6. KYLE
6
KYLE
It wasn’t how I’d expected my morning session at the gym to go, but to say it put a spring in my step would be an understatement. I grabbed coffee on the way into the office, and spent the last hour or so absolutely burning through all the work I needed to do. If I knew all it would take to make me productive in the morning was a hookup, I’d have been doing that for years.
Maria had given me a heads-up about arriving shortly with my new assistant, so I’m making sure to be hard at work when they get here. I want to make a good impression, even though I’m the one in charge. It feels right to be setting a good example.
There’s a knock.
I take a steadying breath. Meeting new people is always a little bit nerve-racking, and the last thing I want to do is mess this up.
“Come in,” I call back. I notice how deep my voice sounds—commanding, booming. Maybe I need to dial that back a bit so I sound less like an army drill sergeant. Don’t want to scare them.
I return to the paperwork I’d already been working on—the Grant file that’s been causing me no end of issues over the past few weeks. At least I don’t have to pretend to be engrossed by it, this entire case has taken up weeks and weeks of my life.
The door opens and she walks in, the assistant following behind her. “This is Larry Miller, he’s your and Mr Howe’s new assistant,” Maria says.
I look up, ready to flash what I believe to be a winning smile, and stop suddenly. You have got to be kidding me. Of all the people to have hooked up with at my gym—to have called a “good lad”—why, for fuck’s sake, why did it have to be the man standing in front of me?
I rearrange my face to the smile I’d intended, not wanting to give anything away to Maria. I swear she can read minds sometimes, the way she just seems to know everything.
“Welcome to the team,” I say, getting to my feet and extending my hand. I keep my tone even and the smile on my face, trying not to let anything slip in any way. He looks terrified—deer in headlights. I know he’s doing the same mental gymnastics that I am, but one of us is doing a much better job.
Keep it together, Larry.
I shake his hand. His palms are a little sweaty. That could be first-day jitters but also, I mean, my cock was in his mouth not too long ago.
“Thank you,” he says. “I look forward to working with you.”
I release his hand. “Alright,” I say. “Thank you, Maria, for bringing him down. I think I can take it from here.”
She turns her attention to Larry and offers him a warm smile. “If he gives you any trouble, you just let me know.” She turns to me. “Be nice. I know what you’re like.”
She leaves, closing the door behind her with a click.
The room is suddenly heavy with silence and I realise I have two choices here. I can either address the awkwardness of how we were literally naked in a steam room this morning, or I can plough on regardless and pretend it didn’t happen.
Larry opens his mouth to speak, but I don’t want him to be the one to make this decision just in case it’s the wrong one.
“There’s a folder on your desk that should give you an outline of your basic duties,” I say, taking a seat back at my desk and leaning back in my chair. “You can take a seat if you want.”
“I’m okay standing.”
“Alright then, if you’re sure,” I say. “You were interviewed by Mr Howe?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sure he went over the expectations we have here,” I say. “It’s fast-paced but can be very rewarding. My schedule is very demanding, and it’s your job to stay on top of that. Are you up to the challenge?”
He grins, nervously at first, but once he realises I’m trying to keep things light he seems to ease up a little bit. “I think I can handle it,” he says.
“Glad to hear it,” I reply. “There are already a couple of meetings in your calendar for today. You’re going to have to go and see HR to get yourself a photo ID, that will get you in and out of the building, security and all that. You did your onboarding?”
“Did it last week.”
“Fantastic. You’re already a little way ahead then,” I say. “There’s a meeting later on this afternoon that I’ll need you to be at to take the minutes. You’ve taken minutes before?”
“Yes.”
“Okay then, it seems like you’re all set,” I say. And that silence appears again, that tension falling over the pair of us. Is he going to follow my lead? There’s a clear power imbalance now, and the last thing I want to do is make things awkward. I’m also pretty sure that everything we did this morning goes against company policy and Taylor won’t look kindly on it. What if he mentions it to HR? Would he? Do I need to check?
“What time is my meeting with HR?” he asks.
My blood runs cold. “I think one p.m.,” I say, feeling a trickle of sweat run down my back. “But I’d double check. All of your login details should be in that folder on your desk.” I smile. Silence. Tension. “Welcome to Duncan & Howe. If you have any questions, you know where to find me. If not, Maria knows this place backwards and Peter will be a huge help I’m sure.”
“Thank you.” He looks like he’s about to say something else, but seems to stop himself, a little wave of disappointment crashing over him. And I feel like the worst kind of human being.
But this is what I need to do. It’s my job, it’s my life. I can’t go throwing it away, or risk throwing it away because of some cute boy in a steam room.
He really does look good now he’s all dressed up. The suit really… well… suits him. I’d tear it right off him given half the chance, but I can’t do that. I need to distance myself, so distance myself I shall.
“That will be all,” I say. “If you have any more questions, just buzz the intercom or knock on my door, it’s always open.”
“Thank you, sir,” he says.
And him saying “sir” sends a thrill through me that I hope I manage to keep off my face. But he must notice something, because there’s the slightest smirk at the corners of his mouth before he turns and leaves my office.
I’m in trouble.
The rest of the morning passes without much incident. I notice him head off to his HR meeting, and I get a couple of emails from Larry about putting some meeting in my diary for later on in the week. Taylor really hired well. He knows exactly what he’s doing and it’s actually refreshing to finally have an assistant who has the time to dedicate to me.
The last assistant was Peter, Taylor’s younger brother, and while he’s very good at his job, between Taylor and me we have just a few too many clients and a few too many meetings for one assistant to handle. Taylor agreeing to hire somebody new has taken a huge weight off my mind—and heaps of work off Peter’s plate.
There’s a knock at the door, Larry appearing as I invite whoever is outside to come in.
“I’ve just had my HR meeting,” he says. “Got my ID and everything, which means I can head out to get some lunch, right?”
I check my calendar. “Next meeting isn’t until three, so yes, an hour for lunch,” I say. “See you afterwards.”
“Do you need me to get you anything?” he asks. “Happy to pick you up something if?—”
My phone buzzes, interrupting us both. It’s Taylor reminding me we’re having lunch today, and suddenly I’m relieved. In the rush of this morning I’d forgotten I was supposed to be meeting him.
“No, all good,” I say quickly. “Those are my lunch plans.” I wave the phone at him, getting to my feet quickly. “I’ll be back in about an hour,” I add. “If you need anything while I’m not here, Maria will be able to help you. Or just grab Peter. They’ve pretty much got the run of the place between them.”
I waste no time, grabbing my jacket off the back of my chair and pulling it on. I suddenly feel like I’m in a rush, trying to get out, trying to get away.
“Of course. Thank you, Mr Carter. No problem.”
And I can see the confusion on Larry’s face as I walk past him in the doorway, heading out of the building. I am in so much trouble. Christ.