18. Oscar
CHAPTER 18
OSCAR
The morning had gone past in a blur. The guy completing the regulatory investigation had wanted to interview Oscar and clarify the timeline of Barty’s dismissal, which had already been shared with the regulator but he was being thorough. That’s why Daniel had recommended him. It had been an intense couple of hours, and felt like an interrogation, but Oscar knew they had to be watertight on everything.
The threat from Grant Kincaid was swirling round his brain, and he wasn’t sure what to make of it all. It was like he was in a movie with a terrible plot line. This was the twenty twenties, why were gangsters still a thing? There had to be a way to resolve it. Money always solved problems, and he was certain he could just pay not to have his face pulverised. He’d paid the money for Gregory last night, and was more than willing to write it off, but he knew his man would insist on paying him back. Was Gregory his man? Grant had referred to them as boyfriends several times, and he loved the sound of it.
Oscar was so lost in his own thoughts he didn’t realise someone was standing in front of his desk until they cleared their throat. He looked up to see Daniel, looking dapper as always in his immaculate suit.
“What can I do for you, Daniel?”
“Lunch?”
Oscar looked at his watch. It had just passed twelve. A glance at his calendar told him he didn’t have any meetings until two.
“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. He locked his laptop screen and grabbed his suit jacket off the back of his chair. Daniel was only wearing a suit, so he didn’t take his coat as well– masculine ego and all that.
“Did you see Josh when you came in?” he asked Daniel.
“No. Maybe he’s at lunch.”
He usually told Oscar when he was going for lunch. Maybe he’d said something, and Oscar had been in his own world and not realised. He thought nothing more of it and got into the lift with Daniel.
“Did I tell you that Josh resigned?”
Daniel’s eyes widened. “What?”
“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.”
“Yes, but what are they?”
“Isn’t that his business? Maybe there’s a reason he doesn’t want to tell you.”
“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 it. The regulators aren’t interested in personal matters that are nothing to do with the firm.”
“I know, but...” He looked at Daniel, who for the first time was looking sheepish. “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 smirked, the fucker, and walked ahead without looking back. Oscar could feel his face flame as he nodded politely to people he vaguely recognised as being from companies on other floors. Thankfully, it wasn’t any of his team.
He jogged to catch up with Daniel, who was marching ahead, and he gripped him by the shoulder, pulling him back. Daniel looked at him. The same apprehension was back.
“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 with a smirk.
Oscar put his arm round Daniel’s shoulder.
“We’ll see about that.”
It was going to be an interesting lunch.
The afternoon was a lot better. Daniel had explained the Josh situation over lunch and had promised to fix it. Oscar was keeping out of it. The whole thing was messy, but as long as Josh stayed, he didn’t care how it happened. He hadn’t heard from Gregory all day, but that wasn’t unusual given both their jobs. Oscar knew he had to be honest about his feelings, but something was holding him back – fear.
As if he’d manifested him, Oscar looked up from his desk when there was knock on his doorframe. Gregory was standing there with a smile on his face. He was wearing one of his bow ties, so he must have been to work, or was on his way. He’d been half asleep, looking all cute when Oscar had left this morning, and if he’d not had to be in the office to prep for his meeting, Oscar would have stayed in bed longer. The pain in his arse had subsided now, and he was more than ready for another good dicking. They hadn’t christened his desk yet... Now there was a thought.
“What’s that look on your face all about?” he asked.
“We haven’t broken this desk in yet.”
Gregory snorted. “And we won’t, not with Josh sitting outside.”
“He’s usually gone by six,” he replied, looking at his watch. Two hours to go. “What can I do for you while we wait?”
“Can we talk?”
“That sounds ominous.”
“No. It’s a good thing, I hope.”
Gregory closed the door, and Oscar was sure he felt his heart stop beating for a second as his brain immediately went to Gregory ending things. They’d been a lot more intimate and coupley lately. Maybe that was too much for Gregory, and he wanted to just dial things back. Oscar could handle that. Okay, so now he was lying to himself, and in his own head.
Wait ... he’d said it was a good thing.
Gregory walked over to him and took hold of his hands. His green eyes were so beautiful, but Oscar could see there was fear in them. What did he have to be afraid of? He had to know by know by now that Oscar would do nothing to hurt him again, ever. As he looked into those eyes, and saw Gregory swallow like he was struggling to form words, it all became clear to Oscar. In this moment, he needed to take the lead. In the bedroom or his business, Gregory oozed a quiet confidence – well, not so quiet in the bedroom – but in expressing his emotions he was still that vulnerable boy he’d been best friends with twenty years ago.
Oscar needed to go first. He cupped Gregory’s cheeks and took a deep breath.
“I love you, Gregory.”
Tears formed in his eyes and ran down his cheeks. Oscar used his thumbs to wipe them away.
“I love you too,” he choked out. He cleared his throat. “I love you too,” he repeated with a smile.
