He Was Almost Absorbed By The System - Part Two

One Hundred And Ninety Nine - Rumours and Reporters

After that night, there would be more nights and there would be more days.  Kyan came to view Dominic's apartment as his second home, staying there every weekend and occasionally during the week as well.  At some point, after passing his first year at university with ease, his first home, his father's apartment, came to be view as his second home and his lover's place was the main home of his heart.

The two men fell into a domestic arrangement of bliss, with Dominic working still at his brother's offices and coming home to cook dinner, while Kyan studied and cleaned their home.  And during one evening, after Kyan closed his books and Dominic tossed vegetables about in a wok with a thick, aromatic sauce and noodles, Dominic suddenly asked;

"Kyan, will you marry me again and make this our perfect forever after?"

Although, news of their engagement was kept between family members, after all Dominic had divorced less than a year prior and outsiders were not aware of the true circumstances behind it, word did slip through the cracks and the pair were inundated with queries.

"Mr Monticello, is it true that you have recently proposed and become engaged to a student? Do you not think that it is too soon after your divorce?"

"Mr Monticello, the boy that you have been rumoured to have been in a relationship with, is he now your fiance?"

"Mr Monticello, is the reason for your divorce that you are gay and are only now able to come out?"

"Mr Monticello, could you confirm rumours that you had an extramarital affair with an underaged male student? And that it was actually Destiny Canterbury who filed for divorce on these grounds?"

Naturally, this last query caused Dominic to frown and turn to his brother, who was beside him when all of these voice messages poured unblocked through his computer once activated. "What do you think?" He asked for the older man's opinion.

"I think that you will need to prepare a statement," Artem replied, scratching the back of his neck with a sigh. "But we should investigate that rumour first."

"How dare you sully the Monticello name again with your inconsiderate actions! Don't you ever think about crawling to my doorstep again in this lifetime! I no longer have a great grandson named Dominic!"

"Great Grandfather," the brothers sighed at the same moment.

Artem glanced at his handheld with sudden epiphany and indeed, he too had a message from the old man. Doubtless, the patriarch had discovered that Artem was supporting his brother from behind the scenes and now wished to sever their ties as well. He could imagine the threatening words that would spill from the message. This caused an inward panic within him. This business was his life, he had managed and helped to grow it for a long time, losing it was not an option... but he'd not long regained connection with his baby brother and didn't want to lose that either. Damn the cursed man!

"Ah, Dominic, just thought I should let you know that Kyan is with us.  The university is currently encircled by reporters and your fans and a few have discovered your apartment's address as well."

"Who is that?" Artem queried.

"That is one of Kyan's fathers," Dominic replied.  "Orion Hollister." 

Who knew that his brief dive into the entertainment world could have caused such a splash for many years following?  He had been well received, it was true and his movies had done well.  But there were better actors in the universe and prettier vases to look at.  If he hadn't enjoyed basking in the spot light, enjoyed irritating his family so much demanding they look at him, maybe all of this would have blown over quickly.  No, it was no use considering 'what if's'.  He might not have been invited to enter the Archive had he not been who he was and then he would not have met the person he cherished most in this universe.