Why are you using my name at work?! Can’t you differentiate between the two?

Neville hurried, shook his head, and waved both hands in front of him. His whole body was telling Grayson, ’absolutely not, do not bring me into this.’ He even took a half-step backward, as though the physical distance might somehow remove him from the conversation.

Grayson’s mouth curved into a small smirk. He tilted his head toward the display.

An invitation and a trap of someone with a handsome face.

[Neville!] Gloria’s voice echoed in the room like a bell. [Come here, come here! Let me see you!]

There was no escape. Once Gloria had you within range, resistance was futile.

Neville swallowed the irritation he felt toward Grayson, who had just thrown him directly into orbit, adjusted his expression into something pleasant and presentable, and walked forward.

"Mrs. Maxwell. Good morning." His voice came out steady. Professional. Exactly the right amount of respect.

[Oh, I’m ’Mrs. Maxwell’ again?] Then Gloria pouted. [I’ve told you a hundred times — it’s Gloria or Auntie, better yet ’Mom’ or else I’m hanging up.]

She leaned forward in the display, her eyes crinkling. [How are you, dear? Are you eating well? You look thinner than last time. Eason, is he eating?]

"He eats," Grayson said mildly.

[He eats like a bird. Neville, I’m sending you nutrient supplements. This one is new, and it’s really good, not like those government-issued powders.]

"That’s really not nec—"

[It’s already out for delivery.] She said with finality. [Now come closer, both of you. I want to see you together.]

Usually, this was the part where he would try to keep their professional distance, conscious of his role as the fake boyfriend. But then he remembered their practice and unconsciously blushed.

Before he could even calm himself down, Grayson had already moved him. It wasn’t the dramatic kind. He simply reached out and caught Neville’s hand. He drew him in until Neville was firmly standing right next to him with their shoulders nearly touching.

But Grayson didn’t stop there, as Neville thought. He even reached to his cold, sweaty hands and discreetly intertwined them.

[Favorability +1%]

This was really something that he couldn’t get used to, no matter what. Neville thought as his heart beat irregularly. When did this man become so shameless?

Neville had tried to rationalize that Grayson might just be trying out stuff he had never done before, like going on a date, holding hands, and kissing.

But seeing Grayson today, shedding all the invisible restraints, shamelessly holding his hand in front of his mother. He had no choice but to accept that this was actually happening for real.

Gloria’s expression was so bright it could probably power a small star.

[Oh, look at you two.] She said with a teasing expression.

Neville felt the heat climb up to his cheeks. He opened his mouth to say something, but Grayson’s thumb began to move slowly on his knuckles, rendering him speechless.

Gloria for sure saw that. There was no way a seasoned woman like her wouldn’t know about it.

[Well,] she said, her smile turning knowing in a way that made Neville want to run away from here, shove his head into a hole, and disappear into the world. [I won’t keep you from your morning routine. We’ll catch up properly later, Neville. I have so many things to discuss with you.]

Neville managed a nod and said, "I’d like that, Auntie."

[Good boy.] She blew a kiss, and the holographic display winked out.

The office fell silent.

Neville stood very still for a moment, aware that his hand was still enveloped in Grayson’s. Time was running, but no one wanted to let go or move away from each other.

He mustered up his courage as he heard the chime of workloads coming in and turned his head to look up.

Grayson was already looking at him. His silver eyes were staring softly at him, making Neville unable to look away.

"Have you had enough?" Neville asked. His voice came out quieter than he intended.

Then, Grayson raised one eyebrow and deliberately ignored him as he sat down in his chair.

Just as Neville was wondering what Grayson was trying to do, he felt Grayson tug him forward.

The world turned, and Neville felt his hip hit the arm of the executive chair.

Then gravity did its job as Grayson pulled him down, one hand still holding him while the other found his back to balance him.

When everything settled down, Neville found himself sitting in Grayson’s lap. He could feel his heart pounding so loudly that he felt like everyone in the secretarial department could hear it through the walls.

"Grayson—"

A hand moved to his chin. Warm fingertips held it just enough to tilt his face upward until their eyes met.

Neville’s eyes were wavering, unable to decide where to look. But he could clearly see Grayson’s darkened, lust-ridden eyes.

"Not enough."

[Favorability +1%]

The moment he said that, Grayson stripped all the pretenses and leaned down for a kiss. He didn’t start the kiss with a kiss on the cheek like before. Grayson went ahead and savored his lips just like he always wanted.

At first, it was slow, unhurried, waiting for Neville to respond.

It was pointless to resist since the first time.

Neville eventually kissed back. His fingers crumpled Grayson’s clothes as he gripped them for additional strength. He could hear Grayson’s throat chuckle and grunt in satisfaction.

Grayson’s hand moved from his chin to the back of his head. He decisively kissed even deeper than before, making Neville’s breathing ragged.

Some of the buttons became undone as they tried not to cross the line as they moved their hands around each other.

Lost in the world of two, their tongues intertwined, and they savored each other, making inappropriate sounds.

It took a while before they broke apart.

Neville was panting hard, with dreamy wet eyes and slightly swollen lips.

Grayson chuckled in satisfaction.

That smug face annoyed Neville, so he snapped back quickly and punched Grayson lightly.

Grayson raised his eyebrows as he looked at him.

Neville just rolled his eyes and turned to look away.

Grayson chuckled again and helped straighten Neville’s clothes.

He whispered to his ear in a hoarse voice, "Your glasses."

Neville blushed and adjusted it himself.

It seemed that it went askew in the middle of it.

And he blushed even more.

When Neville mustered up the courage to try to peer back at Grayson’s expression, he saw Grayson licking his own lower lip.