Oscar leant forward and kissed him gently on the lips, still holding his cheeks. The kiss lingered, and he couldn’t help but smile as Gregory’s tongue licked against his lips, seeking silent permission, and as soon as their tongues met, the fireworks went off. Gregory gripped Oscar’s face and devoured his mouth with his tongue. Without realising he’d been moving, he felt his back hit the wall. For a second, he remembered that Josh was sitting outside, but when Gregory palmed his cock, his professionalism crumbled.
Gregory made quick work of unbuckling his trousers, and slid his cool hand along his warm shaft, his palm catching on the sensitive head of Oscar’s cock. He was already soaking wet, as he always was with Gregory. Nobody had ever turned him on like this, and now they’d both just shared that they loved each other. It was like a full-circle moment, from being fucked over Gregory’s desk just a few months ago, to now hopefully being fucked over Oscar’s.
He felt the familiar push on his shoulders and instinctively obeyed the silent command by dropping to his knees. Gregory pulled out his thick cock and slapped it against Oscar’s face. It was a beautiful thing. A solid eight inches with a girth of at least six. The beast had given him lock jaw a few times. He would happily suck Gregory’s cock all day.
“Open up for me,” he growled, smearing the precome from his tip against Oscar’s lips.
He opened his mouth and got that taste he loved so much as the smooth skin of Gregory’s shaft slid across his tongue. Then he heard the biggest boner killer of his life.
“Oscar, where are you? Oscar...”
Oh, God. It was his mother. What the hell did she want?
Gregory looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights – they both did – as Oscar jumped to his feet and they both buckled up as quickly as they could. Oscar was wiping his lips as she burst open his office door without knocking.
Victoria Montgomery waltzed into his office like she was the lady of the manor.
“Oscar, I need... Oh, hello Gregory. What are you doing here?”
“Can’t my boyfriend visit me at work?” asked Oscar, without thinking.
His mother was lost for words. A rare moment. He glanced at Gregory and he was smiling. They’d said “I love you,” so boyfriends were a given, but they hadn’t discussed the “when to share it with others” part. From the look on Gregory’s face they were good, although he hadn’t planned on telling his mother this way. At least he wasn’t hard anymore; the appearance of his mother was the perfect anti-aphrodisiac.
“That’s still a thing then, is it? No offence, Gregory, but your lot is too uncultured to be associated with the Montgomery name.”
Gregory laughed, which didn’t please Oscar’s mother. It was hard for Oscar not to laugh himself, but he’d learned amazing self-control around her. His mother was obsessed with the Montgomery name, given it belonged to her father, and when she’d met Oscar’s father, his grandfather had insisted the man take her surname. It was unusual at the time, but it happened because Oscar’s grandfather was a man who got what he wanted. How he would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for those conversations.
“And what is so amusing?”
“I don’t disagree with your description of my family, Mrs Montgomery. But don’t worry, they won’t be invited to the wedding.”
She turned and looked at Oscar. He caught Gregory shooting him a quick wink, so got the message to play along.
“Yes, I hope you and father will come, though. We’ve decided to just have a small ceremony.”
“Camden Registry Office,” said Gregory. “It’s very convenient for the Pizza Express afterwards.”
His mother looked like she was going to faint. It shouldn’t amuse Oscar, but it did.
“I won’t allow it,” she said, huffing and clutching her chest dramatically. She wasn’t having a heart attack, more like clutching her pearls.
“I’m almost thirty. I can marry who I want, where I want. We’re going to double-barrel the surnames. Montgomery-Balfour.”
“I think Balfour-Montgomery sounds better,” said Gregory.
“It does sound better. Yes, I like it.”
It was hard not to laugh as his mother continued to gape at them. Oscar glimpsed Josh outside at his desk, covering his mouth, so he was listening to it all. What else had he been listening to before his mother arrived? Oscar decided not to give that too much thought.
To be fair, Balfour-Montgomery did sound better. Double-barreling was one thing, but to have the Montgomery name go last would be unspeakable.
“When did this all happen?” she asked, trying her best to recover.
“Last week,” said Gregory. “We don’t want a long engagement. In fact, we’re planning to have the wedding before Oscar’s thirtieth next month.”
His mother’s face paled. That sneaky fucker. Oscar knew what he was doing before his mother confirmed it.
“You know, don’t you?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“I think I need to speak to my son alone,” she said to Gregory.
Ever the polite boy – apart from that potty mouth when they were alone– Gregory nodded.
“My fiancé will stay put, thank you.”
“It’s fine, Oscar, I can –”
“You’re staying,” he said sternly.
Gregory gave him a look that told him he’d be getting paddled for that later, then he nodded and closed the door, blocking out Josh and the rest of the office. Oscar moved out from his desk and gestured to the casual seating area he had on one side of his office. There were four chairs, and he liked to do his meetings there with his direct reports, so there wasn’t the barrier of the desk between them. He’d read it in a book, and liked the idea. Claire had taken the piss out of him for a month, but now had a favourite seat and would glare at anyone else who sat in it, including Oscar.
“What do you know?” his mother asked.
“No. We’re not doing it that way. You tell me everything.”
“There’s a second part of your trust fund, which was held back until you were thirty. It’s twenty million pounds.”
“And?”
“There are some conditions.”
