Chapter 22

"Hi, Prin," Charlotte from reception called out.

"Hey."

"Changed your mind on eating outside?"

Prin shook his head. "Stupid me left my phone in my bag."

"Waiting for a call, are we?" Charlotte teased. "I detect a love interest and I'm never wrong."

For a second Prin feared Scott had opened his big mouth. Everyone in Pleasure Seekers knew that Charlotte was a notorious gossip. It had never been an issue for Prin before.

Then he thought about how sexy Scott had looked in that shirt.

A wry smile crept on his face. "Perhaps," he said.

She clapped her hands together. "I love it. Feel free to come and tell me all about it."

"I'll try to do that."

Prin went through the main doors into the office proper. He scanned the floor for Scott. There was no sign of him.

He supposed at some point they would have to go public. Then they would have the scrutiny of everyone on them. Prin knew exactly what they would all be thinking. That he was punching above his weight and it would only end in tears.

I am so not ready for that.

When he got to his desk, Richard leapt to his feet. Prin panicked at the speed in which he approached.

"Richard? Is everything all right?"

"Don't you play the innocent with me. Did you think it would make you look good in my eyes if Elliott was out of the picture?"

The volume at which he delivered this attack made most people in the surrounding area snap to attention.

Prin opened his mouth but no words would form.

"Got nothing to say for yourself?" Richard asked, taking another step closer. "I might not be able to sack you for a while but mark my words, I can make your life a living hell. You've made a stupid bloody mistake."

Anxiety lodged in Prin's chest like an unexploded bomb.

"I wasn't thinking about myself at all," he stammered.

"Of course not," Richard replied through gritted teeth. "You're Mr fucking Perfect, aren't you? Watch yourself. I mean it. Give me one reason. That's all it will take."

Richard stalked away and directly for the gents' toilets. Prin exhaled and sank down in his seat.

What the fuck has happened?

"Prin?"

There was Scott. He seemed about to burst into tears.

"What did you do?"

Scott knelt down. "Prin. I'm so bloody sorry. I was in a room with Richard and Carla. He kept going on and on at me about who had been the whistleblower…"

"And you told him?" Prin asked, his voice cracking.

"Of course I didn't," Scott replied. "Not like you think."

Scott ran his hand through his hair. Prin was grateful he hadn't tried to touch him. The adrenalin and rage ran through Prin's body like fire. He couldn't get a handle on a sensible thought.

"What happened then? Were you in danger of losing the glory of solving the mystery?"

Scott sat back on his heels, visibly shaken. "Do you believe I'd do that?"

"Who knows, Scott? Would you?"

"No, I wouldn't. You know me better than that."

Realisation dawned on Prin. "I don't know you at all. Not really. We've had some wonderful times together. That doesn't mean I have any idea who you are."

He'd said all along that Scott was not what he expected. Maybe the Scott he'd experienced was a fake.

Scott's bottom lip trembled. "I can't believe you're saying that."

As usual, everyone was watching. Whenever any tiny bit of drama played out in the open office, most people treated it like a sports match.

"I don't want to discuss this in front of everyone."

"I won't pretend that things are all right," Scott replied. A tear ran down his cheek. "We need to talk and you know where I'll be."

Scott stormed across the office. Prin knew exactly where he was headed and sure enough, he opened the door that led to the changing rooms. He turned back and glared across at Prin before walking through and letting the door close behind him.

"I think you should go."

Prin turned to see Barry lurking behind him.

"Sorry?"

"To the changing rooms," Barry continued. "Things aren't always what they seem. Go and hear him out."

With every minute that passed, the world was closing in on him. Prin needed to speak to Richard. He must persuade him that there had been no malice in what he had done. Judging by the expression on Richard's face, that would be an impossible mission. Still he had to try.

Then he thought about the upset on Scott's face. Prin also couldn't face an afternoon of meaningful stares across the office. He needed to focus on damage limitation.

"Fine," he said, getting up. "Although it appears everyone knows exactly what's been going on."

