JAY: If I say yes, will you answer my question?
AARON: I would love to take over the world with you! I have to finish a report, so I’ll work through lunch, but I can be done with the day by 3-ish.
JAY: How many cups of coffee have you had today?
AARON: Four! Why do you ask?
JAY: No reason. Text me when you’re in my building and I’ll come down.
AARON: I’ll start brainstorming our titles. How about Absolute All-powerful Rulers Of Nature?
JAY: Maybe pick a better acronym.
Sometimes Aaron’s silly texts sounded like they came from a hyperactive toddler, and Jay loved how the strong, serious man wearing tailored suits had so many hidden depths he allowed Jay to see. The playful side that made Jay laugh, the dry sense of humor that kept him on his toes, the vulnerable side that made him want to wrap Aaron up in a cocoon and cradle him in his arms. The protective side that knocked Jay clean off his feet.
It had been a complete surprise to see Aaron so fierce—standing tall, steel in his voice, his whole body radiating power as he placed himself between Jay and Gordon. No one had ever stood up for Jay like that. Aaron hadn’t just offered words of support and a shoulder to lean on. He’d taken a public stance, ready to attack on Jay’s behalf.
It made Jay giddy with happiness—and incredibly turned on. The idea of dominating such a formidable man into submission, reducing his controlled and confident presence to a whimpering and begging mess… It sent shivers of want through Jay.
Aaron was perfect for him, and Jay owed it to himself to take a chance. If he kept putting it off, Aaron could meet someone at the club, and Jay would miss his chance. All because he couldn’t muster up the courage.
Time slowed to a crawl as Jay counted down the hours before he saw Aaron. Still worried about the potential blowback, he repeatedly picked up his phone to send some kind of disclaimer, only to reread their text conversation and smile. Even if Aaron hated it, he wouldn’t be angry at Jay. He’d probably just grab his hand, and they would go somewhere else. It would be easy.
Everything with Aaron was easy.
“Jay, my office.” His boss walked past without stopping, and Jay gave her a guilty smile before putting his phone away and following. Erica was a cool boss, so he wouldn’t be in trouble for playing on his phone, but it still wasn’t a good look.
She closed the door and sat at the desk, gesturing for him to take a seat.
“Jay,” she said as soon as he lowered himself into the chair. “You’ve done a great job with the noise pollution project for the school district. The testing is going well, and the clients love the intuitive interface.”
“Thank you. It’s a fun project.”
“It was a gamble on my part to have you be the project lead, but I knew you’d rise to the occasion. You stuck to the deadlines, you delegated to the rest of the team, and you showed incredible patience in client meetings.” A grin spread across her face. “More patience than I would have shown, at any rate.”
Jay’s cheeks heated. He knew he’d done well, and the praise spread warmth through his chest, but it was too much. “It was a team effort.”
Erica shook her head with a smile. “Spoken like a true leader.”
“Wait, I’m not—”
“We’ve seen steady growth for the past seven years, but the last few months have been exceptionally strong. We have more project requests than our team can handle, and it’s obvious we have to expand.”
Jay nodded along. He was glad the company was doing well, but why was Erica telling him this?
“Jay, you’ve been with us from the beginning. You’ve grown with this company, you know every product we offer, everyone who works here.” She paused, watching his face. “We’re bringing on five junior developers to help with the workload, and I want you to step into a senior role. Help us hire the right people. Guide them. Lead them.”
Jay opened his mouth to object, but she held up her hand. “I know, I know. You don’t want to supervise anyone because you don’t think you’d be good at it. I remember the speech from when I tried to give you the summer intern. This time, I want you to really think about it before you turn it down. It’s not just a better title and higher salary—you’d get a chance to lead and mentor people.”
Jay squirmed in his seat. She had to be wrong about him. There was no way he could be a leader. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, unsure of what to say.
“I’ll think about it,” he finally muttered, the response too simple for everything she’d said, but it was all he could offer in the moment.
“That’s all I can ask.” Erica gave him a warm smile. Her phone rang, and she glanced at it with annoyance. “Sorry, I have to take this. How about I email you the offer paperwork? Who knows, maybe the salary will sway you.”
“Maybe if I use it to buy a personality transplant.” Jay chuckled and stood to leave.
“Jay, you don’t need to be a tyrant or have all the right answers to be a good manager. You just have to care about your people.” Erica’s voice was gentle, and Jay gave her a silent nod before leaving the office.
