Chapter 27 – Richard #2
“Well, considering you can’t see who the person is in the photo, I was thinking that you can tell the press that the person in the photo is your husband, but you want to keep his identity secret, to protect him,” Charmaine says.
“Why?” Dave asks.
My anger is increasing by the second. Instead of saying no, he asked why. Like there is going to be a valid reason for me to be hidden. I want to tell the world about us. Yet, by the looks of it, the three of them are happy to stick me in the shadows.
“Well,” Charmaine starts, and glances over to Vincent, “the thinking is, that this way, Richard will still be able to travel safely around with the team.”
“So, Vincent is allowed to be out and proud, and I’m not?” I demand.
“Richard, it’s not like that,” Vincent starts.
“Sure as hell sounds like it from where I’m sitting. If you remember, you told me not to go to Qatar when you found out I was gay. Now, what, this is suddenly okay?”
“That was different. You weren’t changing roles in the team. You’re going to become more visible. I can’t turn back time, and not come out, but you can. You saw the reaction of the team. No one believed that you were gay.”
“And yet. If you haven’t noticed, I am gay,” I tell him.
“I think this might be a good idea,” Dave says, and this time, I’m able to pull my hand away.
“What?” I say over to him.
“Look, we saw what happened with Jasper,” Dave starts. “He was just in the background and the press hounded him. Imagine what it will be like for you.”
“I can cope,” I tell him.
“But you wouldn’t have to,” Vincent adds. “Yes, I know that it’s not exactly how we wanted it to go. But this would be best for the team.”
“Best for the team? What about what is best for me? Still having to sneak around hotels, hiding. No. I won’t.”
“Rich, this isn’t really your decision,” Dave says.
“I think you’ll find that it is. We are talking about our relationship. Our marriage,” I counter, not sure I can believe what he said.
“Look, it wouldn’t be forever,” Vincent adds.
“Until when? I don’t think that Qatar or Abu Dhabi are going to become gay friendly any time soon.”
Getting up from my chair, I look at the people sitting around, they feel like strangers, and without saying anything, I turn and start walking out of the room. I need to get away and try to clear my head.
“Richard,” Vincent calls. “Where are you going? We need to discuss this.”
“To find a new team,” I say, as bluntly as I can, and walk out of the door.
The door to Charmaine’s office door slams shut behind me, and I just stand there for a few seconds, trying to compose myself. I don’t want to go and find a new team, but I wanted my husband and my best friend to support me. Support what I thought was a joint decision to come out.
I need to get out of this building. Away from the people inside it. But if I go home, I’m sure that Vincent and Dave are just going to follow me. I need to go somewhere that no one is going to find me. Pulling out my mobile, I call a number that I never thought I would call again.
“Richard,” a voice sounds on the other end of the line. “It’s been a long time.”
“I need to make a booking,” I tell them.
“But,” And there is hesitation. “Jasper isn’t available, and he told me that…”
“Kimber, please. All I need is a room. Somewhere discreet. Maybe a friendly ear,” I explain.
“When do you need it?” Kimber asks.
“Now.”
“I can have something ready for you in twenty minutes.”
“Thank you.” And hang up the call.
I had just made it to the main doors of the building when I feel a hand grab hold of me, stopping me in my tracks, and I turn to see Jasper standing there. An annoyed expression on his face.
“Care to explain why Kimber just called me to say you had made a booking?”
“It’s not like that,” I tell him, but his expression doesn’t waiver.
“From where I’m standing, it does sound like that,” Jasper counters.
“Look, I just need to be on my own. Can you make sure Dave gets home okay?” And I turn to leave, but Jasper stops me again, and his expression has softened slightly.
“Rich, what’s happened?”
“I don’t know, really. I just know I need to get out of this building.” And when I turn to leave, Jasper lets me go this time.
