Hearsay (13 page)

As much as he wanted to know the reason behind Roman's resistance, Derrick couldn't kidnap and hypnotize the man. He couldn't spike his expensive coffee with a truth serum and interrogate him either. Dropping to his knees and sucking the stubbornness out of Roman was still a viable option that Derrick would thoroughly enjoy, but he couldn't ignore the fact that doing so could have dire consequences. There was a fifty percent probability that Roman would fire his ass, and he really didn't want to lose his job. When he started thinking he should look into other firms just in case, he knew the time had come to get out of his apartment and seek some help.

Derrick waved at the security guard in the lobby's front desk and made his way to Noah Goldstein's office. Just like he suspected, his friend was already working. According to the grapevine, Noah slept in his office whenever he was trying an important case. Noah had always denied it, but Derrick knew the rumors weren't completely unfounded. He didn't quite sleep at his desk, but he left late every night and arrived obscenely early in the morning.

"Feels like winter already," Derrick said, dropping his briefcase and scarf on a chair. "Seriously, it's like fifty degrees out there." He handed Noah one of the coffees he'd bought on his way in and tried to fix his windblown hair with frozen fingers. "How long have you been here?"

"Three hundred years, give or take," Noah said after taking a sip from his coffee.

"How close are you to winning your case?"

"I don't know if I will," Noah grumbled. "Things got complicated."

Uh-oh.

"You didn't tell me you were trying a case against Jonathan again."

Noah was an excellent trial defense attorney, but he tended to get a little insecure whenever he went against Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Keller, his on again, off again lover for the past three years.

"I wasn't," Noah growled. "The City's attorney on the case fell and fractured a hip. Jonathan is her last-minute replacement."

"How last minute are we talking?"

Derrick drank from his coffee as he mentally checked his schedule. If things went the usual way, Noah would want moral support and lots of beer at their favorite local spot by the end of the week.
 

"Our relationship was given a continuance last night after he finished blowing me."

Meaning they were not to be alone, talk on the phone outside of work, and most definitely not have sex until the case was over. No wonder Noah was a bit of a growly bear this morning.

Derrick patted his friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry, sweetie."
 

"Tell Tashana to hold off on sending those e-vites, okay? There's nothing to celebrate at the moment." Noah rubbed his eyes and started looking through several pages of legal documents. "What are you doing here so early? Cops finally visited you? Do you need me to make an appearance on your behalf?" he asked without looking up from the report he was reading.

"I'm at a crossroads." Derrick wrapped his hands around his coffee and stood in front of Noah's desk. "I need to gain some perspective."

Noah glanced at Derrick as he made a notation on his yellow pad. "Does this have anything to do with you having sex with Tyler the other night?"

Derrick rolled his eyes and drank from his coffee before mumbling, "I didn't have sex with him. I was going to, but I didn't." Derrick lowered his gaze, feeling guilty for even listening to Tyler's plea. "I couldn't do it."

"I'm happy to hear that." Noah pointed his pen at Derrick. "You should stay away from Tyler until this witch-hunt ACS is conducting is over."

"I can't do that to a friend," Derrick protested. "He needs my support now more than ever."

"As far as ACS is concerned, Tyler is the man you had sex with in front of a minor. Maybe worse," Noah noted. "Don't think for a second someone from that agency isn't trying to get dirt on you, too."

"I know they are, but I'm like Piglet." Derrick gulped loudly. "I tell myself that I'm not afraid."

"This isn't the time to quote Disney characters."

"I'm trying not to think about it," he snapped.

And for the most part he had succeeded.

The possibility of being formally accused of indecent exposure, sexual abuse, or pedophilia, God forbid, made him sick to his stomach, and Derrick didn't do sick well. He needed to distance himself from that situation by pretending it was only Tyler facing a possible indictment. In order to be able to function, he needed to believe the detectives and ACS would realize Robbie Yates was a liar. He wasn't that different from Tyler in that respect.
 

"Avoid being alone with him as much as you can," Noah insisted in a serious tone, then flashed a smile that made him look like a little kid, even though he was in his mid-thirties. "I can't believe Tashana isn't up to date on your current events."

