Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Maverick was seething before he even got to the office on Monday morning. He was up to his eyeballs in work, and he was tired of dealing with incompetence. He lost track of the amount of times the people in his office screwed up and got him the wrong information or lost documents he needed. They excelled at wasting time, always talking around the water cooler instead of actually doing their jobs.
He was close to losing his temper when his boss and life long best friend Ozen suggested hiring a temporary assistant to help him during this busy period. Maverick was reluctant, he automatically assumed it would only cause him more headaches, but he had to admit, the last temp who came from that company had been competent enough. Avery had done his job helping him for a week with no need for coddling or hand holding. He almost wished he could just request Avery’s help again. But Avery quit being a temp to focus on his writing career, and Maverick couldn’t ask him to put that down to come help him. Ozen would hurt him, for one thing. Avery was his mate, and he went to great lengths to make sure Avery was happy with his new career. He’d take exception with Maverick dragging him back into being an assistant.
No, he’d have to hope the temp agency sent someone who was at least semi competent for the time being. Just until he could get his office back under control. Since the temp would not be distracted by other responsibilities, it was possible Ozen’s idea would be helpful. Maybe. Maverick wasn’t holding his breath.
He stormed into the building, the crowd automatically parting to make way for him. He wasn’t a bad man, but he was known for his fiery temper and most often, people found it best to just stay out of his way. He wasn’t going to complain about that. He was making his way to the guarded gate where he could skip the lines at the turnstiles, when he noticed a flash of bright pink at the front desk. His head snapped to the side, trying to figure out what he’d seen, when a familiar voice spoke behind him.
“Good morning, Maverick.”
He scanned the crowded reception area for a second before turning to face his friend and his mate. It was Avery who greeted him, so Maverick responded to him first with a gruff but polite, “Good morning.”
Avery didn’t work at Spellbound anymore, but being mated to one of the owners meant he never strayed far. When he wasn’t busy with book signings or the like, he was in the office with his mate. He had his own desk set up in Ozen’s office, and he worked there on his next novel while Ozen did his own work. Maverick didn’t mind the set up, especially since Avery was more than happy to share updates on the novels whenever Maverick stopped in. They were Maverick’s guilty pleasure, and Avery never teased him for enjoying them. Unlike some people.
“Good morning, all!” Taron called as he joined them. His bright, beaming smile put Maverick on edge, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. Taron might be the co-owner of the company, but he was a troublemaker, and he and Maverick were often at odds with one another. They were friendly, but not close. Their personalities were too different. And Taron liked to pick at him. One day, he was going to get burned for it.
Avery and Ozen said good morning. Maverick only offered a grunt in response, but Taron didn’t take offense. He sidled closer, a mischievous grin on his face as he took in Maverick’s foul mood.
“Who’s pulling the dragon’s tail this morning, hmm? Or is it just that you haven’t gotten laid in–”
Avery slapped a hand over Taron’s mouth, dragging the shapeshifter away from him before Maverick had a chance to wring his neck. Ozen stepped between them, shaking his head with exasperation.
“Taron, go to work. Your secretary’s patience is running thin. You don’t want her to quit, do you?”
Taron gave him a muffled whine from behind Avery’s hand. He didn’t try to dislodge the human, even though he was vastly stronger. He liked the attention too much. Suddenly, Avery grimaced and jerked his hand away, wiping his palm on his slacks.
“Gross, Taron! Why would you lick me?”
Taron grinned, completely unrepentant, until Ozen’s growl cut through the noise of the lobby. Mates were notoriously possessive. Taron was stupid to think he would get away with putting his scent on Avery like that.
He seemed to think the same thing because he took a few steps back, a sheepish grin on his face. “You know, I think you’re right. I should really get upstairs before Avanna loses her patience with me. I’ll see you all later. Toodaloo!”
He took off before Ozen could get to him, ducking into the first available elevator to escape Ozen’s wrath. Maverick rubbed his forehead, the beginnings of a headache pulsing in his temples. It wasn’t even eight in the morning yet.
“You’re getting a new assistant today, right?” Avery asked, still rubbing his palm on his pants with a grimace.
“Correct. I believe Clarita has sanitizer if you need it.”
Avery flashed him a grateful smile and shook his head. “I have some upstairs, but thank you. If you want, I can talk to your new assistant before they start. Give them the rundown. I know you’re busy.”
This was one of the reasons Maverick appreciated Avery so much. He was thoughtful, and he cared about his friends. Maverick had thought he’d have to take a lot of time explaining things to the new assistant, but if Avery trained him, he’d at least have the basics down.
