“Good, that’ll leave some of the hot guys for me for a change.”
“Like you’ve ever had a problem with that before.”
“I take it your assistant won’t be with you this evening?”
“No. Starts Monday.”
“That’s good. Don’t want to burn the poor boy out before he’s even gotten his feet wet. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from my investor and I can set up a meeting between the two of you.”
“Thanks. I’ll talk to you next week about it.”
Traffic had kicked up considerably since his arrival, as people began their treks home from work. The buses and subway would be packed, but faster than a taxi. Still, Zack flagged the closest one down, not wanting to deal with the off and on and jostling of bodies.
The moment the door closed and the cab pulled into traffic, Zack knew it had been a mistake. Being stuck in the backseat with nothing but his thoughts was liable to drive him nuts. He pulled out his phone and read through Samantha’s email, ensuring he had a grasp on the situation. Someone else had screwed up, and she needed him to smooth things over. Typical and easy enough to sort through.
A new email popped onto the top of the screen from Nancy in HR.
New Hire Confirmation: Nolan Carmichael
Nothing was set in stone yet. He could easily brush the entire incident off and Nancy would no doubt find another role for the man, or at the very least let him down easy. Zack had no illusions about how difficult he was to work with. Nolan seemed like a decent sort, and shouldn’t be subjected to him.
No one should.
He hit Reply, his thumbs poised over the screen keyboard to tell her never mind, that it had been a horrible idea.
And yet.
God, he couldn’t put his finger on it, but there’d been something about Nolan—about the way he’d looked in the bathroom, scared and lost—that spoke to him. Zack had been that way once, back before Russel had taken him in at the gym as part of his program. Nolan might not exude the same confidence Zack had, but neither had he shied away from him once Zack hijacked the interview. Nolan had held his gaze, given concise answers to his questions, and didn’t once look as though Zack was the Devil incarnate.
That was more than he could say for most employees at Compass.
Running on the same impulse that seemed to have been at his back all day, he typed out a terse acknowledgment. Nolan Carmichael, for good or ill, would start Monday morning as his new assistant.
Zack could only hope he wasn’t making a mistake. For both their sakes.
By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, Nolan was exhausted. Background checks, reference calls, paperwork that demanded reading and signatures had filled the time from nearly the moment Zack had left the interview room on Friday. In between doing the various things he needed to for Compass, he’d called his parents to let them know the good news. Tina had been so excited she’d even taken him out for supper last night, though he really didn’t remember much of the food.
His head had been rolling through the series of events that had led him to this moment. What had Zachary Anderson seen in him to warrant such an impulsive hire? Sure, Nolan was skilled, but there’d been nothing in their brief encounter, either in the bathroom or in the interview itself, that should have set this in motion.
Had there?
Nancy from HR currently sat across from him at the Starbucks they’d agreed to meet at to go over the last-minute details. He’d tried to tell her it wasn’t necessary, but he got the impression that HR did things differently for high-ranking executives, including how their hires were dealt with. His coffee mug sat untouched between them as he read through what must have been the most boring document in the history of HR manuals. He only looked up when she started to chuckle. “What?”
Nancy was devoid of makeup and dressed far more casually than during the interview. The natural look was stunning and gave her a glow that hadn’t come through when they’d first met. Especially when she smiled. “You. I get the feeling you’re completely overwhelmed by everything that’s going on.”
There was the understatement of the century. “I haven’t slept through the night since the interview.” Setting the papers down, Nolan leaned forward. Despite everything he’d read, there was one question he knew he wouldn’t find the answer to there. “Is he really that horrible?”
Nancy’s smile faltered. “Zack can be . . . demanding.”
“You’re being polite. I can’t have you be polite. I need to know exactly what I’m going to be walking into tomorrow morning so I don’t have a panic attack. Because, believe me, my imagination is far worse than whatever the truth probably is.”
Nancy shook her head. “Okay. Zack can be a demanding asshole. He’s hard to get to know, shows little concern for anyone or anything outside of the company. In the eight years I’ve worked at Compass, I haven’t heard anyone say that they like him. Respect his work ethic, admire his ability to solve problems and get things done, stand in awe of his seemingly boundless energy. But not actually like him. His previous assistants have all quit or been fired within two weeks of starting. In their exit interviews they said Zack had trouble delegating and rarely gave out praise, which a lot of people have problems with.”
The blunt description of his new boss should have freaked him out. The long-familiar invisible fingers should be squeezing his chest and his stomach should be churning. Nolan frowned and looked down at his body. Nope, still not freaking out.
Huh. Weird. “That’s good to know.”
Nancy leaned back against her chair. “Any other questions?”
He picked up his contract, the last document she’d handed over to him. “So once I sign this I’m all set?”
“Yes. I know you need this job, and Compass really is a great company. If things don’t work out with this position, don’t quit. Even though we found a new hire for our team, there’s still room in the company, and I can find you a position somewhere. Please don’t let Zack scare you away. We’ll make this work. Okay?”
