“The Trade Surveillance Report for June?” he said aloud when he realized what he was looking at.

Ben cleared his throat, and when he glanced up at him, he looked almost uneasy. “Your father asked me to bring this back to you. He says there are three discrepancies that require closer attention.”

Avery didn't need to ask what they were; he already had a hunch. While he focused on the company's security and ensuring they weren't associated with anyone conducting business on the fringes of legality, his father saw things differently. He despised 'untapped growth potential,' as he called it, and the only thing he cared about was how to increase capital.

“I'll look into it,” he said in a tone that betrayed none of his internal anger. “Thank you.”

He knew he’d want to look at those papers only after Ben finally went home, so he could seethe over them in private. For now, he returned to the reports that, fortunately, his father didn't need to review, pushing the papers his assistant had brought last to the edge of the desk.

“I thought there weren't any errors in them,” Ben spoke up cautiously once Avery returned to his work and stopped paying attention to him. His tone was nervous, clearly aware he was overstepping and that his opinion shouldn't carry weight. What he didn't know was that the blond liked receiving recognition for his work—something he lacked elsewhere—and that he valued his opinion, even if he was just an assistant. He had studied all these documents in as much detail as Avery had, so there was no reason his opinion shouldn't matter.

The future CEO looked up, staring directly into the eyes that were watching him uncertainly.

“Ben.” He was clearly so exhausted that he wasn't fully in control, sighing immediately after saying his name. Judging by how those blue eyes widened, his assistant realized this wasn't typical behavior for him and that he had slipped out of character.

“I-I didn't mean to—” He started to panic again, but Avery stopped him.

He shook his head before saying, “I appreciate your input, but it's not up to me, alright? My father is the CEO, it's his company, and if he wants to change something, I'll change it.”

Ben frowned as if he wanted to protest, but he knew it would be inappropriate. Still, it was clear that his affection for his boss was forcing him to at least think about it. Avery hated watching it trouble him, and he knew he should put a stop to it, but selfishly, he enjoyed having someone side with him, even if only indirectly.

“Ben.” He felt like a broken record, repeating his name over and over, but it seemed to have the exact opposite effect on his assistant, who hung on his every word whenever he heard it leave his lips.

He wasn't being careful. His gaze slipped lower again, and though it lasted only a second, Avery noticed. There was no doubt that this was becoming a risk, and it was only a matter of time before his father noticed how his assistant behaved in his presence. And both of them would pay the price for the consequences.

Avery would have liked to be more selfish, but when it came to George Jenkins’s wrath, he preferred it to be aimed at him rather than at other employees who, in most cases, didn't deserve it.

“You need to stop,” he said, and the brown-haired assistant was clearly confused, which was reflected in his expression. 

“I—” It was obvious he wanted to defend himself, but he couldn't come up with the right words, likely out of fear that his boss might mean something else and he would expose himself by giving the wrong answer.

“You can’t look at me like that.”

Just like before, Avery watched as Ben’s cheeks, lightly dusted with freckles, flushed a deeper shade of red. Along with the shift in color, however, panic slowly began to mirror on his face.

“Ben,” he addressed him for what felt like the hundredth time and tried to make his tone show that he wasn’t angry, disgusted, or disappointed, as someone in his position might have been expected to be. After all, Avery was a rich, spoiled heir, whether he wanted to admit it or not. 

“Don’t give me any more attention than I deserve.”

It was clear that besides panic, Ben was also starting to get confused. Maybe by his words, maybe by his approach. It didn't sound like Avery wanted to report him to HR for inappropriate behavior, but rather like he was gently letting him down after a failed date.

The assistant in glasses opened his mouth slightly as if to speak, but he clearly still couldn't find the words.

So Avery decided to be brave. Even though he felt as if he might start shaking at any moment, and his throat tightened with the fear that his father’s eyes could appear anywhere in this room, he placed his palm on Ben’s knee. At that exact moment, those blue eyes behind the lenses of his glasses widened completely, his shock sharply contrasting with his blush.

“You don’t want to get tangled up in the complications of my life, trust me.” By now, Avery was turned fully in his chair toward him, causing the space between them to shrink and grow more intimate.

It took a few seconds for Ben to frown slightly, the surprise in his eyes beginning to give way to realization as he was forced to read between the lines.

Avery was patient, keeping his hand on his knee so Ben couldn't doubt what he was implying with his words.

“You...” was the first thing Ben uttered, and though his face showed he understood what was happening much better now, he still didn't dare say it out loud. And so Avery had to be the one to do it.

