9 - Office Meeting

Angela eased the corporate sedan into T-Strike's underground carpark and into the parking spot next to the flashy-red sports car, which was perfectly stationed in the spot labeled 'Reserved for CEO'. 

She switched off the engines, then led the men out of the vehicle and up a short flight of concrete stairs, where they entered into a lavish and clean corporate foyer from a side door entrance. Not a smudge of filth could be seen on the pristine glass walls and stainless steel elevators beyond the security pass gates they approached. But Adam felt the ugly stains of the company's reputation all over him. He glared at T-Strike's logo hung at the center above the row of elevators. The neon red and white curved shield with a piercing arrow was a symbol to all the pains he had endured ever since Bradley had entered Adrian and T-Strike's domain. Despite being his place of employment, he carried resentments for the company. But, he had made the decision to do right by it.

"For Bradley's forgiveness, I must correct my mistakes." He mumbled to himself and suppressed his old hurts surrounding his unrequited love with a heavy sigh.

"Adam."

He heard Joel say his name to draw his mind back to the present.

"What?" he uncouthly asked, not hiding his snooty reaction to Joel's scowl.

"You chose to stay in this company. This is your chance to be professional about your decision." Joel stated plainly, which caused Adam to change his expression into one of surprise.

Adam dropped his attitude and nodded, accepting that the man spoke the truth.

Their direction led them into a waiting elevator. Eventually, they alighted to an open area where many curved desks were ergonomically connected to one another. Angela led them through the desk maze, where none of the desk workers cared to notice their existence: focusing on monitors and keying in data in an automated way like robots. As the three of them strolled past to reach the fishbowl room near the back window-wall, where a scene view of Sydney Harbor could be glimpsed. The day was sunny and bright over a pretty picture of still waters gathered within a port of cruise liners and passenger boats. It was a vista of rich serenity, but to Adam it masked an ugly truth of a city festering with bitter, suppressed citizens. All his life he only knew the city of where the wealthy stole glory from the less fortunate and innocents caught in-between ambitions. T-Strike was another organization with this potential and more. But, Joel was right. He had to focus on why they were there and his intentions to do right, regardless.

"Joel. Welcome home." Simon Waterhouse welcomed Joel with a kiss to each cheek, like he was greeting a dear friend.

Simon looked more like a fashion model than T-Strike's Design Director, with his fine blond hair cut in a short and stylish razor edge bob: a familiar sight for K-Pop male idols. His soft and feminine features were touched up with light foundation to make his skin appear flawless and tanned, drawing out the blue of his eyes.

Adam stifled a huff as he assumed one of the six chairs before the oval conference table, which took up most of the fishbowl room.

Simon groaned when he noticed Adam and sat in the seat next to him.

"I'm surprised you returned." He nonchalantly commented, lacking the warmth of the welcome he had given Joel. He had more or less guessed Adam would've remained with the company to stay connected to Bradley in some way. The thought of it annoyed him after discovering the damage Adam had caused.

"You don't sound surprised to see me, not that I care anyway," Adam bluntly answered.

"Naturally. You slandered my friend. Nearly shut this place down! I should call Security to escort you out, but I won't for Joel's sake." Simon cordially commented through his teeth and a fake smile.

Adam stared firmly at Simon as he calmly stated. "My only regret is that my slander wasn't strong enough to truly make an impact."

Simon's expression became an honest glare for the man. "You're despicable."

"Your taste is nothing short of tacky. Do those pants even come in men's sizes?" Adam snootily commented on Simon's outfit of white business shirt and blue sweater vest that were tucked into a pair of tight-fitting, black-gray checkered pants where the bottom hem was cut short a few inches above the ankle to expose some skin between it and the loafers' collar.

The loud clap of Joel's hands drew everyone's attention to him before their arguments could escalate. "Children, please leave your bickering at home. We have work to do." 

Joel pressed a few buttons on the black triangular box that was the table's center. The glass walls become opaque and the lights dimmed. A video conference was activated on the far wall before them with the visual of a young man. Adam wondered who the high school intern was: he was good-looking in a docile, almost puppy-eyed like, way. 