There was something about the way she spoke that made Nolan suspect he wasn’t the first person she’d said that to. “I don’t like to make promises I can’t keep, but I will do my best. If things don’t work out between me and Mr. Anderson, I’ll at least do you the courtesy of letting you know as quickly as I can.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “That’s all I can ask.”
This was it. Nolan could either set the contract down and walk away—and if he did, he had the impression Nancy wouldn’t think any less of him—or he could sign it knowing exactly how difficult his boss would be. “Do you have a pen?”
Nancy grinned as she rescued her pen from beneath the papers. “I’m so glad. I get the feeling you and I will get along wonderfully.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” He finished signing with a little flourish. “There. All done but the crying.” He looked up wide-eyed. “I’m allowed to cry, right? Birthdays, babies, retirements? I become an emotional mess when it comes to those things, and I’m secure enough in my masculinity to show it.”
“That’ll be nice for a change. Janice is a robot, I swear. The woman barely smiles!”
“No robots here. I’m even up for sappy movies at the drop of a hat.”
Nancy rocked her mug between her hands, a smile still tugging at her lips. “May I ask you a personal question? Off the record and in no way going to impact your position.”
Those questions rarely went well. “About?”
When she started to blush he realized what she was going to ask before the words came out of her mouth. “Are you gay?”
“I am.” He smiled and wanted to laugh at the cute look of disappointment on her face. “Is that a problem, or did I burst a bubble?”
She rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless. “No, not a problem and maybe a small bubble.” She held up her thumb and forefinger. “About this big.”
“Sorry about that. Knew I was gay from about eight on, when I dreamed about watching Di
sney films and wanting to be the one to kiss the prince. But I’d love to officially court you as my work wife. I was always jealous of some coworkers at my last company who had that sort of relationship.”
“You’d have to bring me flowers.” Her smile widened into a grin. “And I know this excellent bakery that makes the best cupcakes. More than happy to offer comfort and bribes with them.”
“See, I knew we’d be a good match. You can help calm me down when I get in a frenzy.”
Nancy’s smile slipped. “That’s twice you’ve mentioned panic. Is that really a big issue for you?”
Shit, he hadn’t intended to let people know about his challenges for fear of it counting against him in the interview process. While he and Nancy clearly had a good rapport, she was still bound to Compass in a professional capacity.
“Hey.” She covered his hand with hers. “I promise it’s not an issue. I just want to make sure that if you need help, I do the right thing. I have a sister who worked through some tough anxiety when she was a teen. It can be brutal, and I know everyone is a bit different.”
The knot in his shoulders relaxed slightly. “My sister has helped me quite a bit too since my accident.”
He could go into a long explanation of what had happened. He could talk about the screams that had filled the car as he’d lost control, sending him and his passengers into the ditch. But that wasn’t information that would help Nancy. If anything, it would scare the shit out of her.
The silence stretched on, and Nancy squirmed in her seat. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to say anything.”
“It’s not that.” Despite his therapist encouraging him to talk to people about what had happened, he hadn’t said much to anyone outside of family. He shook his head and let his gaze wander. “They told me that what I experience is closer to PTSD than anxiety. The results are the same though. I get overwhelmed, panicked. Breathing can become difficult, and I passed out once. That was a year ago and the reason I left my job in training. I just couldn’t . . .”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. If anything happens, I normally just need to know that someone is there. I’m usually okay with a gentle touch, but not anything else. And I need a quiet spot. No gawkers wondering who the freak is.”
“You’re not a freak. If anything, I get the impression you’re a much stronger man than most people realize.”
Nolan swallowed down the unexpected tightness in his throat. “You’re not supposed to make me cry before I’ve even officially started work.”
“Well then I owe you a cupcake.”
“I look forward to it.”
Maybe working at Compass wasn’t going to be as terrifying as he’d initially thought.
Going through a serious health scare, like what had resulted from his accident, had made it difficult for Nolan to see past the end of his nose. Nothing planned six months to a year in the future mattered if you couldn’t get to the bathroom in the next five minutes because your leg was crippled. Signing a contract, going over insurance details, discussing vacation time, had reminded Nolan that he wasn’t stuck in the short term anymore; the realization was equal parts liberating and terrifying. He’d gone home after his meeting with Nancy and proceeded to get himself organized for his first day on the job. Having everything ready to go made Monday morning that much easier.
His conversation with Nancy had given him a sense of rightness that had been missing from his life for a while now. It was refreshing to talk to someone who didn’t treat him with kid gloves the entire time. Maybe working with Mr. Anderson would be the change he needed: someone who wouldn’t walk on egg shells, who would crack the whip if he was starting to slack.
As long as Nolan didn’t fall apart, everything would be good.
Nancy was waiting for him at the security desk when he arrived, a chocolate cupcake in hand. “Good morning.” She set the treat on top of a security access card and handed it to him. “I try to keep my promises.”
“We are going to have a great working relationship.” He took a bite and moaned. “I love you. Marry me.”
“Of course. So, are you ready for this?”
No. Not even a little. “I can’t wait to get started.”
“You need to work on your lying skills.”
“I’ll add that to my training plan.”
