Page 18 of Infamous Heart

“Thank—” The connection ended before I could respond. In true fashion, my mind darted through the conversation, picking apart every word in an effort to better understand the situation.

Turning to face the table, they had moved onto Xander, sharing another disgusting story from the back of his ambulance. We should not be friends with him. His stories had far too much blood and, when he added sound effects, my breakfast struggled to stay put.

Chad had refreshed my coffee, and I quickly took a sip. “Hate to interrupt your missing leg story, butIhave a crush on a sexy man. That’s right, Griffin Smith’s love life isn’t dead. And if that wasn’t a good way to start the morning, I also have a job interview.”

“He’s going to be insufferable now,” Xander laughed.

“That’s worth celebrating.” Bernard raised his mug again.

“Get the job first, then I’ll buy you a cake.” Xander had a point. Nothing was set in stone, but I didn’t care. After being hung out to dry by Vincent and the Beacon, things had taken a drastic turn for the better.

“I’m glad to see you smiling like an idiot,” Bernard said.

Me too.

8

Unlike the Beacon,Revelations was located in a busy part of Vanguard City’s business district. The magazine had taken over the top three stories of a skyscraper, complete with penthouse. Revelations had only been on newsstands for a few months, quickly challenging, and surpassing, the Beacon. Their owner, Damien Vex, seemed to have no problem flaunting his money. It meant he could afford generous salaries, which boded well from an employment perspective, but the audacious way the man flashed his wealth struck me as obnoxious.

The Beacon occupied a brownstone, fitting into the quainter Ward. Here, the metal and glass couldn’t be any more downtown if it tried. I walked in the door to see the lobby was just as grand as the exterior. It had a water feature in the middle with benches scattered across the wide-open space. People were having late lunches, socializing, and appearing to enjoy themselves. I could get used to this type of treatment.

I walked past the water fountain, admiring the bronze sculpture of a Roman warrior clad in armor holding the Earth between his shoulder blades. Before I reached the receptionist standing behind a marble white counter, Sebastian appeared from the elevator to the side. He quickly signaled to the receptionist that I was with him, and she gave a quick nod.

I hadn’t expected him to greet me in the lobby. But as he sauntered across the large space in his black suit and blood red shirt, I grew excited. Despite knowing he had abilities making him different than the average person, I was excited to see Sebastian Taylor, the dashing man.

“We need to talk.”

These were words that no human wanted to hear. With four words, every muscle in my body tensed, causing my fingers to tighten until I nearly bent my tablet. Studying his face, I searched for contextual clues. Would this be an unfortunate situation where he expressed he wasn’t interested? Had Vex sent him to ward me off after reconsidering my employment.

He kissed me. A stolen peck on the lips, far more intimate than anything I had imagined. Muscles relaxed as I scoured the lobby, looking for anybody staring. Even the slightest bit of intimacy in a public space made my heart flutter.

“About last night,” his voice grew soft, barely a whisper, “nobody can know.”

“Know what? That we met for drinks, and you walked me home like a gentleman?”

The worry on his face melted, his broad shoulders shrinking in his spiffy suit. Whatever speech he had been prepared to give, the begging to keep his secret safe, it vanished. While his brain tried to wrap around my nonchalant acceptance, I found his insecurity humbling. This man had all the power in the world at his disposal, and yet, a single secret could break him.

“Oh,” I teased, “you’re talking about when you tried to kiss me, and I said not on a first date? Yeah, that was awkward, but you’re going to need to work for it.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes even as a smile stretched across his face. “No, no, I’m talking about when you asked me up to your place for coffee and I declined. I don’t want you to think I’m the kind of guy who buys a few drinks and expects sex.”

“Well, in this fantasy,” I patted him on the chest, “I would have rocked your world.”

“I’m sure you will.”

Will? Dammit, he had this uncanny ability with a single word to send me reeling. From worried hero to seductive man, he’d prove a worthy adversary. My imagination moved into overdrive as it dissected his “will,” until he was naked.

“Mr. Vex sent me to escort you upstairs. I thought it would be good to give you a quick briefing on the boss.”

He led me to the elevator, giving a quick wave to the receptionist. As the doors opened, he placed a hand on the small of my back, guiding me inside. Each touch, no matter how innocent, I twisted into a sexual escapade.

“Damien can be rather intense. He has a clear vision for Revelations and is unwavering. As long as you pitch within that vision, he’s open to feedback. He gives me plenty of slack to work with and allows us to be experts in what we do.”

The small box working its way to the top of the building required us to stand in proximity. I wasn’t sure if it was his shampoo, moisturizer, or cologne, but his scent had an intoxicating effect. Piano music filled the space, a random pop song made generic in an effort to ease the tension of being suspended hundreds of feet above certain death.

“That’s refreshing.” The Beacon had treated me like a grunt, a desk jockey who clicked the mouse in a mindless fashion.

“As a businessman, he’s ruthless, and I can’t emphasize that enough. He will go out of his way to destroy the competition.” Did Sebastian think this was useful information, or was he attempting to give me a warning?

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