He returned Noah's smile, silently thanking him for letting the subject go. "There are things I haven't told her…"
 

"She'd be heartbroken if she knew that," Noah joked.

"Or you," Derrick added.

Noah set his pen on top of the yellow pad and raised his eyebrows in a silent question.

"Can you take a few minutes to talk?" Derrick straightened his tie and gestured in the door's direction. "I know you're in the middle of a trial and probably don't have the time. I can come back later if you want."

"You're nervous, "Noah noticed. "This must be serious."

"Dead serious," Derrick confirmed. "I did say I'm at a crossroads, didn't I?"

"And that you need to gain perspective." Noah discarded the cup's lid and gulped down the coffee. "So what's happening?"

"Well… there's this guy I've liked for quite some time. And he likes me."

"Awww… how cute," Noah deadpanned. "It's been a minute since I graduated from high school, Derrick. Out with it."

Instead of doing as he was told, Derrick looked around Noah's office. It was identical to his, only slightly bigger because Noah already was a junior partner.

He knew the space as well as he knew his own. He visited often enough, sometimes for work, and other times for personal reasons. He'd sat on one of the chairs across from Noah's desk and listened to his friend rant about the drawbacks of sleeping with the figurative enemy dozens of times. They shot the shit in here on a regular basis, and one time they even got drunk.

There was nothing special about his surroundings, yet, all of a sudden Derrick was fascinated by them. He truly couldn't stop admiring the polished desk and cream-colored walls.
 

"Why are you stalling?" Noah asked impatiently.

Derrick set his coffee on the desk, closed the door, walked behind his friend's chair, and started massaging his obviously tense shoulders. "You're one big giant knot," he said.

"And you're starting to worry me," Noah retorted. "What's the matter with you?"

"What do I love most in the entire world?" Derrick asked.
 

"Come on, Derrick," Noah complained. "I don't have time for this right now."

"Tell me."

"Your father," Noah obliged.

"I asked what, not who."

"Your job."

"And why's that?"

"Why do I have to say things you already know better than anyone?"

"Because I need to hear those things out loud and from someone who's totally impartial."

"You love your job because you're an idealist hoping to make a difference in the lives of the children whose parents you represent and because you get to do pro bono work at ABC's expense," Noah recited in one breath.

"And I like my colleagues."

"I knew there was something wrong with you."

"Hardy har har." He buried his thumbs in Noah's nape with more pressure than necessary, smiling perversely when he felt him wince. "Plus I make a lot of money," Derrick continued adding to the list.

"Moolah is extremely important." Noah moved his head to the right, indicating where he wanted Derrick to massage him next. "No CDs or IRAs without money."

"And I won't be able to become a homeowner when I turn forty if I'm not gainfully employed," Derrick continued. "I wouldn't have enough money to vacation around the world when I retire either."

"You know the key to remaining gainfully employed?" Noah asked casually. "Keeping one's nose clean."

A hysterical chuckle escaped Derrick, but he blocked his thoughts before he could blurt out that it may be too late for him.

At the moment, he only wanted advice on how to land his man. He wasn't here to discuss Tyler's situation or its ramifications. Besides, he truly was doing his best to believe he wasn't afraid.
 

"I know a pristine reputation is indispensable," he muttered.

Noah threw his head back so that he could look at Derrick. "John Klemovich from Acquisitions said Barry Shapiro from Pro Bono told Stella Young from Litigation that Roman took Tyler's case."

"It's true." Derrick moved the massage from Noah's shoulders to his head. "They got it right this time."

"He personally took the case, huh?"

"Yup."

"Do you know the fastest way to ruin one's reputation?" Noah studied him intently for what felt like hours before answering his own question. "Being arrested and getting it on with one's boss."

"I won't be arrested." Derrick gulped. "I won't."

"But you will get it on with the boss?"

