dylan said casually. " You could stay at my penthouse."
" What?" Aiden suddenly shot up from his seat. " I-I can't stay at your house."
" Why not?" Dylan seethed. " We stayed together in the past, then why not now?"
That was the exact reason why Aiden didn't want to stay with him. He didn't want a repeat of the past and be a servant to Dylan again.
Dylan took out his phone and called his housekeeper, asking him to clean a room.
"W-Wait... I-I really can't..."
" I wasn't asking you. I was telling you. You can shift tomorrow." Dylan's desk phone rang, and his secretary told him about his client's arrival for the meeting.
" It's time for my meeting; you can leave now," Dylan said with finality.
Aiden tried to say something but stopped when he got a glare from Dylan. Feeling defeated, he turned around and left the office. As soon as he opened the door, he collided with a woman.
"I-I am sorry," Aiden said, feeling embarrassed and avoiding looking at the woman.
" Not to worry, dear," the lady said in a sickly sweet voice. She put a hand on Aiden's shoulder and asked, " Are you hurt?"
"N-No... N-Not at all." Aiden felt weird at the woman's over-friendliness.
" Do you work here?" the lady asked with a smile.
" Y-Yes."
Dylan opened the door at that time and saw his client's hand on Aiden. " Ms. Straus, you are here."
" Come on, Dylan!! How many times did I tell you to call me Laura? " Ms. Straus said in a casual tone, unlike her sweet voice a while ago.
" Please come in, Laura; let's continue our meeting there," Dylan said and glared at Aiden, indicating him to leave.
Aiden was flustered and turned around to leave as soon as possible.
" Who's that cutie?" Laura asked Dylan sitting on the seat in front of him.
" Who?" Dylan asked, raising an eyebrow.
" The boy I met outside. He's exactly my type, handsome and submissive, " Laura's eyes lightened up. " I have been looking for a suitable submissive for the past few months."
" He's not into that lifestyle," Dylan said, gritting his teeth and controlling his anger.
" I will take care of that. I will train him. Why don't you introduce me to him?"
" It's not possible, Laura," Dylan said calmly. If she weren't his Business client, he would have thrown her out of his office by now. " Also, he is not into women."
" How do you know that?" Laura asked. " As much as I know, you were never interested in your employees' personal lives."
" He's not just an employee; he's my adoptive brother."
" Ohhh!!! That's sad. Are you sure he's not into women? What if it's just a phase? What if he's bisexual? Young boys are often confused about their sexuality."
" Just give it up, Laura; there's no point. Now let's discuss business."
After the meeting, Laura asked Dylan, " So, how's your relationship with your girlfriend? Did you do the things I suggested to spice up your sexual life?"
" I told you so many times I am not into that lifestyle."
" But you are so dominant in your work, so maybe you will like it in bed too."
" I think you are mistaken. I am dominant, period. Be it my work life, personal life, or bed, but that doesn't mean I need to tie my partner up."
" Fine!! I get it," Laura said, accepting defeat. She got up from her seat and said, " So about the deal, my secretary will get back with the details."
Dylan nodded and got up to see her off.
After Ms. Straus left, Dylan was immersed in his thoughts. She had given him a great deal to think. First of all, he wondered why he was so bothered about Laura and Aiden hooking up even though she was a woman? The kiss flashed in front of his eyes again, and he blinked his eyes a few times to ignore it. Did he perhaps like Aiden? It's impossible. He can't be like those freaks he hated all his life. It must have been the strange lifestyle that irked him. He can't imagine Aiden ever obeying somebody else's orders other than him. The idea itself was repulsive to him.
To prove his point right, Dylan decided to arrange a blind date for Aiden. He took out his phone and called his girlfriend, Natalie.
" Hey, honey. How come you are calling during office hours?"
" The other day, you said something about arranging a blind date for your cousin. Did she hook up with anyone?"
" She went on a date, but it didn't work out. Why? Do you have someone in mind?"
" Yes, I thought we could arrange a blind date for her with Aiden."
" Wow, that's great. I will speak to her."
Aiden was at his home, tensed about how to disclose the news to Noah.
" What's bothering you, Aiden?" Noah asked suddenly.
" How do you know...?"
" You have been acting strange from the time I came back. And now, I called you three times, but you didn't hear me at all."
" I-I have to leave..."
Noah's ears perked up at the mention of the word 'leave.' " Leave?? What do you mean?" he said, panicked.
" I-I mean, I will be shifting to another house."
" What? Is this some kind of a joke? How can you even think about that?"
" I have to shift to a house provided by the company," Aiden said softly.
" So now your job is more important than me, " Noah spat, running his hands through his hair.
Aiden flinched at his tone, and Noah regretted his outburst. " I am sorry I raised my voice but try to understand me. I bought this home for us so that we could be together forever."
" You don't have to say sorry, Noah. Even I don't want to leave this house but..." Aiden wondered how to put it so that Noah won't be hurt, but it seemed that was not possible.
" Is it because of your brother?" Noah asked, clenching his fist. " Did he force you?"
Aiden was too embarrassed to face Noah and just looked down dejectedly. Seeing his lack of response, Noah got his answer.
" You are not going anywhere. I will talk to your brother."
" No," Aiden said suddenly. He didn't know how Dylan would react to Noah. What if Dylan hits him? He couldn't allow that. " Please don't go. He's not the type to listen to anyone. Your interference might worsen the situation."
" A-Are you breaking up with me?" Noah asked, feeling choked.
" Oh god, no!!!" Aiden exclaimed. " I can't even think of breaking up with you. I love you, Noah."
Noah hugged Aiden tightly just to assure himself that Aiden was still with him. For the past few days, he felt very uneasy, as if Aiden is slipping from his hands. " If you love me, why do you have to leave me and go?"
" I am not leaving you, just this house." Aiden tried to pacify Noah.
" I don't feel good about this, Aiden. It feels wrong."
Aiden broke the hug and placed a kiss on Noah's lips. " Nothing's wrong. I won't let this affect our relationship." Though Aiden tried to assure Noah, he was not sure himself. He just prayed and hoped he had the strength to overcome his fear and fight for his love.