Title: After Hours
Series: After Hours, Book One
Author: Emjay Haze
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: April 9, 2018
Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 90300
Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, Contemporary,romance,waiter,nightclub,businessman,chef
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Synopsis
Alex Michaels is a successful manager
for a Wall-Street financial firm and lives in a beautiful hi-rise apartment
overlooking Central Park. Anyone looking in from the outside would say Alex has
it made, especially his working-class parents who wanted more for their only
son.
Nick is working his way through graduate
school with dreams of becoming a teacher so he can help kids like himself. With
his parents cutting him off and leaving him with nothing but a student
apartment and low self-esteem, he’s determined to make something of himself in
spite of them.
Even Nick's club friends think Alex is
too good for him, but Alex keeps showing Nick how worthy he is. Alex learns a
lot from Nick, too—how not to give up on his dreams.
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Excerpt
After Hours
Emjay Haze © 2018
All Rights Reserved
Chapter One
“Please come to my office for a minute,”
the mid-regional director bellowed, his voice deep with authority, causing Alex
to redirect himself from heading to his own office. He followed the older
gentleman around the corner and down the long hallway to the executive suites.
He’d hoped to be there one day himself but had a long claw to go. Yes, claw.
That’s how you got ahead in this place.
Alex had been a manager at the Manhattan
financial advising firm for the last four years, having been promoted from
sales where he’d landed out of grad school. They called it middle management
for a reason. You were stuck right in the center, with twenty employees always
needing your attention, and upper management wanting a little more blood. It
was exhausting.
He shouldn’t really complain. His job
paid the bills for a very nice Manhattan apartment three blocks from Central
Park with a gorgeous view of the city. He’d become what his parents had dreamed
for him, in every way. Robert and Martha Michaels lived on the outskirts of St.
Louis. They both had decent jobs, but a lack of college education had kept them
from the “good life,” as they called it, and they wanted more for their only
son.
“Come in, Alex.” Mr. Kensington motioned
for Alex to enter his spacious corner office with the big windows, which
overlooked the New York skyline. It was breathtaking, and a little
intimidating.
“Thank you, Mr. Kensington.”
“I think it’s time you called me
Mitchell.” Mr. Kensington flashed him a wide grin. Alex wondered if his friends
called him Mitch. He glanced at the distinguished gray-haired gentleman with
the thousand-dollar suit. Mitchell it is.
“Thank you, M—Mitchell.”
“Have a seat, Alex.” His smile
disappeared. He was all business.
Alex took a deep breath and sat in the
leather-upholstered chair in front of Mr. Kensington’s mahogany desk. His boss
sat behind it in an even larger chair that would have sucked Alex in if he’d
tried to sit in it, yet Mr. Kensington sat ramrod straight. Alex couldn’t
imagine what this was about as the seconds ticked away. Maybe he was getting
fired. He gulped.
“Alex, I value your work here at the
firm.”
“Thank you, sir.” A bead of sweat formed
at the base of his hairline.
Mr. Kensington glared at him, knitting
his eyebrows together.
“Mitchell,” Alex squeaked. That would
take some getting used to.
Mr. Kensington stood up, appearing even
more intimidating as Alex craned his neck to meet his gaze. “Due to business
booming, we’re expanding the operation, Alex, and I’d like you to be a part of
a new division.”
Alex’s eyes grew wide. Did this mean a
promotion? Was he finally getting an executive position? He sat straighter,
waiting for the man to make his point.
“As you know, middle manager is the most
important position in this firm,” Mr. Kensington said, pacing back and forth in
front of Alex. “You have responsibilities on both ends. It’s not easy finding
someone who fits so well in that position, with the respect of both upper
management and his employees.”
Where the heck was this heading? It
didn’t sound like a promotion.
“And you are a good manager, Alex,” he
continued. “Your troops like you, and they’re productive. That’s a huge
accomplishment for anyone.”
