Page 377 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

Thinking back to how I’d recently been with Kane at my place and considering the scene that would play out in my sister’s living room if I brought it up, I just said, “You’re right. We’ve all had as much as we should have to take of that.” I hoped that would appease him.

Thankfully, before it could go any further, Sarah called us all to the dining room, where something much more pleasant awaited us than the memory of Kane Marcus.

CHAPTER10

Corinne. Friday

There was a common area in the call center that was a somewhat more relaxed spot with potted plants, where people sometimes went when they stepped away from their cubicles for a break. I was sitting there with Brett and Jerome, talking about calls we’d had, when I had a truly startling moment.

“So, what’s the funniest call you’ve had so far, your first week?” Brett wanted to know.

“Definitely the music critic,” I answered.

“The music critic?” Brett asked, while Jerome just shook his head.

“Yep,” I said. “Someone didn’t seem to like the music that we play while you’re on hold. They gave me a critique of it.”

“We get that sometimes,” Jerome said. “One of the more classy things about this place is the taste in music for hold times. But, some people aren’t into jazz. They think it’s music for snobs when it’s just art that you listen to. They don’t usually complain, but every so often, we hear about it.”

“Well, I got an ‘every so often’ this week,” I told him. “He actually started giving me a playlist of things we ought to play instead of jazz, if you can believe it. I could tell what generation he was probably from with some of his choices: Zeppelin, The Stones…”

From over my shoulder came an unfamiliar voice. “I hope you didn’t feel as if you had to take notes about that.”

I glanced in that direction, replying, “Excuse me, I’m talking, if you don’t-” The sight that loomed behind me stopped me cold.Where didhecome from, this incredibly gorgeous guy in what I took to be a very expensive suit, and what was he doing here instead of at a photo shoot forGentlemen’s Quarterly?

The words tumbled out of my mouth: “C-can I help you?”

“Actually,” he said, “I was wondering if I could do anything to helpyou.”

I was aware of Brett and Jerome also staring at the hottie in the suit. I didn’t know the two of them very well, but I hadn’t thought they were gay. There must have been some other reason for the rapt attention that they were paying this person. I soon understood what it was when Brett said, “Good morning, Mr. Bennett.”

I whipped my head around for another look at Mister GQ. I recalled my conversation with Ben the fitness trainer at the supermarket and connected the dots from that conversation to the man I was now looking at.

I had assumed that as one of Ben’s clients, this guy would be well put-together. What I’d failed to consider was that he would look like the result of a planning committee for How to Design the Perfect Guy. The way he filled that suit was impressive enough, but then there was his face.

This thirtyish guy had leading-man features, as if he belonged on a Broadway stage or in a romance movie on Cable TV instead of some corporate office. He had the most perfectly wavy, thick, sandy-brown hair, crackling, electric blue eyes, and an absolutely toe-curling smile. I’d seen some handsome guys in my life, but this one was enough to make every artist in the world lay down his paintbrush and say,I can’t top that.

Thiswasmy new boss?And, I’d practicallyscolded him for butting into my conversation?A teenage-girl voice inside my head squealed,Oh my GOD!

“I hope I wasn’t interrupting,” Elijah Bennett said.

My words began to trip over each other. “Interrupting? Oh no, no, not at all; of course not. I mean, it’s your…” I glanced back over at the bemused expressions of my co-workers, then back at the cover model standing just inches away from me. “That is, you’re, the, uh…”

He held out his hand. “I’m Elijah. And, you are?”

Gulping, I forced out my own name. “Corinne Gordon.”

“Very nice to meet you, Corinne,” said Elijah. “Sometimes, you will get an…interesting caller. It goes with being in the part of the company that deals with the public the most.

“When we have someone new at Customer Service, we like to come down and let them know we appreciate them taking on this role, as it isn’t always easy. My partner, Leo, would be here with me, but he was called to business out of town. So for now, I’m welcoming you on behalf of both of us.”

“Th-thank you,” I said, barely able to catch a breath. “You…you really weren’t interrupting; we were… That is, the guys and I were…just making small talk. It’s my first week, and all. I’m liking it, really.” I liked the job almost as much as I was liking what I was seeing.

“Good to know,” said Elijah. “I’m glad you’re settling in well.”

This was looking like a better place to work all the time.

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