“If you’re not too busy with your own work,” Maverick hedged. He wanted to say yes emphatically, but he also knew Avery had a tendency to overwork himself if given the chance. Maverick had seen the effects of that during Ozen and Avery’s courtship. The stubborn man was basically working three jobs at once, and wouldn’t take time off even after a difficult feeding from Ozen. Ozen watched over him more carefully now, but if he was too busy with meetings, he did sometimes still ask Maverick or Taron to check in on his mate.
Ozen didn’t seem bothered by the offer, guiding his mate towards the gate at the end, where they could avoid the lines for the turnstiles. He was in a much better place since he mated, and no longer worked at all hours if he didn’t have to. He’d rather spend his nights with his mate as opposed to working.
“Oh, sure. I don’t have a deadline looming in the next few weeks. I’ve got the time to spare. Technically, it was my idea to hire you a legal assistant, and I’d like it to go well. If I can help, I will. I’ll just drop off my stuff upstairs and meet you in your office in a few minutes?”
“Thank you,” Maverick replied politely. The man was doing him a favor, after all. No need to be rude, despite his foul mood.
Since Ozen and Avery took the gold elevator, which was an express that only went between the ground floor and the top floor, they split up. Maverick’s office was on the 52nd floor, close enough to Ozen if he needed him, but not on top of him. Maverick’s office was lower because he had direct access to a terrace on the roof of an adjoining building, so he could shift if he wished to. He would have flown in this morning if he’d had more patience. But he didn’t want any incidents with his dragon raging, so his human form was better for now. Besides, if he hadn’t driven in, he wouldn’t have gotten Avery’s offer of assistance. That was more important than stretching his wings today. He’d just fly home later.
Just as the elevator doors were closing, Maverick saw that flash of bright pink again. He didn’t have time to see what it was attached to, and it irritated him for some reason. He wanted to know what it was. Dragons were curious creatures by nature, and bright colors often caught their attention. Maverick pushed the distraction aside, scrolling through his email on his phone on the way up.
The elevator stopped often since it was the busy hour, which was irritating. Maverick usually got here earlier to avoid the crowd, but he’d been stuck on a call that morning and lost track of time. One of the many reasons he was irritated. By the time they made it to Maverick’s floor, the uptick in his mood from Avery’s kind offer had faded and he was back to seething. On the legal floor, people knew to get out of his way, so he faced no more distractions as he stomped to his office.
His phone rang before he even had a chance to sit down. Maverick growled low, dumping his briefcase and his jacket on his desk before picking up the phone.
“Van Buren.”
“Good morning, Mr. Van Buren. I just wanted to let you know that your new assistant arrived, and I sent him upstairs,” Clarita informed him.
Good. At least the assistant had the ability to be on time.
“Thank you,” he growled before hanging up. He picked up the phone to dial Ozen’s office to let Avery know, but a quiet knock on the door stopped him mid dial and Avery poked his head in with a smile.
“Hey. I didn’t know what time your assistant was going to arrive, but I forgot I was going to give this to you, so I thought I’d show up early.” He waited for Maverick to acknowledge him with a dip of his chin before stepping into the office and offering him the book. Dragons were territorial, even with things as simple as a work office, and Avery was always respectful enough to wait to be invited into Maverick’s space before entering.
“You finished another?”
Avery shrugged, a bashful smile on his face. “Having eight hours a day to just write helps me get through them faster. My publisher loves me. She says I’m her easiest client.”
Maverick took the book, a flicker of excitement lighting in his chest. Avery was a talented writer, and while Maverick didn’t think he’d enjoy office romance, Avery had a way of drawing in his readers. He’d be just as good if he left out the intimate acts. Not that Maverick would ever tell him that. He secretly enjoyed those scenes. He’d just take that secret with him to the grave.
“Thank you. I look forward to reading it.”
His phone started ringing again, and Maverick let out an irritated growl. Avery pursed his lips against a smile, gesturing to the phone. “May I?”
Maverick nodded once, stepping back to give Avery room. While he answered the call, Maverick put his jacket on the coat stand in the corner and Avery’s book in his briefcase. He didn’t want to forget it later.
“Okay. I’ll be right there.”
Maverick turned when Avery hung up, frowning at him. Avery waved a hand dismissively.
“Your new assistant is here at reception. I’ll speak with him first, give him the rundown and a tour, and I’ll introduce him when you have a free moment.”
Maverick scoffed, giving him a bland look. “I never have free moments.”
Avery smirked and shook his head. “Well, that’s why we’re getting you an assistant. Sit tight. I’ll make sure he knows how to help, so you have some room to breathe.”
Thank the goddess for Ozen’s mate. Maverick didn’t know if he could survive without him.