Too Old for Love (Gray Wolf LEGACY #10)

CHAPTER ONE

Everest grabbed the folder from her desk and practically jogged to the conference room. It was one meeting after another without breathing room in between. Scrambling, she nearly ran over one of her co-workers.

“Sorry!” she said running ahead.

“Slow down, Everest! Geez, there’s no fire,” sneered Adam.

She didn’t bother to say anything because the words coming to mind would have definitely caused her to lose her job. Adam was notorious for bumping into people, drinks and coffee spilling on their work clothes, leaving him in laughter instead of empathy. He was an asshole.

Pushing open the conference room door, she took the last seat available as her boss sneered at her. She mouthed, ‘sorry’, and then opened her folder.

“We have to be able to get everyone up to speed on the new product features before the roll-out,” said Abigail, the marketing director.

“We have a plan in place,” said Everest with confidence, smiling at her coworkers around the table.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve launched something like this.

We’ll follow the plan that we know will work, launching virtual training sessions first, then regional calls to ensure the training worked, and follow up with more calls after the launch. ”

“This deserves something better,” scoffed Abigail.

Everest took in a deep breath and shook her head. Why did she always have to be such a bitch? Everest had been with the organization for years and everything that launched under her direction was successful because of her planning and the team’s execution.

“I’d like to introduce two new members to the team who will add, let’s say, some youthful energy,” said Abigail standing in place.

She wore a tight-fitting straight skirt in white, her lace thong actually showing through the fabric. The brown satin blouse was open dangerously low, her bra visible to everyone only serving to expose her full-D implants. Everest stared at the HR manager, hoping she’d catch it as well.

Everest wasn’t a prude. She understood that everyone had their own style, their own way of expressing themselves through fashion, hair-styles, jewelry, nails, and even make-up.

But she also valued respect in the workplace and like it or not, how you dressed earned respect or at the very least, left an opinion one way or another.

Abigail’s insanely high heels clicked on the wood floors as she opened the door and smiled at the two young men, young being the optimal word.

They were barely twenty-five, if that. One was tall and blonde, built like someone who only ate organic, no red meat, and worked out more than he actually worked.

The second young man was the complete opposite.

Dark mocha skin that only served to highlight his insanely white teeth and deep brown eyes.

His head was shaved, the skin glowing like he’d coated it with baby oil.

His thick muscles straining the arm of his polo shirt drew the attention of every eye in the room.

Then the eye was drawn down to an even thicker muscle.

“Gee, I wonder why she chose them,” whispered Alice with a knowing smirk.

Everest said nothing, just staring at the two young men.

“This is Colt and Jordan. They will be the leads on the launch of this product, reporting directly to me,” smiled Abigail.

“Pleasure to meet you all,” smiled Colt. Jordan looked right at Everest and gave a wide, brilliant white smile.

“You must be Everest. I look forward to working with you.”

“How did you know it was me?” asked Everest with some unease.

“I looked up everyone’s profile on the company website. I like to know who I’m working with.”

Everest just nodded, ignoring him as she turned to Abigail.

“Why are they taking the lead as brand new associates in the company? I’ve been here…” Abigail held up her hand.

“Yes, yes, we know. You’ve been here for ages,” she laughed.

Everest frowned staring at her, then back at the HR person who was looking down at her lap nervously.

“We need new blood, Everest. New thoughts. New ideas. Younger minds will help us to connect with the technical savvy of our youthful customers.”

Everest was so shocked her stomach nearly hurled her breakfast. New thoughts.

New ideas. She was known for creating creative content that everyone loved.

What in the world was happening? Tech savvy youthful customers?

They dealt with hospital administrators, practice managers, not gaming executives.

She stayed silent for the remainder of the meeting, then walked out with the others.

“Samantha? Samantha!” she called out louder, chasing down the HR manager. “Samantha, were you even paying attention in that meeting? Some of the comments were pretty off-color.”

“Don’t be so sensitive, Everest. We have a job to do and the company has demands that need to be met. If you can’t keep up then maybe it’s time you considered a change in career.”

Everest felt like she’d been slapped in the face as she watched Samantha walk back to her office. Others around them, who’d overheard the conversation, suddenly appeared busy, their heads down.

Everest left the tenth floor where her office was located and took the elevator downstairs. It jumped twice, like it always did making her heart leap as well. On the ground floor, she went inside the coffee shop and grabbed a hot tea, then took ten deep breaths and headed back upstairs.

When the elevator opened, Abigail was standing there with a sneer.

“Nice that you have time to take a break,” she chuckled. Colt and Jordan smirked beside her.

“I’m allowed a break, Abigail.”

