Hayden remained unfazed. “It’s very common to keep a change of clothes in the office. I can arrange for a suit, shirt, and tie to always be here, or evening clothes if you have dinner plans, so you’ll always have what you need to wear.”
Why hadn’t he thought of that? “You’d have to include shoes as well. The other day, I noticed—too late—I had on one black and one brown loafer.” Russell had pointed it out to him right before the meeting but assured him no one would notice.
“Happens to everyone.”
Doubtful. Armi never witnessed his father make one misstep. “I’ll walk you out.”
He opened the door, and Hayden passed in front of him. His dick twitched, and he closed his eyes. Could he work with Hayden and not think of those wet, hot kisses? Or how his skintasted and smelled? Who was he to have these insane thoughts? He’d never been a sexual person, yet lust burned in his blood for this man.
Side by side, they made their way through the sprawling space, and with a sinking heart, Armi saw Whitmore approaching him.
“Armand, what the hell are you thinking with that damn fool scouting idea?” The anger rolled off him in waves, and Armi shrank from his rage. That didn’t stop Whitmore from getting right into his face, pointing with his finger and continuing to berate him. “Do you want to destroy this team? Is that it? You’re finally getting back at your father for speaking the truth about you? I know you’re ignorant about sports, but for God’s sake—”
“Excuse me, but who the hell are you to talk to him like that?” Hayden snapped.
Whitmore swung around to face Hayden, and Armi put a hand on his arm. “It’s okay.”
“The hell it is. You’re the owner of the company.” Hayden turned to Whitmore. “You don’t talk to him like that, or to anyone for that matter.”
“Who the hell am I?” Whitmore’s gaze flicked over Hayden, dismissing him. The man was legendary for his cutting comebacks. Some of the support staff in the common area left their seats to see what the tumult was about. “Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do in my own company?”
“He’s my new assistant,” Armi heard himself say. “And this isn’t your company, Jacob. It’s mine. I own it, and you’d better get used to it.”
A slight smile kicked up the corner of Hayden’s mouth, and Armi watched as Whitmore grew apoplectic.
“Your assistant? And you’re going to let him talk to me that way?” Whitmore sputtered.
“Frankly, I don’t think he was hard enough. I dislike bullies and mean people.”
“Bullies and mean people?” Whitmore laughed in his face. “This is a billion-dollar business, not a toddler playground. If you’re not man enough to play in the big leagues, maybe you should step out of the sandbox and let us do the work.”
In the past, he would’ve quivered at Whitmore’s nasty words and relented, but having Hayden there gave him courage. Emboldened, Armi drew in a deep breath and folded his arms. “Is there a problem with you taking orders from me, Jacob? I told you my position, and as owner and president, I expect you to follow through.”
“What’s going on here?” Russell’s quiet, authoritative voice cut through the tension, and he joined the three of them and put a hand on Armi’s shoulder. “Can I help?”
“I—” Armi began, but Whitmore cut him off.
“Armand’s hired someone who was disrespectful to me. I was letting him know I won’t tolerate being spoken to like that.”
“You’ve hired someone already?” Releasing him, Russell gave Hayden the once-over, and Armi wasn’t sure he liked it. Not for any other reason than one person had no right to judge another by a single look. It told nothing of their character, only appearances, which often proved to be a mistake. “That was quick.”
Hayden stayed quiet, but those clever eyes remained watchful, and Armi knew, though his references needed to be checked, that it was mostly a formality. His immediate reaction to stand up to someone as powerful as Whitmore proved what he’d said in the interview: Hayden would be there for him. Inhis corner. He could lust after his assistant in private. Hayden would never need to know.
“Yes. This is Hayden Porter. He comes highly recommended.” His mind made up, he nodded at Hayden. “I was bringing him to Human Resources to get him set up.”
“That’s good.” Russell frowned, contradicting his words. “How many people have you interviewed? I hadn’t noticed any other candidates.”
“Are you in charge of Mr. Winters’s hiring?” Hayden asked.
The question startled both Russell and Whitmore, but Armi appreciated that he’d started setting boundaries.
Brows up, Russell studied Hayden’s face. “No. But I’m Armand’s friend and second in charge. I’m just looking out for him.”
“So am I.”
Armi bit back a smile.
Chapter Five