Barry stayed him with a hand on his arm. "Scott is a good guy."

Prin pulled himself away. "So everyone says."

Ignoring the continued stares from people sat near to him, Prin followed Scott across the office and down to the changing rooms. When he walked in, he found Scott sobbing. Part of him wanted to put his arms around him and tell him it would be okay.

But he couldn't.

Scott straightened up when he saw Prin.

"I didn't know if you'd come."

"You can thank your friend Barry for that," Prin said.

He took a seat on the bench opposite Scott. He made sure he remained out of Scott's reach.

"Prin. I don't know what to say."

"So I've wasted a trip down here?"

Prin knew he was being hard-hearted and he wasn't even sure where this was coming from. It wasn't his usual way. A rage had lodged in his chest that he couldn't get rid of. He didn't want to say things he might regret. However, Scott's tears were winding him up. It was Prin whose life had collapsed around his ears.

"I don't blame you for being angry. I need you to know that none of it was on purpose. Please tell me you believe that."

Prin had no idea what to believe.

"Fuck," he said, burying his face in his hands. "What a mess. Now everyone knows we've been seeing each other too."

He removed his hands and stared at Scott who was pale.

"I don't care about that," Scott replied.

Was it an impossibility for Scott Fitzgerald to see anything from another person's point of view?

"I know you don't," Prin said, battling to keep his voice under control. "But I do. Richard will take every opportunity to humiliate me now, thanks to you. That's bad enough. Now they'll know that I fell for your charms too."

Scott reared back as if Prin had slapped him. "What does that mean?"

"Matteus was only the first," Prin said. "I'll be known as the guy who was caught in your honeytrap. What a fucking idiot I am."

"Is that what you think? That I slept with you to get more information on Elliott?"

Prin sat back, resting his head against someone's jacket they'd left hung up. He was trying desperately to clear his mind.

"I don't know what to believe," Prin said, eventually. "It's all a bit convenient though, isn't it?"

Scott got to his feet. "You are taking this too far now. I realise you're panicking but don't you dare accuse me of faking anything. Fucking hell, Prin. This paranoia of yours is getting really boring."

"What?"

"You heard me. I've done everything in my power to show you that I care about you."

"By practically getting me the sack?"

Scott's eyes were aflame. "You know what? You might have a point. Maybe people do look at us and think it's a mismatch?—"

There it was. Scott had been lying all this time when he'd told Prin it was in his mind. He stood too and faced him.

"At last you speak to the truth."

"Wait."

"No," Prin said. "I don't want to hear another word from you. Just leave me alone, Scott."

With tears in his eyes, Scott stared at him.

"Can I at least finish what I was going to say?"

"I think you should leave me alone," Prin replied. "Or this is going to end in a way neither of us want."

As soon as the workday finished, Prin headed for Colin's apartment. He needed his calming advice more than ever.

"What a terrible day you've had," Colin said when Prin finished his story.

"What am I going to do?" Prin asked.

"About Scott or about work?"

"Both."

"What do you want to do? Right now, in your heart?"

Prin sat back on Colin's sofa. He desperately wanted to believe Scott had been genuine in his feelings for him. Yet the nag of doubt that Prin had doubled in size since he'd left work. What if Scott had been making fun of him the whole time? He as good as said Prin was punching above his weight.

He shuddered when he thought about how he'd opened himself up to Scott. For it to be a lie would be too much to bear.

"What I want is to go home to Thailand for a bit," he said. "Nanny has been on at me to visit. She wants me to see my uncle but I'm not sure about that. Even so, it would be nice to see her."

Ever since he'd lived in Brighton, Prin had risen to every challenge. Now he craved familiarity.

"Are you talking permanently?" Colin asked.

"I doubt it." Prin said, scrubbing his face with his hands. "I can't face going into work. I'll send my resignation and use leave to serve it. Richard won't want me around anymore than I want to be there."

Colin took hold of his hands. "Prin. You're spinning. This is a very big decision."