She laughed as she led him toward the elevators. “Okay, let me give you the quick rundown. Mr. Anderson is normally here early and stays late. Yes, you will need to stay a bit later some days, but don’t let him ruin your life. If he’s determined to stay and you need to leave, just go. I know he wanted you to come to his office this morning, but later today you’ll also need to do the normal HR stuff. Orientation, health and safety training. The usual.”
Nolan’s head began to pound in time with the rhythm of her words. “Sounds good.”
It didn’t. Being subjected to the inevitable viewing of HR videos and presentations would have him oscillating between boredom and panic over screwing something up. Neither was a pleasant prospect.
The elevator doors whooshed open, presenting him with the sight of a long corridor. A tall glass wall lined the far end from where they stood. Nancy pointed at the doors as she held the elevator open. “That’s your new office. You’ll find everything you need at the desk. Mr. Anderson will be in his office through to the right.”
“Wait, you’re not coming with me?” He was a grown man and didn’t need to have his hand held, and yet the idea of facing the dragon on his own was terrifying. “But I thought we had a deal? We’re married and stuff.”
“That is probably why I’m still single. Plus, I have another meeting.” Her gaze slid away from his. “I better get going or else I’m going to be late. I’ll come by and check on you around noon, though, to make sure you don’t need anything.”
If he’d known her better, he would have totally called her on the obvious lie. “Probably just another cupcake. To keep my spirits up.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” She smiled. “Good luck with everything.”
“Thanks.”
The elevator doors slid shut, leaving Nolan alone with nowhere to go but forward.
Well, then. Time to face the dragon.
His body didn’t move.
God, not this again.
Deep breath. In and out.
You want this. You need this. Just because you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into doesn’t mean you can run away like a coward.
Sure. Okay. Not being a coward was now at the top of his mental training list.
Pulling back his shoulders, he got his feet going in the direction of the office.
The corridor wasn’t all that long, and before he was mentally ready, he pulled the door open and stepped into his new domain. The desk had a sleek black top that would be chest-high for most people. Walking around the side revealed a nearly empty work area. A large flat-screen monitor took up a generous portion of the middle, flanked by a multiline phone. The chair looked to be expensive, and he couldn’t resist taking a moment to sit down. Oh yeah, it was pretty damn comfortable. If the hours were going to be as long as Nancy thought they would be, at least his ass wouldn’t get sore.
The lone file folder by the keyboard held a sheet of paper with his username and a temporary log-in password. Before he knew it, Nolan was in the system and setting up his email account. He scanned the appointments, made note of things he should read up on and others that looked to be irrelevant. His headache throbbed less as he lost himself in work. He’d need to get a pad of paper or something for his notes. Maybe they’d approve the purchase of a tablet if he was going to be out and around—
A loud cough made him jump. His gaze snapped to the man standing in the doorway of his office. Zack Anderson. Shit, he hadn’t even noticed that the other man was there. “Sir?”
“What are you doing?” Mr. Anderson’s voice was deep and sent a shiver through Nolan.
His new boss was every bit as intimi
dating and attractive as Nolan remembered. Mr. Anderson’s dress pants were perfectly pressed, accentuating his thighs and hips. This morning he had on a light-blue dress shirt and a black tie that underscored the aura of confidence rolling off him. Tina would laugh out loud if she knew I got a job and a hot boss.
But like the first time they’d met, it was the intensity of his stare that was a punch to Nolan’s chest. He felt as though Mr. Anderson could strip him bare with that look. He became aware of every imperfection that simmered beneath the surface of his clothes. Instinctively, his fingers found their way to his thigh to rub the ache. God, Anderson might be attractive to look at, but there was nothing about his personality that appealed to Nolan whatsoever.
It wasn’t until Mr. Anderson cocked his eyebrow that Nolan realized he hadn’t responded. Shit, he was really screwed if a single sentence did that to him. “I was reviewing your appointments for the day.”
Mr. Anderson narrowed his gaze, and Nolan found himself jumping to his feet. Time to earn your keep. “You have a conference call in thirty minutes with Ms. Tan from the Singapore office of Raspberry. This is regarding the purchase of new monitors for the Vancouver satellite office. You then have a senior management meeting, followed by your monthly departmental update conference call. I was just making note of the files you would need and was going to ask if you had a preference for paper or electronic?”
Nolan’s heart pounded in his chest, and he had to fight the urge to squirm as he waited for his boss to say something.
The seconds ticked loudly in his head, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being judged. Jesus, help me. His stomach flipped and churned as the tension pulled through him.
“Electronic.” Mr. Anderson’s voice remained stern, cold. “I take my coffee black, one sugar.”
“Got it.” No wonder people quit. In all his years as a trainer, he’d worked with a variety of individuals and no one had been as off-putting as Zack Anderson. “Is there anything else I can get for you before the meeting starts?”
The phone chose that moment to ring. Without hesitating, Nolan reached down and scooped up the handset, thankful for the distraction. “Good morning, Mr. Anderson’s office. Hello, Mr. Chopra.”
Working It Page 3
