<><><><><><>
Tadeus arrives at the restaurant of the hotel Alexaler had told him about earlier in a phone call and sits down to wait for him. The minutes tick by, until an hour has passed and he receives a text message apologising for the delay. In that same instant, Strauss sits down at the table and raises his hand to order — I've already ordered for both of us — says Tadeus without looking up from the magazine he's holding — What took you so long?
— I went to the police station. Apparently, there's been no progress on Dove's disappearance or the suspects. According to outdoor security footage, they arrived in a van as if offering pest control services. They suspect the security guards at the entrance, but they don't seem to remember anything.
— You had to go the night you're having dinner with me.
— Forgive me, my heart.
— It's okay, just don't call me that in public again. Please.
— Are you embarrassed? — Alexander asks with a mocking smile, but gets no reply.
— Gustaph wouldn't keep me waiting — remarks, causing Alexander's smile to vanish instantly. He slowly looks up without moving his face to gauge his annoyance and smiles deliberately for just a second.
After eating, they both take the lift up to the tenth floor where his room is. Alexander pins Tadeus against the wall as soon as they enter the small corridor before reaching the bedroom area. He has his hands on either side of him and leans in to kiss him, but Tadeus turns his face away — Don't act as if you're still upset — says Strauss, taking his chin in his right hand whilst unbuttoning his shirt with his left — With that comment you made, you've already taken it out on me.
Tadeus grins and they begin to kiss tirelessly until they find themselves completely naked on the bed. Alexander runs his tongue over his lover's pelvis, circling his member until he has it in his mouth. He sucks on it and slides it inside his mouth for several minutes until he manages to make him ejaculate.
Tadeus lies back on the bed, feeling those warm hands slide from his lower back up to the nape of his neck, where the touch falls in time with the deep thrusts he feels inside him. "Oh, my heart!" Alexander sighs. "I've missed you." He pants and continues to thrust his hips impetuously until Tadeus' moans drive him to release every last drop of his semen inside him.
<><<>><>
Over the next couple of weeks, every other day, the routine is the same: dinner, sex, sleep, and going their separate ways in the morning. Tadeus is looking forward to the moment when he has to travel to Greece to finalise his father's deal, but the mere thought of having to cut ties with Alexander afterwards makes him feel uneasy, and this makes him feel even more guilty. All he has done is lie or commit harmful acts that only further confuse his own feelings about what he really feels at any given moment. The fact is, that moment weeks ago when this man dried his tears and combed his hair comforted him in an unexpected way.
Once again, he is waiting for him at a restaurant table, but this is a different hotel from the last one. Once again, the man arrives late and sits down at the table — You look very handsome — comments Alexander, noticing the white suit with hundreds of colourful tulips printed on the sleeves and trousers. Strauss can't help but smile when he sees that he isn't wearing a shirt underneath and is wearing silver earrings, just like that time on the yacht.
— You look good too — says Tadeus, with a serious expression. Alexander notices this, but doesn't comment on it.
After dinner, they both step into the lift to go up to the room. — So am I just another one of your prostitutes now, not even deserving of an apology?
— I'm sorry I'm late and I haven't forgotten that today is a special day — says Alexander — I had a surprise; it's in the room.
— A surprise would be meeting your family or at least seeing a photo of them. You keep me in the shadows. We only see each other at night and in different hotels, as if you were paying me to be with you.
— Don't ever say that again — Alexander states this firmly. Tadeus falls silent and keeps his gaze averted from him for the rest of the journey to the room.
As he opens the door, a path of hearts made from carnations of various colours adorns the floor, leading up to a huge heart shaped exactly like the bed. — I love you — Alexander whispers in his ear, just as Tadeus reads these words in his mind — I know it's only been a couple of months, but I can't describe how I feel about you any other way — Alexander says, kissing him intensely, leaving him breathless, whilst running his hands up Tadeus' back beneath his jacket — You had me hooked even before that time we made a promise to each other… — whispers Strauss, his mouth pressed against those sweet lips, inhaling the scent of red wine on his breath — You don't have to say the same to me, but please, tell me you'll be able to do it one day — Alexander begs, though he doesn't really expect an answer. He just wants Tadeus to belong to him.
And so it happened, that very night.
The next day, Tadeus goes to work and spends the rest of the week conducting interviews about the solved cases or disappearances he is investigating for his television programme. In a way, this makes him feel like a hypocrite who isn't interested in revealing the truth about his own misdeeds, yet focuses on those of other criminals.
