Chapter five

Alexander’s POV

The meeting droned on. Numbers were presented. Legal risks were debated. Quarterly projections were tossed around like confetti. I sat there nodding, pretending to be engaged, while inside, I was screaming.

A week.

With Brandon.

Alone.

In the same hotel suite floor.

I couldn’t even survive an hour in the same office without thinking about how he’d look dragging his teeth down my neck, let alone seven days in the same building. What was I going to do when I saw him fresh out of the shower? In a robe? Or worse—sweatpants?

Or even worse—shirtless.

Jesus.

I shifted in my seat and crossed my legs under the table, praying no one could tell how uncomfortable I was. How hard I still was. I was almost positive my entire sexual identity had become “guy who gets turned on by his boss folding his sleeves.”

“Meeting adjourned,” Brandon said, closing the file in front of him with a sharp snap.

Everyone scrambled to their feet. I stood, too quickly, and almost knocked my chair over.

Smooth, Kingsley. Very subtle.

I glanced at Jone, who gave me a look that said, you’re either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. Probably both.

Brandon stood last, smoothing down the front of his crisp shirt before sliding on his jacket. I hated how effortless he looked. Like the concept of rumpled clothes didn’t apply to him. Like he hadn’t just turned me inside out with a single command and zero context.

He turned to me. “My office. Ten minutes.”

“Yes, sir.” My voice cracked halfway through the sentence.

He didn’t react, just turned and walked out of the conference room, the sound of his dress shoes echoing down the hallway like a countdown to my demise.

Jone waited until he was out of earshot. “Ten minutes?”

“I don’t know if I’m going to survive this week,” I muttered, grabbing my notepad like it could protect me.

“You’re not going to survive the next ten minutes.”

He wasn’t wrong.

My mind was still reeling as I returned to my desk. Jake popped his head in, probably ready to ask if I wanted to sneak away for vending machine coffee, but stopped the moment he saw my face.

“You look like you just saw your future flash before your eyes,” he said, stepping in. “And it was shirtless.”

“I said yes to going on a business trip with Brandon,” I said flatly.

Jake’s eyebrows shot up. “Overnight?”

“Seven nights.”

Jake let out a long whistle. “That’s either a dream come true or a horror story, depending on how much you value your sanity.”

“Not enough, apparently.”

Jake dropped into the guest chair like he owned the place and looked entirely too amused.

“So let me get this straight. You’re going to be stuck with your Alpha boss in a high-pressure work trip, probably sharing meals, schedules, cars—hell, maybe even elevator rides. And you’re already three seconds from spontaneously combusting just being in a room with him?”

“Correct.”

He leaned forward, smirking. “You’re gonna die.”

“I know.”

“And yet, you agreed.”

“I didn’t know what he was saying. I was distracted.”

Jake snorted. “Was he shirtless?”.

“No. He folded his sleeves.”

Jake blinked. “That’s it?”.

I gave him a long, withering look. “Have you seen his forearms?”.

He held up his hands like I was a wild animal. “Okay, okay. Not judging. Just… that’s some dangerous territory, man.”

“I’ve been in dangerous territory since the day I took this job.”

Right then, Mia strolled in with her signature mug of tea and an arched brow. “What did I miss?”

“Alex agreed to a week-long business trip with Brandon,” Jake said gleefully.

Mia nearly spilled her tea. “What?”

I groaned and buried my face in my hands. “Can everyone stop reacting like I signed up for a death match?”

“Alex,” she said gently, “You are about to spend an entire week within close proximity of Alpha Brandon Cole. That man chews people out for breathing wrong.”

Jake nodded. “His entire personality is one long, slow exhale of disappointment.”

“Okay, valid,” I muttered. “But it’s not like I can back out now.”

Mia sat on the edge of my desk. “You really didn’t know what he was asking?”

“I wasn’t listening! I was too busy… being distracted.”

They both stared at me.

Jake’s grin widened. “Forearms again?”

“Shut up.”

Mia giggled. “You poor thing. Your little Beta heart can’t handle it.”

“I can handle it,” I said, lying straight through my teeth.

Jake leaned back in the chair, arms crossed. “You’re gonna end up in a hotel room next to his and have a meltdown when you hear him showering.”

Mia’s eyes lit up. “Oh god. What if he walks around in a towel?”.

“Okay, no,” I said quickly. “Nope. We’re not doing this.”

Jake only laughed. “Admit it. You’ve imagined it.”

I said nothing.

Which was exactly the kind of silence that said yes.

Mia looked way too entertained. “You’re blushing.”

“I’m not.”

Jake nudged my arm. “It’s not even just about his looks, huh? You’ve got it bad.”

“I do not have it bad.”

They both gave me a look, which I thought was teasing into telling the truth.

“I have it… under control.”

Another look.

I sighed. “Fine. He’s hot, okay? And yes, I might’ve imagined what he’d look like without the constant scowl and maybe without the shirt and maybe—maybe—without anything at all.”

Jake let out a low whisper. “Damn, Alex you might want to lower your voice”.

I leaned back in my chair, running a hand over my face. “He’s just so grumpy and always moody. No wonder he doesn’t have a girlfriend or boyfriend, if he isn’t straight. Or who knows—perhaps his mate rejected him for his behavior, I mean who would want a dickface like him as their mate?”.

Mia choked on her tea so violently I jumped.

“You okay?”.

Her eyes were wide with panic, her mouth opened like she was about to say something—and then I heard it.

That voice.

Calm. Icy. Dangerous.

“I don’t pay you to gossip about me, do I, Mr. Alexander Kingsley?”.

Shit!