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"I know I'm not suited for the job. Mr. Porter was explaining that to me when you entered. I don't see the point in continuing this discussion." Axel stated clearly and held Kieran's gaze with just a touch of defiance. The corner of Kieran's mouth twitched, almost the beginning of a smile, but he buried it.

"I need a personal assistant for this project, someone familiar with every aspect of the job and with the ability to keep up with what I need. I will call you at all hours, demand the difficult and the impossible, and rarely say thank you. Are you interested?" Kieran outlined the salary and benefits and waited. He wasn't sure what he was asking; all he knew was that this man could not leave. He must be locked down first.

It was Axel's turn to stare silently as he processed what had just been said. "Okay, yeah, I'll take it." He said finally, and this time there was definitely a smile that crossed Kieran’s lips.

“Good, can you start immediately?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll share this office with me. I’ll have another desk brought in. I want you by my side at all times.”

“Okay.” Axel was flustered but trying to catch up. Kieran picked up his phone and had one of the secretaries deliver the paperwork to bring Axel on board.

“Finish the employment files with Carl, and then we’ll take a drive to the site for a walk-through.” Kieran stepped out of his office while Carl walked Axel through the necessary employment forms.

It was a hasty decision but a necessary one because he would not let his beloved walk away from him. His vampire was volatile and would have chased him down and claimed him on the spot, and that would not have been a good look for Hadden Corp.

Mr. Porter met him in the hallway looking rightfully confused. “He’s human, Mr. Lagarde. This was just a courtesy interview, a confidence builder, Michael called it. He and his beloved Cole are working on getting legitimate interviews set up for Mr. Stone elsewhere with human companies. He’s a good man and is serious about his career; please don't hurt him. Axel has had a rough go of it lately, according to Cole.”

Kieran stopped, turned to him abruptly, his brows pinched, his expression tight with concern. "What has happened to him?" Kieran pulled Porter off to an alcove away from the curious. Porter paused, still wearing that look of confusion.

“I don’t know the specifics, but he was treated unfairly in his last position and was betrayed by someone he loved and trusted. From what I’ve heard, he lost everything.” Porter spoke softly and seemed relieved when Kieran dismissed him without further comment.

Kieran stood still and quiet for a few minutes as the information had stirred a growing storm in the pit of his stomach. Someone had hurt his beloved, hurt him, and stripped him of his confidence and self-worth. Kieran managed to calm himself by vowing to find them and pay them back ten times over.

CHAPTER THREE

Axel was stunned; he sat there with one of the people from personnel listening, but he heard only half of what was being said. Kieran Lagarde just pulled him from an interview that was going south fast. Mr. Porter told him about his qualifications being spot on but not what they were looking for at the moment; he was prepared for the gentle letdown, and then suddenly he had a job.

Mr. Lagarde brought him to his office, spoke to him for less than ten minutes, and offered him the position of his personal assistant. The job sounded fast-paced and exacting; he didn't sugarcoat it, but still it came out of nowhere. The pay was good, with benefits. He wasn't sure about everything because he couldn't stop picturing that tall, stunningly handsome man bursting into the room and walking him out. The whole scene was crazy.

Mr. Lagarde looked fierce and . . . a little terrifying, but he gave him a job, and Axel swore he'd love him forever for that gift. As his personal assistant, he would strive to be the best. The idea of working for Hadden Corp and rubbing Gio’s face in it was gratifying beyond comprehension.

It also was not going to be a hardship working close with Mr. Lagarde; the man was built solid, gorgeous, and he had a face that belonged on a magazine cover a harsh magazine cover- because there was nothing pretty boy about that man. He wasn’t soft in any way; the man exuded strength and confidence from every pore of his being, which was sexy as all hell.

Axel was finishing a very lengthy nondisclosure form when a young woman walked in and placed a cup of black coffee on the table next to him. Axel looked up at her.

Mr. Lagarde asked me to bring it to you. I left it black. Do you take anything in it?" She asked.

"No, black is fine, thank you." She smiled and looked at him, really looked at him like she was trying to figure out a puzzle, and then she abruptly left. Axel turned his attention to Carl.

"Did his assistant quit?" Axel asked, curious about the opening.

"He has never had a personal assistant; he originally declined the offer of an assistant when he first arrived. He must have liked your credentials." Carl left it there and finished with his file. Axel drank his coffee and idly wondered what he was getting himself into. His phone rang, but he reached into his pocket and declined the call without looking at it. It rang again, and Carl told him he could answer.

Axel pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the name. It was Gio, which was odd; he didn't usually call. He always communicated through texts. He hesitated for a second and then answered.

"Your things are packed and in the hallway. It would be wise to come and get them as soon as possible before they're stolen." His tone was clipped and final, and he did not wait for a response; he hung up as Axel sat there with the phone still pressed to his ear, wondering how he was going to leave work to get his things without looking like a loser.

Carl looked at him over his glasses. “That was cold.” He commented, having overheard the conversation.

“Yeah, he needs me out of the way so he can move in my replacement.” Carl sympathized. After about an hour of paperwork, Mr. Lagarde walked back into the office.

"We're all done here, sir," Carl stated as he stood, and then he added. "Mr. Stone received a call, and he may need an hour off to go get his things from his previous residence. They have been moved into the hallway, and it is not safe for them to remain there too long.” Axel almost shook with the embarrassment that flooded his nervous system.

"No, no, that's fine." He snapped and started waving his hands. Mr. Lagarde raised his hand in a stop gesture, which worked immediately on Axel. He pulled out his phone and made a call.

"The address?" He asked, and Axel quickly rattled it off. "Your things will be collected and secured; don't worry." Carl smiled and left the office, leaving Axel alone with Mr. Lagarde.