Chapter 25
“The venue called,” Nuri kept his gaze firmly on the screen of his holopad, “and said everything is set for this weekend. Over one hundred of the guests have RSPVs, along with several news outlets.”
They were going to celebrate Rein Inc.’s win of the Luxe award, an event that had kept them fairly busy in the days since their return from Vitality. Even the rolling of the dice had taken place between late night meetings, done here in Silver’s office.
The Emperor had won, and Nuri, unsure how to feel about everything, had opted to ignore the problem and focus all of his attention on work instead.
Some might call him a coward.
He wouldn’t disagree.
“What about the mole?” Silver questioned, leaning back in his chair. “The last thing we need is for someone to cause problems that night.”
Nuri had begun an official investigation with the aid of a small team.
Everyone was sworn to secrecy, but they’d yet to track down the person who’d sent the video to Ackor Hue.
Since discovering the secret he’d kept, Silver had demanded to know every detail, which meant more meetings and time spent together, often over trivial things.
When Nuri had tried to express he couldn’t get anything done if he was called in here so frequently, Silver had countered by threatening to move his desk into his office.
He’d stopped complaining after that.
“I have the best team working on it, but whoever is responsible, they were thorough. Every time we trace it to one computer, and look into the employee it belongs to, they end up having a clear alibi.”
The signal had been routed through several devices, and they weren’t sure if they were any closer to locating the original.
Luckily for those who owned the others, the message had been sent after hours.
Most of the employees had clocked out and were nowhere in the building.
Security cameras could prove as much, so they were crossed off the list of suspects.
Involving the police was out of the question due to the nature of the video, but it wasn’t the only mystery Nuri had been charged with solving.
He was also leading the Imperial Guard in their search for whoever had attacked their warehouses.
They were fairly certain the two things were connected, but he was only getting official aid on one side of things.
“If we could read the guard into this situation as well—” Nuri began, only to be cut off.
“No. You can handle this, Narek.”
“With all due respect, sir, I’m not sure I can.”
“We haven’t been attacked in weeks, isn’t that right?”
“Yes, but—”
“My cousin insists he has nothing to do with it, but the timing is suspicious, don’t you think? As soon as Brixton is taken out of the picture, the leak seemingly plugs itself and the mole vanishes.”
Nuri had considered that angle. “You said you interrogated him yourself.”
“Exactly. His lies only lasted so long. He caved eventually.” Silver was staring at him, had been this whole time, but Nuri had stubbornly refused to meet his gaze. “He admitted to making up all of that stuff about you and corroborated your story about the random meetup. Did I mention that?”
“No, sir,” he drawled. “It must have slipped your mind.”
“Would you like me to release him?”
“I don’t care what you do with him.” Nuri meant it. “Although I must remind you to move with discretion. The public isn’t as forgiving about their regent shooting people in the streets as they once were.”
He’d read Romeo’s file. There was more than enough evidence to back Silver’s claims of his crimes.
The company he’d built off planet was a mere front so Romeo could pad his bank account in preparation for buying out Rein Inc.
stock. The plan to force Silver out was clear.
Apparently, he’d been rather good at hiding his true feelings.
He’d had most of the galaxy convinced he wasn’t jealous of Silver, but that had all been a lie.
Not that Nuri could judge him for that. He was currently standing here, acting like he wasn’t having a complete and total meltdown on the inside, after all. He wouldn’t blame Romeo for not wanting to show the worst of himself.
But that didn’t mean he’d help him either. If anyone expected Nuri to plead for mercy on his behalf, they were going to be sorely disappointed.
This company might have Silver’s last name on it, but Nuri had given just as much of his own blood, sweat, and tears for its creation.
Knowing that Romeo had planned on attempting to take it was bad enough, but after hearing he’d also wanted to drag Nuri into his heinous plans?
The guy could rot in a Sion prison for all he cared.
So long as that information wasn’t released to the public until after they’d officially won the court case. They couldn’t afford blowback from this.
“You’re worried about me, Nuri.” Silver’s use of his first name had his hackles rising.
He slid a solid step back toward the door. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work.”
“You can’t hide forever.”
The second he heard the chair move, Nuri spun on his heels and headed for the door. Of course, he’d only just made it when the Emperor reached him.
Silver placed a hand by his head, ensuring the door remained closed, and waited a moment. When Nuri didn’t turn to face him or say anything, he sighed. “Come with me to the party.”
He frowned to himself. “As your secretary, of course I’ll be there. I have to oversee—”
“No.” His free hand slid around Nuri’s waist, and he stepped into him, sealing them back to front. “Come as my date.”
“Sir, I would appreciate if you could keep your business and private lives separate.”
“Why should I, when you’re unable to yourself?” Silver asked. “Your cold in the office and the bedroom.”
“We’ve had sex every night since our return,” Nuri reminded.
“You think I haven’t noticed you trying to ice me out, pet?” He clicked his tongue. “You think I’ll allow it to continue for much longer? I’ve given you time because I know that you need it, but you’re going to have to come to terms with this eventually. You’re going to have to accept me.”
Nuri elbowed him, twisting and shoving him back with all of his might while he had Silver off guard.
The Emperor stumbled several steps and slammed into the desk, grimacing.
“I understand,” Silver spoke first. “I rushed things. I ran out of patience too quickly. You were always the stronger one in that regards. I was going to wait longer, but I lost my resolve, and now we’re both suffering for it.”
“Shut up.” Nuri didn’t want to listen to this. “I’m doing everything you’ve asked. I’m still living at the manor even though my ankle has been healed for weeks. I’m spending all of my time trying to uncover the mole—”
He snorted. “You aren’t doing that for me.”
“It’s my job,” he snapped. “The job you’re forcing me to keep despite knowing how badly I want out.”
