Love You As You Are

11 | Miles

“Dude, you’re a Sirenio?” Anthony gawked at me.

“But Mr Stark just said that the missing heir to the Sirenio Empire is a woman,” Eloise said in confusion.

“Does than mean you’re the one who’s supposed to be taking over from your father,”

“He’s not my father,”

“But she just said you’re a Sireni-“

“I’m not a Sirenio and he’s not my father,” I turned back to auntie Genevieve who’s eyeing me with a knowing look.

“So you didn’t tell your friends who you are,” she said.

“They are business colleagues, not friends,” I murmured. “And I don’t need to tell them anything. It would have been nice to keep it that way,” I said looking at her with a disappointed look.

“Boy don’t give me that look, I’m still you auntie,” she said backhanding my arm. I laughed quietly. “No one knows who you are,”

“No,” I said. “Well, aside from them and…Indra,” auntie Gen gasped.

“Lauri’s girl?” she said. I nodded. “Oh my, I haven’t seen her since forever. Tell her I said hi,” I nodded. “How are you doing Miles?” I sucked in a sharp breath, looking away, into the crowded hall. “I didn’t get a chance to check up on you after you guys left. So…” she tilted her head, watching me closely. “Are you happy baby?”

Auntie Genevieve is my mother’s sister, but a lot of times she felt like my own mother. Admittedly, my mother was never against me transitioning, it was my father who’d force her to turn her back on me. Even when my Grandma left with Indra and I, he’d basically cursed the day I was born. Especially because my mom was falling sick, with everything that happening.

Needless to say, I am the cause of their demise.

“As happy as I can be,” I said looking back at her. “It’s not exactly something I’d like to talk about in public,” I said looking back at the three curious eyes.

“Okay,” she said nodding. “What are you doing now?” she asked, subconsciously fixing my collar. “You look so handsome. Your mother would be proud,” she said. I rolled my eyes. “Are you working?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I work for Mr Stark,” I said gesturing to the man with the curious eye.

“Oh still in the business industry, I see,” she said with a proud smile. “You and I both know this is your calling. You wouldn’t have had it another way. What are you? COO?” I folded my lips at that, looking away. “What?”

“I’m his PA,” I said. Auntie Genevieve blinked at me, as if she didn’t hear me. “Personal Assist-“

“I know what PA means. I have one,” she said. “Boy what is wrong with you?” I ducked when she threw her purse at me.

“Ow! What’s that for?” I said laughing.

“What in the hell is wrong with you?” she repeated. “This very event was set up for the heir of Sirenio to take over,” she began. “You, little rat. You’re a leader. And what do you do? You become somebody else’s lapdog. You’re not cut out for PA, that’s no-“

“What’s wrong with being a PA?” I asked her. “I like the job and I think I do a pretty good job-“

“Good job, my foot,” I ducked again when she swung the bag at me. “I want to hug your neck so tight right now,” she said. “Do you not realise the disaster we’re about to face here. Your father’s appointing Eugene CEO,”

“How is that my proble- ow!” I said rubbing the side of my head. “You’re seriously going to assault me in front of so many witnesses?”

“Honey, I call the shots here,” she said with a smirk. “And you are making me so damn angry. PA, Miles. PA,”

“I’m trying to keep it low profile here,” I said with a shrug. “It’s already bad enough that Stark Inc is globally recognised. I just want to be invisible, alright? I want to be non-existence,” I slumped against the couch. “Like I just want to live life without having to dodge the media. I’m happy where I am, okay? For once, my life is quiet. Peaceful. I’m not about to ruin that because of some high position job. I chose PA for a reason,”

“You still chose Stark Inc,” Auntie Gen pointed out, smirking. “You didn’t settle for less. That’s not being invincible,”

“Mr Stark didn’t know who I was until now,” I said looking back at him. “Enough about me, I need a favour,”

“A favour would require you to join the Sirenio, your company, before I can consider,” she said. I gawked at her.

“Auntie, you didn’t just blackmail me,”

“Nobody said anything about blackmailing,” she shrugged. “Besides, Eugene will need your help,”

“I don’t want to help,” I simply said. Auntie Gen eyed me sideways. “Judge me all you want, but I want nothing to do with those people. So whatever you are trying to do, it’s not going to work,”

“You’re disowning me?” she pointed at herself.

“You’re not a Sirenio,” I pointed out. “You married a Sirenio, but you’re not a Sirenio,"

“Right,” she sarcastically said. “You realise Ludo has nothing to do with everything that happened, right?” she said seriously. “The kid was only twelve. He barely understood what was happening. And he misses you,”

“I’m aware of that,” I murmured quietly.

“Then why are you shutting him out?”

“I’m not shutti-“

“You take me for a fool?” I sighed, fidgeting with my thumbs.

“There’s no point in all of this,” I said. “I’m only trying to protect him. If the rest of them find out who I am, you know what they will do. It’s better if he just forgets that I exis-“

“How do you propose he do that? You practically raised all of them. They know you as their guardian. As f****d up as that sounds, since you were a child yourself, but you raised Ludo. You don’t know how heartbroken he was when you left,”

“That’s my fault?” I asked in disbelief. “You told me leave. You told me to put myself first and I listened. Now it’s my fault,” I scoffed.

