Chapter Five

Hollis

Hollis shuffled the papers in front of him before slipping them into the file he'd spent hours preparing for the upcoming meeting. One he'd scheduled after deciding to send out the PA assignments first, to give the alphas time to digest the decisions he'd made. Or rather, give them time to calm their asses down.

He'd done that on Friday then put his out of office on his email and work phone. A smile teased his lips at how that got Lane texting him privately with a thumbs up at the move. It had been decided, during the formal dinner Derick and Lane invited him to on Friday evening so that he could formally accept the position, that he would keep them in the loop until he was satisfied things were working as they should be. They'd both been supportive and they were going to keep this bit of information to themselves. Hollis was happy with that as he didn't want to make a dick of himself .

He also didn't like surprises so he'd gotten approval from both men and now he was ‘going in prepared for battle'. He nodded his head at his empty office as he rose. Checking his suit jacket sat properly and that his shirt and tie were as they should be, he gave another nod of approval. He looked like a professional. Creases were not acceptable, not when he wanted to project an air of confidence.

‘Show no weakness.' Lane's words rang through his mind as he tucked the file under his arm and exited his office.

On the same floor as the other PAs', his office was situated closest to the lift. He sighed in relief when he didn't encounter anyone. That would come later, once they figured out who they'd been assigned too. Something he'd not shared as yet, knowing he'd not escape the inquisition before his nine-thirty meeting in the boardroom. And if he knew his foe they might insist on changes. Ones Hollis was adamant wouldn't be happening!

His fingers tapped absently on the file tucked under his arm, his thoughts on everything he'd decided upon as he entered the lift. Up to this point, the PAs were allocated on a needs basis, based on who was available. Hollis decided that wasn't going to work when all the brothers were now at head office. He was aware some, like Silas, had other investments that required some of their time to be utilized in the working week. Working on that principle, he'd decided—for good or bad—that each brother needed a designated PA to prevent a catch up game for the PA and the alpha. It made total sense to him and Lane had beamed so happily when he'd suggested it, Hollis felt he was off to a good start.

Although he wasn't stupid enough to consider that the brothers wouldn't be testy with him and by extension, the PAs he managed. To circumvent some of the issues early on, he had given much thought over the weekend on how to handle the meeting he was about to have with the brothers.

What he'd avoided thinking about was Taylin and how it made total sense for him to be assigned to him.

You are so silly. He'll know you don't want him anywhere near Frey!

It was hard not to snap aloud in the empty lift when it came to a stop and the doors opened to reveal the man in question stood a few feet away.

Hollis's scowl was all for his animal but got aimed at Taylin, whose smile dimmed when he noticed who was in the lift and gazed at his face. Hollis resisted the temptation to explain something that would only make him sound foolish, and clutched the file tighter.

It was then he registered how handsome Taylin looked as his gaze swept over the handsome man. Oh, where's the CPR machine! Hollis's throat made a clicking sound as he gulped. Then, gathering himself, he plastered on a professional smile.

"Morning," Hollis murmured, pleased when his voice didn't have a tremor to it, despite his insides quaking at how well the charcoal suit fit Taylin's broad frame. Or how the array of brown, tumbled curls framed his gorgeous face. His jaw held a hint of dark stubble and highlighted its squareness as eyes not quite blue or gray got crinkly lines at the edges. They revealed Taylin's amusement when he stepped aside, and Hollis took more than a few seconds to gather himself while licking at his dry lips.

The elevator door starting to shut brought him to his senses and he stepped out blushing furiously, nearly getting sideswiped by the doors.

"Morning Hollis. I like those new frames. They are much like the ones you wore for your interview."

Taylin's husky voice brought him up short, and he answered without thinking. "My animal broke the arm of my main pair, so I had to use my spares."

Taylin took hold of his elbow in a move that was both sweet and sexy, to guide him down the carpeted hallway towards the boardroom. A fluttered feeling in Hollis's stomach was joined by the urge to lean into the touch and get a better smell of Taylin's scent. Yet, another part of him wanted to yank away like he had gotten burned, trying to figure out what Taylin's game was.

"Why did he break them?"

At the genuine interest, Hollis' feet faltered, a smile tugging on the corner of his lips at how sulky his animal had gotten. "Because I had restricted his fruit consumption."

The hand never moved from the crook of his arm and heat was spreading to places it had no business going when they entered the boardroom.

"Why'd you do that?" Taylin asked, sounding curious despite his chuckling.

Hollis forgot himself at the weight of Taylin's gaze when they came to a stop. The intensity of his focus on Hollis had sparks of excitement ride on the train heading south.