“You agreed to the terms of our game, don’t play the victim card now.”
“You didn’t give me a real choice!”
“You’re right about one thing.” Silver pushed off the desk but didn’t approach. “I won this week’s round. You have to do what I say.”
“I will not be bullied into making such a massive life decision,” Nuri put his foot down. “I agreed to follow your commands so long as they stayed within reason. You can’t order me to become your…It won’t work.”
“Can’t even say it?” Silver’s brow lifted mockingly. “Royal. Consort. It’s only two words, Nuri. It shouldn’t be that difficult.”
“I don’t want it.”
“You don’t want me?”
Nuri licked his lips. “No.”
His eyes narrowed and the feel of the room darkened. “Liar.”
Maybe. If Silver were anyone else, or even if he was just the CEO of Rein Inc., Nuri probably wouldn’t resist. But he wasn’t. He was the Emperor of Ignite, responsible for an entire planet.
“It’s hard enough to do my duty as Royal Secretary,” he tried to explain.
“I’m constantly disappointing my family.
I don’t have time for hobbies or friends outside of other office workers or business contacts.
I haven’t taken a real break in years.” This past trip to Vitality didn’t count since Silver had all but clung to him the entire time like some warden.
“Becoming anything more than what I already am is too much work. I can’t handle it.
I don’t want to. I’ve already given you so much.
Why can’t that be enough? Why can’t you just be satisfied? ”
“There seems to be some misconception,” Silver said, “about your role in my life and what it’s always been.”
Nuri couldn’t help but to frown.
“Just because we’ve never labeled it a date before, doesn’t mean you haven’t accompanied me like one to every minor and major event for the past decade.
We eat meals together. Celebrate birthdays together.
Live together. Sleep together. Fuck. You fret over my reputation, and I track your migraines. ”
“You do?”
“I leave medicine on your desk whenever you show signs of one lasting longer than a day.”
He’d never said as much, but Nuri had known he’d been the one leaving the pills and the water. He’d always sort of assumed he’d complained or made it obvious just before, and that was the reason for it, not because Silver had been paying attention.
“As the Royal Secretary,” Silver continued, “you’re already responsible for my schedule as Emperor.
This position isn’t exclusive to Rein Inc.
You screen calls, make appointments, and attend every imperial conference at my side.
So, pray tell, what exactly it is you think will change when you’re named Royal Consort? ”
Nuri opened his mouth, but words alluded him.
“You’re my companion. You’ve always been my companion. All I want to do is make that official in the eyes of the universe.”
“Basically, you’ve grown accustomed to my presence and don’t want to bother with the inconvenience of having to find another.
” Nuri would die on this hill. “There’s been a lot of talk these past weeks about ownership and desire, but all that boils down to is your need for control and a distinct fear of change. ”
Silver chuckled and crossed his arms, resting back onto the edge of the desk. “Preposterous. Let’s not forget, you’ve allowed five individuals to warm your bed. I’ve been inside dozens.”
He flinched, hating himself for it, and growing even more upset when it was clear the Emperor took notice.
“I won’t fuck anyone else,” he promised. “You’re going to be the last. And it isn’t because I’m resistant to change, or I view you as my comfort zone. You aren’t a blanket, and I am no child. True, you provide security, you help me stay focused and grounded, but—”
“You’re smothering me.” Nuri had never been brave enough to say it before, but he was admittedly afraid of where Silver was going with this confession, and that seemed to be enough to kick him into action.
“We eat together? Yes, because any time I try to make other plans, you cancel them or invite yourself along. Birthdays? I haven’t spent one with my siblings in six years because you plan these elaborate meals without ever asking me for my opinion beforehand.
I had to beg your father to allow me to move out and get my own apartment.
Don’t act like you don’t remember. You threw a tantrum for months when I got my way.
And what happened after? The second he died you wasted no time forcing me back to your estate.
I share your room because I got sick of waking with you in my bed. ”
“Enough.”
Nuri ignored him, the words spewing out of him, toxic and aimed to hit where it hurt the most. And if they were only partially true?
Who cared. What did it matter? Nothing he was saying was wrong, even if all of the things he was complaining about were also things he’d ended up enjoying on some level.
“As for protecting your reputation,” he sneered, “it’s intrinsically linked with mine because I am the damn Royal Secretary to the psychopathic emperor of the Ignite throne.
A title I have tried, and failed to get rid of time and time again.
You’re the reason I’m like this. You’re the reason I’m trapped. You—”
“Get out,” Silver’s tone was low, his body deathly still. At some point, his expression had shuttered, so it was impossible to know what he was thinking or how pissed off Nuri had just made him.
“Gladly!” In complete disregard to his own wellbeing, Nuri stormed from the office, slamming the door behind him hard enough it could be heard rattling all the way down the hall.
Ignoring the whispers from nearby staff members, he headed for the fourth floor, N.I.M. hot on his heels. He was two minutes late for a fucking meeting with the operations department, and the assistant manager already didn’t like him much.
As soon as the elevator doors shut, he loosened his light gray tie, then focused on breathing in an attempt to calm his racing heart.
He couldn’t walk through the building noticeably shaken.
People would talk—even more than they were going to about his outburst upstairs.
At least Silver’s office was soundproof.
With everything else going on, they didn’t have time to deal with gossip.
His tie was fixed, hair smoothed back, and shoulders squared as soon as the elevator dinged and came to stop on the fourth floor.
A part of him wanted to go back and apologize, but he squashed that pesky inner voice. Silver wanted him stuck here so badly? Fine.
Then Nuri had a job to do.
It wasn’t his fault there weren’t enough hours in the day for the two of them to waste waxing poetic about the past or trying to define their relationship.