During lunch, he is surprised when his sister calls him to have lunch together. She receives a visitor's pass to the building and they enter the dining area to talk — How's your friend getting on? — asks Tadeus — I haven't been back to the mansion.
— But you could have called — says his sister. She pops a mouthful of spaghetti into her mouth and starts chewing — I was at your flat the other day and you never turned up. You're never there when I need you.
— You know I've been busy.
— With your 'secret' affair? I know the only reason you can't let go of Edwin is because you're properly hooked on that man, Alexander.
— Hey! It's just work.
— That sounds even worse — she replies, continuing to eat — I just hope you come to your senses and run away with us when we go on our trip around Europe.
— Sure — Tadeus sighs listlessly. That plan doesn't seem very feasible to him. — You haven't told me anything about your friend.
— She's woken up — says Yenedith — but she still doesn't remember what happened to her, and her mum doesn't want her to know.
— She's probably trying to protect her from having a relapse if she goes through such a traumatic event.
— But she's already been through that traumatic event; she just doesn't remember it, and I'm afraid that sooner or later she will. She'll feel alone and betrayed because nobody told her the truth — Yenedith says — Besides, she's pregnant, and her mum only plans to tell her that the baby is her ex's.
Tadeus breaths deep and sighs trying to think — Did you see who it was?
— No, but I've got a video from that day — says the young woman, pulling out her mobile phone. She shows the video to her brother, who watches it several times.
— Hmm, I think we can get a clearer picture of the attackers if we get someone to split the video into several parts. If we find her attackers, we can bring them to justice, but your friend has to file the complaint.
— I'm going to have the police analyse the video; they could run it through a database to see if it matches anyone with a criminal record, — says Yenedith resolutely.
— Send me a copy first. We don't want that evidence to go missing, — says Tadeus.
After lunch with his sister, the afternoon flies by for Tadeus as he tries to get a clear picture of the face of one of the men in the video. He decides to pop into a café to buy a packet of jam biscuits, when he spots Gustaph sitting at one of the tables, waving at him. — You know we're friends, don't you? You don't have to follow me.
Gustaph stands up and gives him a hug. — I forgot to ring you; besides, it's a miracle if I manage to catch you at your father's house these days.
— Is it about that trip he wants me to go on?
— It's already been scheduled. Here are the tickets — says Gustaph as he slips them inside his jacket. — I'll go with you, don't worry.
— Well, see you at the airport then, I'm not setting foot in Edwin's house for a while. I don't want him coercing me into doing anything other than this trip.
— That's inevitable. I'll tell him I sent the tickets to your flat by post and that I haven't been able to see you for days.
— Thank you very much — replies Tadeus with a smile. He hugs Gustaph and, in turn, kisses him on each cheek, as is his friend's custom when saying goodbye. Gustaph just laughs and gives him a pat on the shoulder before watching him leave.
Tadeus takes a taxi to the hotel where Alexander is staying this time and is surprised to find that he isn't in his room. He waits for him and goes over to greet him as soon as he sees him come through the door. — I popped round to your work to pick you up, as we agreed. You weren't there.
— I went to a café, sorry, I forgot you'd be picking me up this time — says Tadeus, kissing him on the cheek.
— You seem happy.
— I had lunch with my sister today — he replies. Alexander nods at this, but keeps a stern expression. He strokes Tadeus' chest, and in a subtle movement when he sees him close his eyes at his caresses, he pulls the pair of plane tickets from his jacket.
— You're going on a trip and you don't mention it? — he asks.
Tadeus snatches the tickets from him and tucks them into his leather briefcase. — It's work. A day of research.
Alexander has a vivid memory of Tadeus kissing Gustaph on the cheeks through the café's glass window. — I feel like you're hiding things from me, and I don't like that one bit.
— It's not like…
— I know you're still seeing Gustaph behind my back.
— What are you talking about? — Tadeus says this, smiling as if he'd just heard a joke. — I thought it was clear that I'm exclusively with you.
Alexander looks down and gives in. He says nothing more, but paces around the room, seething.
Tadeus reaches out to take Alexander's hand when he sees that his body language hasn't changed. Strauss grabs him firmly by the neck, causing Tadeus to react by placing both hands on his wrist to try to break free. — You told me you wouldn't kiss anyone else.
— And to think I was the jealous one. Don't act like this. Before, you asked me if what you're feeling is okay, and I told you it is — With Alexander's hand still on his neck, Tadeus leans in to kiss him.