Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 22709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
**This insta-love, quick-read M/M romance is full of sweetness and steam. It contains no cliffhangers, and a very happy HEA!
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter One
Jamal
“That should do it for the paperwork,” Jennifer, the Human Resources representative, told me as she tucked the stack of sheets into her briefcase. I’d filled out and signed so many papers, I probably killed a poor redwood. “If you follow me to the conference room, I’ll get Geo to show you around the office.”
I stood up from my seat, my legs aching from sitting so long. It felt as if I’d been filling out paperwork for days, even though it had probably only been a couple of hours. But any discomfort or negative thoughts disappeared when we made our way down a carpeted hallway and approached a long glass wall.
Through it, I could see dozens of people tucked behind cubicles, working with their heads ducked down as they typed furiously. But it wasn’t until Jennifer opened the door leading into the large room that the sound of clacking keys and ringing telephones hit my ears. It made my heart race. This is what I had been working towards for so long; what I’d been dreaming of for most of my lifetime.
After twenty-four years of struggling through life, trying to scrape up enough money to get by, I was now living my dream, having accepted a job at the wealth management firm of Smith & Sons.
As I followed Jennifer through the maze of employees, only a few of them acknowledged me with a look or a nod. But I didn’t expect them to; they were busy with their own workloads and deadlines.
We reached yet another glass wall; rather, an enclosed room within the room, surrounded by all glass walls. I loved the open design and floor plan, and that everyone could easily be seen; there was nothing to hide, and everyone was equal.
Jennifer held open the door with one hand, ushering me inside with the other. I passed her and took a seat at the elongated table in the center of the space. Without a word, she left me alone, allowing the door to close behind her.
I was exposed but comfortable; anyone could see inside, but nobody seemed to notice. They were all working diligently. I tapped my fingers against the wooden tabletop, imagining I’d have countless meetings around it. I couldn’t wait to get started. As soon as Geo ‘showed me around’, I hoped to hit the ground running.
I hadn’t met Geo yet, but I assumed he was one of the more senior members of the staff, since he had the responsibility of training me. So I was surprised when I saw a young man approaching - a gorgeous young man.
His skin was fair and creamy, the exact opposite of my dark brown complexion. Even his hair was so platinum blond it was almost white, but it didn’t wash him out. The light color only highlighted his piercing blue eyes. He was exactly the type of man I was attracted to - the type I’d tried to hide from all my life.
He walked into the room, and he did a double take when his gaze landed on me. I was used to it; I could be an intimidating figure. I stood up to greet him, and his pretty eyes widened as he raked them up and down my body.
He was on the tall side, yet my six-foot-four frame still towered over him. My frame was nearly double the width of his slim shoulders and hips. I offered my hand and greeted, “It’s nice to meet you, Geo. I’m Jamal.”
Geo was still and silent for a moment before he cleared his throat and muttered, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting you to be…” his words trailed off, but I didn’t need to hear them to understand; I’d heard them many times before. He shook his head as if realizing what he’d said out loud before extending his hand, but I quickly retracted mine.
Though convinced I already knew the answer, I asked through gritted teeth, “Would this have anything to do with the color of my skin?”
Geo swallowed hard. “That’s definitely part of it.”