Chapter Twenty-One
Anticipation hummed through James.
The workday dragged on at an interminable pace.
Tonight, he was joining Whipped’s Play Night, something Meg had talked about for years. He’d always been curious but had respected her space and her rules far too much to ever ask for an invite.
Except Nolan had invited him.
His mind swirled with ideas, things he wanted to try with his gorgeous sub, and he’d discussed them with Nolan last night.
They’d landed on an idea that would satisfy both of their needs—as well as give Nolan some time to top.
James had never dated a switch long-term before, but he hoped given Nolan’s experience in the scene and communication skills, that he’d speak up when he needed outlets to top.
The more time James spent with him, the more he realized he didn’t want to let this beautiful man slip from his grasp.
“Stuck on something?” Ken asked as he walked by.
“All fine here,” James responded.
He’d been relentless lately, making little comments whenever they ran into each other.
The longer looks, the hovering, the peering over his shoulder didn’t sit right with James.
A week had passed since he’d dropped the malware on Columb0, and he’d been waiting for the backlash—for Ken to bring up something directly or attack him online.
However, instead, he simmered, wondering if Ken wasn’t Carter’s hacker and he’d leapt to conclusions.
Either way, the pressure was mounting. Nolan spent the latter part of the day before addressing one-star reviews of Whipped on socials, all from fake accounts. Though Carter hadn’t escalated, James knew this type—it was coming.
Which was why James collected all the information he could find on the guy.
“You ready for tonight?” Parker asked from the cubicle over.
Parker would be there with Micah, and the idea of joining such a close-knit play party sent a frisson of nerves through him.
He could lose himself in the crowd at a club night, but Meg’s dungeon felt personal.
And this would be the first time he’d play with Meg and Tristan since…
the enormity of tonight threatened to shake him.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Because even if he faltered, even if he needed to end the scene, he was in a safe place to do so.
“Can’t wait,” Parker said with a smirk. James didn’t miss the glower Ken gave them, as if he were putting together pieces James didn’t want him to. His stomach flipped, but thankfully, Parker was smart, and that was the most he mentioned.
Still, he had no trust in their department’s other new employee.
The last hour flew by as he worked on an assignment he was almost finished with, and he tried to ignore the increasing intensity of Ken’s stare as they neared the end of the workday.
The second it hit five p.m., Parker hopped up from his seat and stretched his arms overhead. “All right, I’m out. See the rest of you losers later.”
“That how you’re supposed to talk to your employees?” Christian called back. The IT department’s vibe was far more casual than James was used to, which he credited to Parker.
James took his time exiting the project he worked on and cleaning his space from the day. He liked being last to leave, which wasn’t hard as everyone usually rushed out the door. By the time he turned off his computer, the only people remaining in the room were him and Ken.
Fuck, that wasn’t what he preferred.
He slipped his laptop bag strap over his shoulder and headed for the door.
Ken stepped in the way.
“Hold on,” Ken said, his pale blue eyes glittering with something James didn’t trust. “Wanted to have a conversation with you, Morpheus.”
James stilled.
The only way Ken would know his hacker alias was if…he was exactly who James believed him to be.
He swallowed hard. His history didn’t include a ton of illegal hacking, but he’d done enough in college that he didn’t want employers to know about it. He’d overstepped with this situation, got too concerned about protecting Meg’s business, about protecting Nolan, and he’d been sloppy.
“Got the little love note you sent.” Ken crossed his arms over his chest, standing square in the middle of the doorway. “Took me longer than I expected to sort through too. Nasty little virus.”
James remained silent.
“Looked into your illustrious history, Morpheus,” Ken continued. “What would HR think about some of your past endeavors, especially with the LakeView files?”
James’s gut curdled. During his hacktivist times, he’d interfered in some major operations, including some with governmental ties. Maybe he shouldn’t have focused all his attention on Carter—clearly, Ken would’ve been a better target.
“If word spreads about those activities, good luck getting a job in the Bay area,” Ken said. “You’ll have to slink back to Sacramento—if you can even stay in this industry.”
Fuck.
James still didn’t utter a word. Ken was baiting him, trying to get him to push back and admit something he refused to. He’d met these types before, and the second they had leverage, they’d use it. “Any reason you’re spending your free time digging into me?”
“Leave Euphoria Club alone,” Ken said. “Stop poking around in Carter’s past, or HR will get an email with more information than they ever wanted to know about Morpheus’s extracurricular activities.”
To be expected.
And yet, everyone at Whipped relied on what he’d dug up about Carter to expel this cancer from their community.
His community.
Acting rashly or pushing back wouldn’t help him. No, he needed to do his own homework on Ken, then figure out what steps he could take with what he’d compiled. If he poked around any further, it would set off a chain reaction that would ruin him in this area.
He’d just found Nolan and started his own healing process. He didn’t want to leave.
“Message received,” he said to Ken, his jaw tight. “Now get the fuck out of my way.”
Ken smirked as he stepped away from the doorway, making room for James to squeeze through. James seized the opening at once, pushed past him, and hurried down the corridor.
“You could always check out Euphoria Club,” Ken called. “We’ve got a great event coming up.”
Over his dead body.
James’s mind whirled as he strode away from Ken and the imminent problem. He wasn’t na?ve. Ken wouldn’t drop this if he left Carter alone. No, he’d dangle the knowledge over him for as long as they worked together. If something happened that Ken didn’t like, he would start with the threats again.
James needed to step back and find a more long-term solution.
Hopefully one that didn’t involve him leaving.
James walked out of the building, and the sunlight gleamed down on him, even if it didn’t settle past his skin.
Part of him was tempted to pick up the phone and call off tonight.
His head brewed with all the problems that could erupt from the Ken situation and how that could explode outward—not only for him but for everyone at Whipped.
However, another part of him, the stronger part, needed to be at Whipped tonight.
Around people who cared.
With the outlet guaranteed to help his headspace.
And with the man who was becoming more important to him with every passing day.