Working It(22)

Shit. This wasn’t going to go well, he just knew it.

He dialed HR. “Hi, Nancy.”

“Hey, dragon slayer. I heard you finally went to the health and safety training. Thanks for that.”

“Sorry, this is a time-sensitive call. Zack is doing a termination right now, and I think we might need security.”

“Oh no. Who is it?”

He couldn’t recall the name, so he scanned the form. “Ryan Cooper from development.”

“Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Is he in there now?” He’d never heard Nancy get frantic before. “He promised me he’d wait until next week.”

The rise of voices on the other side of the door only served to underscore his concern. “Yes, he is. And it sounds heated.”

“Security is on the way. I’ll make sure that we deactivate his badge and lock out his computer access. Shit, why didn’t he wait for this?”

“I was in training. They were here when I got back. Not sure what happened.”

“Okay, they’re coming. Just keep an eye out in case something happens.”

“Fuck you!” There was no mistaking that.

“Too late.” He hung up on Nancy, knowing she’d get help here as quickly as possible.

Cooper jerked open the door, but rather than head for the exit, he came straight at Nolan. “Fuck you too!”

He got to his feet and backed away. “Mr. Cooper, security is on their way up. If you would please head toward the elevator, they’ll meet you there to escort you from the building.”

“You’re his little toady, aren’t you? Piece of shit bootlicker! I’m going to fuck you up.”

Nolan stood paralyzed. The scenario unfolded in slow motion in his brain. One moment Cooper was coming at him, and in the next Zack was spinning him around, redirecting his attack. He saw Cooper pull his arm back and swing at Zack. Watched in horror as his fist connected with Zack’s jaw, sending him falling to the floor in a heap.

“Zack!” He moved without thought, getting between them. “Back the hell off!”

Cooper kicked at Zack but connected with Nolan’s injured thigh instead. He cried out, tears instantly welling as pain sliced through him, but he refused to move away from a near-stunned Zack.

There was a sudden flurry of activity. Three security guards rushed into the office and pulled Cooper off Nolan. He heard Nancy and Janice talking to people, asking him questions. The only thing he was able to focus on was Zack. Reaching down, he helped him to a sitting position, and touched the already visible bruise on his jaw. “Are you okay?”

Zack groaned and gave his head a small shake. “I should be asking you that.”

“I’m good. You took a big blow. You should get checked out for a concussion.”

“I told you I can take a punch. I’m fine.” Zack looked past him. “Nancy, I want to state for the record that I have no plans whatsoever to fire my assistant. Ever.”

“I’m very happy to hear that, Mr. Anderson.” She moved to squat beside them. “We’ll notify the police so they can get charges started. Now if you two men will do me the favor of coming to the hospital with me, I want to make sure that you’re both going to be okay.”

“No need. He barely touched me.” Nolan was sure his grimace gave away how much pain he was in, but the last place he ever wanted to go was the hospital.

Zack nodded. “I just need an ice pack.”

“I learned in health and safety training today that there should be one in the freezer. Let me get it. And I thought you said you were a good boxer?”

“He caught me off guard, or else I wouldn’t have taken that punch. I’m normally much faster.” Zack rubbed his jaw. “I’ll have to get back in the ring again with Max and brush up.”

Nancy looked between them. “You two are the most stubborn . . . I’m glad you’re working together.”

“I’m just glad Nolan took my training this morning.” Janice chuckled as she dropped the ice pack into Zack’s lap. Nolan was shocked to see her smiling at all. “Come on. Let them lick their wounds.”

The office emptied out, leaving the pair of them still sitting on the floor. Nolan shifted away from Zack a bit, moving so he could lean against the wall. “Never a dull moment.”

“Nope.” Zack pressed the pack to his jaw and hissed. “Asshole got me good.”

“Next time you’re going to fire someone, wait until I’ve got security in the wings.”

“I couldn’t. I’ve been working with HR to get rid of him for months now. I finally got the last nail this morning and needed to slam it in the coffin.”

“What was that?”

“He’d been harassing one of my managers. She’d finally filed a report with the company and informed me she was going to be pressing charges. I wanted him out of the building as soon as possible. No one should have to work in conditions where they don’t feel safe. Or sexually harassed.”

Nolan shook his head. “No.”

They sat there side by side as the insanity of the last few minutes dissipated. Nolan’s leg throbbed in a way it hadn’t since the early days after his accident. He’d have to get in the tub that evening and let the hot water work its magic.

Zack cleared his throat. “You don’t, do you?”

He looked at him. “Don’t what?”

“Feel unsafe or harassed? I know I’ve crossed a line. We’ve kissed and I’m your boss. I don’t want you to feel you can’t say no, or that you have to put up with unwanted attention.”

The uncertainty was painful to hear. “No, not at all.” He placed his hand on Zack’s thigh. “I don’t know, maybe it shouldn’t happen again, but I don’t feel pressured. I don’t . . . regret what happened.”

With his free hand, Zack reached out and covered Nolan’s. “I’m harsh, but I’m not unfeeling. If you need anything, if your anxiety gets to be too much, or if I’m riding you too hard, just say something. I really do appreciate what you’ve done for me since you started. I can’t imagine going back to working alone.”

Zack smiled, and Nolan’s heart raced at the sight. His chest felt tight, but not from fear or anxiety. No, this was gratitude and something a bit stronger than respect. “Thank you.”

“We better get off the floor if we’re going back to normal.”

“Probably for the best.” Nolan struggled to his feet and offered a hand to Zack. “I’m going to order us in some lunch. I think we’ve earned it.”

“Can you get something from that Indian place you ordered from the other night when I stopped by? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Smelled amazing.”





For the first time in months, Nolan was up on a Saturday morning before noon. Tina had gaped at him as he wandered into the kitchen wearing track pants and a T-shirt. He’d taken a bit of perverse pleasure in stealing her Pop-Tart.

“You’re awake. And dressed.” She shook her head. “Please tell me you’re not going into the office. Especially dressed like that.”

“I’m not going into the office. And what’s wrong with the way I’m dressed?”

“Nothing if you were going for the upscale-hobo look.”

He was in fact meeting Zack at Ringside to do an inventory of needed structural changes. Nolan had volunteered to coordinate with Max to find a list of contractors and get estimates, so they’d know exactly what funds they would need to move forward. Why they hadn’t done this before now, Nolan hadn’t a clue.

“You’re smirking.” Tina reclaimed the last piece of her Pop-Tart and ate it before he could stop her. “Normally that means you’re meeting a man you have a crush on. Since you’re not dating anyone, I know that can’t be it. So where are you off to?”

Under normal circumstances, Nolan would have told Tina everything. But they still weren’t back to normal since their sort-of fight. He didn’t want to give her any reason to regret accepting the Vancouver job. So he offered her only part of the truth. “I’m actually off to do some volunteer work.”

Tina smiled at him and for the first time in days looked more like her old self. “Really? That’s awesome. Where?”

“It’s an old gym they’re trying to get up and running again. They also want to offer LGBTQ youth programs. Boxing, self-defense, and stuff.”

“You’re not doing anything too labor intensive right? I know you need to be more active, but they shouldn’t make you lift boxes, or—”

“Tina, I’m fine.”

The tension snapped back into place like a whip. “Sure. I’ll be here looking for apartments online. They want me to fast track my move.”

That stopped him. “What? When?”

“Next week if possible. They offered to put me up in a hotel until I find a place that suits. It’s going to be a bit harder than I realized, though. Rent is high.”

He wanted Tina to go, needed her to, even. But next week? “What about your things?”

“I’ll have to keep them here for the time being. Don’t worry, I won’t cramp your style for long.”