Although he was panicking more and more internally, he refused to let it show. In a firm voice that he still tried to keep somewhat gentle, he said, “You are kind, smart, hardworking, and so handsome—” Ben blinked in surprise, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing, but Avery still wasn't done. “I’d be a fool not to notice.” Then, however, he had to break his heart. “But I can’t give you anything more.”

Another thing he liked about Ben was how honest his gaze always was. He couldn't hide his emotions; they always mirrored clearly in his eyes, and so the future CEO read him like an open book.

He was confused, surprised, incredulous, but slowly another emotion began to creep in—hurt.

Perhaps that broken expression was the reason Avery lost the rest of his inhibitions and decided to be even more honest, despite the risk.

“You’ve spent enough time here to know that I don’t have control over my life,” he said, finally letting the mask slip from his face so that, for just a brief moment, Ben could see his real emotions. “I don’t want you to end up hurt because of me.”

He would have never expected his words to cause the blue eyes opposite him to glisten, quickly filling with tears, though none of them escaped down his cheeks just yet.

“I didn't mean to—”

This time, it was him who did not finish the sentence.

“I'm not angry,” Ben assured him. “I know I shouldn't have let myself feel this way... but it was hard, once I got to know you better.” Then he lowered his head and murmured, “I didn't think you'd notice.”

“I noticed,” Avery assured him in a gentle tone, even though it wasn't necessary. “I always notice you.”

His honest words immediately made his assistant snap his head back up. Since he was still battling extreme exhaustion, though he wouldn't admit it, the sudden movement caused him to slightly lose his balance. He leaned forward, barely managing to catch himself with his palm against the desk, but it still brought him much closer to Avery—so close that if the blond leaned in too, he could press his lips against his.

This foolish thought made him lose his inhibitions even further, his gaze dropping to the lips he had wanted to taste for so long. Of course, there was no doubt that being this close, Ben had to notice.

“Would it be—” His hesitant tone managed to pull Avery back to reality, returning his eye contact. When he did, however, Ben immediately looked away.

“Would it be what?” he encouraged him to finish his question.

When he still didn't after a few long seconds, the future CEO spoke again: “Ask, Ben. I've already told you more than I should have anyway.”

Those blue eyes finally drifted back to him, and this time, Ben nervously bit the inside of his lip.

Avery had no idea what could make him this nervous all over again, but when the brunette finally voiced his question, he understood.

“Would it be crazy if I asked for just one kiss? For closure.” The moment he finished saying it, he looked away again.

Avery felt his heart begin to pound wildly, though this time it wasn't just from the panic of what would happen if anyone found out about this conversation. No, now his heart was racing and his palms were sweating for a different, much warmer reason.

“Ben.” Although he felt his hands begin to shake, he mastered them enough to reach his fingers toward the other man's chin, lifting his face so he would look at him again. When he didn't protest the touch, Avery dared to do more, placing his palm against his cheek, brushing his thumb over the flushed skin.

“No one can ever find out,” he warned him.

“I know.” Ben nodded, his gaze mesmerizing him, as if he were incapable of doing anything else in that moment.

“We can’t work together like this.”

The assistant’s face crumpled into a sad grimace, but he nodded. “I know.”

“It will be a goodbye kiss,” the company heir warned one last time, but even now, Ben said nothing to try and stop him. There was only one thing left to do.

Avery couldn't even remember the last time he had kissed someone, but he knew that when he pressed his lips against Ben’s, he felt far more emotion in the touch than he should have. The butterflies in his stomach and the warmth in his chest were accompanied by an agonizing sadness that brought tears to his eyes—and he only realized it when he felt something salty amid the movement of their lips.

When they broke apart, Avery certainly didn't feel any better, and judging by the way tears were streaming down Ben’s face too, his assistant was in the same state.

“I'm sorry.”

Ben immediately shook his head. “I don't want you to apologize to me. You have nothing to apologize for.”

The corner of Avery’s lips tugged into a half-smile, though he had no reason to rejoice. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For understanding.”

“I just wish that one day you can be happy. Truly happy.”

That was Avery’s wish too, but he knew there was a miserable chance of it coming true. His life was mapped out in advance, and his happiness was definitely not on his parents’ list of priorities. Only miserable work, loneliness, and money that, sooner or later, would force the authorities to investigate him. And maybe if he ended up in prison, he could finally be himself.

“I wish for that too.”