“Go on.”
“You have to be married to get the money.”
“Is that it?”
“You can’t be married to someone from our circles. It has to be a commoner. If you marry someone privileged, the money would default back to me. Your grandfather’s belief was that if you married another trust-fund kid, you wouldn’t need the money.”
“I can see him saying that. And what if I’m not married by my thirtieth?”
“Then it defaults to me again.”
“And what were you planning to do with the money?”
“I was going to hold it for you until you got married.”
“I see. Well, I’m marrying Gregory, so that’s the problem solved. I’ve spoken with grandfather’s solicitor, and because Gregory has no financial support from his parents, and hasn’t since the age of eighteen, he meets your ‘commoner’ description, as you put it.”
He caught Gregory’s smirk before he looked away. He should have had this conversation with his mother as soon as he found out, but having her here in his space, with Gregory by his side, gave him a confidence he’d never had with her before.
“You can’t do this, Oscar. We need that money,” she whispered, as if saying it aloud would make her dirty.
“What on earth do you need the money for? You’re sitting on a fortune.”
He was shocked to see his mother break down in tears. Gregory looked uncomfortable, and Oscar wasn’t sure what to do. They weren’t a tactile family, but his instinct was to comfort, so he shifted his chair across and pulled her into a hug. She cried on his shoulder for five minutes. Gregory looked like he wanted to be anywhere else, but Oscar needed him here. He did not know what his mother was going to say, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t be good.
“Are you ready to talk?” he asked her gently.
She nodded, and dried her eyes with a monogrammed silk handkerchief. She pulled it out of thin air. He had absolutely no doubt she’d bought it from Harrods.
“You have two sisters.”
That’s not what he was expecting to hear. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He looked across at Gregory, who was trying not to laugh. Oscar frowned at him.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Sorry, but it’s refreshing to know it’s not just my family who’s fucked up.”
His mother looked shocked, but Oscar couldn’t help but laugh along with him.
“This isn’t funny. Your father’s reputation is on the line here because of that woman.”
“What woman?” he asked, calming down.
“That wom – that slut who seduced your father.”
Oscar reeled at hearing his mother swear, but was also sceptical about his father being an innocent party in all this.
“How old are my sisters?”
His mother mumbled something.
“What was that?”
“Seventeen and fifteen.”
“Holy shit.”
“That woman thinks they’re entitled to your grandfather’s money. She’s threatening to go to the press.”
“And?”
“Your father’s reputation is on the line here.”
“How are you defending him, when he’s kept a secret family from you for almost two decades?”
She looked at the floor, but he saw her face redden.
“How long have you known about this?”
“Your father and I. We have... an arrangement.”
“Are you trying to tell me you’re in an open marriage?”
Her face went a beetroot colour. Oscar couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but the sound of Gregory trying to suppress his laughter snapped him out of his bewilderment.
“This isn’t funny.”
“Oh, but it is.”
“Don’t you dare breathe a word of this to Lavinia,” said his mother.
Gregory held his hands up in defeat. “Absolutely. She’s the last person I’d share this with.”
“You can’t share this with anyone,” she snapped.
“Have you met my sisters?” asked Oscar, to steer the conversation back on track. The last thing he needed was Gregory and his mother having a spat.
“No... they don’t know your father is married, or about you.”
“Great, we’ll call her bluff, then. See if she wants to hurt her own kids.”
“Oscar,” said Gregory. “That’s not you. Hurting two innocent girls... That’s not the man I love.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. Forget I said that.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Gregory.
“I literally don’t know.”
He didn’t know what to do. Oscar didn’t want or need the money, but something didn’t feel right about handing it over to people who were effectively strangers, especially because it had belonged to his grandfather.
“Is that why you kept setting me up with all those toffs? So you could get the money yourself?”
“I knew you wouldn’t like any of those men. It was just a way to bide some time, so you didn’t meet anyone for real.”
“Okay, I guess that makes sense, in a bizarre way, and at least you don’t have terrible taste in men. Wait, what about Daniel?”
“I knew something was going on with Gregory, so I needed to find someone else. Daniel never wants to get married again, so there was no chance it would happen in the time left, but I thought he might distract you. I also knew Daniel would cater to your... tastes.”
“Stop. The less said about that the better. I don’t even want to know how you... well, just... no, let’s leave it there.”
He looked over at Gregory, who was doubled up, trying not to laugh out loud. Oscar shook his head in despair and looked over at his mother, and was gobsmacked to see she was trying not to laugh as well. The whole situation was a head fuck, but to see his mother – who had always supported him in her own way– and the man he was head over heels for, laughing together, was both outrageous and heartwarming.
“What are we going to do?” his mother asked, once things calmed.
Gregory spoke first.
“We could get married for real. I mean, it’s all booked. Then you decide what to do with the money. You can give it to charity, give some to your sisters, or do something else with it. At least that way, you’re the one in control, and it takes the burden off your mother.”
Oscar saw his mother’s eyes well up.
“What’s wrong?” he asked her.
“You... you don’t let this man go, Oscar.”
“I don’t intend to.”