Chapter 3 First Sighting #2
“Lawrence,” a familiar voice drawled, and I cringed. “Why are you here so late? Davidson doesn’t treat you the way you deserve.”
“Good evening, Mr. Burnes.”
It was crucial I stayed behind the desk if I didn’t want Harry Burnes plastered to my backside, breathing down my neck. Fucking sleazebag. See, out of the two co-owners of Sullivan and Burnes Inc., I’d lucked out with the better option. Josh was right. I so needed a different job.
“Is the old man in there?” Mr. Burnes pointed at the closed door to Mr. Sullivan’s office.
Sadly, I couldn’t lie. “Mr. Sullivan is gone for the day.”
“And he kept you here after hours?” Harry Burnes tsked and leaned on my desk with his hip while I quickly shrugged into my suit jacket.
“I had to finish something urgent, but now it’s done. I’m a little late for dinner with a friend.” Grabbing my laptop bag, I rounded the desk and headed for the door. I opened it, hoping like hell we weren’t the last ones on the floor. “Can I help you with anything, Mr. Burnes?”
He sighed and slid off my desk, adjusting his suit.
“Always so proper. What does a man have to do to lure you out for a drink?”
“It wouldn’t be appropriate, Mr. Burnes.” It took all my mental faculties not to snap at the alpha-sized slime stain.
“Can you let me into Davidson’s office for a moment, Lawrence? I think I left something on his desk this morning.”
Except I knew he hadn’t because I’d been here since eight, one of the first people in the building, and he hadn’t shown his face until lunch.
What was Burnes up to? Mr. Sullivan always hid the most sensitive documents like prototype blueprints and classified reports in the safe, but I didn’t trust Burnes as far as I could throw him.
And he looked to be twice my weight, so…
Best approach, play stupid and overly helpful. I widened my eyes innocently.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Burnes, I can’t do that. If it’s urgent, do you want to call Mr. Sullivan and tell him yourself? I can dial him for you.” I reached for the phone in my pocket, but Burnes shook his head.
He stalked toward me as I backed into the hallway. Brushing his thumb along my cheek, he licked his lips. I suppressed a shudder.
“You’re such a tease, Lawrence.”
“I truly must go, Mr. Burnes. Have a good evening.”
I spun around and rushed toward the elevators, my stomach heaving.
Once I was on the street, at a safe distance from the main building, I picked up my phone. Mr. Sullivan answered on the fourth ring.
“Yes?” he barked. “I’m not letting you off the hook, Lawrence. I want it done. I don’t care if you spend the night at the office.”
I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath. He didn’t deserve my loyalty, but I was also a professional.
“The files are sorted according to your instruction, sir. I’m calling to inform you of something that happened at the office tonight.”
He was quiet for a couple of seconds. “What?”
“Mr. Burnes arrived just when I was about to leave and asked me to open your office for him. He claimed he’d left something on your desk in the morning. Except I know for sure he wasn’t in the building until lunchtime. I refused to unlock and prompted him to give you a call. Then I left.”
“You’re sure it was locked?”
“Yes, sir. I am sure.”
“Keep me informed about any unusual behavior of Harry Burnes.”
“I will.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay.” And he hung up.
Thank you, Lawrence. Have a good night, Lawrence. I appreciate your loyalty, Lawrence.
I let out my frustration through a groan and an eye roll.
At five on New Year’s Eve, I was frantically searching through my closet.
“Josh! Have you seen my brown boots?” Those low leather boots were my only pair fancy enough for tonight’s event.
I had a black pair too that I wore to work, but they wouldn’t fit with the new tan dress pants and vest I’d had to buy especially for tonight, and that had swallowed my wardrobe allowance for the next season.
“I wore them two days ago. They’re in my room.”
I wouldn’t complain that Josh borrowed my clothes and shoes because he lent me his things just as often.
We were the same size and similar in build, except Josh had light-brown hair and green eyes, while I inherited my dad’s darker coloring.
Even so, people often asked if we were brothers or at least cousins.
“What do you think?” I asked, pivoting on my socked feet.
Josh handed me my shoes and scanned me up and down. “Show me your butt.”
I turned and looked over my shoulder. “So?”
“Suggestive but not inappropriate. I approve.”
Grinning, I blew him a kiss.
“Hey, the electric is due on Tuesday,” he said in an anxious tone.
“I know. I sent you the money this morning.” It’d be cheap pasta dinners until the next payday.
“Phew, thanks.”
Giving myself one last look in the mirror, I frowned.
The cream shirt and tan vest and pants would make me stick out in the crowd of black suits, but such was the requirement: the dress code for us minions was a vest instead of a jacket and in light colors.
The tightness of the pants was an unspoken rule.
“I’m going. Have fun tonight,” I called out to Josh.
I grabbed the jacket I’d leave in the reception backroom.
Winters in Ardaine were mild, but I didn’t want to shiver during the long walk home after midnight.
Even if I could splurge—which I couldn’t—there was no chance I’d catch a taxi on New Year’s.
“Have a pleasant objectification.”
I smirked. “Thanks for the support.”
Josh peeked out of the bathroom. “Mwah.”
After pocketing my keys and phone, I jogged down the stairs and out on the street.
The headquarters of Sullivan and Burnes Inc.
was pimped up for the holiday season with little white trees and pearly white and golden baubles.
The carefully designed decor spoke of luxury in an understated but effective way.
I understood why we had to be dressed in light colors. We were part of the decor.
After four hours, I was quite fed up with it all, but it would soon be over. At ten, I could have my one drink and then hopefully escape.
The partygoers shuffled through the crowded atrium on the tenth floor, the glass walls offering a stunning view over the city.
A string quartet fiddled in the background.
I’d just left a couple of guests by the long table with the selection of appetizers when I noticed Harry Burnes’s smarmy face in the crowd.
I averted my gaze swiftly, intent on looking anywhere but him.
That was when a tall figure by the elevators caught my attention.
Recognizing my strongman from last week, I paused in my tracks.
He didn’t notice me since he was staring ahead into the room, so I took my time appraising him.
Windswept dark hair, thick eyebrows drawn in a frown, he loomed above the crowd, all broody and smoldering.
Yum. Maybe I could…? No. His suit must cost more than my yearly rent.
Out of my league. Besides, I wasn’t ready to dive back into the dating cesspool yet.
Lawrence, you work here. Get your ass in gear.
Instead of returning to my spot by the cloakroom, I began meandering through the crowd.
I needed to pee before I could face another round of “yes, sir” and “this way, sir.” A waiter glared at me when we almost crashed into each other.
I apologized, even though it had been his fault.
I managed a few more steps before Mr. Sullivan’s voice made me skid to a stop.
“Lawrence.”
I’d tried to avoid the great Davidson Sullivan tonight—and had succeeded—until now.
“Yes, Mr. Sullivan?” I approached the group of men and blinked when I noticed my strongman standing to Mr. Sullivan’s left.
“Lawrence can help you find your way,” my boss said. “I’d gladly be your guide myself, but as it is…”
“Don’t worry about it, Davidson,” the stranger said in a gravelly voice.
“That’s quite a crowd you have here.” Since he was on a first-name basis with Mr. Sullivan, his suit wasn’t just a way to get in with the rich and fabulous.
He was in and above. Out of my league, and I am at work, dammit!
And I don’t date. Or do I? It’s been almost a year…
Blood rushed into my ears when the tall alpha measured me with his razor-sharp gaze. His eyes were the strangest shade of blue, almost electric, with a tiny sliver of yellow around his pupils. What was his name? Did I miss an introduction?
Then he smiled at me, and my belly swooped.