“Thank you, s—Mitchell.” Alex took a
deep breath, waiting for him to get to his fucking point.
Mr. Kensington came around his desk and
walked behind Alex. Stopping, he placed his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “I am
appointing you manager of the new Celebrities account division, so you will be
taking some of the most important accounts this company currently has, as well
as acquiring new ones. You will report to the new divisional director, Karl
Morrison, from our west coast branch.”
Karl Morrison, who the fuck was that?
Another middle manager getting his big promotion? Alex seethed, but kept it
cool on the outside. “What does this mean for me, sir?” He tried smiling, but
it came out as more of a sneer with his teeth clenched. Fortunately, Mr.
Kensington was still behind him.
“A ten thousand dollar a year increase
and larger staff,” Mr. Kensington said as he slithered back behind his desk.
“You will manage our most prestigious division, Alex.”
As a middle manager and not an
executive. He worked up a more believable smile. “Thank you, s—Mitchell.”
Mr. Kensington nodded. “You deserve it,
son. Karl will arrive later this month, so you have some time to wrap up your
current accounts. You will also choose staff to bring with you—oh, and please
see Human Resources for your requirements for the new positions.”
So, I do the work and Mr. Karl Morrison
swoops in next month and gets what should be my corner office. “I won’t let you
down, sir.”
He smiled and nodded, as if to say I
know you won’t. “Oh, and Barbara will order business cards with your new
title.” Mitchell sat down behind his desk again.
“New title?” Did I miss something?
“Senior Manager. Congratulations, Alex.”
Alex faked a smile. “Thank you, sir.” It
was still middle management. He should be ecstatic. Mr. Kensington could have
passed on him completely. So, why did he feel like punching him in the face?
Mr. Kensington dismissed him by standing
up and motioning to the door. Alex also stood and shook his hand, thanking him
once more and attempting a more believable smile. At least it was more money,
and it might be interesting work at that. He wondered if this was the success
his parents intended for him when they made him quit culinary school at the end
of his first year and go to a real college for a business degree. Stuck in
middle management for the rest of his life. God, he sounded pathetic—and
ungrateful.
Alex walked back to his windowless
office and sighed as he sat down on the much smaller and less comfortable
fabric chair at his plain oak desk. Would he ever get a nice chair like Mr.
Kensington—err, Mitchell?
The day was almost over, and he couldn’t
wait for that clock to strike five. He had nowhere to go, unfortunately, but he
liked the quiet after everyone left for the day. No snotty salesman knocking on
his door asking for a day off or a better commission structure. No director
buzzing his phone asking where the weekly report was. He put his elbows on his
desk and rubbed his fingers through his hair. He usually waited for the
cleaning guy who always had a good story to tell. Maybe he should go home, or
better, go out and get laid.
As if the gods had heard him, there was
a rap on the door and his beautiful secretary, Belinda, peeked her head in.
“Hey, boss. A few of us girls are going out tonight to a club and thought you
might join us.”
Alex pictured an overcrowded dance club
where horny straight guys hit on his coworkers while he sat and brooded over
his gin and tonic or something that said straight-boy. “Uh, no, thanks,
Belinda. You guys have a great time, though.”
“Oh, no,” she said, walking into his
office. “We picked this club for you.” She shook her finger at him and winked.
“You’re going to a gay club for me?” He
raised an eyebrow. He had never hidden his sexuality from his assistant.
“No, silly. We wanted to go anyway, but
honestly, it’s better if we take a gay man with us.” She froze. “Yeah, that
didn’t come out quite right.” She straightened her skirt and regrouped,
apparently searching for her next words. “We want you to come with us. You’ll
have a great time, I promise.”
Alex chuckled, shaking his head. “Might
be exactly what I need. I’m in.”
