To You and Back

Chapter 11: A Lie, Broken

It was almost lunch when Peter finally came into the office. Charlie was on the phone, apologizing and making excuses to yet another missed appointment when the other man showed up, dressed in a suit with no tie and a black trench coat. He pulled up short when he saw Charlie, whose blue eyes shot daggers at him while his voice dripped with honey for the client. Swallowing, Peter slowly approached his assistant's desk, and stood with his gaze down and hands in the pockets of his coat.

"Thank you, Mrs. Cox," Charlie said into the phone. "Yes, we're very sorry for the mix-up, and Mr. Townsend will make sure to not waste your time again. Thank you, yes, goodbye." He hung up the phone, then stood with the tips of his fingers on the desk and looked up at Peter. "Do you have any idea what kind of morning I've had?" he asked, his voice quiet but lethal.

"I can imagine," Peter said quietly.

"No, you really can't. You missed all your morning appointments, and Mr. Takahashi has been calling for you on the hour, every hour."

Peter looked up quickly. "Did he say why?"

"He did not, but he didn't sound very pleased around the fifth call. What happened to you?"

Peter looked away. "Nothing. Just a rough...morning."

Charlie paused. His gaze flicked over the open shirt collar, sans tie, and the faintly disheveled mahogany hair, down to the dark circles under the dark eyes, making them darker. He had never seen the other man is such a state. The Peter he knew never appeared as anything less than perfect.

"You could have given me a warning," Charlie said after a moment, his voice softening somewhat. "I could have covered for you. That is my job."

Looking up at him, Peter met his gaze. "I think you've spent enough time covering for me," he said quietly.

Charlie frowned. He opened his mouth to speak, but Peter cut him off and moved away, towards the door of his office. "What does my schedule look like now?"

"I moved Marcus to a working lunch, and Genevieve to next Tuesday," Charlie said, following him in. "You'll see Mrs. Cox tomorrow, and bring along a bottle of her favorite rum, and Mr. Takahashi is still waiting to see you. Your afternoon is the same." Charlie paused.

Peter, shrugging out of his coat, glanced at him. "What?"

He hesitated, then said, "I was supposed to leave early today, but—"

"It's fine," Peter interrupted, turning away to toss the coat on a chair. "I can manage."

"Can you?" Charlie asked. "You look like hell."

"Don't people usually add 'no offence' when they say something like that?"

"Peter," came the stern voice. "Did something happen?"

Peter, sitting on the edge of his desk, began to button his cuffs. "It's technically still happening, I think." In front of him he could hear Charlie's forceful exhale and smiled. "Are you worried about me?"

"No."

Too fast, Peter thought. Just like the answers I gave. But then, Charlie's feelings had never been a lie to him.

"I'm going to see Takahashi," Peter said. "Then I'll leave to meet Marcus for lunch, so send the details to my phone." He pushed off from the desk. "Have the car waiting in ten minutes."

"Wait," Charlie said. "You need a tie."

Just then, the office phone rang and Charlie hesitated between going to the closet or the desk. Peter made the decision by leaning over and answering.