Stay (MxM)

Plan B

Dec sighed heavily as he stood before the house the cab driver has taken him to. He battled with himself for almost an hour before deciding to walk into the fenced courtyard.

Reaching the front door he takes a deep breath to make himself look collected and confident, before lifting his hand to knock on the door only to stop halfway through as the door opened on its own to show the last person he wanted to see.

Dorian: "Knew it was you. Congratulations Declan, let's hug it out"

Dec's mouth twists in disgust at that, as he ignored Dorian to take out the file inside his jacket.

Dec: "There you go. As we decided"

Dorian takes it with gleaming eyes before stepping aside to let Dec in.

Dorian: "Get in"

Dec: "No. I am going home"

Dorian:  "Don't worry Declan... we are not alone. Everybody is waiting inside"

Dec frowns at that "Why?"

Dorian: "You are not the only one with trust issues, Declan. They want to make sure that no foul plays would happen. The registrar will be meeting us tomorrow with our lawyer. They will be here in the morning which means we are all staying overnight. And after tomorrow, everything he owns will be ours"

He... Ant...

Dec's heart clenches at that but he collects himself and covers his heartbreak with a huff:  "You mean yours?"

Dorian shakes his head "I wish they were all mine...  but, we have other people to take care of"

Dec stares at him stunned for a moment wondering how many people are involved in this ploy... how many people are with them...

How many people are against Ant...

He sighs heavily and walks into the house, ignoring the smug smile on Dorian's face as he stepped past him.

Dorian: "You could give me a hug"

Dec ignores him and walks straight to what appears to be a living room to be welcomed with a loud round of applause, the sheer number of people present in that room taking him by surprise.

He swipes his eyes along the room for a quick count and comes up with 13 people or more, spending their time drinking and smoking.

unsurprisingly, it was Mr. Douglass who first stands up from where he was on the sofa, to come forward and welcome Dec with a drunken hug.

Mr. Douglass: "Well done Declan! My boy, I have to say I wasn't entirely confident at first with you in our plan,  but you... exceeded all our expectations"

Dec nods at that uncomfortably but denies the drink that was offered to him.

Kristen: "Drink it Declan...you deserve it"

She takes a long drag from a cigarette and passes it to Roger - Ant's intern.

Dec: "Thanks but I already had some from the party"

Roger: "By the way, I cannot believe you got all the files. I searched the whole office for them but got nothing"

Dec's heart skips a beat at that wondering how Roger even got access to Ant's office. That was when Dorian entered.

Dorian: "That's why I knew Declan will be the best for the job. Your closest are the ones who know your deepest"

Kristen: "Says the man who got nothing being the family's future son-in-law for long"