3. SIMON
SIMON
TWO MONTHS LATER
T his is bullshit. I’ve spent the last two months managing to dodge Carlos, forcing Jules to attend the meetings alone just so I don’t have to talk to him, but my time has run out.
Because my amazing and fucking loved up psycho of a boss, Lev, has noticed my reluctance and insisted that I start acting my age.
I blame Aaron. His new boyfriend who I worry about spending any alone time with because he’s as crazy as Lev.
Someone has put a spell on this family, and everyone is settling down.
But that's a conversation for another day, as today I have to go to the docks to meet with Carlos for the exchange.
“Hey Si,” Seb says as he walks into the kitchen where I’m currently staring into my coffee.
Seb is now Dima’s husband. The only normal one here.
He is not at all who I imagined Dima would end up with, which would be a smaller guy who is more submissive.
Seb is a hot biker boy who works at our bar and has an acid tongue sometimes when it comes to Dima.
He is made of stronger stuff than I thought when I met him and he is a great addition to the family. He can calm D when he’s spiralling.
“Hey.”
Seb walks over to the fridge and grabs a water.
“What’s wrong with you today?” he asks, and I just glare at him. Another thing about Seb is he loves to talk and try to help. Another thing I’m allergic to.
“Why would anything be wrong?”
He shrugs.
“You seem grumpier than usual.”
“Grumpier, is that possible?” Lev says as he walks into the kitchen with freaky Aaron trailing behind him. Fucking hell I hate it when they all get together. Non-stop fucking chatting and gossiping.
“Why don’t you all focus on yourselves, yeah?” I say as I stand to throw my now cold coffee down the sink, and rinse my cup. I’m stalling to leave to see Carlos because I’m nervous. It's like the first damn day of school.
“What’s your problem with Carlos?” Lev asks, and I inhale deeply to prevent myself from snapping. This is a topic that I’m not touching.
“He’s a dick.”
“I like him,” Aaron says, adding his two cents to the conversation. I look at him, the broken boy who has been through some awful shit since he arrived here. But even though he has his traumas, he’s still a shit stirring little prick, his demonic grin at me proves it.
“You like everyone,” I say as I move to leave the confines of the coffin that is the kitchen.
“Only the broken ones,” he says as he snuggles into Lev's shoulder and I want to gag. I can’t tell from the grimace on Lev’s face if he’s enjoying it or secretly loving it. He’s not pushing him away, so I assume he loves the attention.
“Well you’re in the right family,” Seb says with a chuckle.
“Be professional, Simon. I don’t want any screw ups because you’re in a bitchy mood. Carlos is our supplier and we need things to run smoothly,” Lev says, and I nod.
“Fine. I’m gonna head over there now with Jules. See you fuckers later.”
I don’t hang around for any comebacks. The noise of their voices is like nails down a chalkboard.
I can’t stand people who just talk and talk for the hell of it.
To be honest, I’m questioning why I don’t just disappear to the mountains in Canada and live in a shack with just the woods and bears to keep me company. It would be less taxing on the brain.
Just as I step outside, Jules walks around the corner from the back of the house and gives me a heads up in acknowledgement as we walk toward one of the many sports cars. I get into the passenger side, as Jules prefers to drive.
“What’s the matter with you?” he asks as we pull out of the driveway.
“Why is everyone asking that today? Nothing is wrong with me.”
“You look more pissed off than usual.”
“Maybe that’s because everyone won’t shut the fuck up with asking me what’s wrong.”
“Touchy.”
“I can be stabby if you prefer?”
“Ha! Love to see you try.”
“Just drive. All these conversations are giving me a headache.”
“As you wish, Princess.”
I turn my head to the side where it rests on the head rest and throw Jules my most hateful look as the bastard loves to goad me.
“Maybe you need to keep one eye open tonight, Jules. Don’t test me.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Thankfully that's the last of it and the rest of the journey is made in silence.
Beautiful silence. I keep my eyes on the passing streets as we get closer to the docks.
It's coming toward the end of fall so the air is getting cooler at night.
Add on top of that my anxiety over seeing Carlos again, and I'm pretty much on the verge of suffocating.
We arrive at the dock where there are lots of guards and workmen moving around, busy at work.
As we park, both of us get out of the car, but Jules lingers behind as I make my way toward Carlos’ office.
I say office, it's a reused container that's depressing as shit and I assume will be like a freezer in the winter. It always surprises me that someone like Carlos who wears the best clothes, and walks around with airs and graces of royalty, that he would be satisfied with such a place to work. But I don’t really know him. It could all be a show.
A guy greets me outside of the container, Carlos’ right hand guy called Lucas who I’ve met a few times.
He’s a tall guy, well built, has thick black hair and a close cut beard.
Brazil certainly knows how to make hotties.
However he has no personality, which I can identify with. He’s as friendly as I am.
“Is he waiting?” I ask, pointing toward the office door.
“No, but he’ll be here soon. You can wait inside.”
Oh the irony, Lev telling me to be professional when this fucker can’t even have the decency to be on time.
Whatever. I stomp into the office and collapse into the chair, thankful that there is a heater in here, because how the fuck can it be colder in here than it is outside? At least he has some awareness.
Asshole.