“People would boycott my brand. Sales would dip drastically. It would be a catastrophe.”
He nods, chewing on his cheek. “Now let me ask you, Harmon Stone,” he says, and for the first time he doesn’t sound sure. The armor he threw on to come in here is cracking.I get it, Cassius. You do that to me too.“Did you consider all the good coming out could bring? All the gay-supporting people who would learn of your brand? Talk about it? Support itbecauseof you being gay? A brave CEO of a billion-dollar company standing up for gay rights because he knows what it’s like?” He scoffs. “Yes, you may lose money, but if those people don’t support who you are, do you even want it?”
“I—”
“I already know the answer,” he says, shaking his head, his tone turning bitter. “It’s no. You didn’t consider any of that. Instead, you made a decision to keep yourself, and me, in thecloset. You chose to hide both of us. You made a decision for me without even asking me. You silenced my voice. And no, maybe I don’t have a say in this because it’s not my company, but I at least deserved a conversation, Harmon. I’m worth at least that.” His voice breaks at the end, his palm pressed to his chest. The tears in his eyes fall, streaking down his face.
It’s hard to swallow. My eyes burn.
“I’m—I’m sorry,” I manage to get out. “I am a weak man, and I—”
“You’re not, though,” he says with a huff. “Nothing about you is weak. And you don’t have to lie down and take this. I don’t care about the repercussions, Harmon, and neither should you. Lean into this. It’s time you are allowed to be who you want to be. Stop hiding.” He watches me, wiping his tears. “You’re not a child in Texas anymore. Just like I’m not a kid in a trailer park anymore. People change. We move on. We grow.”
I don’t know why he thinks I’m strong enough to handle this. I’m not. It’s my biggest fear come true. The secret I’ve held onto for my entire life—I can’t let it out now. Not now.
“I know you’re scared, Harmon. Trust me, I lived in fear every single day of my life. I know what that’s like. But I can promise that you won’t start truly living until you learn to be brave.” He puts both hands on my chest this time, looking up into my eyes. “And I know you can do that. I believe in you.”
“I can’t be the reason this falls apart,” I say, the words so true they hurt.
“It won’t… if you don’t let it.” I stare into his gorgeous eyes, and so badly want to disappear inside them forever. “You don’t have to do it today. Tomorrow. Not even a week from now. And if you still want me gone, I’ll—”
“No,” I growl, my arm going around his waist as the first tear falls from my eyes. I bury my face in his neck. “No,” I whisper. “Stay. Please. Don’t leave me.”
My other arm slides around him and I hug him tightly, afraid he’s going to shove me off. He lets out a shaky breath, his hands sliding up my chest and linking around my neck. He plays with the hair on the back of my head and the smell and feel of him is enough to have my heart settling. This may not last, I know I fucked up, but if I can feel him for just a few minutes… maybe I’ll be okay.
“I don’t know how to do this,” I admit.
“Then it’s a good thing you have me to help you. I’m great at figuring things out.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
Harmon
I’ve never been nervous in a meeting in all my life. Not a single time. Not even my first one. I knew nerves were for the weak, and I was even worse about that then than I am now.
But today… Today is a big day. Huge. And my nerves are a wreck.
Across from me is Gerard, my lawyer, and Whitney, head of HR. We’re awaiting Oliver’s arrival. He has no idea I’m in here, and I hope being blindsided is going to stress him out. It’s the least of what he deserves. Security is on standby, but we don’t want them in sight yet so it doesn’t cause Oliver to lash out.
He knocks on the door, stepping into the room.
“Morning, I—”
His cheeriness dies the moment he lays eyes on me, but Whitney is already up and shutting the door. Taking control.
It’s a good thing I have two solid people at my back today. I couldn’t do this otherwise.
“Thank you so much for meeting with us today, Mr. Belford. We have a few important things to discuss,” she says, giving him a tight smile.
“Mr. Belford, I have to let you know that this meeting is being recorded. You don’t have to respond but you are expected to listen,” Gerard explains. “As an employee, you have a fiduciary obligation to act in the best interest of Stone Timeworks.” He slides a document across the table, toward Oliver. He hasn’t taken a seat yet, he’s just standing there, staring. “We have evidence that proprietary design files and internal communications were shared with an external party without authorization.”
I watch Oliver carefully, trying to read him. Will he explode at any moment or take it all in? I already know the team found and spoke with Oliver’s partner in this mess. He’s already being dealt with.
“Perhaps you should take a seat, Mr. Belford,” Whitney says. He blinks a few times, glancing at her. She gestures to the seat, and he drops into it like a rebellious child.
Gerard continues. “You accessed and transmitted company information using non-secure personal devices.” He slides him another document. “Including information sent outside approved channels.”
Gerard folds his hands together, staring at Oliver expressionless. Oliver is looking at the papers as if they will have the answers for how to get out of this. The joke is on him; there is no way to get out of this.