Just Between Us

Chapter One Kai

It’s hot.

Only that can’t be right because it’s pissing rain outside, the sky descending into a menacing grey to usher in December and the holidays.

Still, my armpits prickle with sweat as I press the 15th-floor button in the elevator. Luckily, it’s empty and I can painfully scrutinise every inch of myself as I ascend.

Staring back at me is my face, my freckles long disappeared due to London’s miserable autumn and my usually brown skin is woefully pale. I run a hand through my curly hair. I’ll need a haircut soon, preferably a holiday too.

When the elevator doors slide open, I hold my laptop close to my chest, stepping out onto the floor. There’s barely anyone up here, with most of A-EYE’s executives choosing to work from home or travelling to some fancy locations.

I fight the groan forming inside me. Why did Marie have to call in sick on the one day we were supposed to present our proposal to Levi Bellamy? She is the brains behind the numbers and I’m mostly here for the charm but even then, she has me beat in that department.

I don’t feel quite so charming as my feet carry me past the sleek kitchen with all the latest appliances to a woman seated behind an equally sleek dark cherry wood desk.

“Hi.” I sound like I’ve just run up the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

“You must be Kai?” she says, clicking the keys on her keyboard with short pink nails.

I shouldn’t be nervous. I know this project in and out; we worked on the deck for weeks. I’ve got this.

But no matter how prepared I know I am; Levi Bellamy is still a bit of a mystery to us downstairs.

At only twenty-seven, Levi has already earned a VP title in A-EYE’s legal team. According to Marie’s internet search, he is a certified genius with an IQ of 158. His mother is a famous M I think Marie can speak for the entirety of this country.

Connor is sitting at his desk next to mine, massaging the purple A-EYE stress ball in his hand into oblivion. It's worn down, mangled from his abuse and he throws it down onto the table when he spots me.

“How did it go? Did he roll his eyes and throw a book at you?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I half wish he’d done that. I could get a nice payout and move to a sunny island somewhere,” I say. “But nah, he was surprisingly really cool.”

I feel a little bad for calling him a prick in my mind. He was nothing like the spoiled boarding school rich I was expecting. I understand why he’s earned the VP title so young. His mind works quicker than anyone I’ve ever met. When I accidentally calculated a number wrong in my head, he corrected it without missing a beat. Not that it proves he’s a genius, but it was pretty impressive.

Connor nods appreciatively. “Nice one, man. You think the powers that be will give us the budget then?”

“I don’t know, Jones will be a tough nut to crack but Levi was supportive so maybe?”

Even if Levi wouldn’t have any say in the project, he did sound pretty enthusiastic about it. Our team has been working on this proposal for weeks and if we land this, it could mean a good bonus and the promotion Marie has been working her ass off for.

“Wanna grab a drink at Mulligans to celebrate? Henry and I are trying to wrangle a group for a few pints.”

Mulligans is the office watering hole. It’s perfectly placed between several office buildings, the kind of place you could find your next hook-up which translates to the kind of place Connor loves.

“Can’t.” I groan to give the feeling that I hate the fact that I can’t join. “I have a date.”

Connor’s eyes widen and he loudly squeals, stamping his Nike-clad feet on the carpeted floor. I roll my eyes. I haven’t been on any dates since he joined our team a year ago, but he goes on one at least twice a week. I’d hate to see what his dating apps look like, but he is objectively hot with his perfectly chiselled jaw, sandy blond hair and blue eyes. It would be a disservice if he refused to date with a face like that.

“No way,” Connor says. “Kai Thomas is finally back on the scene. Everyone, hide your wives and your husbands. You’re going to be drowning in so much—” he pauses, looking around for any prying listeners and drops his voice, “You know what—you won’t know what to do with it. Just remember to wrap it up, I hear there’s a particularly nasty strain of chlamydia going around.”

I’m laughing before I can stop myself. Of course, he’d know that. “Sage advice as always but a disgusting visual nonetheless,” I tell him.

He raises his arms as if in surrender. “Hey, I’m just telling you what’s going on out there. I can be your Yoda if you’d like. Show you how to use your dick in case you’ve forgotten how.” Luckily, he whispers that last part, so Yasmina who is a desk over doesn’t hear.

I shake my head, turning back to my monitor. “It’s been a while but I’m sure it all still works the same,” I tell him.

Nine months to be exact but I don’t tell him that.

“Oh, my sweet baby Kai, you’d be surprised.” Connor winks.

From the time I was thirteen, I knew I liked both guys and girls. Michelle Jones took my hand and kissed me during my year seven dance and a year later, Joshua Branson pulled me behind the curtains after our nativity play and almost sucked my face off. I liked it both times even if I could have used a little less saliva from Joshua.

