Page 54 of Treasuring Michael

“Let him go,” James says from his office door. “Tomorrow, he’ll get this house in order and everything will go back to normal. Damon, the lawyer will drop off the contract in three days. Be ready to signmyhouse over to me.” He scoffs, shakes his head, and looks at his sons. “Conrad, Fallon. Go do what we discussed.”

I walk past Conrad and before I walk into my room, I hear James say in a low voice, “Be discreet.” I blend into the wall like I usually do, wanting to catch more of what James is saying. I’m not sure why, but it seems important and like it’s super conspiratorial. “This can’t come back on me, understand?”

What can’t come back on him? What are they doing? I need to know what kind of mess they’re about to make. I don’t want to be tangled up in it. Hopefully, whatever crap they have going on can wait until after I’m gone. I don’t want to be here while they get caught up in something that could be dangerous.

This is not my family. I don’t belong here, in trouble with them.

I can’t think about that now. I have to find a place to stash the money from our casino trip. I couldn’t deposit it while I was there, since there wasn’t a bank branch I used nearby. With my thieving stepfather around, I have to be careful. He might find a reason to say that money belongs to him for my college fees.

Fucking liar.

My chest still hurts, thinking about how he purposely made me broke so I would be stuck here. There’s no other explanation. He wanted me to be dependent on him so I wouldn’t dream of leaving, taking away their free maid.

Frustrated, I stalk over to the bed as quickly as my sore ass would let me. Sitting down, I wince, then I smile, thinking about why I’m sore.

I miss Michael.

Flopping back on the bed, I blow out a hard breath. I hate being here. When we talked about me trying to act normal and keep my head down, I didn’t think it would be this hard. I’ve only been back for ten minutes and I’m already wanting to be in Canada, a country I’ve never been to. I’m ready to leave.

Sliding my suitcase over, I open it and pull the money out. I count it out and sigh, knowing this money is life changing for me, but not while I don’t have a passport. As soon as I have that passport in my hands, I’m gone. I’ll quit Velli Corp that day, no two weeks, no letter of recommendation, no cleaning out my desk. Just an email, saying I’m out.

Two weeks. Only two weeks until I start my new life.

Two weeks.

Chapter 17

Damon

Workthenextdayis boring. I never thought I would imagine my dream job as boring, but after spending two weeks teaching and working one on one with other people, I find no excitement here. Who would have thought me of all people needed excitement?

It isn’t the excitement I crave when I really think about it. It’s feeling like I have something to offer, and the people I offered it to appreciated it. When I’m at home, I cook, clean, and take care of the house for the three men that lived there to mess it up and not care. When I was at the second Velli Corp, my time and knowledge was valued, and the men and women there wanted me to share what I knew.

Being back here, sitting at my tiny desk with my assignments for the week, I feel like I don’t belong here. Before I left, I felt like I didn’t belong because I still didn’t know how I got the job in the first place. Now, since I’m aware I know this job and this company well, that’s not where my feeling of discontent is coming from. I think it’s because I feel like I’ve run my course here.

Since I made up my mind to go to Canada, this place doesn’t feel like home to me. My job doesn’t feel like it’s mine because I think I can—no, IknowI can do better. I took a chance, put myself out there and got stronger along the way.

Two weeks really made a big difference.

I gave Mr. Archer my report on what went on while I was in Nevada. I talked for about twenty minutes and when I was finished, Mr. Archer was giving me an appraising look.

“Is there something the matter?” I ask quietly. I’m not sure if I messed up or forgot to tell him anything.

He shakes his head. “No. I just … I don’t think I’ve heard you say that many words at one time before.” He chuckles softly, then says, “I knew I sent the right person. You did well. Brenda called and told me how much they enjoyed having you there and how much they learned. If ever we need someone to visit that branch, I hope you’ll consider going back.”

Instead of nodding and saying yes, I tell him, “No. Thank you so much for the opportunity and trusting me with the training job, but I need to put in my two weeks.”

Mr. Archer looks taken aback. “Mr. Reed, you’re leaving? Is it because of the trip? Did we not compensate you fairly?”

“Oh no,” I say, hoping to assuage his fear. “I’m moving soon.”

“Well, okay.” He looks around, seeming a little lost. “I can’t say I’m happy to hear that news. Are you going to a competitor? If you need more money—”

“No.” I raise my hands to stop him from thinking he can get me to stay. “I actually don’t have anything lined up. I planned to take a few months off to get my bearings. I’m going to move with my boyfriend out of state.” Out of the country, more like, but Mr. Archer doesn’t need to know all my business. Hell, saying Michael is my boyfriend is the first time I revealed my sexuality to anyone at work.

He sits straight up, looking taken aback. “Oh. I didn’t know you were involved.”

Smiling, I ask almost shyly, “Why would you?”