"I know," Prin said. "That's why I'm saying it might not be forever. I can keep my flat and all my things here. If I want to stay in Bangkok, then I'll come over to pack it up."

"You hate Bangkok and your uncle."

The sad truth was he had nowhere else to go. "Maybe."

"What is Scott's view on this? Have you spoken to him?"

"No and I'm not going to. I…I don't believe he was being truthful."

"When? Today?"

"The whole time."

"That's the shock talking," Colin replied. "Okay, go home for a bit and lick your wounds. My money is on you realising why you don't like it in Bangkok and coming back before the month is out."

Prin chuckled despite how wretched he was feeling. Colin probably had a point.

"I have news myself," Colin said.

"Oh yes?"

"I've been accepted for the retirement project," he replied. "It appears both of us are bailing on Brighton."

Another reason for Prin to go. His only friend wouldn't be here much longer.

"That's good news though. You must be thrilled."

Colin squeezed Prin's hand. "I am. It's all happening very fast though. But I said to myself to just go with the flow. Scott may have quietened them down but I'm still very much the enemy round here. I'll be glad to bugger off."

A stab of regret skewered Prin's heart. When he thought about how Scott had singlehandedly solved Colin's problems, it hurt. He had dared to dream that he and Scott would spend the rest of their lives fighting the world together.

"Don't go without saying goodbye to Scott," Colin continued. "If he was genuine, and I think he was, that would be too cruel."

Colin's words swirled around in his head as he walked home. Did he really want to go to Bangkok and risk more of his uncle's disapproval? He argued with himself that he would use the time to catch up with school friends and talk things out with his nanny. His uncle wasn't the only person in the world.

Right on cue, Jeremy appeared on the landing.

"Hello," he said. "Flying solo, this evening?"

Prin was not in the mood. "Jeremy, I've had a terrible day. Another time?"

Jeremy stood in his path. "I remember when you'd come over and I'd help you forget a bad day."

"We discussed this. I just want to be friends."

"Looks to me like you don't have too many of those," Jeremy said, with a scowl.

For once he had a point. "Perhaps," Prin said. "I'll be gone for a while. Can you keep an eye on things?"

This made Jeremy's eyebrow shoot up. "Oh yes? Where are you going?"

"To Bangkok. Indefinitely."

"Of course I will. You must do whatever you need."

He could at least hide his glee.

Prin put his key in his door and let himself in. He walked through into the lounge. A room he'd spend so many nights in wishing he had friends and a lover to fill his life. Then he'd finally shared this space with someone. How had it all gone so wrong? He sank down on the sofa and pulled his phone out of his pocket.

Colin had been right about one thing. It would be cruel to leave without telling Scott what was going on.

Fuck, only a few hours ago we were stealing kisses in the toilets.

He dialled Scott and tried to ignore the blood rushing around his system from his heart going at a rate of knots.

"Prin? Oh thank God. I've been trying and trying you. Are you okay?"

He sounded so authentic. Every fibre of Prin's being wanted to believe in it. To tell him that it would all be fine and he didn't blame him.

Yet he couldn't do that. Not truthfully.

"Scott. I'm going home for a bit."

"Home? Do you mean Bangkok?"

"That's right. I'm well overdue a visit."

"What about work?"

"I'll hand my notice in. I've enough leave to cover it."

"Prin…"

"What?"

"Are you coming back?"

"I…I don't know."

There was silence on the other end. A solitary tear fell down Prin's cheek.

"So that's it?" Scott said, eventually. "You're so weak that you're going to run somewhere you fucking hate rather than face me? Where does that leave us?"

"Wow," Prin replied. "This is the Scott I expected. Only thinking of yourself. Don't you see? I can't bear to stay here at the moment."

"Fine," Scott said. "Do what you need to. Don't expect me to hang around on the off chance."

The line went dead. Prin threw the phone across the room. This time the sobs were uncontrollable. Prin drew his legs up, buried his head and allowed the emotion to sweep through his system like a tornado.

Everything had come crashing down and he had nowhere in the world to go that was safe.