As expected, Chuck was more than just a nuisance…He was dangerous. The very next day, Nate had walked in to his office and found a second desk there. A smiling Chuck leaning against it. Looking sharp in his pinstripe suit, brunette hair gelled back.
"Cuz, I hope you don't mind. They are still getting my office ready, so you and I will have to share," No doubt that was true. But it was also true that if Chuck had really wanted it, an office would have been made available for him.
This was nothing more than a way for the man to keep an eye on Nate without having to work too hard at it.
"No worries. It is fine by me. Just make sure to keep to your end," He would have to do the more sensitive projects at home, and never leave his laptop unattended. One time in school, Chuck had added laxatives to his debate team members drinks, simply because they were better than him. He had cost the team the championship, but had won best speaker. None of the adults had believed the kids, but Nate had. He'd seen pills in his cousin's blazer. Such tactics were part of everyday life for his cousin, Nate didn't trust him not to cost them a big client just so he could make Nate look bad.
The day passed with Nate studiously ignoring his cousin as he worked. Chuck ignoring him too, though rather than working he was online, alternating between watching videos and posting pictures of himself pretending to work. At exactly five on the dot, his cousin walked out the door without even a goodbye, and Nate breathed a sigh of relief.
He got four more hours of work done before knocking off. He headed home to a warm bed, a glass of whiskey, and more work. All the while trying hard not to think how empty his penthouse was. It was probably just Chuck getting to him.
"Still a bookworm, cuz?"
"Live a little, you don't want to die alone do you?" The comments had been delivered in his cousin's normal playful tone, but they had still rubbed Nate the wrong way.
As the days passed and Nate continued sharing an office with Chuck, a lot of things about him began rubbing Nate the wrong way. The constant pen tapping, the disregard of Nate's keep to your side rule. The man often breathing down Nate's neck, reading over his shoulder. But worst of all, Nate was always there…wherever Nate went, Chuck found a reason to be there. By the time the twelfth came, Nate's nerves were frayed, but he was still trying to keep his cool, he had to find a way to lose Chuck. Which was why he was currently at a club in the middle of the day, his cousin seating in the chair across from him. A busty blond girl on his lap, a very unhappy Ron standing behind Chuck. Making sure his cousin's glass never ran dry.
Faking a phone call, Nate got up, gesturing to the device when he heard his cousin call for him. He made it look like he was headed to the bathroom, but slipped outside the moment he was close enough. Getting into his car, he pulled out of the club's underground garage, headed for the marriage registration office. He had told Ron to keep Chuck occupied for as long as possible. With any luck the whole thing would be over and done with before his cousin even realized he was gone. The failed engagement was a weapon Nate could not afford to have in the wrong hands.
He made it to the office in record. Ignoring the group of men admiring his car, he stepped into the building and found a line. In such situations he would normally throw his name and money around, but he did not wish to draw attention to himself so he sat down, and waited.
An hour later, it was finally his turn, and Nate breathed a sigh of relief, walking towards the registration with confident steps. He heard the main door to the main entrance open and close, but paid it no mind.
"Nate!" He froze at the voice, the earth beneath him seeming to shake. Slowly, ever so slowly, Nate turned around, hoping he was wrong. But on the other end of the hallway, there stood Chuck, grinning so wide it looked like it hurt. He was surrounded by the scantily dressed girls from the club, all of them looking like they had no idea what was going on, but were happily taking picture. Chuck's sneaky way of getting proof.
"Fancy seeing you here," He called, deliberately drawing more attention to them. Nate wanted to punch him.
"What are you doing here Nate?" He asked, and Nate's brain failed him. If he told the truth, then all Chuck had to do was run to the board and the CEO position was his. If he ran out, then his name was still on the register and Chuck could access it. Leading to the same outcome as option one.
There was no way out of this one. Where was Ron? Ron would come up with something, buy Nate some time. Casting his eyes around for something, anything he could use to save himself, a flash of colour caught Nate's eye.
A woman in red, standing a step back from Chuck's group. His eyes locked with the woman's and widened in recognition. The same look mirrored in her own eyes. Then he saw the woman's eyes widen even more as she took stock of the situation.
Hiding a wince, he continued to look at her, the only bright spot he had, eyes pleading with her, for what, he did not know. He blinked and when he opened his eyes again, she was gone.
Had she left? Had he imagined her? Turning back to the waiting crowd, Nate opened his mouth to speak but no words would come. Shoulders slumping in defeat, he was about to just give up and confess when a he felt a hand slip into his
He turned and there was Chuck, a warm smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes. Not at all drunk like he'd pretended to be. A swarm of reporters followed him, and Nate felt his heart drop. His cousin knew, and like a shark sensing blood in the water, he was coming in for the kill.
"You wouldn't get married without your cousin as a witness would you?"He looked around, pretending to search for someone, smile widening when he looked back to Nate.
"You are getting married, aren't you cousin?" Nate looked around wildly, his mind coming up blank as he tried to come up with an excuse. His gaze settled on a spot of colour at the back. A woman in red, standing a step back from the reporters. In that moment their eyes met and widened in recognition, both of them recognizing each other at the same time. Then the woman's eyes widened even more as she took stock of his situation.
Nate heaved a mental sigh. Perhaps it was their fate in life to see each other at their most embarrassing moments. Looking back at his cousin, Nate decided to just bite the bullet. Chuck would oust him and get the company, but at least in this way, Nate would know he'd tried. With Chuck as CEO and the company failing no one would be able to say he hadn't tried.
He was just about to speak up when he felt a soft had slip into his.
"Sorry I'm late, I hope you didn't wait too long," The woman from the hotel said, smiling up at him like it was the most natural thing in the world. All around them, the room had gone still, had Nate looked up. He would have seen the smug look slip off his cousin's face. But in that moment he only had eyes for one person.
The lady in red.
His head dipped, his lips brushing against her warm brow.
"Sorry I didn't tell you cousin. But I'm getting married today, we're keeping it quiet, so if you please," He made a shooing motion with his, then with his hand on her lower back the two of them turned and walked into the office. Leaving the group in the hallway for the approaching security guards to deal with.