Once outside, I take a deep breath. There is a cold snap gripping the UK at the moment, and I love the feel of the cold air filling my lungs. The sting is almost calming. Vincent and I have been through some tense patches, but I have never been this annoyed with him. Never been this angry with him.
Getting to my car, I’m just unlocking it when my mobile starts ringing, and I see Vincent’s name on my screen.
Yeah, I’m not going to talk to him right now.
So I hit the decline button. Less than a second later, it starts ringing again, and this time, it’s Dave’s name.
My finger hovers over the accept button, but again, I can’t. So I hit decline and turn my phone off.
For the first time, I can understand why, all those months ago, Dave turned off his phone. To disconnect from the people who feel like they’re hurting you the most, even if they might not realise what they’re doing is causing you pain.
Starting the car, I pull out of my space, and I’m just passing the front of the building, when out of the corner of my eye, I see Vincent standing there, but I keep on driving.
Thankfully, there is no press outside. Either it’s too early in the day for them, or with the press conference coming on Friday, they don’t see the point in waiting.
The road, mercifully, is clear, but twenty minutes later, I’m nowhere near Kimber’s place.
One of the main rules, when using the establishment, is that you weren’t allowed to park anywhere near it.
The person had to arrive on foot. Exceptions could be made for the people that needed bodyguards.
For the rest of us, we had to rely on our wits and make out that we were visiting a friend.
It was Kimber that always answered the door, always with a smile, and always giving a hug.
I’m sure that the neighbours must have thought something strange was going on, but then, it wasn’t just men that used Kimber’s services, so maybe they just thought that she was popular. Ringing the doorbell, I wait for it to be answered, hoping the fact that I’m ten minutes late doesn’t bother her.
“Room two. They’re waiting for you,” Kimber says.
“Thank you,” I say, but then add, “I just need to talk. Sex isn’t going to happen.”
“Oh, I know. They’re fully clothed, and that’s how it’s going to stay.”
“Thank you. Is the price the same as always?” I ask, as I head over to the stairs. Room two was my usual room, when I came here.
“It is. Now, time is money. You only have the room for an hour, and you have lost ten minutes already.”
“Okay. I’m going.” Giving her a smile.
It feels strange to be back here, and yet, almost comforting, too. This was one of the first places where I was able to be me. This was a place of no judgement. You were allowed to be you. It seems quite fitting, that it’s the place I go to for my sanctuary.
Opening the door, I take a step in and stop dead in my tracks. How the fuck was he able to get here so quickly?
“Sit down,” his voice commands.
“No,” I say, finding a strength I didn’t know I had against that tone.
“It wasn’t a question. Sit down.”
I don’t move.
“You will listen to him,” a voice sounds from the shadows. “Sit down. Now!”
Jasper takes a step out of the shadows, and I can see the slight surprise on his face. He knows that I have never defied him before. Not here, anyway. Jasper takes a step towards Dave.
“Are you going to be okay?” Jasper asks him.
“Yeah. Thank you,” Dave says over to him, but without breaking his eye contact with me.
“Try to be gentle,” Jasper tells him. “But you have the room all night.”
Jasper pauses as he gets to my side, but I still don’t look at him. The anger I felt at HQ has skyrocketed.
“Listen to him. Remember how you felt when he did this to you,” Jasper whispers, and I know he’s referring to the time that Dave turned off his phone to me, when he found out that I had slept with Jasper.
Jasper leaves the room, and Dave and I just stand there. Not saying anything. He really needs to be sitting down and resting. But we are both stubborn, and just stand there.
“Sit down,” he commands, again.
“No,” I say back with a strength I don’t really feel.
“Rich, you will listen to me. Now, sit down. We’re going to talk,” Dave commands, and only because I can see his arm shake slightly due to the pressure of standing on his crutches do I move over to a couch and sit down.
He takes a step towards me, “No,” I tell him. “Sit there.” Reluctantly, he sits down on a couch that is opposite to mine and takes a deep breath.