Alan let out a sigh as he looked up to Caden with a bit of a flat look. "It's not about want. It's the sort of thing that's bound to happen. Hurt is a part of life as far as I'm concerned." He could tell that the boy was anxious and wanting to please. Normally having a sub in this state could be delightful in the right context but right now it was only mildly interesting him. "I will get the case done, I'm not going to abandon it and you but you can't ask me to talk to him about this." He shook his head in a dismissive manner, "I wasn't able to at the time and I don't think I am now." Those were words not fueled by his dramatic act, they came from his soul.<br/><br/>He had hoped getting upset enough would cause Caden to drop it at least for the time being but it seemed to have made him more desperate and insistent. "If you want to spend time with me and get to know me, then do so. But I'm not going to do it in this context." He was putting his foot down and Caden would have to take it or least it. He had been able to be civil with Charles at breakfast and while it had been tense he figured they could last it long enough to make it through this case and then figure it out from there.<br/><br/>Yes, he was being cruel but having Caden struggle but he didn't see them all coming together in one group hug anytime soon. As much as he liked the CEO and he did tickle his fancy more than he had expected he also didn't feel that the sub was drawn enough to him to give up Charles so he knew better than to pine and whine. When Caden reached out to halt his progress he turned to him and traced his fingers over the boy's knowing the power of touch for him as his eyes met Caden's. "Besides the impossible... what is it that you need?"