Kieran ended the virtual meeting with a clipped "Thank you," then clicked the tab closed. His shoulders relaxed — just a little. He didn't expect the meeting to be this stressful. He shut the laptop with a soft click, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Behind the laptop, there was the soft clink of glass.
Caelum was already at the bar counter, pouring amber liquor into two tumblers like he'd been waiting for the moment all day.
"You move fast," Kieran said, brows raised.
"I figured you'd need it," Caelum replied, sliding a glass toward him. "You looked like you were one email away from flipping the table. Are you planning on firing all of them"
Kieran huffed a laugh and took the glass. "You think you're funny? but yes I might just fire them"
"I think I'm right." Caelum smiled "Then drink this first. Fire them with grace."
They tapped glasses — no dramatic cheers, just a quiet clink between them — and drank. The alcohol burned smooth.
Kieran set his glass down. "Earlier... you didn't mean it, did you?"
Caelum blinked. "Mean what?"
"You called me beautiful."
Caelum didn't flinch. "I did."
"And?"
"I meant it."
Kieran stared at him for a long moment, then looked away — not flustered. Just… thoughtful.
He didn't deny it.
A couple of glasses later, Kieran slurred "Caelum you're drinking way too much"
"You're the drinking wayyy more" Caelum laughed.
"Let's go to your room, boss" he said as he helped Kieran off his chair. Kieran kept mumbling things as they went up the stairs.
They missed their steps and tripped severally, but they kept laughing like idiots. They didn't care.
Once they got to the room, Kieran dropped to the bed while Caelum rolled to him and laid his head on his shoulder.
"Isn't this beautiful?" Caelum giggles.
"Yeah it is..." His voice lower "Kinda reminds me of her"
Caelum glanced at him but didn't press on the topic. "Oh I have an idea."Caelum beamed as he sat up.
Kieran's eyes followed him lazily "What are you doing with my tie" he said.
"I'm going to blindfold you, boss" Caelum said with a drunken smile"so you can imagine I was her "
He struggles to blindfold him, giggling the whole time. Kieran eventually let him in.
"Hello Kieran" he giggles, in a light, teasing voice as he laid beside him.
Kieran didn't speak so Caelum kept blabbing.
"I'm just relaxing beside my—" He was silenced.
Kieran grabbed him by the waist and pulled him close.
"W—what's going on, boss?" Caelum said, his voice now normal.
Kieran leaned in slowly, deliberately, for a kiss and Caelum didn't stop him. He let it happen.
Kieran pulled Caelum's slender body, even closer to his, running his hands from his hair to back. The kiss deepened, heavy with unsaid things. Their breaths—shallow but rhythmic.
The blindfold slid down.
Caelum struggled to fix it but
"I don't need a blindfold to kiss you, Caelum" Kieran murmured.
And then kissed him once more.
They later fall asleep in each others arms but Caelum wakes up first. Struggling to check the time on his phone, a call come in.
He simply walks away.
"For the love of God, what?!" Caelum screamed.
"We're about to leave boss, are you still coming?"
"Oh shit, yes. Drive up to Kieran's house, I'll be outside waiting"
"Okay boss. Be there in 5" the call ended.
Caelum groaned , rubbing his eyes as he checked the time "4:35am!!" He screamed. "How long did we sleep?"
He snatches his jacket and types out a message for Kieran.
"I'll be back sir. Please go ahead first. I'll join you at work " he sent it and dashed out to the waiting car.
"We're making a stop at ...." Caelum stopped as the driver accelerated. He looked at him through the review mirror.
"Where's Charles? Is this driver new? I haven't seen him before" Caelum said staring at the driver.
Caelum's hands slowly brushed his gun. As soon as the car took an unrecognised route, Caelum shot him in the head. Killing him instantly.
He takes over the wheel but notices he had been surrounded.
Still a bit drowsy, Caelum shoots at everything that moved.
Then something hit the windshield.
A severed head.
Dave's . One of his trusted men.
His hands trembled as he realised he was greatly outnumbered.
He slid his gun across the ground and the rival gang members rushed him.
Punched his jaw, hit his ribs until everything went black.
He woke up in chains and wounds. Barely breathing.
"You'll be here for a long time" the gang leader sneered.
Caelum didn't flinch. He wasn't scared of anything they planned on doing. There was nothing left to break.
"And your pretty boss? We'll go after him too, mess with him a bit" another laughed.
Caelum's eyes shot open . Wild with panic.
"Don't touch Kieran! He knows nothing about this!" He screamed.
That earned him another punch across his face. Several punches to his ribs. He coughed up blood.
Caelum screamed out in Pain.
"No one is coming for you" the boss whispered in his ear. Then laughed.
While at home, Kieran stirred awake banging head and ringing phone.
The sheets beside him were cold. Caelum was gone.
He tried calling but realised Caelum's phone was on the bed along with his cufflinks.
His phone buzzed and he reached out sluggishly to get it. "Maybe he's calling to ask for his phone" Kieran thought.
"Hey Cea—" he started but was cut off
"Is this Mr Kieran?" a stern voice asked.
"Yes. Who am I speaking with?"
"We're from The Central Hospital"
Kieran sat up, heart thudding.
"We need you to come in....to identify a body"