Claimed by the Betrayed Mercenary

Chapter Ten

Connor’s POV

I bounce my knee nervously, dragging my fingers through my hair as I check my watch for the twentieth time. Hali wasted no time dragging me down to her boyfriend’s office, which is how I’m now sitting in the reception area of his firm at eight am on the twenty seventh of December.

Behind me, I can hear the clicking of keys, the company receptionist typing frantically, as he balances a phone between his shoulder and cheek.

‘I understand sir, but Mr Hownell is not in the office today’ he replies curtly, ‘he will be back tomorrow morning, I can pencil you in for a telephone call for then if you like?’

The low irate voice of the man at the other end can just be heard, but the receptionist seems unphased by the tirade of abuse he seems to be getting.

‘You may wish to see Mr Hownell in person, but I am telling you that there are no free appointments . . . yes, I’m sure you are a very important man, and that the company is lucky to have your business, but that still doesn’t miraculously create an opening in Mr Hownell’s schedule. If you wish to see him in person, you will have to wait until the new year.’

He rolls his eyes as the man yells at him.

‘I really do not appreciate your tone Mr Eglaise’ he informs the client suddenly, ‘nor your choice of words. It may have escaped your notice sir, but it is two days after Christmas, and I, earning decidedly less than you do, have grudgingly agreed to come in today because people like yourself think that the world should revolve around them.

I should be out on the town Mr Eglaise! I should be in a bar, drinking cocktails with inappropriate names right now with a very nice sounding man named Carlos that I met on a dating app. A man that, through our flirt filled texts could be my dream man, but even if he isn’t, is definitely worth an evening out with the eight pack he sent me a photo of, but I’m not. I’m here, talking to you, about something I cannot change because unlike you and me, Mr Hownell has a family that he wishes to spend time with over the Christmas period.

You may feel that your party in March is the most important thing in the world, but frankly, it isn’t. You’re having some friends over to no douvt show off how rich you are sir, it is a far cry from a meeting of the head of state and dignitaries.

I cannot and will not interrupt my boss during his family time because you want me too, and quite honestly, I don’t have time to listen to your tantrum about it! Learn the word no Mr Eglaise, it will make your conversations with people going forward much easier.’

Silence follows the receptionists rant, as he looks over at me, seeing me staring and winks.

The voice finally replies, mumbled words as the young man nods.

‘Apology accepted Mr Eglaise, now would you like the telephone call tomorrow or an in person meeting in the new year?’

More low talking as the receptionist starts typing again, ‘wonderful, Mr Hownell will contact you tomorrow at eleven am, have a good day.’

As he hangs up the phone, a carbon copy of my sister’s boyfriend walks down the stairs and heads toward me, holding his hand out as I stand and shake it.

‘Connor, thanks for coming in’ Harrison rumbles curtly, ‘would you like a drink? Elijah can get you a coffee.’

‘Uhh, I’ll take coffee, black’ I mutter.

‘Oh yes, Elijah would love to get you a coffee, after he was dragged in on his Christmas break by his butt of a boss who decided he needed to work today’ the receptionist mutters loudly as he pushes to his feet. ‘It’s not like Elijah had a hot date this afternoon or anything! He wasn’t intending to do body shots off the hot bartenders in Stripes, oh no! he was just thrilled to come in and make coffee.’

I glance at the younger man, surprised when he sighs heavily, ‘Elijah, I promised you double pay, please just make some damn coffee’ he growls.

The receptionist salutes, ‘yes sir Mr Cadell, right away Mr Cadell! Thank you for the pittance you threw my way,’ before storming off to the room behind his desk.

Seeing me gaping after the man, Harrison shakes his head, ‘trust me, this is him on a good day’ he grunts, ‘do NOT ever put him in a bad mood.’

‘You let him talk to you like that?’ I ask, following as Harrison leads the way back up the stairs and along a corridor to the end where he pushes open the door to reveal a tastefully decorated office.

Harrison shrugs, ‘he’s an arsehole, half the staff are terrified of him, but so are most of the clients’ he replies. ‘Having a bulldog on the reception desk really works in our favour when we get clients who don’t like to be told no.’ The younger man chuckles as he waves a hand toward a seat, taking his own behind his desk. ‘I’m not going to lie, when we get a really difficult customer, we get Elijah to handle the call. They are usually so grateful to get away from him that they’ll agree to pretty much anything we need to change to their event just to not have to speak to him again.’