My sexuality never bothered me and surprisingly, no one in school seemed to care about it either. There were always bigger things to worry about anyway. Like how I was going to make sure no one harassed my twin sisters, Zara, and Zoe, in the rundown, seedy building we lived in or how best I could avoid Kenny, my stepfather in the tiny flat he lorded over like a king. Faced with that, worrying myself about being bisexual almost seemed childish

“Will you bring him or her to the Christmas party if tonight goes well?” Connor asks after a minute.

The party is in two weeks and the office is buzzing with anticipation of the open bar and expensive food before the holidays.

“Him,” I say. “But let’s not get carried away. I haven’t even met the guy yet.” I quickly change topics because Connor is like a dog with a bone and my dating life is a bone he hasn’t tasted before.

“By the way, you’ll never guess who I met.”

My friend gazes at me expectantly. “I don’t know. Gary Oldman?”

I frown. “Random but no, Cole Armas.”

His eyes go wide, just like I thought they would. “Jeez, big day for you, Kai. He’s dating Levi, right?”

I nod, remembering the way he had grabbed the back of Levi’s neck to kiss him in front of me. It was so obviously a way to mark his territory, a way to bark mine yet instead of scaring me, it made me feel a little too warm.

I immediately stop that train of thought from continuing.

“They were kissing when I walked in.”

Connor whistles, leaning back in his chair. “I’m not gay but that’s a film I’d pay good money to watch. They would probably rake it in on OnlyFans.”

“I don’t think they need it,” I point out. The Armas family are billionaires and judging from Levi’s background, he’s not exactly struggling to make ends meet.

“True but I’ve seen Cole Armas from afar and that is a beautiful man. Levi too. If I was a girl; I’d beg them both to—” he cuts off his speech because Yasmina is staring now, and I pretend to work to avoid her burning gaze. I fight the image my mind wants to conjure up of the two of them. Levi is my boss (well my boss’s, boss’s, boss, but still) and I should not be thinking about him naked.

“You sure you’re not at least a little bit gay?” I ask Connor.

He waves a hand. “It’s the twenty-twenties, Kai. Not every man who is comfortable with their masculinity is gay. How limiting of you.”

I snort, shaking my head because trust Connor to say something ridiculous enough to make me snort in the office. I get back to work, and despite my excitement at Levi’s approval, I’m even more excited for my date tonight.

Maybe things are looking up.

Okay, things are not looking up.

James is an investment banker who goes to Ibiza every summer. He offers up this particular information within the first few minutes of our dinner at a Thai place I love and frequent enough that the host recognises me and waves every time.

James is a friend of one of Jenna’s personal trainer friends and according to Jenna, when he saw a picture of me post workout on her Instagram, he immediately followed me and asked me out.

I liked the enthusiasm, and he is cute with the wispy brown hair and brown eyes. I don’t have a type. I have barely dated since university but if I did, he’d fit the bill just fine.

“How about you?” he asks, eyes expectant. “Where do you like going on holidays?”

My ears heat. I’m not exactly sure what to say and luckily, the waitress saves me before I have to answer, placing a bowl of Panang Curry in front of me. I busy myself with picking up my chopsticks for the sticky rice between us.

“I hope this isn’t too spicy,” James says.

I glance up at him. He’s staring down at his plate with a hint of apprehension. Mum is half Moroccan, half Trinidadian and everything she made growing up was anything but mild. I clearly didn’t think this through when I suggested this place.

“Oh,” I say, “I’m sorry. We could have gone somewhere else.”

James takes a bite of his fish and immediately lets out a cough, his face flushing red in an instant. A pang of guilt floods through me.

“Yeah,” he says, “Maybe we can try Fern in Chelsea next time. It’s all the hype right now which is a bit unfortunate because everyone will be going there now but the food is great and it’s definitely,” he looks around the restaurant with what I can only describe as an up-turned nose, “Less chaotic,” he finishes.

I don’t miss the connotation, and it makes me grip my chopsticks tightly. James launches into a tirade about exclusive restaurants being ruined by social media, but I’m not listening, enjoying my curry instead and letting my mind wander slightly.

“So,” he says after another tirade about banking bonuses that I grunt and hum at because I have no patience to explain socioeconomic inequality to someone who hangs out with actual nobility. “Where are you from, Kai?”

I gaze at him stupidly because I know what he’s asking, and I won’t entertain it. He has the decency to look embarrassed because he quickly rushes out, “I just mean where did you grow up?”

I relax a little, but the damage is done, and he knows it too.

“Barking.”

“Nice,” James says nodding, “I think my dealer is from there.”

And that’s it. I tune out for the rest of the date, already mapping my route back home in my head.