Chapter 1
Though the light had turned green, Julian looked down and saw that Danny wasn't ready to cross the street just yet. First the little boy made sure that all the cars were really stopped and only then took a tentative step onto the crosswalk while staying close to Julian's side.
As they crossed the street as fast as they could, his three-year-old little brother held onto Julian's hand with both of his little ones. Ever since he was in a car crash, traffic scared Danny, but he wouldn't let Julian carry him.
He didn't like the noise of traffic, and he jumped at any loud engine noise or whenever a car horn sounded or tires screeched. Afternoon rush hour was winding down, but this was still a busy area. Luckily, they soon arrived in front of the office building where Julian worked.
The office building towered above them, and Danny frowned. "It's big," he said in a hushed voice Julian could barely hear.
"We're not going too high up," Julian assured him. "You're going to see where I work." Or more accurately, where he worked until now. After all Julian was here to pick up some things before he relocated. At twenty-five, Julian was the youngest consultant at Upton Investments. He was keeping the same job, but he wouldn't be working out of Upton Investments offices any more.
In the lobby, Julian checked in with security and Danny looked around uncertainly. At the elevators, he took a deep breath before he bravely stepped inside. He was used to the elevators in Julian's apartment building, but he wasn't a fan of riding on them. Since Upton Investments offices were located on the fifteenth floor, taking the stairs wasn't an option.
On the fifteenth floor, the elevator doors opened to the slick décor of the office space. The sharp angles and gleaming metal didn't put Danny at ease. He looked all around cautiously and pulled closer to Julian.
It was after office hours. Only a few people would be working this late so the place wouldn't be too crowded or hectic. For Danny's sake, that's exactly what Julian wanted. He had picked this time for another reason. Pete Thayer shouldn't be in the office after regular working hours, so this was a good time for Julian to go in and get his things without running into him.
As they made their way to his office, Julian hoped Danny would be more comfortable in there.
"I just need to get a few things. It won't take long," he assured the little boy, who stayed silent as he often did. Julian always had to look at him to make sure he wasn't upset or scared.
This time Julian noticed that he was staring at something. It was actually someone. Following his gaze, Julian was surprised to see the temp, Rob Gerric. Their paths crossed right in front of the doors to Julian's office and Rob greeted them.
"I didn't expect to see you here so late, Mr. Brenner," Rob told him.
Julian knew that was because he didn't spend extra time at the office these days. At one time, before Danny came to live with him, Julian would often be found working late. But not any more.
"You're here late too," Julian pointed out.
"I'm helping Mrs. Lewis. Her assistant barfed up her lunch and had to go home early." When Julian made a face, Rob winked at Danny, who mouthed the word barfed. "This is my last week here, so I don't mind some extra hours," Rob added.
Julian wasn't surprised he was leaving. Rob didn't exactly fit in among the more corporate minded employees. Julian would be sorry to see him go, but then he remembered he was leaving as well.
Rob cocked his head to one side and regarded Danny with an inquisitive look. "Hey, you're new here, aren't you? What's your name?"
Danny didn't answer and Julian didn't expect him to. The little guy hardly spoke to Julian and almost never to anyone else. That's why Julian was about to answer for him when the cleaning people started up the vacuum and Danny jumped in fright. Holding his breath, his eyes wide, he clutched Julian's hand tightly.
Rob noticed his reaction and reassured him, "That's just the vacuum. See?"
Looking where Rob was pointing, Danny blinked a few times and pressed his lips together into a line as he stared at the vacuum and the man behind it. "It's red," Danny noticed, but Julian wasn't sure if he heard him say it or if he had just mouthed the words.
"And it's loud," Julian said. "Let's go in my office. It won't be so loud in there. You can sit in my chair and I'll be right back."
Going in and climbing in the swiveling chair with some difficulty, Danny looked tiny sitting in it, and Julian smiled at the sight of the tiny executive. "Here are the crayons we brought and some papers to draw on. I'll be right back. I'm going to be right out there where you can see me," Julian told him and pointed through the glass doors of his office.
The vacuum was still going, but Danny seemed OK now that he knew what it was. Choosing a red crayon, he started drawing.
Leaving Danny to his drawing, Julian went to his assistant's desk to go through a packet of information she left for him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rob going to the end of the hallway where he stopped in the doorway of Mrs. Lewis's office. With his blond head inclined, he was speaking to her and taking some notes on a legal pad. Though Rob was undeniably attractive, Julian tried not to notice his broad shoulders and beautiful, green eyes.
To force his gaze away from him, Julian focused on the packet his assistant, Ms Dover, had put together so he would have everything he needed to set up his new office right away and his work wouldn't be delayed. Busy with the papers, he jumped as someone sidled up to him.
Because of the noise of the vacuum, Julian didn't hear him approach. It was Pete Thayer, the man he wanted to avoid at all costs. And here he was only inches away from Julian, smirking right in his face.
"Packing for your escape?" Thayer taunted him while his thin lips curled into a sneer.
Without bothering to answer him, Julian drew away from him, but all he managed to do was bump into the desk. Thayer stayed right up against him, leaning close to him while Julian was trapped between the chair and the desk.
They were right in line with his office door. In case Danny was watching, Julian wasn't willing to make a scene. He endured Thayer smirking right in his face and only glared at him.
