35. Hot Room

Ari had been feeling bittersweet, reflecting on what had transpired between him and Rey the last few days. It felt like a beautiful forbidden dream.<i> 'To think he enjoys cuddling, he is so possessive he wouldn't let me use the washroom.'</i>

There was no denying Ned had enough stamina, but Rey was raging in hunger and raw lust. <i>'Perhaps it was because he was younger, or maybe having stayed selibate for so long build up his appetite. But why would he remain selibate? Judging by his physical pearance, he could bag any girl he wanted, eventhough his character leaves a lot to be desired.'</i>

Thinking about that day brought a tingling sensation in areas that had been left bruised for days. Upon Ned's return, Ari came clean and as usual, Ned reminded him that he'd agreed to this. Still, Ari vowered never to cross paths with Rey for as long as he could help it and so far, everything was going according to plan.

<i>'What a debaucherous life I'm living, engaged to a married man and fraternising with a homophobe eight years my junior. How did I get myself here? Mun would enjoy this.'</i>

"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. You may come in now. Chairman Ned and his wife are expecting you."

Ari felt embarrassed and stood up, bowing lightly to Ned's secretary, who had still been holding the door open for him.

"Leave us." Ned waved away for his secretary to leave them in private with his other two guests, one of them being Lia, and no sooner had she left than he'd rushed to embrace Ari excitedly. This was the Ned Ari had known, full of charistma and charm. Judging from the expression of Lia and the man beside her, they approved and were no strangers to Ned's true self.

"I've been missing you since I left the house this morning," Ned whispered into Ari's ear, then kissed him briefly. Turning around, he introduced Ari to the man beside Lia as her long-time boyfriend. "My divorce from Lia shall be made public though the press soon."

"Straight to the point, Mr. Chairman. Can you at least let the gentleman take a seat first?" Lia mocked, a playful smirk on her face, to which Ari smiled back and slightly bowed to acknowledge the gentleman sitting beside her.

"As you can see, Vice President Lia's pregnancy has begun protruding; therefore, if we stay married a little longer, many will not take it well, considering my award was just received less than a year ago. My PR team would also go frantic trying to clear my image as the unsympathetic husband that abandoned his expectant spouse."

"Chairman Ned informed me you were feeling apprehensive over the future of your relationship," Lia spoke, leaning back on her chair, then reached to hold onto her partner's hand. "Our initial plan was to make public our divorce process after the child is born, but I understand your fears. As far as everything is concerned, we may have signed the paperwork privately but to the public, the Chairman and I are still husband and wife. My partner has also expressed the same feelings; therefore, the Chairman and I agreed to push this ahead due to these circumstances among other politically related factors. But, unfortunately, out of all the times, for our common enemy to strike, they decided to show up in one of our philanthropic charity events."

"My dear, that was the trip I'd been away in. I apologise for extending it by a week, but the ruckus was unprecedented. There was a video in circulation that Vice President Lia's family was involved in money laundering, and the source of her donations during the charity event was questioned through loud whispers."

"More like you were trying to win points to be at par with your husband or get even with the enemy." Lia's partner spoke. Judging by how lovingly he looked at her, he appeared calm and seemed to care for Lia. "For this reason, we will need to remain vigilant. My sources have informed me that you are being tailed."

Looking back at Ari, Lia's partner went on. "You recently went to your home town, did you not?"

"Y-Yes...I-I did..."

"It's all right." Ned pulled Ari closer towards him. "You can trust him. He is on our side."

"Okay." Ari replied but didn't seem reassured, for his family being discovered was not what worried him.

"The neighbourhood you'd visited is quite conservative, and word travels fast. One of the relatives of our opponent is staying there, and apparently, they recognised you through an appearance with the Chairman from a newspaper article published a few months back."

"W-What?" <i>'You don't mean that girl....and her brother...'</i>

"Yes. There were earlier doubts about the Chairman's orientation, and even though that has never been made public, it was kept under wraps until he'd been awarded and sworn in as the Chairman to the group of companies both him and my fiancé co-partner in. You understand what I mean, correct?"

"What are you getting at?" Ned asked, seeming displeased by Lia's fiancé's line of questioning. "Ari understands fully the position I hold and the repercussions of jeopardising my position."

"I'm not refuting that, Chairman Ned, but I had to buy a journalist's story about Ari's trip to his parent's home and prevent news about him and his so-called boyfriend from being released."

"The story was retracted if you recall."

"Not that story Chairman Ned. Mr. Ari may care to explain the matter for our better understanding."

Ari remained frozen momentarily, for everyone's eyes were on him. He'd suspected Ned might spy on him but never expected it might be someone else. His heart raced, his body growing cold from fear of exposure and the way it seemed Lia's partner was suspecting him of disloyalty.

"I-I had to visit my parents to get my luggage. I'm not in good terms with them therefore that was my final trip to that town."

"But you didn't travel alone, did you?"

"I needed help bringing my belongings back to my apartment, and...Rey agreed to help me."

"Who is Rey?" Lia asked upon seeing the change in Ned's expression. "Is he a political threat of some sort?"

"According to the article I took down before it was published, Chairman Ned's secretary is a homosexual. That publication might be a county newspaper circulation. However, the Splash used was intentionally meant to capture attention."

"They were simply tailing my name for a scandal." Ned finally spoke and then looked at Lia's fiancé. "I am also aware of who Mr. Rey is."

"Are you sure about that? It may interest you to know they slept in some motel together, in the same room. That man shamelessly pointed out their romantic nightivities while checking out as well."

"It's clear what you are insinuating, and I assure you that Ari can be trusted. That man went on the same trip I received the honorary reward. Might I add he partly wrote my speech, and Ari was his coach, mentor and employer. On that same trip, they'd shared the same room together whilst I slept separately in another. If your spies look in carefully with the hotel, they will discover what I'm saying is factual."

"Chairman..."

"I understand your doubts and appreciate the intention behind your line of questioning. Since you were simply doing your job, let me bring it to the open. If anything did happen between my Ari and Mr. Rey, then I'll still approve of it, for my lover has been in an unrequited love with that man for a log time, just as I am with him. I permitted him to do whatever he wanted with that man; therefore, next time, I suggest you bring this to my attention privately instead of patronising my lover in the presence of everyone as such."