***
“Hey, I’ve got to get back to the office,” Chris murmured to Damon as he stood up.
“Are you okay?” Concern laced Damon’s voice. Chris looked…not himself.
‘No. I’m not fucking okay.’ Chris wanted to say to his friend but he didn’t want Damon to get even more worried than he looked. Chris worked to say something, but he couldn’t even talk past all the hurt and anger whirling within him right then. He swallowed past the dry lump in his throat.
“I’m fine,” Chris said in a hoarse voice. “Talk to you later.” With that, he turned around and headed for the door.
“Mr. Donovan, can you please wait,” Shane called out but Chris didn’t stop. “Chris!” Shane bellowed getting the attention of everyone in the showroom, including Chris, who stopped without turning around. “Can I see you in my office, please.” Shane said in a tense voice. Then he turned around and started towards another door.
Everyone in the room felt the tension between the two men but no one said anything. The brunette looked at Chris with a curious suspicion and then left the showroom with Adele.
“What the hell was that about?” Damon muttered when Chris got to his side. He could tell Chris was more than angry. Hell, he would be too if anyone called him out like that.
“Care to tell me what’s going on?” Damon sounded concerned and tense, his voice forcing Chris to turn to look at him.
“We’ll talk about it later,” Chris growled softly and followed Shane through the door.
Shane entered his office and leaned against the desk and then folded his arms across his broad chest. He was angry. He didn’t know why but he just was. Maybe it was the accusation and condemnation he’d seen in Chris’ eyes just before he’d turned to leave the showroom. What the fuck was Chris’ problem? If anyone should have that look in their eyes, it should be him and not Chris, Shane fumed. Chris entered the office, closed the door, and then turned around to face Shane with a look of anger and hurt on his face.
“Did you want something?” Chris’ asked coolly.
“Don’t ever walk away when I’m talking to you.” Shane didn’t raise his voice but the command in his tone was clear.
Chris’ jaw dropped as his eyes widened in shock. “What…?” No one spoke to him like that. No one! Anger simmered inside his chest as his fists clenched in anger.
“Out there. You heard me call your name but you kept going. That should never happen again.” Shane sounded cold.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Chris whispered as he tried to maintain a tight control over the anger bubbling inside him. “And who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
“Oh, I’m talking to you,” Shane said in a chilling voice as he shrugged out of his jacket. “Now, care to tell me what that was about?” Shane growled, looking every bit like the powerful, successful businessman that he was.
Chris stared at Shane incredulously. Not only was he shocked at Shane’s attitude towards him, but he was also surprised the man could even ask what the ‘problem’ was. “Do you really need to ask?” Chris asked quietly, trying to suppress his quickly rising temper. “Did you forget that tiny detail about being married with a daughter?”
Shane went from angry to furious so quickly his head ached. First off, he couldn’t fathom why a man such as Chris would jump to conclusion without talking to him first. Secondly, did Chris think simply because they spent time together, everything was peachy? What they had wasn’t a fucking happy reunion for fuck’s sake, Shane thought with indignation. The fact that he hung out with Chris didn’t mean he trusted him enough to tell him about things he held dear. Hell, Chris was the last person he should trust. Shane proceeded to tell Chris exactly that.
“What gives you the right to expect me to tell you everything about my life?” Shane’s eyes flashed with annoyance, his voice filled with incredulity.
Chris stiffened. “What?” Chris couldn’t suppress his shock. He looked more bewildered than angry.
“No, seriously…I’d like to know, Chris.” Shane’s cold voice raised in anger. “You think some stalking, few drinks, a hand job, and phone sex gives you the right to…”
Shock sluiced through Chris as if he’d jumped into an icy stream. Stunned disbelief didn’t even begin to describe the expression on Chris’ face at Shane’s words. “Shane…” Chris couldn’t mask the anguish in his voice as Shane’s words ripped through him. The full implication of those words slammed into Chris, stealing his breath, replacing it with pain so intense, he nearly doubled over.
“Just being very open here.” Shane’s clenched fists and taut jaw showed just how angry he was. Seeing how his words affected Chris surprisingly gave him some satisfaction. He wanted to lash out at Chris… to hurt him just as Chris had hurt him with his actions and words all those years ago. Somewhere, in the depths of his brain, he knew he was being stupid, trying to mask his fear and guilt under anger, yet he couldn’t help himself. Guilt for not trusting Chris enough to tell him about his daughter. And fear that Chris might pull away from him.
Chris opened his mouth but nothing came out. He would have had better success deciphering a Chinese soap opera than understanding what was going on at that very moment. His stomach lurched as betrayal stung his heart and shock blanched his blood. What he’d shared with Shane meant a lot to him and he thought it had meant something to Shane too. But with Shane’s words, what they’d shared had suddenly become dirty. And that hurt real bad.
“Shane, please don’t spoil things.” Chris rasped.
“Spoil things?” Shane gave a sharp humourless laugh. “You made sure of that a long time ago.” There was so much fury and pain in Shane’s voice Chris just knew that Shane’s pent-up anger and pain from all those years ago was finally flying to the surface.
Chris felt his chest tighten with regret and disappointment. It was one thing having Shane angry at him, it was totally another seeing the hurt in his eyes. It ripped Chris apart. Though he knew it was a good thing for Shane to finally let it out, he felt that was neither the time nor the place to talk about their problems. “Can we not talk about this now?” Chris said quietly.
“I think we should. I mean, we have to talk about that shit at a point don’t you think?” Shane sneered, his voice booming inside the office.
Every word Shane spoke stabbed at the open wound in Chris’ chest. Chris could feel himself tremble with shock and pain at those words. He swallowed hard. “Shane, will you lower your voice before people…”
“Oh don’t worry about people hearing me,” Shane growled. “Each room in this house is soundproof. Wouldn’t know where one would fall asleep would we?” He added with a sneer, causing an intense feeling of shame and guilt to overcome Chris. Shane saw the emotions ran across Chris’ face and hated what he was doing but he just couldn’t stop.
“I’m sorr…” Chris started to say automatically but got cut off by a furious Shane.
“Spare me the…” Shane trailed off when the door to the office burst open and the brunette stepped inside. Her angry eyes immediately went to Chris.