Lets Not And Say We Did

Forty Four

"You look great." Brendon told Patrick for the tenth time.

There was no way he could go wrong in a classic black suit. He'd decided against wearing a tie or bowtie. Instead leaving the top two buttons undone.

They were on their way to Gerard's black and white ball. Pete and Ryan were being driven by Jefferson. Patrick wanted to drive his brand new car there. So he decided to pick up Brendon on the way.

Brendon was wearing a simple black tux with a white bowtie. He was wearing sparking, red gloves. It was flamboyantly Brendon. Patrick had gone for the simple and less showy design.

They pulled up to the front of the party. A man around Patrick's age stepped in to take the keys and park the car. Patrick looked around the outside area for Pete.

He wasn't hard to spot. And that was mainly because of Ryan. He was wearing a bright red tux with a butterfly shaped bag. Pete was in his usual black suit. Except tonight he was wearing a black button up to match the all black shoes. All black. All dangerous. All sexy.

They met half way. Patrick automatically taking Pete's hand. Ryan resting his hand on the small of Brendon's back. But Brendon didn't complain as they entered the grand ballroom.

Gerard and Mikey approached them immediately. Gerard dressed similar to Pete. Mikey wearing all white. Which was ironic considering how unpure everything about him was.

"Our guest of honor have finally arrived." Gerard joked.

"You look good, Petey."

"Thank you." He tightened his hand around Patrick's. "Gerard, Mikey, this is my boyfriend, Patrick."

"So nice to meet you." Gerard shook Patrick's hand. "I've heard great things."

"They're all lies." Patrick told him.

Everyone laughed. Everyone except Mikey. He glared at Patrick.

"So you're the lucky bastard that snagged my billionaire."

"Excuse me?"

"Mikey." Gerard chastised his younger brother. "Play nice."

"I'll try." He smiled an obviously fake smile.

"Are we going to discuss business tonight?"

"I like that you don't beat around the bush, Ross."

"I just don't like to waste time, Gee."

"I understand that." Gerard nodded and then cleared his throat. "I don't think we have much to discuss. I obviously want to sell to Pete."

Pete smiled at Gerard. He didn't think it was going to be this easy. He squeezed Patrick's hand again. Patrick squeezed back and faked a reassuring smile.

It's not that he wasn't happy for Pete. Really, he was. He just remembered the reason he was here in the first place. He was only here to kill the rumors that were causing problems in the big deal Pete was trying to make with the Ways. And when the deal was made, his job was done. He and Pete were done. He felt his heart sinking.

"Let's talk numbers, Way." Ryan removed his hand from Brendon's back. "Walk with me."

Gerard and Ryan walked off into the crowd. Pete didn't bother to follow. He trusted Ryan completely when it came to business. And he knew if Ryan needed him, he wouldn't hesitate to call him over.

"So, you two look happy." Mikey observed.

"We are." Pete was impassive.

"Have you given any thought to my personal offer, Petey?"