Work Text:
Henry usually dreads checking his email, he hates the anxiety that pools in his stomach as he dreads an email asking him to do any type of dreadful work. Henry, currently, worked in the finance department at his family's company and hated every minute of it. He hated how stiff and boring the work was, how there was no room for creativity. Even though he has found safety in neutrals, in his clothes and office decor, there’s a part of him that is itching to burst through, he wants to write beautiful prose and descriptive story lines, he wants to make people feel something, not just send them a spreadsheet and get a thumbs up in return.
Back to his emails, Henry is finally settled in his office an hour after he got to work. People always are trying to get on his good side since he’s attached to the Mountchristen last name so he usually has to spend a dreadful half hour to an hour having small talk with people who don’t care about him. He takes a deep breath and opens his laptop. Opening his email and seeing the number of them in his inbox makes him want to shut it all down and walk out forever. His eyes look over at the one decorative thing he has in his office. It’s a picture of Alex and David from his birthday party last year. Alex somehow got a party hat onto David’s head and grabbed him for a quick picture. David’s unimpressed face is a hilarious match for Alex’s over enthusiastic expression. His eyes are closed and a huge grin takes over his beautiful face. Henry sighs again, he just has to make it through the next seven hours and he can be home with them again.
He slowly starts to sort through all his emails, most of them from Philip telling me to edit this or edit that or the occasional can you believe this wanker?
One, however, catches his eye immediately.
From : Silver Maple Publishing & Editing <[email protected]>
To: Henry Fox < [email protected] >
Good Morning Mr. Fox,
My name is Stephen and I’m the senior editor at Silver Maple. I’m following up with you about your novel submission to our company.
Henry takes a deep breath before he continues on, this has been the sixth publishing company he sent his novel to and he had put everything on Silver Maple. Not only have they published incredible works but they specialize in LGBTQ+ works, something that is very important to Henry and his novel.
After reviewing your submission, we would like to extend an offer to you. Please see the attached document to outline the timeline with our offer as well as the next steps. Please let me know when the best time to schedule a meeting so that we may discuss your future with Silver Maple Publishing.
We are beyond excited to work with you and put your amazing work out into the world.
Best,
Stephen.
Henry read the email over and over again, tears gathering in his eyes. He immediately dials Alex’s number, not bothering to check their shared calendar and hopes to God he isn’t busy.
Alex picks up on the second ring, “What’s up, baby? Miss me already? I was actually just thinking of you, do you remember when we took that week off from work and had se-“
Henry cuts Alex off quickly, “Alex, I got it.”
Henry can almost see Alex’s face scrunch up in confusion, “Got what?”
Henry breathes out a shaking breath, a grin spreading on his face, “The publishing deal, love, with Silver Maple.”
There’s a moment of silence, the sound of a door closing and then, “Oh my god Baby!!” Alex yells, “Holy shit!! I’m married to not only a hot and sexy accountant BUT a hot and sexy future author. Oh my god, we have to celebrate.” Henry can hear Alex close his laptop and start to zip up his bag.
“Oh Alex no, we can celebrate tonight, it’s no-“
“Henry, love of my life, if you say this isn’t a big deal I’m going to lovingly fight you to the death. This is a huge deal! Email Philip right now and tell him where he can stick his spreadsheets.” Alex pulls the phone away from his ear and covers the speaker. Henry can vaguely hear something along the lines of Zahra! I’m leaving for the day!
“Did you email him?” Alex asks when he brings the phone back to his ear.
Henry can hear the elevator ding and well, Henry hasn’t taken a sick day in awhile. “Alright, Alright. I’ll email him now but if he gets a stomach ulcer from stress that’s on you.”
Alex laughs, “Bold of you to assume he doesn’t already have one. I’ll meet you at your office, baby.” They say their goodbyes and Henry can barely keep the smile off his face and he emails Philip that he’s leaving sick for the day. He doesn’t wait for a reply, just shuts his laptop and slides it into his bag.
He eagerly waits for Alex outside his office, barely keeping himself from bouncing on the balls of his feet.
He feels Alex before he sees him, the other man swooping in from behind and lifting him up into a hug.
“Baby, I am so, so, so, proud of you.” Alex says. He turns Henry around so they are facing each other and peppers kisses all over his face.
Henry always feels so happy when Alex does this, laughing freely. “Thank you, love. Now, what did I leave work for that you couldn’t wait for? You couldn’t have possibly planned anything in this short amount of time.”
Alex grins at him brightly, “Oh sweetheart, never underestimate me and how quickly I’m able to put something together when it involves celebrating you.”
Henry blushes slightly and Alex gives him a peck on his check, “Alright first stop, champagne.”
Henry rolls his eyes playfully as Alex takes his hand and starts walking, knowing it’d be useless to argue that it’s only 9 in the morning.
His mind starts thinking of the things he has to do like email back Stephen, figure out how he’ll work everything around his work schedule but when Alex grins over at him with so much pride, Henry pushes those thoughts to the side, he can worry about the details later, right now he wants to celebrate with the love of his life.