"That wouldn't ruin my professional reputation," Derrick argued. "Coming on to Roman could get me fired, and I wouldn't be able to pay my bills as a result, but it wouldn't ruin my reputation." He winked at his friend. "I'd make sure to close the door first and preserve our privacy. I refuse to allow us to be fodder for gossip."

"What if he decided not to give you good references?"

"That would definitely make finding another job rather difficult." Derrick offered a weak smile. "But I don't think Roman would do that to me."

"You won't be able to pay for your dad's room if you don't have a job."

"I know that."

"And forget about adopting babies."

"But I want babies," Derrick whimpered. "I want a boy and a girl, even if raising them is ridiculously expensive."

"If you get fired, you won't be able to achieve most of your dreams."

Derrick glared at his friend. "Thanks for pointing out the obvious."

"You came in here to gain perspective." Noah glared right back at him. "That's exactly what I'm giving you."

Derrick sighed. "You're right."
 

"Taking your clothes off and spreading yourself on top of Roman Bradford's desk is a bad idea."

"I was thinking more along the lines of dropping to my knees and going all Hoover on his cock," Derrick announced with a tremulous smile. "I do give great head. I figure I'll have him eating out of my hand in no time."

"Damn, it Derrick," Noah barked, getting up from his chair. "Have you lost your mind?"

"I could always find another job." He shifted his weight from one leg to another. "I love ABC, but…"

"But, what?" Noah shook his head in clear disapproval. "You're about to make junior partner. Have you forgotten about that?"

"I really want to be a junior partner in this firm," Derrick said under his breath. "I have worked so hard for it."

"Then why would you throw it all away over a little crush?"

"Thirty-two year old men don't have crushes, Noah."

"Thirty-two year old men don't watch
The Notebook
five times a month either, but you do."

"I'm a romantic," Derrick replied. "
The Notebook
has a beautiful story line
and
Ryan Gosling."

"The point is, you shouldn't have a crush on Roman."

"You don't really believe any of us has any control over who we fall for, right?"

"
Fall
for?" Noah shouted. "Please, tell me you aren't in love with Roman," he said with pleading eyes. "That we're just talking about a little crush."

Derrick rubbed his face tiredly and sat on Noah's leather chair. "He asked me to second chair Tyler's case," he said, unwilling to discuss his feelings for their boss.
 

"But you aren't a criminal defense attorney." Noah frowned. "Why would he do that? It makes no sense."

"Because he likes me and wanted an excuse to be near me." Of that Derrick had no doubt. "Sadly, it didn't last long. He took me off the case the next day for failing to tell him I was involved with Tyler at one point."

"I would've done the same."

"And because he almost went crazy when he saw me with Tyler in his conference room," Derrick blurted in a giddy tone. "I've never seen anyone look so jealous in my life."

Noah sat on the edge of the desk and shot him such a pitying look, Derrick almost punched him in the face. "You do know there's a very good chance you're imagining this, right?"

"Did you and Tashana imagine the looks Roman was giving me at the firm's summer picnic in Central Park?" Derrick asked in a smug tone.

"Oh, come on." Noah groaned. "Men are horny bastards. He probably checked out ten other guys the same day."

"But did he meet any of them for lunch for a week and a half at his favorite spot in Central Park?" Derrick asked quietly. "Did he tell them about his family and friends? About what happened that one time he went skiing with Sergio and Alan in Switzerland? Did he tell them about the places he wants to visit and the things he wants to do? Do they know he's a Capricorn? That he has two sisters and a few nephews and nieces? Do any of those imaginary guys know what Roman does every Wednesday afternoon? Did he ask any of them about their fears and dreams and everything in between while sitting on his favorite bench in the park?"

"Shit," Noah said, just as quietly. "When was this?"

"A year ago."

Noah glanced at the door, and Derrick did the same. This was a conversation he didn't want overheard.

"Did you sleep with him?"

"We never got to that part."

"What went wrong?" Noah asked in a gentle tone.

"I don't know," Derrick whispered. "He never told me." He blinked rapidly and offered his friend a tremulous smile. "That last day he was a bit off. I think he was getting sick, and he cut our unofficial date short. That was the end of it."