Page 1 of Not So Casual

Alexander

Stopping myself from rolling my eyes, I cross my leg over my knee, bouncing it slightly, trying not to show my irritation. Isla, the woman in front of me—with her unbuttoned top and come-hither eyes—does absolutely nothing for me. She knows she doesn’t do anything for me, and yet, here she is still trying.

Isla says something else, giggles at herself, and this time I can’t stop myself from rolling my eyes. She works in my accounting department, and this is a weekly song and dance she does.

I’ve done countless meetings for my job, and never once have I shied away from making it known that I’m a gay man. But women still throw themselves at me in the hopes they can be the one to change me.

Newsflash.

They can’t.

Flicking my wrist over, I check the time, a small smile forming on my lips. She’s been in here for thirteen minutes, which means any second now, my assistant will walk in and escort her out of my office. Everything she’s telling me could have been sent in an email, but I make it a practice to meet with each of my department executives routinely. Owning my own business is a lot of work, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The doorknob turns, a tingling sensation taking over my body at the sound. Elias glides in, his iPad in hand, his gorgeous brown eyes locked in on Isla.

“Time’s up, Miss Evers. Mr. Hayes has an appointment coming up in twenty minutes he needs to prepare for.” He uses the same excuse every week, and each time it seems to work.

“Oh, yes. Of course.” She gathers her papers quickly, pushing them into her folder before standing up and facing me with a small smile on her face. “Until next week, Mr. Hayes.”

“Yes, yes, thank you,” I reply as she walks out of my office, the door softly closing shut behind her.

“I don’t understand why you need to meet with her.” Elias steps in front of me, pushing his iPad onto my desk. Looking down, I make a mental note that I have an interview in an hour and quickly nod as he grabs the iPad back up.

“I meet with all the people who work for me.”

Leaning back in my chair, I place my hands behind my head, pretending I’m in a relaxed state. But whenever he’s in my vicinity, I’m anything but relaxed. My body is always drumming with electricity, wanting to be as close to him as I can. Today he’s wearing black slacks that showcase his ass perfectly—I snuck a peek when he was in here earlier—with a black button up and a coral pink bow tie. The tie is fucking killing me. I want to grab him by the bow tie and force him to his knees for me.

Elias turns away, but not before I see him rolling his eyes. “You don’t have to meet with them all, you choose to. There’s a difference,” he snarks.

“There may be, but my employees expect me to be a certain way, and I pride myself on staying connected with the different department heads. So, if meeting with some of them weekly means I have to do that, then that’s what I’ll have to do.” I shrug my shoulders, placing my hands in my lap.

When I was fresh out of Northwestern University, I was lucky enough to make connections with the right people to get a job in Chicago. I worked at an ad agency for several years, climbing my way up the ladder. With the help of investors and connections I’d made, I was able to branch out and start my own agency. Building Hayes Advertising, from the ground up, has been the hardest but most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. Meeting with each of my department heads was one of the things I wished had happened at the previous place I worked, so I make it a point to do it.

Elias plops down into the chair in front of my desk and wakes up his iPad, ignoring what I just said. Whenever he doesn’t like what I say, he ignores me. Which turns me on. It shouldn’t, and I don't understand why it does, but his defiance and bratty side is so damn sexy. He always keeps me on my toes.

Too bad, he’s my fucking assistant and is off limits.

“So, today you have an interview with World Magazine. There are notes in your email about the interview questions, then you have a conference call with Miles Media to discuss an ad campaign that’s coming up. After that, you’re free for the rest of the day.”

Scrubbing my hands down my face, I close my eyes and sigh.

“Thank fuck, it’s Friday.”

Opening my eyes, I look over at Elias. He locks his iPad and crosses one of his legs over the other before leaning back in the chair, smiling at me.

“Any plans for the weekend?”

Just imagining you naked and writhing under me.

That’s what I want to say, but I don’t.

“The usual.” He arches a brow at me, and I clarify. “I’m going to hang out at home, probably work out, and maybe watch some movies.”

“Sounds boring. Surprised you’re not going out to pick someone up.” He pretends to yawn, and I force myself not to smile.

“Very boring. And no, not this weekend.” Leaning forward, I lock eyes with him. “What are you doing?”

He scoffs, “Not this weekend. Yeah, okay. When aren’t you going out and picking up some man?” He doesn't wait for me to reply before he answers my question, “I’m going out to a club with some of my friends.”

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