“But you said …”
“I’m a liar, Daniel. But you are too, so I know you’ll forgive me.” She sat back in her chair, resting her hands on the armrests. “Sex work is just like any other work. You clock in, make customers happy, clock out, and try not to let the drudgery of everything that happens between coming and leaving get to you. But, just like any other job, there’s the possibility of burnout and personal growth that makes the job no longer a good fit. I could see you getting burned out, and even more, I could see the work was starting to get to you.”
“I didn’t have any other options, and I wouldn’t make enough bartending.”
“But you will be making enough at Butler Events?” Lucinda tilted her head to the side and smirked. “Close your mouth, darling—you never know what might end up in it in this hotel. I received a call a few days ago asking about your job performance. I assume you got the position?”
Oh God. This conversation was surely taking years off his life and elevating his blood pressure.
“I told them you were my best employee,” she continued. “And that I’d hate to lose you but you were ready for more.”
Some muscle in his chest hitched. “Lucinda …”
“Unfortunately, I do have to lay you off.” She shook her head in a pitying nature and started rifling through folders on her desk. “I’m afraid the economy is tough and I have to make some cuts in order to continue operating. Of course, we are able to offer you a severance package to ease this unexpected financial burden.”
Daniel took the papers she held out to him, his mouth once again hanging open and mind struck dumb. He stared down at them, unseeing. Not a single printed word made it past his eyes, and they all blurred together more the longer he looked at them.
“In addition to a lump sum, you’ll be paid out all your unclaimed tuition reimbursement for the years you’ve worked here.”
Daniel’s head whipped up, and he was mortified to realize it wasn’t the words blurring as a hot tear escaped the corner of his eye. He quickly wiped it away and searched his boss’s face through the water budding along his lashes. “Lucinda,” he said again. “I don’t … I don’t know what to say. Why would you do all this for me?”
Her lips curved into a gentle, maternal smile. “People want to help you, Daniel. You just have to let them.”
“But …” He shook his head and looked back down at the papers in his hand. “But this money is?—”
“Something you could have gotten earlier if you’d just talked to me. For several reasons, I can’t have my employees desperate or upset with the work they do. And I have quite a bit of money I need to offload for my boss. But more than that, I do care about you, Daniel.”
“I care about you too.” Somewhere along the way, Lucinda had become more than just his boss. He had started thinking about her somewhat as a friend—a scary friend who probably knew how to get rid of bodies. And while Daniel wouldn’t miss the job, he would miss slinking into her office to devour some takeout or gossip about things that had happened at the hotel.
“Don’t become a stranger,” she said, mirroring his thoughts.
Shaking his head, he swallowed back the emotion and gathered himself. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Luc.”
A twinkle appeared in her eye, and she made a shooing gesture. “Now say thank you and get out of my office so I can work.”
“Thank you,” Daniel said, stressing each letter, trying to put all his overwhelming gratitude into just two words.
With one last wobbly smile, he passed through the door feeling much lighter than when he’d entered. That lightness floated him down the hall and into the lobby where he saw Jensen taking photos of the prominent staircase with his phone.
God, Daniel loved that nerdy man.
A sharp breath pulled into his lungs, smelling of cleaning products, vintage ventilation, and wood. He loved Jensen. Loved how he was both shy and fierce. Loved that he knew exactly who he was and wasn’t ashamed of it. Loved that hecaredso fucking deeply about things that mattered and brushed off anything that didn’t. Daniel loved that he was dependable and loyal and unintentionally funny.
He loved him and had for quite some time. And because he knew who Jensen was, the realization didn’t come with fear that he’d be discarded or forgotten about. He didn’t worry that Jensen would leave the moment things got difficult, because things had been difficult already. All he felt was peace, like his heart had landed on a sure surface and could finally rest.
Jensen must have realized he was being watched, because his gaze dashed up to Daniel before he went back to his phone to take yet another photo from a different angle. “Eugène Viollet-le-Duc worked on restoring several buildings in France, including Notre Dame, and even consulted on part of the Statue of Liberty. The way he used iron inspired the work of other architects in the art nouveau movement.” He dragged a finger down a curved line. “I wonder if this was copied directly from one of his drawings or if it’s just remarkably similar.”
“I know.” Daniel shoved his hands in his pockets. “I read your book.”
Jensen looked up, a hopeful smile forming. “You read my book?”
Daniel shrugged. “Yeah, I thought it was really interesting.”
“You and thirty others,” Jensen said good-naturedly and tucked his phone away.
“I loved it,” Daniel said, taking even, confident steps toward him. “And I love you.”
“Oh.” Jensen blinked and looked down at Daniel, his glasses sliding down his nose a fraction. “Are you sure?”
