Chapter 2

AN: Thanks so much to everyone who read/voted/commented on the first chapter. I really appreciate it~

-

Chapter 2:

Kolya had hoped that maybe he could avoid Kale while he worked on the landscaping, even though a small part of him was happy to see him again. Happy to be in his presence again, even though it reminded him constantly of what they had once been. And made him long for what could have been.

But, he told himself, it was for Kale’s own good that he left. It was for his sake and the sake of his family. He loved them all, too much to stay. He couldn’t do that to them.

Sorting through the paperwork before him, finalising a few things and making a few minor adjustments, Kolya found that his mind kept drifting back to Kale, no matter how hard he tried to distract himself. Even though they had seen each other, they’ve barely spoken anymore after that terse exchange of pleasantries back in the office three days ago.

Kolya wasn’t the brightest light on the Christmas tree, but even he knew that Kale was mad at him. No, not mad; bitter and resentful was probably more accurate.

Not that he could blame him. He had his reasons, not that he could tell him though. He promised he wouldn’t.

Suddenly, the door to the office opened and Kale walked in, his business jacket under his arm and the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows. His hair was slightly messy, a bored expression on his face.

Kolya couldn’t help but stare at him. Yeah, he was as gorgeous as ever.

However, he snapped out of it when Kale turned to look at him, his once peaceful blue eyes now hard and sharp.

“Why aren’t you outside working?” Kale abruptly asked him as he ventured further into the office.

“I’m just finalising a few things,” Kolya said as he turned back to the desk his work was on, keeping his back to Kale. He felt somewhat underdressed in his presence, as he usually did. Kale was looking as sharp and suave as ever in his business suits while Kolya was wearing a pair of work shorts that reached his knees, a dark blue singlet underneath a short-sleeve white shirt.

“Hn,” was Kale’s only reply.

Well, this was awkward. Far more so than Kolya had hoped for.

“So, ah, how have you been, Kale?”

“Well,” Kale said as he loosened his tie a fraction and took a seat in one of the plush coffee chairs on the other side of the room. “I’m not married.”

“O-oh,” Kolya mumbled, curling his hands into fists on the table before him in effort to hide how nervous he was, to hide his trembling hands. “Well, that’s a shame.”

“I’m wary of marriage,” came Kale’s terse reply.

…That stung more than it probably should have. Kolya had readied himself with the possibility that Kale might have moved on from him. Sure, it would have hurt like hell to see him happy with someone else, see him marry someone far more suited than he. But to learn that Kale was wary of marriage? He wasn’t expecting that.

“Well, you at least have a lover, right?” Kolya asked as he shuffled the papers in an attempt to keep his hands busy. “A man like you must be fending them off with a stick.”

However, there was a short growl from Kale’s direction. “Are you mocking me?” he asked tersely.

“What?” Kolya breathed as he abruptly turned to face him, a look of surprise on his face. “I’m trying to be polite. It’s been six years, mate.”

Kale slowly got up out of the seat he was in, loosening his tie completely and throwing it to the side. “You think I don’t know that.”

Kolya felt nervous when it appeared that Kale was moving toward him. “I just thought that you would have found that perfect someone during that time,” he said as he licked his lips apprehensively as he tried to smile. “Someone who is good for you.”

“I thought I did once.”

He couldn’t be referring to him, surely. Kolya shook his head as he turned suddenly back to his desk, his heart unexpectedly skipping a beat. Nah, he couldn’t be talking about him.

Kale suddenly snared him by the elbow and spun him around abruptly so they were face to face. Kolya’s eyes were wide in surprise when he abruptly remembered how much taller Kale was to himself. It was only a few inches, but right now it seemed so significant. And Kale was staring at him, his eyes slowly taking in his features, almost as if he needed to be reminded of who he was.

“You haven’t changed a bit,” Kale said after a moment with a bitter upturn of his lips.

Kolya swallowed thickly in an attempt to ease his rapidly beating heart. He, however, managed to frown lightly and tug his arm out of Kale’s grip. “You have.”

“Is it surprising?” Kale asked him as he kept the distance between them short and uncomfortable, Kolya trapped between him and the desk he had his work papers scattered about on.