“Good. You work too hard. Maybe you’ll
meet a nice man—and get lucky.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
Belinda had worked for Alex ever since
he moved to management. She was in her early thirties, single, and she had a
lot of friends at the firm. The tall, fiery redhead had long, wavy hair and big
blue eyes, and was well-endowed in all the areas that straight men found
attractive. Alex thought she liked working for him mainly because he didn’t
undress her with his eyes every time she walked into the room. She’d
practically told him that one night as she was heading out and one of the
supervisors was leaving Alex’s office. He’d given her a creepy once-over as he
passed her. She’d rolled her eyes and entered Alex’s office, shutting the door
behind her. Then she’d spilled her troubles.
Alex was empathetic, and she’d thanked
him for treating her like a human. They’d become friends after that, but never
took it outside the office. It might be fun having a night out with the girls.
He didn’t want to do anything that would have them all talking about him at the
watercooler the next morning, though. That shit could get around quickly. No,
he’d have to keep it PG. Still, it would be nice to get out and watch cute boys
on the dance floor, even if they were only dancing with his friends. He hadn’t
done that since college.
Alex shut down his computer and followed
Belinda into the elevator. “We’re meeting everyone in the lobby,” she explained
as three women Alex recognized but barely knew barreled over to them.
“Alex, this is Hannah from accounting,
Jill, Mr. Lawson’s admin, and Barb, you know.”
“Hi, Alex,” Barb said. She was Mr.
Kensington’s assistant. “Congratulations on the promotion.” He had spoken with
her many times, but never on a personal level.
“What?” Alex hadn’t thought of his move
from manager to senior manager as a promotion. “Oh, thanks. I’m thrilled.” He
hoped he sounded convincing.
“What’s this?” Belinda hadn’t heard yet,
because Alex hadn’t told her. He felt like shit.
“They offered me senior manager with a
new division. I found out earlier today before you walked in my office. Sorry,
I should have told you.”
“That’s awesome, boss. Does that mean…?”
“You’re coming with me,” he said. “I
couldn’t do my job without you, Bels.”
“Oh, thank God. I’d hate having to break
in a new boss.” Her tone was flippant, but Alex knew better. She didn’t want to
have someone with authority ogling her all day. He stifled a chuckle.
“Well, come on, ladies. I see you’ve
been looking forward to this all day.”
He groaned as they chatted excitedly all
the way to the parking garage. He hoped he wouldn’t embarrass himself. Why did
he think going out with coworkers to a gay club was a good idea?
Alex drove Belinda and Barbara, while
the other two followed them in Jill’s car. This way, Belinda explained, if Alex
wanted to leave early, or later, then he’d have his own car and the four women
could drive back to the office together. He wasn’t planning on taking anyone
home tonight. Not with witnesses to discuss it at work the next day.
They pulled up to the curb outside the
club. Alex got an immediate case of nerves as he stepped out of his car.
“Look at this place,” Belinda said,
following him. “We’re gonna have a blast.”
Meet the Author
Emjay Haze is a pen name for a wife,
mother, and writer of gay romance. She resides in Northern Virginia with her
husband, two teenagers, a new puppy, cat, gecko, and several fish. She always
loved writing and fell in love with the genre seven years ago after discovering
the world of fanfiction. She went back to school to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree
in Creative Writing from SNHU where she graduated in April, 2015, with a
renewed desire of making her dreams of becoming a published author come true.
She has a wide and diverse work history
in the fields of travel, hotel management, high-tech communications, web
development, real estate, and the nonprofit health care industry where she has
held positions such as travel agent, hotel concierge, web programmer, Realtor,
account manager, and many, many others, giving her a varied and unique set of
experiences that she draws upon in her stories and characters. Her interests
include music and pop culture, and she is an advocate for the LGBT community.
Her stories delve into all types of
romantic relationships, regardless of sexuality, with a focus on first times
and new encounters in a lighthearted style with a goal to gain a diverse
readership and broaden the minds of those who might not normally pick up an
LGBTQ romance because it’s more about the person than the sexuality. She’ll
take you on a roller-coaster journey, but you’ll always get a happy ending.
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