The Boss in the Bedroom (MxM)

17. Who the F*** Is That?

Damien had taken it upon himself to clear Ethan's name, and his determination knew no bounds. With relentless fervor, he combed through the intricate digital trails of our lives, scouring emails, text messages, and even elusive phone records. His mission was to unearth any shred of evidence that might exonerate his friend from the damning accusations.

Simultaneously, we enlisted the services of a seasoned private investigator known for cracking complex cases. This professional embarked on a mission to unravel the tangled threads of the incriminating videos and messages, with a reputation that preceded him.

While awaiting the private investigator's findings, we opted to postpone any legal action against Chris and Deluxe Designs. Damien had made me realize that patience could be our most formidable weapon at this juncture. Something about this convoluted puzzle still eluded us, and rashly diving into a legal battle might not serve our best interests, as reluctant as I was to admit it.

But what charges could I even bring against Chris? Theft, perhaps? Yet any evidence that our designs were stolen in the first place had vanished into thin air.

The tension within our workplace was palpable, with whispers and speculations circulating about Ethan's abrupt absence. I had to grudgingly admit that working without an assistant was proving immensely challenging. Damien and I made the conscious decision not to conceal our relationship, but we didn't make any formal announcement either. We aimed to navigate the turbulent waters of our business challenges without adding unnecessary complications.

One evening, as we sat in the subdued ambiance of my office, Damien broke the silence. "We'll make it through this, Lukas. We have each other, and we're on the verge of uncovering the truth."

I nodded, my gaze unwaveringly locked onto Damien's. "I believe we will, but it's been incredibly tough, Damien. I never anticipated any of this when we set out to build this business. It feels like everything's crumbling."

Damien's hand found its place reassuringly on my shoulder. "We can rebuild, Lukas. Noble Couture is more than just a brand; it's your dream. Dreams don't shatter so easily."

My response was a weary smile, appreciative of Damien's unwavering support.

It had been only three days, however, it felt like an eternity had passed and the ongoing investigation seemed to have stalled. However, a glimmer of hope arrived in the form of a call from our private investigator, Peter. He had succeeded in locating the individual responsible for recording those incriminating videos.

We hurried to the location Peter had provided, where we found a small blond man in handcuffs. Damien's gaze bore into him, and I stared at the two of them, utterly perplexed.

Peter introduced him, saying, "This is Jamie. He's the one responsible for recording those videos. We've retrieved his phone, which contained the incriminating footage."

My curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't help but ask, "Can you share how you managed to track him down?"

Peter's response was cryptic but convincing, "Let's just say I have a few... sources. It's best you don't delve too deeply into it, Mr. King. The less you know, the better." Given the circumstances, I decided not to pry further. I'd seen enough movies to know that it never ended well for those who couldn't mind their business in situations like these.

Damien, however, was clearly taken aback. "You?" He shot Jamie a steely glare, and I continued to stare at both of them, thoroughly perplexed.

"You know him?" I asked Damien.

Damien's surprise was evident as he replied, "You don't recognize him?"

"I've met up with a lot of men," I shrugged.

"He's the one who spiked your drink and attempted to record you that first night we met at the club." Damien explained.

Suddenly, it all clicked into place. "Ohhhh, him? But what could he possibly have against me or Ethan to resort to blackmail?" I wondered aloud.

"I didn't blackmail you; all I did was follow you guys around and take the videos that some creepy man in a mask paid me for," Jamie retorted defiantly.

Damien pressed on, "And you have no idea who you sold the videos to?"

Jamie remained stubborn. "I didn't care; all I wanted was to get paid. Now let me go."

As the small blond man stood there, his defiance was palpable. Damien and I exchanged knowing glances, understanding that handling this situation required delicacy.

Damien probed further, "Can you provide any information about the 'creepy man in a mask'? Do you have any details about him?"

After a moment's hesitation, the man reluctantly shared, "I don't know much about him. He always kept his face concealed, and our communication was solely through encrypted messages. He paid me handsomely for those videos, but I never dared to inquire further. I was just looking to make a quick buck."

Damien continued his questioning, "Can you at least guide us on how to contact him or how he reached out to you?"

The man shook his head. "I have no means of reaching him. He initiated contact with me initially, and once our deal concluded, he vanished. I never heard from him again."

Frustration welled up within me. "So, you're telling us that you have no information on this person or any way to trace him?"

The man simply shrugged.

Once again, we found ourselves at a dead end. This lead had taken us only so far, and it was evident that the man before us was just a pawn in a larger game.

Damien proposed, "Let's consult with Peter and see if he can delve deeper into the identity of this 'creepy man in a mask.' There might be traces of him within the encrypted messages or the payment trail."

Peter added, "Oh right, I have something else to tell you, Mr. King. On Jamie's recovered phone, there were videos of you, and Mr. Knight together as well."

"Of us?" I questioned.

"Yes," Peter confirmed, "and there are videos of many other unsuspecting people too. There's enough evidence on his cell phone to charge Jamie and take him to prison for his actions."

The revelation sent shivers down my spine. This situation was even more complicated than we had initially thought. We needed to handle this matter carefully and with the utmost discretion.

Leaving the small blond man in the custody of the authorities, we returned to the office. The mystery deepened as we pondered who could be so determined to undermine Noble Couture and tarnish our hard-earned reputation. The road ahead remained treacherous, but our determination to uncover the truth and rebuild what had been fractured burned brighter than ever.