"Gerald." Joel acknowledged the man, who was seated in a similar styled room with his team of five staff members. He took some time in the meeting for some introductions. 

Adam hid his shock in learning that the man was far from being a high school intern. Not only was he the acting CEO while Joel wasn't in London, but he was also overseeing a strange and what sounded like a convoluted agreement with a company called Neurowall. 

"What's Neurowall? I've never heard of them before." Adam asked when he had the chance.

"They've been around the traps for some time, but mainly in Eurasia markets. They specialize in AI neural network technology, aimed to aid or heal various cranium, sensory or nervous disorders." Gerald factually answered.

Adam frowned, feeling a tinge of bad vibes itch his nape. It did make sense for T-Strike's artificial intelligence project to seek partnerships with them. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a foreboding that something bigger was on the horizon.

"You look like you have questions, Adam." Gerald noted Adam's serious and pensive expression. 

"What has T-Strike contracted from Neurowall?" Adam asked, not sure on what answer he wanted to hear.

"AI sensory data and implant modules for some of our A-Human models. Harmless stuff." Gerald answered with confidence.

Adam wanted to ask more but held back when the meeting had switched to mundane subjects involving budgets and tasks. Two hours had passed when the video conference was closed and everyone filed out of the room for a break. Simon reserved his friendly small talk for Joel only, completely ignoring Adam, who didn't care and was relishing the small moments to himself. He was able to hang back in a corner and regather his thoughts around his promise, purpose and the meeting. 

"Let's go." Joel whispered into Adam's ear that caused a yelp and complaint from the man.

"Ugh. Don't do that again, especially when we're in the office." Adam grimaced.

"I was only whispering." Joel playfully brushed off and leaned closer to his side when he added. "Or did I hit one of your erogenous soft spots."

Adam heaved a sigh, not hiding his moue. "What happened to being professional in the office? I could report you for sexual harassment."

Joel stepped back and tapped his shoulder to follow him. "Jokes aside, we do have a busy day lined up."

They rode an elevator to another, similarly designed, floor. Unlike the previous one, the staff was more lively with chatter and work collaboration at desks. A few had paused to greet Joel, while Adam hung back to observe the exchanges. Despite Joel being weird and perverted, toward his workers he lived up to the image of a corporate boss. He even said all the right buzzwords to impress the company dogsbodies. A trait Adam found hard not to admire.

Eventually, they reached Joel's designated office furthest from the worker's area. Unlike the earlier walls of pristine clear or frosted glass, stainless steel and clean work desks, the office was of dense polished chestnut walls and dark wood floors; drab dark-brown leather lounge and high back office chair before a large glass desk. The entire wall behind the desk was a virtual window, showing various advertisements for T-Strike products. Adam caught sight of a minibar fridge that was tucked into the corner between oakwood credenzas and glass shelves stocked with scotch glasses and decanters holding various shades of liquor. 

"Is Adrian's office ancient-looking like yours? I feel like a kid walking into my old man's den." Adam sarcastically commented on the decor. Indeed, he felt he had just walked into an elderly billionaire's snooker den, minus the snooker table.

"Outdated? Probably, but it does the trick." Joel laughed as he closed the door to give them privacy and relaxed on the lounge. He stared at Adam with a come hither look and patted the spot next to him. 

Adam eased down next to him. It was only mid-morning, and yet he was feeling somewhat exhausted. Perhaps it was all catching up to him: his feelings for Bradley's relationship, having Joel in his life and the run-in with Mr. Hansor and Deacon. Or maybe he was just getting old. 

"What are you thinking?" Joel soberly asked, with a genuine interest, to hear Adam's answer.

"Why do you care?" Adam cynically answered back.

Joel frowned and cupped Adam's chin with one hand, he forced the man to stare into his eyes as he firmly answered. "If I didn't care, you'd be facing time in jail."

"Now you come at me with a threat. Your true intentions showing," Adam said, not backing down with his defiance. 

Joel's frown deepened as he felt his frustration for Adam's stubbornness take hold. Unable to control his emotions, he yanked Adam into a kiss and held the man so tight in his embrace, there was little room for him to break away from him.

