More Than a Suit Box Set

More Than a Suit: Tobie-2

Carly scheduled a meeting for me with Mal on Wednesday afternoon at three o’clock. When the time came, I knocked on Mal’s door.

“Come in,” I heard a voice say through the thick wood. I pushed the door open.

“Close the door behind you and have a seat, please.” Mal gestured to a chair in front of his desk. I did as requested and watched as he finished jotting down some notes.

I noticed that Mal had removed his jacket, so I could now enjoy the view of his shirt stretching valiantly across his broad, firm chest. It was a sight to behold.

Mal set down his pen and grabbed a folder from the top of the stack on his desk. Once he opened it, he leaned back in his chair to look it over for a few minutes. Then he looked up at me with an intense gaze for a few seconds. My body flushed under the scrutiny, but I held his stare.

“Tobie Mendez.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I noticed in your file that you worked your way up from an internship to a full-time position, and you’ve been here four years. Well done. You graduated with highest honors in your class from Georgia State, and you’ve been an asset to this firm. Where do you see yourself in a year?”

“As a junior analyst, sir.”

Mal laughed. I liked his even, white teeth. “I like that. No beating around the bush. What about in five years?”

“As a VP, sir,” I said with a grin.

“So you want my job, too?”

“No, sir. I expect you’ll have moved up by that time.”

“Flattery could get you something.”

“I suppose so, but you don’t need it. You know it’s the truth. You’re driven. You have to be. That’s the only way you move ahead in this company.”

“Agreed.” Mal sat up and set the file aside. I loved the way his chest flexed underneath his shirt. “Here’s the deal. I’ve chosen five associates as finalists for the position. You won’t be one of them.”

That statement hit me like a brick.

“May I ask why, sir?” I knew I had what it took to be a junior analyst. I’d worked too hard to be rejected without a damn good reason.

“Because I want you to be my new Assistant VP.” Mal leaned back in his chair and smiled.

I was stunned. Yeah, okay, that was a damn good reason.

“Speechless, Mendez? You don’t think you’re up to it?”

“Oh no, sir. I can do this. It’s a great opportunity and I appreciate it. It’s just…unexpected.”

“Good. Here’s how it will work. I’m going to officially make you my personal assistant. Think of it as a lateral move, but in reality, you’ll be on a training track for senior management. Keep your head down, work hard, and it’ll happen before you know it. You’re brilliant, Tobie. Some of the analyses you’ve come up with over the years have been downright genius. You’d be wasted as a junior analyst. I want to train you to be more. How about it?”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, you can start by saying ‘Thank you, Mr. Jones.’“ That wide, white grin played havoc with my libido.

“Thank you, Mr. Jones,” I said, with an answering grin.

“You’re welcome, Tobie. Now, run along and tell Carly to send in the next associate. We’ll move you closer to my office next week and then the training will begin. I’ll expect a lot from you, Tobie. I hope you’re up for it.”

“I am, sir. Looking forward to it, actually,” I responded.

“Me, too.”

I spent the rest of the afternoon in a daze, hardly able to focus on the computer screen. Assistant VP was something out of my wildest dreams, and so soon! It seemed that all my sacrifices were finally going to pay off.

* * * *

It was eight o’clock when I got home that night, and I was restless. Usually, I would put a frozen dinner in the microwave to heat up while I showered, then watch whatever show I had recorded. But I wasn’t in the mood. I needed to get out for a change, maybe celebrate my promotion. In my mind I could almost see John cheering me on in my decision.

I decided to go to Burkhart’s. It was nine o’clock in the evening when I got to the club. I ordered a beer and watched the patrons as they danced and sang along badly with the karaoke machine. I’d never been a big fan of clubbing and preferred things a little quieter. But it was still nice to do something different for a change, in the company of other men. Made me feel less lonely, I guess. Around eleven o’clock, after turning down multiple offers for a quickie, it was time to go.

I stood on the sidewalk for a minute and watched the cars go by before pulling out my phone to text for a cab. Just as I finished sending my location for pickup, I heard a shockingly familiar voice behind me.

“Well, now. Who do we have here?”

I whipped around to face Mal Jones.

“Wow, I didn’t see this coming,” I said to myself, or so I thought. Mal heard me loud and clear, though.

“I bet. So, what are you doing here, Tobie?”

“I…just hanging out, sir.”

“Call me Mal, Tobie. No need to be so formal outside of work.”

“Do you come to this club often?” he asked.

“Uh no, sir, I don’t. I just wanted to celebrate a little tonight. I’m usually too tired to go anywhere but bed after work. Speaking of which, I see my ride coming down the street. See you tomorrow.” I moved away, but Mal stopped me.

“Hey, hold up as a second. I don’t mean to be forward, but are you gay? I mean, this is a gay club, though not everyone who comes here is bent, I suppose.”

“Is this in any way related to my job, sir?”

“Of course not. I was just curious. I’m gay and new to town. I heard this was a cool place to hang out.”

“You’re gay?” I blurted, then stopped abruptly. Christ, my mouth.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it to come out like that,” I said. “Yes, I’m gay. I think this is a cool place, though I don’t come here often.”

My cab finally pulled up to the curb. I needed out of this conversation, right now.

“Okay, then. Good night, sir.”

“Wait, Tobie. Can’t we—” But before Mal could finish, I got into the cab and left. I was such a coward.

* * * *

I didn’t see Mal the rest of the week since he was out of town at a conference. By Friday, the five finalists were chosen. I watched as they strutted around the office, John among them.

“I don’t believe it, Tobie,” he gushed. “I thought sure as f**k you’d be one of us.”

I just shrugged my shoulders. “What’s the next step for you guys?”

“The Jones man emailed us some scenarios to work on this weekend. We have to be here at, like, seven o’clock in the morning. f**k, that’s early.”

“Still think he’s hot, now?” I taunted him.

“Hell, yeah,” he replied. “But maybe he could be a little bit more human? I mean, it’s the f*****g weekend!”

I laughed. “You’ll figure it out.”

“Oh, I know I will. He’s a lot like you, actually. Totally focused on the job at hand. But unlike you, he seems more relaxed about things.”

“Could be. I saw him outside Burkhart’s on Wednesday night.”

“Wait, you were at Burkhart’s? In the middle of the week? Did the sky fall?”

“Funny. I wanted to get out of my apartment for a while.”

“So, what happened?”

“Nothing. It freaked me out, seeing my boss at a gay club. And now he knows I’m gay. It was just awkward. I left as fast as I could.”

“Why did it freak you out? Oh wait, you like him, don’t you?”

“I didn’t say that!” John was always too perceptive for my own good.

“So what’s the big deal?” he asked.

“The deal is he’s my boss! We work together. It would be highly inappropriate for me to think about him in any way other than professionally. I’ve worked too hard to get where I am, just to get fired because I’m in lust with someone.”

John sighed. “Sweetheart, you worry too much. And I think you’re afraid of the possibility that something good might happen to you. You keep this up, and someday you’ll be president of the company and alone. And that’s just depressing.”