Page 15 of Be Your Anything
Otto turns and looks out one of the massive windows, his hands on his hips while he thinks things over.
He’s grown a lot over the years, and he really does work his ass off for this company. We made over five million in profits last year, which is amazing for a startup that’s only been around for three and that started with a business loan Otto got from his mother then grew with investments from myself and Wyatt.
He paid his mom back within six months, and now the three of us are only responsible to each other and the customer base that has seen a significant surge over the past year, mostly due to Otto’s phenomenal ideas.
But that doesn’t mean healwaysmakes the best choices, today being a prime example.
“Can I get anything for you gentlemen?”
The sultry voice has me turning towards the entry, where I spot an attractive, busty redhead at the door. Her top is unbuttoned too far to be considered at all professional.
“No, but thank you, Ashlyn. I’ll come get you once we’re through here.”
I glance over at Otto and see that his eyes are focused on her ass as she heads back out the door, his arms crossed as he leans back against the window he was looking out of just a few minutes ago.
It only takes a second for me to make the connection, and my jaw drops at the realization that Otto is thinking with his dick. Notcompletelysurprising, but he doesn’t usually do so with such a huge impact on our business.
“Are you suggesting this office because you’re fucking the building manager?”
Otto’s jaw drops as well, almost like he’s going to deny it.
But then he laughs.
“Uh, yeah.”
I groan and grip the bridge of my nose, irritation and disbelief flooding me. “Otto, are you fucking serious?”
He laughs again and offers up a shrug, a kind ofwhat did you expect?that has me wanting to wring his neck.
There have only been a handful of times when I’ve gotten really aggravated with Otto. One was in junior high when he crashed his model airplane into the surfboard I’d just purchased. Another time was in high school when he lied to a teacher and I ended up taking the blame for his shenanigans, suffering a weekend of community service that my mom wouldn’t help me get out of. The most recent time was when he left me to explain to his one-night stand—a sweet girl he’d met at an animal shelter—that he doesn’t do repeats.
To say it takes a lot to frustrate me is a bit of an understatement. I’m super go-with-the-flow and can laugh off a lot of shit.
But Otto’s willingness jeopardize our business over a quick fuck has me ready to spit nails, especially when he’s gambling with not just his own money, but mine and Wyatt’s as well.
“Except I’m not just suggesting it,” he tacks on.
I freeze where I’m standing then turn my head to take in his slightly sheepish expression.
“Don’t tell me you already signed a lease.”
Otto just continues to grin at me.
“Break it.”
His grin falls away, and he clears his throat, his eyes flitting away from mine with discomfort. “Actually, I, uh…I bought the building.”
My jaw drops again, along with my shoulders.
What thefuckwas he thinking?
“And where did you get that money from?”
There’s a pause—a loaded one—and before he answers me, I already know what he’s going to say.
“From the profit margin for the last fiscal year.”
“You mean the money we discussed pushing towards the international expansion?”