"Let… me… go!" Adam bit down on Joel's lip and felt the man's arms around him relax enough for him to push out of his hold and stand up.

"If I'm going to jail, I'll take you with me for sexual harassment!" He snapped at his CEO, who had eased back on the lounge and covered his closed eyes with the back of an arm. 

"True. You can and could do that. And I wouldn't resist." Joel paused to calm his emotions and licked his sore lip better, before he straightened up and stood before Adam. "I'm sorry. Let's call it a day and head home."

Adam wasn't ready to call it quits. "Whose home?"

Joel flashed a nonplus expression as he innocently answered, "Our home."

"Since when?!"

"The day you invited me in, from the time we met at the airport." Joel pleasantly answered. Almost forgetting their previous exchange.

"You have a sister you can stay with."

"Her house is a pig-sty. No, thank you." Joel brushed off the suggestion. "If I'm going to stay at a rental, I mind as well continue to stay at your place that looks like one."

Adam felt his cheeks burn with ire, but before he could voice his comeback, the desk's communicator interrupted with a call. His expression eased with bitter-sweet sorrow when he heard Bradley's voice along with Adrian's. Their call with Joel was brief and mundane, but hearing the man's voice stirred up a complex arrangement of emotions within him. Obviously, he wasn't going to get over his unrequited love anytime soon.

Joel noticed his troubled expression when he ended the call and made his assumptions.

"Will you come with me? We can work elsewhere." Joel politely asked him, with a pleasant tone to his voice: he held out his hand for the man to take or leave as he pleased.

The dark feelings Adam had been experiencing had eased or been put on hold when he took Joel's hand, and allowed him to lead him out of the office and building. Joel led him along the pier toward the Circular Quay market area, where the crowds were calm, innocent and fully of adventurous energy as they perused stalls, shops and scenery. 

Being outside the T-Strike skyscraper was an instant lift to Adam's mood. Especially, when Joel let him walk around at his pace and let him stop to browse at items of interest or take a moment to enjoy the sights. 

"I feel like I'm playing hooky." Adam chuckled and joked next to Joel without realizing it.

Joel smiled, feeling warm emotions ease his tensions. They both needed a brief pause from work and related pressures. 

"Can I come home with you, pretty please?" he playfully asked, and adjusted his tone to one of seriousness when he caught the familiar austerity from Adam.

Adam relaxed his tension with a sigh. Despite his boss being weird, he wasn't all bad. Besides, the man had moved in any way. He doubted he could get the man to leave even with a court order, which he wasn't willing to go to the trouble with. 

"You've already moved into my 'rental like' apartment. It's not like I could kick out my boss anyway." He grumbled.

Joel flashed a kiddish smile as he grabbed his hand to drag him toward a nearby claw game booth, which was tucked in a corner near a food stall. Adam recalled a time in his youth, and a similar event at a company carnival, with a boy he had just met and couldn't stop hoping to meet again. For a moment, Joel felt like that other boy to him, who at the time was a breath of welcomed fresh air. 

"What plushy do you want?" Joel asked Adam as he slipped a coin to the machine.

Adam laughed and picked one he felt was impossible for Joel to grab, especially when the toy was three times larger than the machine claw. The toy was a turtle teddy at half the size of a body pillow. He was unable to hide his surprise when Joel won the toy for him with little trouble.

"Where am I going to put this?" Adam said, as he held up the toy before him, as they shared the back seat of their taxi ride to his place. 

"I'm sure we can squeeze in a spot for Mister Turtle." 

Adam nodded and slipped into his own thoughts during the journey, and all the way into his apartment. Joel reminded him of outstanding work, wasting no time to establish a work desk at the dining table. Adam took time to set up next to him. For a while they worked in comfortable silence, until Adam turned on the television and noticed the odd breaking news announcement of every single flight in and out of Sydney being canceled. What unnerved him most was the sight of workers in hazmat suits entering the terminals as people were being orderly evacuated out of the area.

Joel's phone buzzed to interrupt their moment with the newscast. He answered it with the speaker on, so Adam could hear.

"Joel Parker. This is Chandler Parks of Neurowall. We need to talk about what is happening in this city right now."