Conman

Chapter 6: The Con's Collapse

The Lexington Group of Companies bustled with activity. Employees moved with purpose, papers shuffled, phones rang, and the constant hum of conversation filled the air. It was a typical day at work for Beau and his team, who had seamlessly transitioned into their legitimate roles while lying low on their con activities. The threat of police attention loomed over them, and for now, they were content to maintain the façade of respectable businesspeople.

Jax had returned to his duties as Beau's driver, while Aria efficiently managed his office as his personal assistant, handling everything from schedules to client relations. Leo oversaw the import-export business, ensuring that everything ran smoothly. Despite their pasts and the darker side of their lives, they had created a sense of normalcy that shielded them from suspicion.

It was amidst this carefully constructed routine that Aria received a call from the receptionist. She glanced at her phone, her brow furrowing slightly as she answered.

"Yes?" she said, her tone professional.

"Ms. Aria, there's an unexpected visitor here for Mr. Beau," the receptionist informed her.

Aria's eyes flicked to Beau's office door. "Who is it?"

"It's a man named Monty."

The name made Aria pause. She remembered Beau mentioning Monty in passing, a mysterious figure from a recent night out. Her instincts told her that this wasn't a simple social call. After a brief moment of contemplation, she knocked on Beau's door and stepped inside.

"Boss," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "There's a visitor here for you. His name is Monty."

Beau, who had been reviewing some documents, looked up, his expression shifting from mild curiosity to surprise. Monty? Why would he be here? The last time they had seen each other had been in a dimly lit pub, where Monty had been a fleeting, albeit intriguing, presence.

"Monty?" Beau repeated, almost to himself. He set down the papers in his hand and leaned back in his chair. "What does he want?"

Aria shook her head. "He didn't say. The receptionist has him waiting downstairs."

Beau considered this for a moment, his mind racing with possibilities. Monty wasn't just some random man from the pub—there had been something in his eyes, something searching. And now he was here, at Beau's company, without any warning. Beau knew better than to dismiss this as a mere coincidence.

"Bring him to one of the private meeting rooms," Beau finally said. "I'll see him there."

Aria nodded and left the room, quickly relaying the message. As she guided Monty to one of the discreet, soundproof meeting rooms, she couldn't help but notice the way he moved—calm, confident, yet there was an undercurrent of tension in his posture. Monty, on the other hand, observed the sleek office space, noting how it exuded professionalism and wealth. It was a stark contrast to the man he had met in the pub, the man who seemed to be hiding more than he let on.

Once inside the private room, she gestured to one of the chairs. "Mr. Beau will be with you shortly. Please make yourself comfortable."

Monty offered her a polite nod, his dark eyes scanning the small, intimate room. As she closed the door behind her, the silence enveloped him. The faint buzz of the office outside was completely muted by the soundproof walls, leaving Monty alone with his thoughts. He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, his mind racing with how this encounter would unfold.

He hadn't planned on coming here, not really. But the sleepless nights, the constant thoughts of Beau—they had driven him to this point. He needed to confront whatever it was that had been gnawing at him since that night in the pub. He needed answers, even if he wasn't entirely sure what the questions were.

The door opened quietly, and Monty's breath hitched as Beau entered the room. The man looked as impeccable as ever, his tailored suit perfectly fitted, his dark hair neatly styled. Beau's presence filled the small space, his confidence palpable. He moved with a fluid grace that seemed almost effortless, and as he extended his hand in greeting, Monty caught a whiff of his cologne—musky, rich, and intoxicating.

"Monty," Beau said smoothly, his tone polite but guarded. He shook Monty's hand, his grip firm. "What brings you here?"

Monty held Beau's gaze, searching for any sign of deception. "I had a transaction nearby," he lied, trying to sound casual. "I thought I'd drop by and see you."

Beau raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. He crossed his arms, leaning against the table. "Is that so? Or is there something else on your mind?"

Monty felt the weight of Beau's scrutiny, and for a moment, he hesitated. But there was no point in pretending any longer. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I... I did some digging, Beau. I looked into you."

Beau's expression didn't change, but Monty could sense the subtle shift in the air. The atmosphere in the room grew heavier, more charged. "And what did you find?"

"That you own the Lexington Group of Companies," Monty replied, his voice steady. "And that you're not just some random guy I met in a pub."

Beau remained silent, his gaze never wavering. Monty swallowed hard, the tension between them thickening. "Ever since that night, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you," Monty admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're in my head, and it's messing with me. I can't focus on my work, I can't sleep... I came here because I thought seeing you again might help me get some closure, so I can go back to my life."

Beau's eyes softened just slightly, but his posture remained strong, his confidence unshaken. "And has it worked?" he asked quietly. "Do you feel closure now that you're here?"

Monty shook his head, his frustration boiling over. "No. It hasn't. And I don't know what to do about it."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, charged with an intensity that neither of them fully understood. Finally, Beau broke the silence, his voice low and almost daring. "So tell me, Detective. What do you want from me?"

Monty stared at Beau, his resolve crumbling under the weight of his emotions. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, a mix of anger, desire, and confusion swirling inside him. "I don't know," Monty whispered, his voice strained. "I was hoping seeing you would bring closure, but..."

He trailed off, unable to find the right words. Beau remained still, his gaze unwavering, as if waiting for Monty to finish his thought. When Monty didn't, Beau leaned in slightly, his tone almost teasing. "But what?"

Monty's breath caught in his throat as Beau's proximity overwhelmed him. He clenched his fists, fighting against the pull he felt toward this man. "I could arrest you right here," Monty warned, though his voice lacked conviction. "I have enough evidence to bring you in."

Beau's lips curved into a small, confident smile. "Arrest me for what?"

And in that moment, something snapped inside Monty. The tension, the unspoken attraction, the fear and confusion—it all boiled over. Without thinking, Monty closed the distance between them, his hand brushing against Beau's as he leaned in closer. He glanced at the door, ensuring they were still alone, before his lips met Beau's in a sudden, intense kiss.

The world outside the soundproof room disappeared, leaving only the two of them, caught in a moment of raw, unfiltered emotion. Monty's hands gripped Beau's shirt as if anchoring himself to reality, while Beau responded with equal fervor, his own hands sliding up Monty's back, pulling him closer. The kiss was desperate, full of unspoken need and unresolved tension—a collision of two worlds that had no business intertwining, yet couldn't resist the pull.

When they finally broke apart, both men were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other's. The silence that followed was heavy with the implications of what had just happened. Monty's eyes were wide with a mixture of shock and something else—something darker, deeper. Beau, on the other hand, remained composed, though there was a new fire in his gaze.

"What now, Detective?" Beau whispered, his voice low and husky.

Monty didn't have an answer. All he knew was that everything had just become infinitely more complicated, and there was no going back.