Chapter 4 The mask cracks

Elliot stared at his reflection in the boardroom mirror. His tie was perfect, his blazer crisp, and his face-neutral, unreadable, practiced. That's how he'd survived all these years. By being no one. By blending.

But this morning, something was different.

The scent of Jaden's skin still lingered faintly on his collar. A single night. One moment of honesty-and now he couldn't seem to find the mask that used to come so easily.

Vivian's voice sliced through the hum of tension. "Meeting's starting in five."

He turned from the mirror. "Be right there."

She gave him a look, eyes sharp beneath red lipstick. "You okay?"

Elliot nodded, too quickly.

Vivian narrowed her eyes. "Liar."

⸻

The boardroom was sterile, filled with investors and executives pretending they weren't bored. Charts glowed on screens. Buzzwords echoed through sleek air: "Q4 goals," "emerging markets," "profit margins."

Elliot tried to focus, but his mind kept wandering. The warmth of Jaden's mouth on his neck. The way he laughed when Elliot admitted he didn't know how to flirt. The weight of his body in the early morning light.

A soft chime broke his thoughts.

Vivian looked at her phone, then glanced at him-sharp, questioning.

Elliot didn't even have to ask. He knew something was wrong.

She slid the phone discreetly toward him.

A photo.

Him.

Jaden.

Together.

On the sidewalk outside his building. Kissing.

Fuck.

⸻

The meeting dragged on for another 30 minutes, but Elliot heard none of it. He kept seeing the image burned into his skull. How the hell had someone gotten that shot?

Vivian pulled him aside as the room emptied.

"We need to talk. Privately."

He followed her into his office, heart pounding.

She shut the door with a click. "You want to tell me what the hell's going on?"

Elliot swallowed. "He's... someone I've been seeing."

Vivian crossed her arms. "You've been seeing someone half your age in public with paparazzi around?"

Elliot's voice rose. "I didn't plan for this to happen."

"Of course you didn't. But Elliot-he looks young."

"He's almost eighteen."

Vivian's expression didn't shift. "Almost is not good enough. Do you know how fast the media will bury you if this gets out?"

He turned away, bracing himself against the edge of his desk. "It's not just sex. It's... different."

Vivian paused, her voice softening. "Are you in love with him?"

Elliot didn't answer. He didn't have to.

She sighed, rubbing her temple. "We can do damage control. But you have to lie low. No public appearances with him. No calls from your company phone. Nothing traceable."

Elliot exhaled, hands trembling.

And for the first time in years, he felt like he was losing control.

⸻

Jaden was sitting on the fire escape, chain-smoking when his phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

Call rejected.

Another one.

He lit another cigarette.

He knew what it meant.

Someone had found out.

It wasn't the first time his face had ended up somewhere it shouldn't have-but this one was different. This one hurt.

Because Elliot wasn't just a name in a contact list. He wasn't just a mark. He was the first person who made Jaden feel seen.

And now he was gone silent.

⸻

That night, Elliot's apartment felt colder. He sat on the edge of the bed, phone in hand, thumb hovering over Jaden's name.

He couldn't text him. Couldn't call. Couldn't risk it.

But god, he wanted to.

He remembered the look in Jaden's eyes when they kissed like it meant something.

And for the first time in his adult life, Elliot cried. Not because he was caught. Not because he was scared.

But because he had something worth protecting-and he was being told to let it go.

⸻

Three days passed.

No contact.

Jaden didn't chase him. Elliot didn't reach out.

On the fourth day, Jaden showed up at the penthouse.

He buzzed from the lobby. No answer.

Again. Nothing.

He waited outside in the cold for twenty minutes before finally giving up.

His pride was bleeding. His chest felt hollow.

But worst of all, he felt stupid.

Stupid for letting himself believe someone like Elliot could love someone like him.

⸻

That night, Elliot found the message Jaden had scribbled and shoved under the door.

Just one line.

"Next time you want to disappear, don't kiss me like you mean it."