C.E.O x C.E.O

Ch. 21 - Going In For The Kill

But of course, what's a fancy hotel without a built-in chess set on the table by a balcony that so happens to be romantically laced with fake plastic candles lit by plastic fire and plastic roses decorating the balustrade?

James and Dmitri find themselves playing. There was no challenge, no invitation, no discussion as to who will get the white chess side and who will get the black. They simply started playing unknowingly, while having conversations bound to go nowhere, their champagne glasses emptied a long while ago.

They'd occasionally look up from the game, to look at the surprisingly full night sky. Stars dancing together, almost mocking them for they won't do the same.

And if he could be honest, which he couldn't, and won't, James has been pondering those dances for a very long time.

Dmitri is here, with him. And it's not to uphold their scandalous little bargain. It's not to ask for a greedy favor or two. It's not to relentlessly bully him till his head falls off. No, Dmitri has only insisted he meets him just so he could have him in his presence, with a gentle gaze that says, 'I want you here. I want to be with you'. and those are the thoughts James will never understand.

For why would anyone want someone like him around, other than for gain - for money for power or for fame? Or to climb up the ranks or to make him their own little puppet? It's happened one too many times before. What makes this any different?

At the same time, though, it wouldn't make sense for Dmitri's motives to be anything of the sort, for he already has money and fame. He already sits on the highest throne of the hierarchy, and he wouldn't go through this much trouble just to attach strings on him. James knows he's not that dedicated.

Then, what other reason could there be? That's the question circling his mind like there's no tomorrow. As he moves his castle to take down Dmitri's white pawn, his hand slows when it brushes over Dmitri's, feeling the familiar warmth of his skin, from the few times they spent in each other's embrace.

But that's all to it, right? Dmitri's only ever cared for the sensuality of them together and nothing else. He wouldn't have propositioned that they have a beneficial relationship to begin with if that weren't the case. He wouldn't have jeered him into having sex with him that night at the motel if that wasn't true.

And even if that doesn't turn out to be the case, even if it turns out that maybe - just maybe - they were more than what their current relationship status entails, James would never be brave enough to accept it. Imagine the backlash of the public, the dirty, dirty rumors. Imagine the pressure of keeping such a big secret. Imagine the threats if they ever argue, for they could never let go of their rivalry. Imagine the heartbreak... Imagine the difficulty of being both CEOs and lovers.

Imagine being left behind, thinking you've finally met someone, that you've finally found the one, the love of your life, only for them to abandon you once they get what they want, once things get too much to handle, once the public convinces him to leave.

Yes, that's all Dmitri wants. There's no other explanation.

James doesn't want to admit he doesn't want that to be the case. He doesn't want to admit that he's only making excuses for himself.

"Hey," Dmitri then starts.

"Hm?" James blinks, realizing how deep he's fallen into his thoughts.

Dmitri gestures at the board to signal that it's his turn now, but the man's eyes were on James' hand, where he's gripping the pawn his castle has swallowed whole, the grip tight that the pawn would've wheezed for air if it could breathe.

"Ya okay?" Dmitri asks, the concerned look he gives him makes his stomach twist, for some reason, and he doesn't know what this feeling is: either resentment, or something much stronger.