Rowe - Living A Lie

By Willsin Rowe

Living A Lie Willsin Rowe, 2017

KINDLE EDITION

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Edited by Sassie Lewis

Cover art by Willsin Rowe

WARNING : This is an MM Romance story, containing an all-male couple.

Fledgling executive Nathaniel has landed his dream job at the big end of town. The first step up from his impoverished upbringing, it means hell be working under Zac, the son of the CEO. And Nathaniels unrequited high school crush.

In a corporation notorious for its intolerance, the two men are hopelessly drawn to one another, risking their careers and even their livelihoods. But when the only kind of honesty that works is brutal, its easier to keep living a lie.

CHAPTER ONE

T he hum and hiss of traffic washed over me as I walked the last block toward the enormous Scanlon Towers. Home of Scanlon Corporate Clothing. Seventy floors of steel, concrete and polished glass, hulking over the rest of the city, peering like a disapproving preacher. Not for the first time, I pondered what it would cost me to take that first step inside. My self-respect, perhaps. My pride. Hell, maybe even my soul.

I scaled to the top of the marble stairs and studied my reflection in the glass entrance doors. My daffodil-yellow silk tie suddenly seemed to be clawing at my throat. I should have asked Uncle Ross to tie it for me when I borrowed it. My own attempt was laughable. Honestly, what was the purpose of a tie? They seemed designed to choke a man, to cut off all communication between mind and body. To use discomfort to halt progress. They were nothing more than stilettos for dudes.

Watching the ersatz version of me in the glass, I grimaced at my own display of nerves. It was a tiny gesture, to touch my hand to the useless scrap of fabric. In my mind, though, it told every single person on the other side of those glass doors exactly how out of place I was. Downtown boy with fanciful uptown dreams.

To cover my nerves, I slid my moms cell phone out and called her land line. While it connected I pushed my glasses back up to the bridge of my nose. Mom answered on the fourth ring.

Anthea Ritson.

Hi, mom.

Nathaniel? Arent you meant to be at work?

I am, mom. At least, Im...almost there. Again, I found myself worrying at that knot around my neck.

Aw, sweetie. Dont you listen to those doubts. You hear me? Youre every bit as good as any Scanlon. Better, even. You know what it means to have nothing, so you fight harder for everything. And stop fidgeting.

How did you know?

Natey, Ive known you since before you were born. And Ive loved you just as long.

Mom always knew what to say. It was all I could do to stop tears forming in my eyes. Thanks, mom. Its all down to you.

She laughed at that. Oh, now thats bullshit, Natey. I had your back, thats all. You had the dream, you chased it. But thanks for saying it.

There was a short pause, and even through the phone I knew exactly what she was going to say. Almost word for word. I tried to head her off.

Mom...

I just cant believe youd go work there . After what the Scanlon boy put you through.

He didnt put me through anything, mom. Its not his fault I fell in love with him.

Oh, I dont think it was love , Natey. You were too young for that. But he broke your sweet heart.

Mom knew a lot of the facts, for sure. But she didnt know the story behind it. And now was not the time to go into it. I better go. Dont wanna be fired before I even begin.

Who will never stop loving you, Natey?

You, mom. I love you, too.

All right, sweetie. Id say good luck, but its Scanlon wholl need it. Youll be running the place in five years.

I disconnected the call and took a calming breath. Slowly, I scanned up as far as I could see, taking in as much of the monstrous edifice as I could. Since high school Id been in awe of this building, and this company. It was a great success story. But I couldnt kid myself that my obsession with the place was truly all about my ambitions in the world of business.

There was also that inconvenient little matter of Zachary Scanlon. Son of the CEO. Best friend at school. And the kind of unrequited crush that could do a mans head in. Yeah, I had a couple dozen ambitions outside of the business world, and theyd all revolved around Zachary Scanlons mouth and body.

Thoughts of Zachis tousled blond hair and impossibly goofy smilegave me a buzz that hit hard, both north and south. It got my insides churning with want, and my head spinning with fear.

When the marketing job came up at Scanlon I knew I was the man for it. Of course, my feelings for Zac had been a real roadblock. After school hed headed off to make a token appearance at one Ivy League school or another before quitting and taking up the role everyone expected. Head of some department or another at his fathers company.

Id taken my excellent results and hit the local business school. For those years I made every effort to keep Zac out of my thoughts. But knowing hed be in the same building as me had made me more than hesitant to even apply for the position. Id be putting myself in the path of temptation...and right in the firing line.

Lionel Scanlon, Zacs father, was so conservative he made Lutheran ministers look like party animals. The man made no secret of his disgust for anyone who wasnt white, straight and God-fearing. I set my shoulders, taking comfort in the fact I at least ticked one of those boxes. The only one you could be sure of on sight, too.

I took that one extra step forward and the glass doors spread like a predators maw. For just one more breath I hesitated, before moving inside and marching to the reception desk.

The young woman behind the counterBirgit, according to her nametaglooked easily as bored as she was beautiful. She glanced up from her screen only long enough to convey how forgettable my presence was to her.

Hi, I began. Im

Birgit held up her hand, one finger pointed to the heavens. The universal sign for you couldnt begin to approach the importance of what Im doing here, worm .

I snared my tongue between my teeth, letting that dull pain pull at my mind. Better that than succumbing to nerves all over again. I scanned around the cavernous foyer, with its cool lighting and muted opulence. Dark marble and roughly-hewn stone, with just enough gold to ram home how goddamn rich and important the Scanlon clan was.

My attention was snagged by the portraits on the left-side wall. The CEO himself, Lionel, took pride of place. Several other senior executivesall male and septuagenarianwere featured as well. But it was both a pleasant surprise and jarring shock to see Zacharys portrait up there, on the outer edge. And it set my pulse shuddering again as it took my mind back to our school days.