Chapter 6: Chris Donovan vs. Shane Lewis~ There's no love like the first… A desperate attempt!

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Chris parked his sleek Jaguar XJ Premium Luxury SWB beneath the huge ultramodern building of SL Inc. and looked up at the skyscraper. It was huge and sophisticated. Chris gave a deep sigh and got out of his car. He didn’t miss the immediate attention he received from both men and women walking around. He was used to attracting people’s attention wherever he went. Chris was the kind of man who most people thought had swag. Six foot’ three of stunning, perfectly sinewy body, dark brown hair cropped low, a thick jaw to his proud cheekbones, and the most piercing grey eyes with flecks of green.

Chris always looked very serious but his hard look was softened by the impossibly long lashes that framed his expressive eyes. His spectacular eyes, which were very easy to get lost in was one of his weapons when it came to the ladies. Though the smart, outrageously expensive designer suit he wore hinted at all sorts of muscles and a powerfully lean body, it was the air about the man which screamed authority that made Chris look sensational.

Beneath his grey suit was a crisp white dress shirt and a dark green tie that perfectly matched those brilliant irises. The nicely folded dark green handkerchief in the breast pocket of his jacket completed his classy look perfectly. It was therefore not surprising that a lot of heads turned when he walked into the lobby of SL Inc. It was as though people couldn't help themselves. For such a big man, Chris moved across the floor, with such an incredibly fluid grace. He was pure sex on legs.

As Chris rode the elevator to Shane’s floor, his heart pounded in his chest. This was it. His office had called to book an appointment with Shane under a different name because Chris had a feeling Shane wouldn’t want to meet him if he gave his name. It had been two days since he’d seen Shane in that meeting in Damon’s office but the time lag had done nothing to lessen Chris’ dread. As he was ushered into Shane’s office, Chris realized his hands were shaking so badly, he shoved them inside his pocket.

“Mr. Lewis will be with you in a moment, Sir.” The pretty secretary informed Chris with a smile as she gestured towards the comfortable couch in the huge office. “Please make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you very much, Ma’am,” Chris answered in a hoarse voice. “But I’d rather stand.”

The secretary gave him a brilliant smile and left the office. Chris saw Shane talking on the phone in a corner of his chic office, with his back to where Chris stood and prayed the call would never end. Chris took the opportunity to study the man who he was praying would forgive him. God, Shane looked huge, Chris thought amazed at the difference between the tiny teenaged Nick he remembered, and the strapping Shane he was looking at. Yes, he was slightly taller than Shane but the man’s strength and power could clearly be seen from the way those muscular shoulders rippled beneath his suit. Chris was so engrossed in his perusal of Shane that he didn’t even notice when Shane got off the phone.

“Sorry about that, Mr…” Shane trailed off when his eyes landed on the man who had haunted his dreams for the past two days…and even longer before that. He froze and just stared at Chris. It didn’t escape Shane that Chris also seemed to have frozen as he also just stared back at him without saying anything. Shane recovered first. “What do you want?” Shane’s voice was quiet, cold.

Chris couldn’t speak. He just stood there and stared at Shane, taking in Shane’s tense body and angry face. Despite the elegant black suit Shane wore, he looked like he was ready to do battle in an arena. Chris wasn’t afraid that Shane would hurt him. He really didn’t care if he did. What terrified him was the rage that the other man still felt towards him. Though Chris wasn’t surprised, he couldn’t help but think that if Shane was that angry after all these years, then Chris had obviously fucked him up not just physically but also emotionally. Shit!

“Nick…” Chris finally breathed.

“Get the fuck out of here,” Shane said quietly. Too quietly. He was shaking and Chris didn’t miss that telltale reaction. “Now.”

Shane had a feeling he wouldn’t like what would happen if he didn’t do as Shane had requested. But he needed to try to get Shane to at least listen to what he had to say.

“Plea…”

“Get out!” Shane all but roared, startling Chris.

Without another word, Chris turned on his heels and left. Coming to Shane’s office had obviously been a bad idea, Chris couldn’t help but think. But Shane’s anger made Chris even more determined to get the furious billionaire to hear what he had to say. He would live today and fight another day, Chris thought determinedly. If it was the last thing he ever did, he would tell Shane just how sorry he was and also let Shane know that not even a day went by without him thinking of him. And that was a fact!

Chris’ handsome face tightened in pain, and he rubbed the middle of his chest, as he rode down the elevator. It felt as if someone had fisted up his heart and squeezed it dead. By the time he got to his house, his grey eyes looked lifeless, with about as much reflection as old asphalt. He locked himself in a cozy room he called his personal sanctuary. It wasn't a big room.

The deco in there was classically elegant. The only thing besides the sparse furniture in there was an aquarium and a bar. Chris only went in there when he wanted to be alone to think. And at that particular moment, he needed to do a lot of thinking. Chris did not re-emerge until late the next morning, sporting bloodshot eyes, a mouth that felt as dry as a desert, and a mental note to restock his virtually empty bar.