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Benji didn’t particularly like the way Tucker was talking to him, but he didn’t want to cause any upset given the situation he was in so listened quietly.
‘Things are going to have to change,’ Tucker continued. ‘I’ve got your best interests at heart, you know that. You can still have a great career. It’s not too late to turn things around. But we’ll need to revise how we do things.’
Benji felt like this was his moment to speak up and show Tucker that he could be relied upon to not mess up again. Even though he felt nervous, Benji thought back to how Harrison had given him more confidence to voice his opinions.
With Harrison’s training in mind, Benji began to talk…
‘I agree things need to change,’ Benji said, summoning up his biggest, most courageous voice. ‘I’m going to stay in the city for three days and film a month’s worth of content. I’ll do an apology video too. But after that I’m going back to Harrison, my Daddy. We can see what we do after that, but-’
‘You just don’t get it, do you?’ Tucker interrupted, a cruel smile coming over his face. ‘You obviously didn’t check the fine print of those contracts you signed. I legally control all your videos, your finances, and even have your bank login details!’
‘No! No! That’s not fair!’ Benji pleaded, tears welling up in his eyes.
‘I own you!’ Tucker laughed. ‘And no, it’s probably not fair. But life ain’t fair. So here’s what’s going to happen. You will stay in the city, and you will be filming indefinitely. All day and every day if that’s what I need from you. I’ll pay you a weekly salary. I might even give you a Christmas bonus if you’re a good… boy.’
Benji was speechless.
This wasn’t part of Benji’s plan. It was far, far from it.
During the train journey and without a working phone to occupy him, Benji had come to the conclusion that Harrison had been right all along. But Benji’s loyalty and not wanting to let Tucker down meant that he still wanted to do some filming, just enough to make things right.
But Tucker saw things very differently. And it terrified Benji to think that Tucker had such control over him. It wasn’t just the money side of things either, but all of the videos that included his recipe ideas too. Benji had poured his heart and soul into them, especially the earlier videos where it was all about the cooking.
Benji was totally distraught and didn’t know what to do.
In that moment, he needed Harrison beside him, protecting him. But Benji also felt a sense of total shame and disgust in himself. How could he have been so stupid as to run away and leave without saying anything to his Daddy?
Yes, Harrison had been super-angry. But Benji felt like he should have at least given Harrison a chance to explain himself. What hope of that now?
Benji felt like Tucker’s prisoner.
He didn’t know what to do or what to say.
All Benji could think of was Harrison’s strong, comforting embrace making him feel better. But in that moment, Harrison felt a million miles away.
Chapter 18
HARRISON
The note left by Benji wasn’t exactly a novel. In fact, it was barely a sentence. In just a few hastily scribbled words, Benji had told Harrison that he was going back to the city and might be a couple of days. To say that seeing this note bummed Harrison out would have been an understatement.
Harrison knew that he had overreacted to seeing Benji on the phone. But at the same time, Harrison maintained the fact that Benji absolutely should not have gone against his word and logged back onto social media. It had been clear from the dazed and zombie-like look on Benji’s face that being online wasn’t good for him, and it was this that truly sent Harrison into his rage.
The thought of Benji reverting back to the place he was in when Harrison first met him was something that Harrison didn’t even want to contemplate. Harrison knew that it took a lot of discipline to get Benji’s mind off the online stuff, so the thought that he had reverted back to it wasn’t good at all.
But, on the other hand, the one saving grace was that based on his note, Benji was only going to be away for a couple of days. It suggested that Benji was at the very least only seeing this as a temporary diversion from his new way of thinking.
However, the two days quickly turned to three – and then four – and then five. It had been nearly a whole week since Benji had abruptly packed his bags and ran back to New York City.
Harrison was at home, sitting at the desk in his study and attempting to make some progress on his novel. Since Benji had cut and run, all of Harrison’s newfound energy and passion for his new book had evaporated. He wanted to work on it and was desperately putting the hours in too. But the words simply wouldn’t come. It was like Harrison’s entire inspiration was bound up with Benji being around him.
Harrison was angry at Benji for being so childish as to run out after an argument. But he was sad at his perfect boy not being with him.
What made things even worse was the fact that despite being online with new uploads and videos, Benji wasn’t answering any of Harrison’s messages. It made Harrison question whether Benji was trying to ghost him, or whether this was some kind of punishment being dished out for losing his temper with the boy.
All in all, Harrison just didn’t know what to think.
If Benji walked in that door now…
