Billionaire Alpha 1(8)

"Thanks." Bethany took the key and moved into the large office, looking   over her shoulder as the woman lingered in the doorway. "Do all of the   interns have offices this big?"

"No, but you must have impressed someone. Usually three of them share an   office this big." The other woman smiled, lipstick staining her teeth.   Bethany almost told her but thought better of it.

"Okay. Thank you again. I'll reach out if I need help."

"Your best bet is to call Ben. He's the intern coordinator for the audit side. I would think you'd be starting off there."

"I'm not entirely sure, to be honest, but I'll call Ben." Bethany smiled as the receptionist shrugged and turned to go.         

     



 

Her thoughts slipped back to Damon, her conversation with him raring   back to life in her mind. Perhaps he hadn't meant that she'd be filling   his sexual needs, but his reference to putting her in various positions   and making it stimulating and enjoyable for them both?

"Come on  … " she whispered, taking a seat and leaning back, her skin   flushed with the idea of being naked beneath him. He was far too much   man for her. Of that she was sure.

"He's your freaking stepbrother too. Get ahold of yourself." She huffed,   looking up to see Ben standing in her door with a friendly smile on  his  face.

"You always talk to yourself?"

"Yep. Only person I've found that isn't quick to disagree with my opinions." She laughed and motioned for him to come in.

"Oh really? Seems like the greatest struggle I have is convincing myself   to do something." He sat down in the chair in front of her, his   expression open and calm.

Bethany let her thoughts of Damon go by the wayside; the   inappropriateness of having those thoughts at work caused her no small   amount of discomfort.

"Too funny. So the receptionist told me that you're the intern coordinator."

"That I am. I asked Damon if I could have a few more things on my plate,   and he was happy to supply them." Ben shrugged, his cheeks coloring   pink.

"You don't have enough work around here?" She smiled, jabbing at him   about the overload of work he was probably pushing around. If she'd   learned one thing in school it was that accounting firms of all sizes   were sweatshops. You got in and killed yourself until you limped out.   The dark circles under Ben's swollen eyes told her his story was in line   with her assumptions.

"I have plenty of work, but I'm a single guy, so it's important for me   to get out and socialize. I'm originally from Seattle and haven't met   too many people yet. Kent brought me down here to help establish a   special service line that we'll be starting later this year."

"Interesting. So managing the interns gives you a chance to get out of the office for happy hours and get to know people."

"Exactly." He smiled and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms   over his portly stomach. "Speaking of  …  there's a new club in town that   the interns are wanting to check out as a group on Thursday night. We   thought instead of happy hour at one of the local pubs we'd go see what   the rage is all about."

"What's the name of the place?" Bethany leaned forward, pressing her   forearms to her desk, her interest piqued. Having been in college just   down the street for the last few years, there weren't too many places   she didn't know about.

"It's called Masquerade." He shrugged, his smile the only thing giving   away his level of excitement. "You don't have to dress up special, but   if you get on the dance floor then you're required to wear a mask like   you would at a ball."

"Weird. Is it new?"

"Yep. Just opened two weeks ago. I swear, it's all anyone's talking about."

"I'm in. I need to get out, and I'd love to meet the rest of the interns. Does anyone go with us, or is it just interns?"

"Sometimes the boss-man will make an appearance, but I highly doubt it   since it's a club. His party days are over, I think. He works far too   hard to enjoy life much." Ben shook his head as if disappointed in Damon   for his unwillingness to live a little.

Bethany sat quietly for a moment, the thought of Damon not living   seeming impossible. From the conversation he'd had on the phone with his   girlfriend, it seemed that he was living a lot. To tell a girl to wear  a  certain dress and heels was one thing, but to command her to leave  her  panties at home? Hot and disturbing.

She could see her and Damon in her afternoon fantasies.

"Why the faraway look?" Ben asked, his short chuckle bringing Bethany back to the present.

"Hmmm?"

"You look like you're lost in thought."

"Oh, just trying to deal with all of the transitions in my life. Sorry.   Didn't sleep too well last night. I was nervous like crazy about this   morning."

"I bet. It's not only graduation for you, but a new family and your first accounting job, right?"         

     



 

"How did you know?" She tilted her head to the side, her smile dropping   as she tried to understand who else knew about her and Damon being   family soon.

Ben held his hands up, standing and shaking his head as he backed toward the door.

"I'm the only one. I get a full run down on you guys from the boss-man   because I'm in charge of the program. I only know what I just shared,   though, so no worries about a bulletin board being up with your info for   all to see." He laughed and Bethany did too, liking him for his   transparency, above all.

"Damon told you about his father and my mother?"

"Yeah, and a little about you. I'm pretty excited to have you join us.   Graduating near the top of UT's accounting program is a big deal."

"Thanks. It felt like a great accomplishment. I'm starting my masters in a few weeks. Just trying to pay for it."

"I totally understand." He moved just outside of the door, his hands   reaching up to grip the frame. "So, you're with us on Thursday night?"

"Yeah, sounds good."

"Any questions so far?"

She bit at her lip, wondering if she should ask Ben about Damon's   sensual responses, question him on how Damon plays ball in the office.   She could tell the man before her respected their boss, but she wondered   if part of that wasn't a bromance in the works. Damon had looks and   money, prestige and power-everything any man would want.

"What's the story with Damon?"

"What do you mean?" Ben took a few steps back into her office, moving to   lean against the bookshelf. It groaned under his weight, but held him.

"I just mean that he has a sexy secretary and he seems to be dating a   very attractive blonde  …  I don't know. Never mind." She shrugged, heat   rising to her face. She reached up and rubbed her cheeks, her   embarrassment obvious.

"No, I don't mind answering. I think Linda was someone Mr. Bryant,   Damon's father hired. I honestly didn't think Damon was dating anyone,   but it's good to hear. He needs to spend a little bit of time away from   this place. His dad is looking at retiring in a few years and Damon is   the next in line, I guess."

"What about Seattle? Did you work for them up there or for someone else?"

"Them. They have a small accounting shop up there, mostly taxes, but   it's a good learning experience. I'm originally from Seattle, so it was a   natural transition to go to work for them. Damon and I spent some time   in college together, though he's a lot older than me. He was a Kappa   Alpha and I was pledging his last year as president."

"He was Kappa Alpha?" Totally made sense.

"Yeah, we both were." He shrugged and looked around the empty office.   "You need to put your diploma and a few pictures up in here. You dating   as well?"

"Me? No. I wish  …  I just haven't found the right guy."

"I hear you. I'm looking for the right girl, but when you put in a   million hours, it's hard to meet her." He paused and let his gaze fall   back on Bethany. "Did Damon do something that made you uncomfortable, or   were you just questioning his loving on blondes?"

She stood, stretching and reaching up to cover her mouth as she yawned.

"He just said a few thing that seemed kind of  …  suggestive, but maybe   that's because I don't know him. He's my stepbrother, or will be soon,   so I'm just trying to figure out who he is."

Ben laughed and moved back to the door, looking over his shoulder. "He's   a great guy, very professional. If he seems to be flirtatious, it's   just because he's a friendly guy. Half the interns would sell their   souls to the devil to have him glance at them, but he's just not   willing. I've never heard him say or seen him do anything that would   cause me to question his ethics."