“No time for breaks. Get with Colt and Jordan and fill them in on everything.”

“Fill them in? You said they were in charge,” she said with satisfaction.

“Just fill them in, Everest. For once, be a damn team player!” Everest bit her tongue, knowing that if she opened her mouth, her career would be over.

“Meet me in conference room three,” she told the two men. They nodded, continuing to follow Abigail.

When she got back to her desk, she took a few more deep breaths and headed back toward conference room three. Both young men were leaning back in their chairs, Jordan with his hand over his groin, gently rubbing the outline of his semi-hard cock.

Everest took a seat on the opposite side of the table and opened the folder.

“We have a lot to cover, so please, let’s focus and get to work.”

“We can focus,” smirked Colt with an innocent boyish grin. “Can you pretty Everest?”

“Don’t. Do not make personal comments like that to me when I’m old enough to be your mother. We have to work together and work is all we do. Now, let’s get to it.”

Both young men wiped the smiles off their faces and nodded. Everest began reviewing the specifications for the new product launch. At first, neither man took any notes. Then realizing they were going to be screwed if they didn’t, they hurried to start writing down what she’d said.

“Wait. Wait, wait,” said Jordan. “I don’t understand. What is the LMS?”

“Learning management system,” she said softly. “Surely being as young as you are you would know that.” Neither said anything, their heads still down. Everest took in a deep breath and nodded.

“Okay. Let’s start over. Tell me where you went to college. What is your degree in?” They both squirmed slightly and Everest started to become worried. “You did go to college, right?”

“We’re not supposed to talk about that,” whispered Colt.

Everest’s head was spinning. Would Abigail be stupid enough to hire these two without college degrees? This could put the company at risk.

“I see. Do you have certifications in technology? Any IT experience or software launch experience?” Again, silence. “Where did you meet Abigail?” The two men looked at one another then at Everest.

“Work.”

“Work? This is your work. What work are we speaking of?” asked Everest. Colt cleared is throat and whispered across the table.

“Listen, she’ll fire us if she finds out we told you. We both worked at the Naked Saddle, the club downtown.”

“The male strip club?” she whispered.

“Yeah. I mean, we don’t have to strip all the way but believe me, Abigail pays well when you do,” grinned Jordan. “She always asked for the two of us and always wanted more than the standard lap dance. She’d book a private room for two hours. That’s five-grand a piece.”

“Holy shit,” muttered Everest. “So, neither of you have experience in product launch, tech programs, marketing, development, nothing?”

They looked down both visibly embarrassed and blushing.

“What about pharmaceuticals? Medical coding? Hospital procedures or medical records?” Neither man said a word. “Listen, I’m sure you’re both really great young men who are intelligent. But is this really what you want to do?”

“Honestly? We don’t even know what we’re doing,” frowned Colt. “She just said if we took the jobs, we’d be paid fifteen-grand a month by the company and if we, uh, eased her stress, we’d get an additional five-grand every time she needed us.”

“And you’re okay with that? With someone treating you like a piece of meat?” she said with a sad expression.

“I’m not ashamed of what I’ve done,” said Jordan. “I make damn good money and I’ve been able to put my mom in a nice home. Believe me, I don’t have an issue getting it up for any woman if the money is right.”

“Everest, just tell us what to do and we’ll make it happen,” said Colt.

“How? How will you make it happen? You don’t know the systems, you don’t understand the process, and you don’t know the names of the players. How can you make anything happen?”

The door behind them opened and Abigail stood there leering at the two men.

“Gentlemen, it’s quitting time,” she said licking her lips.

“Quitting time? It’s only three o’clock,” frowned Everest.

“Taking the new hires for drinks and dinner,” she smiled. “I’m sure you can pick up whatever you were talking about tomorrow.”

Abigail walked out with Jordan right behind her. Colt stopped for a second, looking down at her.

“I’m sure you’re a nice lady, Everest. Please don’t ruin this for us.”

Everest went back to her desk, completely stunned and unsure of what she was going to do. If she didn’t help them and make sure the launch went well, she’d be fired. If she did help them, it would be her work and Abigail and the two boys would get credit for the work.

Standing once again she knocked on Samantha’s door, slowly opening it.

“Do you have a moment?” Samantha let out a long slow breath, rubbing her temples.

“Actually, I don’t Everest. If you’re having trouble with Abigail or anyone, just send me an email.” Everest stared the human resource professional, shaking her head.

“Tell me, Samantha, when did you stop caring. When did you forget that you protect the people of this organization.”

“I don’t,” she said calmly. “My job is to protect the organization. Not it’s people. Organization is always first.”

“Well, then. You’re doing a damn fine job.”