Unfortunately, I was terrified to ask.
It seemed as though we were making progress. And that was the very reason I decided to keep my thoughts to myself.
Forty-Five
AFTER SIR SPENT THE NIGHT with me last Tuesday, things returned to normal in the office. Normal meaning that I got to focus on my job and they on theirs. Sir left for a business trip on Wednesday, then returned on Thursday. Justin remained gone all week and no one said when he would be coming back. I hated not knowing what was wrong, mostly because I wanted to be there for him. If nothing else, I considered Justin a friend and I hated the idea of him being alone.
However, it was Monday morning and it was time for me to get the week underway.
Ben arrived as normal. He smiled. I offered coffee. He accepted. Then we got to work.
Master and Sir arrived around nine thirty, but I was on the phone with one of Justin’s managers, unable to immediately offer them coffee. Neither of them seemed to mind, coming back out of their offices to get it themselves before disappearing once again.
Now that it was almost ten, I headed to the back conference room and got things set up. At the top of the hour, Master, Sir, and Ben joined me. Still no Justin.
We discussed what was going on and I filled them in on what I knew of the things Justin was working on. Although Ben was the go-to, it seemed he was allowing me to step in and help out. I liked that he was giving me that authority. It made me feel better, knowing that I was contributing more and showing them that I knew what I was doing.
•
For the next week, that was exactly what I did. I filled in where I was needed, not questioning what I should be doing, but rather doing it because it felt right. I fielded calls, answered questions, and became a functional part of the team. Not once did any of my bosses ask me to work naked. In fact, they didn’t ask me for anything sexual.
At first, it seemed odd, but I figured they were simply overloaded with work. So, I respected that and went about my business. I was professional, if not a bit aloof. I didn’t want them to think I was needy, so I put a little distance between us and went about my day. It helped that I had so much to do and they were depending on me more and more.
Did I miss the interactions? Absolutely. Not only the fun that went along with it but also the intimacy. But I liked that they were respecting me as an equal while in the office. It felt good to be needed for something. Granted, the nights were lonely, and I found myself secretly wishing Master and Sir would show up to surprise me again.
They didn’t, although they did talk to me frequently in the office, even texted me in the evenings to see how I was doing. They weren’t keeping their distance, but it seemed they were giving me some time to think things through.
“Luci, could you please bring me the notes from this morning’s call?” Ben called from his office. “I’ve misplaced mine and I need to check something.”
Grabbing the file folder I’d created for that client specifically, I went into Ben’s office and held it out to him.
“I’m so glad you’re not nearly as scatterbrained as I am,” he said with a huff. He seemed in a rush, not nearly as cool and collected as I was used to. It was obvious something was bothering him.
“Ben?”
“Hmm?” he asked as he skimmed the papers in my folder.
“Have you heard from Justin?”
He looked up at me, and for the first time, I saw the pain in his eyes.
Reacting to the emotions I knew he was holding back, I took a step closer. “What? Did something happen?”
“It’s not good, Luci. Justin’s father…he’s not going to make it.”
My throat instantly swelled and it hurt to swallow as I tried to keep the tears at bay. We were in the office and it wasn’t appropriate for me to fall apart, but this was not good news and I didn’t know how to handle it.
Ben was instantly on his feet, his arms wrapping around me. “It’s okay, gumdrop. He knew it was coming.”
I shook my head. “But it’s not okay. He’s alone. He shouldn’t be alone. You need to go to him. Why are you even still here?” If Justin and I were in a relationship, I would’ve been by his side to take care of him.
Ben sighed. “Unfortunately, that’s not possible right now. There’s too much going on here.”
I yanked away from him and glared. “Fuck that. Nothing is more important than being there for him when he needs you. That’s what family is for.”