Well, not really a surprise, no. Had been the other way round, he probably would have been the same. But…

Honestly, though, a man like Kale should have gotten over someone insignificant like Kolya. Kale, he was the son of a billionaire; he had the world at his feet. He could do anything, have anything. Have anyone. He was handsome, popular and well-liked and respected by the locals.

And he? Well, he was no one special. Never had been. Never will be.

But standing here, with Kale so close to him, it was hard for Kolya not to close the distance between them completely. Like they had done many times in the past. Oh, how he longed for Kale’s touch, the feel of his body next to his for the past six years. It was hard. So very hard for him.

He had to go. He had to get away from him before he did something stupid. Before he undid what he did for the last six years for Kale.

“I have to get back to work,” Kolya said as calmly as he could as he stepped away from Kale.

But Kale took hold of his elbow again, bringing him even closer. “Are you running away from me again?” Kale asked, his eyes narrowed in a fearsome manner.

Kolya did his best to hide a shiver from his intense gaze and drew in a deep breath. “Let go, Kale,” he said with firm resolve.

Kale said nothing as he stared at him with his all-knowing eyes, his lips pressed firmly together in a frown. Kolya found himself unable to look into his eyes anymore, so abruptly looked away. He couldn’t look at his face, for it would bring back memories that are bittersweet.

Finally, he loosened his grip on Kolya’s arm and he took to opportunity to get out of his presence as quickly as possible. So, yeah, it looked as though he was running away from him. If he had any self-worth or pride, it would have been a blow to his ego to run away without first giving a sharp retort with his head held high. But he was worthless, so there was no need for him to have a pride.

Turning a corner on his journey to head outside to be with his crew as they worked on the landscape garden, Kolya suddenly found himself locking gazes with a familiar woman. Blonde-hair in tight, perfect curls and blue eyes that were narrowed in disbelief and then irritation.

Shit…

“What are you doing here?” she practically hissed at him as he paused in his movements.

She was Catalonia, Kale’s younger but protective sister.

Kolya had never gotten along with her, even before he started dating Kale. She was downright possessive of Kale when he announced that they were engaged. But she had every right to be protective of Kale; he was a great catch who deserved better.

And Kolya always knew that he wasn’t good for Kale. Catalonia confirmed that for him.

“Do I have to remind you of your place again?” Catalonia asked him tersely.

Kolya knew his place well; he wasn’t anyone special. He was just some guy, an average Joe. A simple Aussie with simple tastes; he didn’t belong in Kale’s refined world. He was getting out there and having go, getting dirt under his nails, never sitting still. He was 19 when he fell for Kale’s charms and down-to-earth attitude he had back then despite being rich. While Kale fell for his accent and his adventurous spirit.

Kale was class and he was crass.

There was no way they could have a future together. Not when Kale had so much going for him, the whole world at his fingertips. Kolya couldn’t (wouldn’t) hold him back.

Seemingly annoyed with his lack of response, Catalonia spoke again, her tone as accusing as always. “Are you causing Kale trouble again?”

“What?” Kolya recoiled in shock before he shook his head in a pacifying manner, a trouble grin on his lips. “No, mate, I’m just working for him now.”

“I see,” Catalonia murmured as she narrowed her sharp eyes. “You better not outstay your welcome. You’ve caused enough trouble for us in the past. I don’t want you ruining things for him again.”

Kolya visibly winced. It was true. He was always ruining things. “I won’t be a trouble to him again. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“See that you don’t,” Catalonia was quick to retort before she continued walking, brushing past him without a second glance. But she wasn’t finished speaking with him just yet. “Honestly, I don’t know how you managed to get hired in the first place. A man like you, well, you’re worthless. You don’t deserve this kind of opportunity. Really, Kale should just get someone who is more qualified that you are.”

Again, Kolya winced and curled his hands into fists as his sides. Though the words were true, it didn’t mean they didn’t hurt. But, he deserved it. “I understand,” he said softly. “I’ll stay out of Kale’s way.”

“Good,” Catalonia threw over her shoulder at him before she stopped and turned to give Kolya one last fierce look. “He has a new life now. One without you. Make sure it stays that way.”

She didn’t wait for a response. She turned on her heel and was gone, leaving Kolya alone and dejected in the empty hallway.

“…Sure.”