Filed to story: Sinful Mates (Imogen) Book by Jessica Hall
Tobias Kane is tall, dark-haired, muscular, has a 5 o’clock shadow, possesses a strong jaw, and is gifted with sharp, piercing blue eyes.
Theo Madden, on the other hand, has softer features. He is just as tall as Tobias but has a very casual, laid-back attitude and fluffy brown hair that is short on the sides and a little longer on the top. He has green eyes that sparkle when he talks to me and high cheekbones. Both are breathtakingly handsome. Even after all the time working there, I still get stunned by their godlike appearances.
I’m astonished that I haven’t been fired. I have been caught way too many times daydreaming, staring off into space, and having very inappropriate thoughts about my bosses. But I also know I’m extremely good at my job. No one has lasted this long as their secretary, and no one is willing to do the sometimes-grueling hours I have endured in my position.
Once I finish checking my laptop, I check the time. It is 8:30 AM. I still have half an hour before my bosses arrive. Slipping out of my seat, I rush to the bathroom with my handbag. Setting my makeup on the counter, I quickly pull my hairbrush out and brush my unruly waist-length blonde hair.
After deciding to pull it into a high ponytail, I grab my toothbrush and toothpaste and quickly brush my teeth. I apply some mascara to my already long, thick eyelashes and some eyeliner to brighten my dark green eyes before putting on some red lipstick. It contrasts nicely with my fair skin.
I’m so glad this floor has no cameras because it would be embarrassing if my bosses found out about my morning routine. Plus, they would see me in all my morning bedhead (or car head) glory. Tom doesn’t count. He doesn’t care what I look like, and I’m always comfortable around him. But if anyone else had seen me, it might have gotten a bit awkward.
Once I finish, I quickly duck into the small kitchenette and prepare their coffees for their arrival. I hear the elevator ding just as I finish making them. I place them on a tray and hurry back to my desk, tray in hand. It’s the perfect routine, and it has never failed me once.
Tobias is the first to step out of the elevator. He is sporting his black suit today, accompanied by a white shirt and silver tie. His head is bowed, staring at his phone. He grabs his coffee off the tray without even glancing up at me and walks directly into his office.
Theo, on the other hand, has a gray suit on, and the top three buttons on his white shirt are undone, exposing part of his chest. I have yet to see him ever as polished as Tobias, or in a tie, for that matter. Theo stops, grabs his mug, and takes a sip. “Good morning, Imogen,” he says with a wink before walking into his office across from Tobias.
Tobias shuts his door, pulling me from my stupor, and I can’t help the blush that creeps across my face, making my entire body heat up. I quickly place the tray back in the kitchen and grab the tablet off my desk. Hesitantly, I stand at the door to Tobias’s office, giving myself a mental pep talk while hoping he is in a good mood today and doesn’t have anything heavy close by to throw at me.
Just before I knock, his voice sings out. “Are you going to enter or stand out there all day?” His husky, deep voice makes me jump, and I quickly open the door enough to slip inside.
Tobias sits at his desk, fingers typing away at his laptop. He still hasn’t looked up. I stand there, moving from foot to foot awkwardly. Mr. Kane, I’ve always found him very intimidating. He’s always so formal, so serious.
When I don’t speak, he looks up, eyes pinning me where I stand, and I swallow nervously. My hands tremble slightly at his intense gaze. He tilts his head to the side, waiting for me to speak and snapping me to my senses. Clutching the tablet in my hands like a shield, I step closer while checking his schedule.
“You have a meeting at 12 with Mr. Jacobs. I have also forwarded the proposals, ready for your meeting, and I’m sending through now the emails received in reply to the conference meeting you held last Thursday.” I’m proud that my voice is still professional and clear, even if my fingers tremble.
“Is that all?” He raises a brow, waiting for more.
“No sir, I need you to sign off on the charity fundraiser for the hospital,” I reply, looking for the said paperwork. Have I left it behind? Shit!
“So, where is the document?”
Imogen, you fool, the one piece of paperwork required, and I left it on my desk.
I internally facepalm myself.
Cringing at my stupidity, I hold my finger up. Tobias rolls his eyes at me, clearly frustrated by my mistake, with his hand open, waiting for the document. “Ah, one minute, sir.”
He sighs, annoyed at me, no doubt. I duck out, retrieve the document, and race back, my heels clicking loudly as I try not to slip on the tiled floor. Skidding to a stop in front of his desk, I wobble on my feet and quickly slide it onto the desk in front of him. He signs it without glancing at it, then passes it back to me.
His attention is once more fully on his laptop. I don’t exist in his world, so I take a moment to study him. Stolen moments when I can observe my bosses are rare, and I always take advantage of them.
Gawking like some creep, I can’t help but notice that he looks tired. Dark circles hang under his usually vibrant blue eyes, and his skin is paler than his normal sunkissed tan. I stare off into space, forgetting what I’m supposed to be doing, too busy admiring my boss and having another one of those completely inappropriate daydreams. Mr. Kane clears his throat, dragging me from my thoughts. He raises his eyebrow at me, catching me checking him out. That doesn’t usually happen. Did I make some sort of noise?
“Oh, sorry, sir.” I stumble over the words and duck my head to hide my red cheeks. He shakes his head at me, but I hear a small chuckle as I run from the room and close the door. Both men always make me flustered.
I’ve always felt cloudy in their presence; I have even forgotten to breathe. The last time it happened, I passed out. To be fair, I hadn’t eaten, so my brain was already mush. I awoke to Theo’s concerned face leaning over me, all while Tobias just stared at me like I was mentally challenged.
Seriously, who forgets to breathe? It is meant to be a primary bodily function. Instinct! And I couldn’t even get that right.
That was the day I figured out why no one wanted this job. It is tough to focus on work around them, on the verge of impossible. They could become a distraction without meaning to.
