Lead The Way (BL)

NINE

(unedited)

"I met Dylan today."

Gene said to Ian once he had finished his business and sat down at the kitchen counter twenty minutes later. Of course, Gene pretended not to see the mans flushed cheeks or droopy gaze as he placed a cup of coffee down in front of him.

"Oh? And what do you think?" Ian fiddled with his cup handle, looking deep into the dark liquid. "Still in love with him?"

If Ian had of looked up then, he would have seen the grin flash across Genes lips. "No, though I did feel a little weird when I saw him."

Only then did Ian look up, his expression conflicted. He opened his mouth to say something but then snapped it shut just as fast.

Gene frowned and asked. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Came the reply.

Gene shrugged. It didn't matter what Ian was thinking right now, since this wasn't what he really wanted to ask the boy.

"Do you know much about Dylan? He seems to be quite familiar with me from what I see." Gene asked after taking a sip of his drink.

Ian shrugged. "No, you never said much about him before and I've only met Dylan once. When you were together, you were the one engaging him in a conversation. From that one time it had seemed like he saw you as a...nuisance."

Hm, definitely onesided.

"But then again he could have been hiding his true feelings. The man wasn't easy to read, I'm surprised he isn't an actor."

Ian took a sip of his coffee while Gene fell deep into thought. He was thinking about whether he should just drop this thing (whatever it is) with dylan and move on. Just dust his hands of the past and focus on his real aims.

Since he felt he wasn't going to get any more information on the Mysterious Mr Carnes, Gene decided to switch topics and ask. "Then do you know anything about a Devon Ingles?"

Ian looked up at gene and frowned. "A older man? Black and grey hair?"

Gene nodded and Ian suddenly grinned. "Yeah, I know a bit about him."

"What do you know?"

Ians grin deepened and he tapped the side of his nose. "Nuh-uh- first you have to do something for me."

Gene sighed, resisting the urge to rub his forehead. "What is it?"

Ian sat up in his seat and leaned over the bench towards Gene. He reached out a hand and grabbed the other mans collar, pulling him in close so that their nose were touching.

He teasingly said. "Kiss me and then I'll tell you all you want to know."

Gene blinked. "...Is that all?"

"Yeah...oh but make it believable or-"

Before Ian could finish his sentence, his mouth was already being devoured by Gene's.

The older man was laughing in his heart at how easy this request was and when he released the flushed boy back into his seat, he licked his lips as if to prove just how easy it was.

The word straight didn't even register once in his head.

Ian was still recovering from this sudden kiss and he had missed what Gene had asked.

Dazed, he said. "What?"

Gene patiently repeated his question, a charming grin still gracing his pretty face. "I said, tell me everything you know about Devon."

Ians heated stare was watching every move the other mans lips made.

"Even the alleged affair?"

"Everything."

...
...

An hour later and Gene finally found some proper answers. Not much, but enough to feed his curiousity for now.

Devon Ingles had taken over TEN enterprise four years ago as an upstart CEO. Four years ago - that was around the time Gene had given over control of his company to a close friend of his; for various reason. This was probably why Gene knew nothing about Devon. Though Gene still had a say in the company but only as a trusted associate.

And from what Ian knows, and due to Cia confiding in him quite a bit in the past, Devon is a charming devil who had stepped on others to get where he is today. Apparently, he was the one who had formed a connection with The Golden Corp in his second year and released the first boy group in Newland to gain international recognition from only one song in his third year. Though still rookies, it is said this boy group has even gained a fan base that could build a small country. Of course, it was none-other-than Tiptonic.

Due to these huge achievements within short spans of each other, Devon has been highly appraised as CEO of the year for 4 consecutive years, and has even been featured on the MEN's magazine cover three times within the past year.

What Gene got from all this information was that this new boss of his, is not to be underestimated. To get where he is he had stepped on others, so whats to say he wouldn't also get on his knees? Gene despised this type the most but he couldn't help and admit that they were the most successful.

And the affair?

It never existed.

Gene thought that was the case, especially having personally met the other man involved. Genes body felt no attraction towards the other man and the same could be said about the other man on their first meeting. In fact, it was like the other man didn't even know about the rumours himself.

Ian claims the alleged affair were made up by a group of jealous rookies and their managers. They were jealous because of the close relationship Cia shared with this new, promising CEO when he was still only a rookie himself. They couldn't accept anything other than Cia using despicable means to form this relationship. This was also the reason why Cia had become despised within the company. But Gene felt there was probably more to this story than meets the eye.

But from this, it was easy for Gene to piece together that the close relationship only came about due to this eccentric brother of his, one that he still has yet to meet. Though this brother was easily found on the internet, like his name and snapshots of his handsome profile, it was his occupation which is listed as "Foreign Exchange." that puzzled Gene the most.

Ahhh -- but for now, Gene shoved that last thought to the side. If it was benefitting him, then why seek to destroy it?

Gene let all this information sink in before saying to Ian who was already onto his second cup of coffee.

"Oh right, I will be auditioning for a place on Tiptonic."

The cup in Ian's hand almost slipped and fell. "What?! Since when did you want to work in a group?"

"Why do you make me sound so arrogant and insufferable?" Gene reacted as if hurt.

Ian scoffed. "Maybe because you are...or were. Anyway, when is this audition?"

Gene suddenly smiled when he thought of how close we was to his son.

"I haven't been told when the audition is yet but I'm sure it won't be too far away."

Come to think of it, Gene had never told the company that he had lost his phone, so he wonders how they'll get in contact with him...