Page 123 of Blue Gold

After checking my watch for the time, I put down my work and got up. If I wanted to make it to Elliot’s show, I’d have to leave now.

I grabbed my suit jacket that hung on the back of my chair, then put it on, when a knock came on the office door.

“Come in.”

“Mr. Williams, your father just faxed us a contract he wishes you to go over.”

“You can leave it on my desk. I’ll get to it tomorrow,” I said while fixing my tie.

Sherry’s brows rose. “Sir?”

“What?” I fixed my new wristwatch, a gift from Elliot for my thirty-fifth birthday. “I’m sure it isn’t urgent.”

She swallowed hard. “But your father⁠—”

“Can wait one day.”

Surprise crossed her face before she collected herself back together and cleared her throat. “Mr. Williams, I… I hope it doesn’t sound off, but you’ve changed, sir.”

Curious to know what she meant, I frowned at her. “How so?”

“I don’t mean to overstep, of course, but as of late… you’re more laid-back.”

Scratching my jaw, I took a moment to consider her words. “Laid-back, you say?”

“I mean it in a good way, sir. It’s just that you seem happier.”

It wasn’t a surprise that the first thing that came to my mind was Elliot, who, without a doubt, made me a happy man.

“I guess you’re right. I am happier.”

Holding the files close to her chest, Sherry nodded. “I’m happy to hear that, sir.”

I didn’t know what came over me, but suddenly feeling in a particularly sharing mood, I said, “I’m actually going on a date tonight.”

Obviously caught off guard, Sherry’s eyes widened. “You are?”

Feeling like a schoolboy, I averted my gaze to the floor as my cheeks got warmer. “The truth is, I’ve been seeing someone for a while, and they make me incredibly happy.”

“That’s good to hear, sir.”

Glancing up at her, she seemed genuine enough.

“You see, this person, they make me want to be more… laid-back. And I am. I find myself doing things I never thought of doing before.” Such as agreeing to be his plus-one at the Renieri gala. I thought Elliot would be happy. Erase that. He was happy until yesterday, when all of a sudden, he changed his mind.

“That sounds lovely, sir.”

I nodded to myself, thinking back on Elliot and how he adjusted himself for my needs. “It is, but there’s this one issue. You see, since the start, they have been very mindful of me and my needs, and I’m afraid it has made them unnecessarily conscious about themselves, and I hate that I’m responsible for that.”

First, having an affair and then living together in secret, I’d ultimately put Elliot in a difficult situation. And even though I grew more confident in my sexuality each day, he still had to hide a part of himself and slow down just to keep up with my sluggish pace. It was unfair of me, and I hated that it was taking me this long to reach a point he’d long have crossed. Having no doubt that if it weren’t for me, Elliot would have lived a proud life, was why I decided to go to the gala tonight and prove to him that I wasn’t as scared. I might not come out on the spot, but at the very least, I’d be there to support him in an important landmark of his career.

“So what are you going to do?” Sherry asked, reminding me she was still here.

“Match their pace.”

Her expression hardened. “What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing.” I smiled at her and was ready to leave, but before I did, I stopped beside her. “Take the rest of the day off, go do something fun.”