Chapter Eleven #2
“The second option is I send these photos to the label. The originals, of course. These are copies.” I’d already assumed as much. He wouldn’t have let me handle them freely if they weren’t. “But, as I’ve already said, that’ll also lead to me being fired.”
Knowing his own selfish motivations were all that kept him from dropping the axe on Arlo had rage bubbling up my throat.
“The final one, though. That’s the one I’m going to go with. You’ll stay on as a guard, but with Luca. Simon will be reassigned to Arlo.”
I baulked at the idea of not being the one to protect Arlo, but given I’d walked in expecting to be fired, it seemed also too good to be true. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I want to keep my job.” He tapped the folder again. “You’re the only person who has any influence over Arlo. If I fire you, he’ll fire me, or at the very least, make my life a nightmare. However, if I show you leniency, he might be more cooperative.”
My skin felt like it was too tight for my body, itching all over. What Kevin was suggesting felt like a betrayal of Arlo. I didn’t like it. I didn’t want any part of it. “I won’t convince him to take up any additional responsibilities.”
“I don’t need you to,” Kevin said bluntly.
“I’m not an idiot, Jack. I’m well aware of how close the two of you are.
Your influence over him runs deeper than I think even you know.
With you out of the way, Arlo should be more…
amenable to our suggestions. All you need to do is to tell Arlo how grateful you are that I’ve saved your job.
How lucky the two of you are not to be fired.
You’ll put distance between you though. No more staying at his place, no more spending holidays together.
Your relationship, whatever it is, ends now.
I need Arlo single and without you breathing over his shoulder. ”
Fuck. How long had he been watching us? And how the fuck had I not noticed?
“And if I say no?”
“Then I’ve got nothing left to lose. I’ll fire you and hand the photos over to the label. I might be out of a job, but at least I’ll have taken the two of you down with me.”
He had me by the balls and he knew it. “You’re a real piece of shit, you know that?”
To my surprise, Kevin laughed. “That I might be, but at least I’m giving you the option to stay on. You’ll be able to keep an eye on your precious boy toy, while the rest of us can sleep in our beds knowing our jobs are secure. Everyone’s happy.”
I doubted either Arlo or I would be happy. How could I be apart from him? He’d been my whole world for almost a decade. Could I really step away and let someone else take my place?
And as for the other thing—not spending time with him—how could I do that? I needed to be there for him, to care for him.
Arlo’s tear-stained face flashed into my mind. The tortured words he’d forced out between sobs. “What do I have without the band, Jack? Nothing. Fucking nothing, that’s what. I’m gonna end up back on the estate, rotting away with everyone else.”
It didn’t matter how I felt, or how much it would fucking gut me to be apart from Arlo. All that mattered was protecting him, making him happy.
Maybe it’s for the best, a quiet voice whispered in my mind. Maybe a clean break was what we needed. We couldn’t continue down this path, not now it was all in the open.
It wasn’t like Arlo needed me to get off. He could easily find someone else to fill my shoes, I just had to make sure Simon kept him as safe as possible.
Nausea bubbled in my stomach at the thought, but I pushed it away. I had to do this.
I’d promised Arlo I’d make sure his position in the band was safe. If this was the price I had to pay, so be it.
My gaze was arctic as it collided with Kevin’s self-satisfied one. “I’ll agree on one condition.”
“You’re hardly in a position to negotiate.”
“Get the contract changed so none of the members can be ousted without the say-so of the others.”
“Why would I do that?”
I leaned over the table, relishing the way it made Kevin flinch. “If you don’t, I’ll let it slip to Luca. I can guarantee they’ll be contacting their lawyers before the label has a chance to do anything. I don’t imagine they’ll look kindly on you not pointing out that key detail to them.”
“Then I’ll send the photos to the label. Even if the clause is changed, the band won’t be able to withstand the backlash of those being published.”
“Maybe they will, maybe they won’t.” I leaned back in my chair, looking at the other man with open disgust. “But I can guarantee that you’ll be on the dole before the week is out. You want me to follow along with this little plan? Then make this happen.”
It was a gamble—a foolish one. But I wasn’t about to walk out without guaranteeing Arlo’s place in the band.
Realistically, I could have gone to the band and told them everything that’d happened in this room, but that too was risky.
I wanted to believe they’d have Arlo’s back, but there was too much uncertainty for me to feel confident.
What if they decided Arlo’s past behaviour getting out was a scandal they wanted to avoid?
Or if they too thought Arlo should be doing more to bring money in for the label?
I wanted to have faith that they wouldn’t react like that, but what I knew about them was a drop in the bucket compared to what I knew of Arlo.
At the end of the day, it would be my word against Kevin’s. Why would they listen to me?
This option was safer. I didn’t like it, but Arlo wouldn’t be fired and I’d still be able to keep an eye on him. If I could get Kevin to agree to change their contracts, then at least it’d be more difficult for any of them to be ousted without the others agreeing.
Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to meet the eyes of the man I hated like no other. “So? Do we have a deal?”
Kevin gave me a grim nod. “Convince Arlo that I shouldn’t be fired and cut all ties. Then consider it done.”
I walked out of his office without a backwards glance. To anyone passing by, I was sure I looked as calm and collected as usual.
Inside though, a tornado was shredding me to pieces. Could I really walk away from Arlo? Watch over him from a distance knowing it was the closest I’d ever get?
It wasn’t like he couldn’t get by without me now. He wasn’t eighteen anymore, he was nearly thirty. His depression was well managed, and Simon was a very capable guard. I’d be there for all events, and I was more than capable of guarding Luca while also keeping an eye on Arlo.
All these things were true, but that didn’t mean I had to like them. If I thought too hard about the reality of what Kevin had proposed, I’d probably walk back into that office and land myself in prison.
No. I had to focus on Arlo. On keeping him in the band and ensuring his happiness.
And to do that, I had to let him go.
Even worse, I had to persuade him to let me go. How the fuck was I going to do that without hurting him?
The answer hit me at the same time as the cold breeze outside the office.
It was simple. I couldn’t.
I was going to hurt him. Hurt us both. But it had to be done. Maybe this was for the best—a clean break.
I tried to make myself believe it the whole drive to Arlo’s. Deep down though, it didn’t matter.
I didn’t have another choice.