Excerpt (PG) :

Nic arrived a half hour later, Aidan could pinpoint the exact moment because of the sudden, excited tension that gripped the atmosphere all around the office. He watched Gerrard as he moved down the corridor, greeting some of the staff, laughing with his PA, that dark-haired, bossy guy who almost fawned over him. Nic was looking through some of the ideas from the team, signing some requisitions – just general stuff. He didn’t need to come around that often, he had plenty of managers to run things for him. Or so Aidan understood. Anyway, he usually made himself scarce when he knew the ‘royal visit’ was planned, for he could work remotely from his apartment as well as from here. Today had caught him unawares. The Gerrard effect was a distraction he didn’t need.

The Gerrard effect! It was a phrase that Lin, one of his colleagues, had coined. She smiled mischievously as she said it, though even her breath had quickened at the mention of the boss’s name. It was obvious to anyone who worked in Nic’s companies for any length of time, the effect that his physical presence had. The whole office looked that little bit brighter, the staff more motivated, and all because of Nic’s company. Aidan wondered what it was that made him so charismatic; that made them all like him so much. There was no envy involved, just curiosity. Nic was handsome, of course. And there was an inner presence to him – a restless excitement that showed in the way he moved, in his fast speech, in his very tactile approach to everyone. He shook hands often, put an arm around a shoulder.

Aidan found himself imagining that touch on his own body, but he shook off the ridiculous thought. He had no time for such nonsense.

Then the dark-haired assistant was pointing over to Aidan’s cubicle, and Nic came right over to speak to him.

“Aidan – uh - hello.”

“Is there a problem?” Aidan stood up to greet the boss, but he was confused. He couldn’t think of anything that was running behind schedule, anything that wasn’t being dealt with correctly. He cursed the fact that he felt uneasy. There was no reason for that.

“No,” smiled Nic. Aidan couldn’t help but notice the genuine pleasure in that smile. In fact, he found he couldn’t look away. “Does there have to be a problem? It’s just good to find you in the office, first time in ages we’ve met up. I know we haven’t had many personal meetings since the initial development, but we’re still on the same team, right? I just wanted to catch up with you. Say thanks for your work.”

Aidan stared at him. They were of a similar height, and both had an innate confidence – almost arrogance – that made looking at each other something of a confrontation. Aidan didn’t know why he should feel so defensive. Everyone said Nic was a charming, regular guy. Too charming, really, because there were plenty of rumors about his sexual appetite, and the trail of discarded lovers he’d left behind him. Aidan saw the good-looking man standing in front of him, and appreciated those looks in his objective way. It was, of course, of no personal interest to him. He just worked for the man, and it suited them both very well. Gerrard let him work on his own ideas, at times to suit himself, which was more than fair. And he always gave credit back where it was due, was always scrupulously honest.

Always honest…

“Come and see me next week,” said Nic, abruptly, breaking into Aidan’s thoughts. “Okay? I have some more ideas I’d like to discuss with you. For after the launch. Okay?” he repeated, as if he were worried Aidan would say no. Aidan was surprised at the man’s insistence. His own, involuntary response to the man was startling - his awareness of the sharp, vibrant eyes, searching his; the other programmers, watching jealously; the slight increase to his heartbeat. God only knew what that was all about!

And then Nic was being drawn away, laughing, with only a brief backward glance at Aidan, who found himself standing at his chair, temporarily halted from his work. There was an odd look on Nic’s face, almost as if he’d been surprised by something Aidan had said. Aidan – although he didn’t know it – was the only one to notice. And there was nothing he could think of to cause it; he’d given nothing more than a grunt of agreement. He wasn’t employed for his small talk.

But he saw a sudden glint, a widening of Nic’s eyes. A flash of something that sent out invisible tendrils to Aidan, teasing at his inner feelings. He felt Nic’s energy as if it had reached out with corporal hands and stroked his body. And, even more startling, he felt an answering reaction, a shiver throughout his body. Good or bad reaction, he couldn’t have said, because he didn’t have time to dwell on feelings, did he?

Idiot! he thought, scornfully. It was Gerrard’s company, wasn’t it? Wasn’t this walkabout thing exactly what they all loved about him? It was just his normal practice. It was just his way of keeping them all on their toes.

It’s a damned distraction, Aidan thought, settling back down to his screen. That was all. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, paused again.

Yes – just a distraction.