"Getting in early I see, brother, to make sure Hollis is swayed to vote for you, hey?" Booker asked, jarring Hollis from his daydream that the attraction between was real and not just one sided.

A further blush deepened the heat coating Hollis's cheeks and made sure no one missed his discomfort. He tugged his arm free and stepped away, doing his best to keep his head up and his spine straight at having gotten so spectacularly caught ogling Taylin in front of… all his brothers.

Great start! He chastised himself when it registered all the other brothers were seated around the boardroom table, entertaining themselves at Hollis's expense.

That would never do.

Spine stiffer than a metal rod, he strode to his seat and placed his file down in front of him. He gave himself a few seconds pulling out copies of what he'd outlined for the meeting. He looked at Silas first as he was directly to his left and offered the sheath of papers. "This is the outline for the meeting. You'll see that I've highlighted in each the PAs' skills and experience—"

"Yeah, let's start there! What's this crap about the allocations." This came from Jupiter.

Hollis continued on like he'd not so rudely been interrupted. He'd deal with Jupiter later, and kept his thoughts about why Jupiter was ready to protest to himself.

He was aware that Jupiter had a preference to work with Frey. He was almost sure that they'd been intimate, but that was none of his business as long as Frey did his job. "I've matched each PA to your area of expertise. It makes more sense when your workloads will increase from now on."

"How will it help when I have to keep explaining things!" Booker growled, clearly remembering his past run in with Hollis about this same thing when he'd gotten Wilder one week then Isley the next. This was why this would be better for all of them long term, if they gave him a damn chance to explain .

He turned to Booker, feeling the sting of anger as he gave Hollis a hard eyed stare that was something Hollis had trained himself not to turn away from. "If you let me finish? This will keep that from happening—"

"Unless they have a heat." The comment from Kodi got an indrawn breath from where Taylin was seated.

Hollis didn't look away from Kodi and held up his hand when Rue gritted out, "That's a low fucking blow, Kodi."

"No, it's a valid point and as Kodi has had call to have issues with this before, I've given you all access to the calendar that the omegas use to show what days they won't be available to you."

His gaze traveled around the table, making sure to hold each man's stare. He wasn't embarrassed, more uncomfortable talking about something so personal but it was something they needed to talk about, despite the accusatory tone in which it had been said.

"Accessing the calendar will allow you to plan around those absences. If there is an issue, then you will need to let me know and I'll work to find a solution that works for you. "

Silas squirmed in his seat and Kari slumped next to Kodi, who still didn't look convinced. Hollis continued to lay out how things were going to work from now on. This was his area of expertise and Lane entrusted him to make it work. And by heck, he would.

There were no more interruptions until he got to the part involving the vote he'd need to make if they couldn't decide.

"Now, I suggest a board meeting once a month to discuss any upcoming decisions that impact beyond your own areas."

"Who died and put you in charge?" Laken muttered.

"Powers gone to his head!" Kari said at the same time.

Taylin pushed back his chair with enough force it rocked as he stood, his hands forming into fists that he shoved into his trouser pockets. "Give the fuck over. He's only trying to figure out the best way to get us to work together."

He might as well have been talking double Dutch because Hollis's gaze was eye level with Taylin's crotch, where his slacks were emphasizing the bulge of his cock.

A groan inadvertently slipped out.

"Something caught your attention, Hollis?" Rue's voice held a wealth of amusement and snapped through Hollis's thoughts. A surge of heat ran from his toes right through to his ears at super-fast speed.

"Yes! That we are losing track of what's important."

"Taylin's cock," Booker murmured quietly, but Hollis and the others never missed it.

It was hard to resist looking at Taylin to see his reaction, but he managed to keep his expression neutral—as much as anyone could with a radiator heating his face—and rose slowly.

"I can make this process easy or I can make it hard. The decision is yours." Hollis scooped up the papers and shoved them into the file with hands that weren't quite steady.

"You had to open your big mouth, Booker," Taylin stated in a flat tone. "We're sorry Hollis."

He didn't acknowledge the apology with how hard it was to gauge Taylin's overall feelings about what had happened. He swung on his heel to a deafening silence and marched to the door. He paused, glancing back and got a smug feeling at the shocked expressions.

"When you're willing to stop behaving like spoiled children, then and only then will I arrange another meeting. Until then, my time is too valuable to waste on you."

He left, his heart hammering against his ribs in a fast tattoo, heading to Monica. He needed to hide out and regroup because he'd just stood up to eight alphas and survived.

Ignoring the fact you got caught ogling Taylin's cock.

"Oh, shut up!"