Page 6 of The Swap After Hours
Of course, I was nervous about taking on a position I wasn’t familiar with. I wasn’t even sure what being a personal assistant entailed. Would I be required to pick up Mr. Marshall’s dry cleaning? Buy his groceries? Walk his dog for him? Did he even have a dog?
I shrugged, getting back on topic before my thoughts could carry me too far away. “I made it very clear I had no experience, but he insisted he wanted to hire me anyway. As far as my new boss goes, I don’t know much. I’ve done work in the building before and I know the company is a top-tier client, one of those that we drop whatever we’re doing if they call.”
His eyebrows knitted together. “What did you say his name is?”
“Mr. Marshall of Marshall Industries. I don’t know if he owns it or if it’s a family business and he just works there, but I got the feeling he was pretty important.”
Doug’s eyes widened. “Hang on a second.” He pulled his phone out of his back pocket, his thumbs flying furiously over the screen. Then he held it out to me. “Is this the guy who hired you?”
I leaned in to get a better look. The photo must have been taken at some formal event, because Mr. Marshall was dressed in a black tuxedo, a glass of champagne in his hand, and looking every bit like he should be on the cover of GQ magazine. He exuded confidence and sophistication and that same strange swooping sensation I’d felt when he touched my arm, swirled in my stomach as I took him in.
“Yeah, that’s him,” I said in a shaky voice. What the hell was the matter with me? I was straight. I was attracted to women. I’d never even paid any attention to another man, so what was it about this particular man that caused me to feel so off kilter?
“Fucking hell, Trev! Do you realize who he is?”
“Um…Mr. Marshall? Like I said.”
Doug rolled his eyes. “Yes. Mr. Marshall. As in Donovan Marshall. Owner of Marshall Industries.”
“I figured he might be?—”
“But that’s not all.” He scrambled to his knees as he went on, excitement making him grab hold of my shoulders, giving me a little shake. “He’s also one of the richest, most powerful men in New York, as well as being named the city’s most eligible bachelor. And you are going to be working right alongside him. That’s huge! He’s something of an enigma. Other than business related stuff, he’s very private. No one seems to know much about him, which only adds to his appeal. Tall, dark, and mysterious? Yes, please!”
I shrugged. “I guess so. But why are you so worked up over this?”
“Because this is the most exciting thing to ever happen to me!” he exclaimed, finally releasing his hold on me.
I shot my friend a withering look as I smoothed out my shirt. “To you? In case you’ve forgotten, I’m the one who’s going to be his PA.”
Doug waved his hand in the air as if my words were inconsequential. “Yes, but Donovan Marshall is gay, or at least people assume he is since he’s only ever had men as dates when he attends various functions. So, I know you won’t be interested, but if your best friend just happens to stop by the office one day to bring you lunch?—”
“You have never brought me lunch at work bef—” My words cut off as Doug’s hand shot out and he used his thumb and forefinger to pinch my lips closed. I might have shoved him off the couch if I wasn’t so shocked…and amused.
“As I was saying, your best friend will—out of the kindness of his own heart—show up with lunch. Of course, there will be enough for your boss as well and after just one taste of my cooking, he’ll decide he can’t live without me. Food is, after all, the surest way to a man’s heart.”
His eyes took on a far away look as he continued with his little fantasy. “We’ll enjoy a whirlwind romance and then he’ll whisk me away to Paris or Rome where we’ll have a lavish wedding under the stars. Eventually, we’ll have a few kids, using his sperm so they look like him, because COME ON! That jaw line? Those eyes? But we’ll also have nannies on hand to take care of the little critters at night so we can spend our time fucking until neither of us can walk straight.”
“Mmff mgh mffffmmf—” I said when he’d finally finished talking.
“What?” Doug said, finally releasing his grip on my mouth.
I frowned at him as I rubbed a hand over my abused lips. “I said, you are delusional.”
He sank back in his seat with a dreamy sigh. “You never know. Stranger things have happened. He could see me one day and decide, ‘you know what? That guy looks like he could use a good dicking.’”
“Oh my God! Stop!” I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “I have to work with this man. The last thing I need is to be thinking about you and him doing the dirty deed.”
“Dirty deed?” Doug snorted. He started to say something else, but a knock on the door stopped him. He tossed the blanket off his lap and stood.
“Are you expecting someone?” I asked.
“Remember that hot waiter I was telling you about?”
My forehead crinkled. “The one from Le Fleur?”
“Yeah. Well, it turns out he has a twin brother and they’re both interested in doing…what did you call it? The dirty deed!”
I laughed as he waggled his eyebrows at me. “Okay, well, you enjoy all that.” I stood, grabbing the pizza box so I could take it to the trash chute but stopped when Doug suddenly wrapped his arms around me.