“Baby, I’m not blaming you,” she said. “I’m just telling you that he needs you. Meet him halfway,”

“I can’t,” I said shaking my head. Auntie Gen looked at me, no doubt disappointed. What she’s asking from me is too much. I told myself I was done with that life. Letting Ludo into my life means I let them back into my life. I can’t.

“What do you need me to do?” she asked me.

For the next few minutes, I explained to her the situation at hand. I told her what I’d done so far and what I plan to do. She praised me for taking the strategy of talking to the minors first and get their votes.

“Okay, give me an hour and I’ll see what I can do, okay?” she said. “I’ll need to speak to…my husband and…uh,” she looked around. “Just give me one hour and I’ll get back to you. Don’t do anything for now,”

“Thanks auntie,”

I excused myself as soon as she’d left. I just couldn’t sit there, with everyone looking at me the way those three were. The last thing I want to do was for them to judge me, let alone ask me anything about my past life. I just need to get away.

*****

I’d found my way to the bathroom, needing to relieve myself before I attempt to do anything else. And it’s another way to get away from everyone. Now, I stood in front of the mirror, looking at myself.

This was supposed to be a business trip. I was supposed to help out Anthony and that would be it.

“This can’t be happening,” I murmured quietly, my hands braced on the edge of the sink. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths. This can’t be happening. I fought so hard to be where I am. I fought so hard for the peace I’d obtained over the last six years. One day can’t ruin it all for me. It just can’t. I can’t allow it.

“You are full of surprises, Mr Manando,” I snapped my eyes open to see Mr Stark standing behind me. I raised my head to look at him through the mirror. I shifted, watching his eyes rake over my body, visibly lingering on my clothed ass.

Something about the way he looked at me, had me shivering. I shifted from foot to foot, contemplating whether it’d be a good idea to make yet another mistake. I’m tipping. Over the edge. Shaking even. I need a distraction. Alcohol isn’t the option tonight. “I have concluded,” he went on, looking around. “You find comfort in the bathrooms,” he said his eyes finding mine through the mirror. They shined brighter than ever, under the lights.

“Usually, I do,” I replied.

“Usually?” he tipped his head.

“Yes,” I said. “It’s only comfort when it’s only me and I’m not…disturbed,” Mr Stark’s mouth twitched as he nodded to himself.

“When were you going to tell me?” I took in a deep breath and turned around, facing him.

“I wasn’t going to,” I simply said.

“You weren’t going to,” he repeated, his eyes focused on something on my left.

“Are you going to fire me?” I asked him the one question I’ve been meaning to ask.

“Do you want me to?” he pushed himself off of the opposite wall, slowly taking steps towards me. I gulped, watching his feet step closer and closer. I gripped the sink tighter, choosing to stand my ground.

“No,” I said quietly. Mr Stark stands right in front of me.

“Why?” he inquired. “Why settle for less when you could be…so much more?” his eyes pierce into my soul and I can’t have him figure me out like that, so my eyes fell down to his chest.

“I don’t need a higher position to be worthy, this is what I want to do,” I whispered. “And like I said, low profile,” Mr Stark hummed.

“Nothing about you screams low profile,” Mr Stark says.

“Well you didn’t know who I was until I allowed you to know,” at that, Mr Stark actually smiled, his eyes finding mine. He tipped his head, a sign to admitting defeat. I caught him off guard.

“I overheard a conversation from one of the people in there,” he began. “They talked about the new position missing the heir. Or in their words, heiress. It was news to me, but it didn’t take long to fit the pieces together. Your auntie served as a confirmation,” he said.

“Doesn’t it bother you?” I blurted out right there and then, having been asking myself that question since the night we slept together. I was curious, but I’d been obviously avoiding him.

“What? That you’re the heir to the Siren-“

“That I’m trans,” I said. I could care less about what he think of me being a Sirenio by blood. “T-That I’m a trans…man,”

“Does it bother you that I’m bisexual?” he asked me. I hadn’t expected that response. Not when I’m having mixed feelings about all of this. “Does it?” he probed, closing what’s left of the space between. His scent and warmth envelopes as I’m caged between him and the sink.

I shook my head.

“Use your words, Miles,” he said running his finger over my bottom lip. I shuddered at the sensation that brought to my body. “You were so good with those, that night,” I sucked in a sharp breath.

I looked away, and his touch disappeared immediately. “It was a mistake,” I whispered, my heart racing. “What…happened was a-“

“I don’t do mistakes, Miles,” Mr Stark said guiding my eyes back to his. “You should know that by now,” I let out a shaky breath when his thumb found my bottom lip again. “Does it bother you that I want to f**k you right now?”

“I…uhm,” I looked towards the door. “Someone could walk in on us,” I murmured, swallowing hard. I squeezed my thighs together. Mr Stark looked down, a smile on his lips.

“You’re squirming,” he pointed out. “I barely touched you,” I bit my lips, looking down. I shouldn’t be so responsive. “Do I make you wet?” he pulled me flush against his body, his hand trailing up to wrap around my neck. I made a sound that had his eyes turning darker. “I like words. Use them more often,”

“I…uh,” I swallowed around his hand. “I’m not on my period anymore,” I said hoarsely, looking up at him. He made a satisfied sound before stepping back. I’m almost about to protest, the need to have him closer intensifying.

“Lock the door,”