Page 25 of The Reluctant Hero

She turns to Sarah, and her frown comes back. “He asked to see her alone, didn’t he?”

“She’s in my department, and I wanted to give him a thorough explanation,” Sarah says in her imperious tone. “Her actions shouldn’t reflect on my performance.”

“And he wants to see heralone. Have a nice day, Ms. Aleksis.”

The cold finality of her tone deflates Sarah immediately. I’m grudgingly impressed. Silence reigns supreme as she goes back into the elevator with a pout.

I give her a happy wave as the doors close, more than glad to see her leave. She begins to scowl just as they slide shut.

The receptionist gives me another cringing look and says, “Follow me.”

I follow her around the desk and several feet away. The doors are inset a few feet, but from the front, you wouldn’t be able to tell. It’s a mini hallway to reach the double doors. She opens one without knocking to show me into a gigantic office.

“Amanda Jefferson, sir.” Her voice has turned into a seductive purr that I double-take at. The hotness falls a little flat as she squirms in place, plumping her breasts up to draw attention there. I’m sure some guys think it’s adorable, but to me, she looks like she needs to pee and is barely holding it together. She has all my dismayed attention at first.

“That will be all.”

I freeze up at the sound of a honeyed voice that could tempt a saint. Despite the cold tone and controlled cadence of his speech, that voice could narrate filthy smut to me, and I would go to bed with a smile.

That’s not the voice of some ancient man. He sounds middle-aged and hot as sin. I’m in deep shit. My neglected libido has chosen the worst time to sit up and take notice of someone. Based on his cold voice alone. I’m mentally compromised. I know it. I don’t even know what he looks like.

I try my best to take in the room instead of acting like a hornball and posing like his secretary. I have enough ego problems as it is. No way will this guy look twice at me when I’m standing next to her. Not that I should care. Or be thinking about that. I should know better than to drool after a handsome, wealthy man by now.

There’s a space for couches and a TV to the right. A bar with stools is on the left, along with a closed room that I’m assuming is a giant bathroom. It’s too small for a bed but way too big for a half bath. There’s a desk that should seem too large in the center of the room, but the man seated behind it makes it seem insignificant.

My stomach sinks in dismay.

It isn’t his size. It’s his magneticpresence. He hasn’t looked up since I entered. I can tell he’s hot by his absolute lack of reaction to anything. He’s cocky, and it shows in blinding neon red flags. He seems to be skimming through a document that I’ll probably have to file later. Unless he fires me. His dark hair is pulled back in a tail that seems weird on a man in his position. Do CEOs have long hair? That’s a dumb thing to think about.

I’m trying not to drool. When I look at the other occupants of the room, I want to whimper at the unfairness of their stupid, handsome faces.

I take in the giant, muscled man behind him. He’s standing with his arms crossed and frowning darkly at me. Whatever I did made the mountain of a man angry, that’s for sure. His dark blue eyes are glaring, and his short-cropped blackhair makes him look more menacing somehow. Like the muscles on muscles weren’t enough of a threat. His suit doesn’t hide how strong he is. He could pick me up one-handed any time.

Damnit. Down libido!

The man next to him is leaning against the wall as if he’s bored with everything. He has a toothpick sticking out of the corner of his mouth as he stares. His eyes are a bright green that grabs my attention. Brown hair cut as military short as the mountain next to him and a hint of scruff on his cheeks. He’s the only one not in a suit. The lucky guy gets to wear jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. And square-toed boots that look like they’re eighty years old and falling apart. Why does he get casual clothes day? The irritation makes me gloss over his handsome face nicely.

On the couch is a man with blond hair, his feet propped on the coffee table as he flips through channels. He’s facing away from me, but I get the feeling I’ve seen him somewhere before.

The man sitting next to him is turned toward me.He’sfamiliar in the worst way. I frown as we stare at each other. It’s the redhead from Mr. Broussard’s class. His presence helps me tone down the hormones—not enough, but some. If he’s chilling out in here, that means the rest of these guys are cut from the same cloth.

“You?” Cade asks with a frown of confusion.

And the anger is coming back. I stifle a witty comeback and pretend I still have a chance at a job here.

“You know her?”

The honeyed voice is definitely the boogie man. I flush as the sound of it sinks into me. My body is suddenly very interested in what the boss has to say, and it’s disturbing, to say the least.

What is wrong with me? I’m about to get fired! I have living proof the guy is probably an ass glaring at me right now.

“Yeah. From Muay Thai class. Did I tell you about all the women who joined suddenly? She’s one of them,” Cade’s frown gets darker.

I keep my focus on the floor and grind my teeth quietly. I hate this guy. I’m surprised he hasn’t thrown in a comment about how bad I am at it. Or made fun of my weight.

“I see,” Mr. Matthias says in a tone of disapproval and continues shuffling papers.

Silence fills the room. The TV is muted now. I recognize the blond now, too. Jake. Why man? It’s like the universe is convinced I should be punished for something, and I have no idea what it is.

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