“Thanks,” Mark said as he turned to pick up his cup and take a sip. “And, I’m sorry.”
Holden lifted an eyebrow. “For?”
“Being late, and…dramatic, and—”
“A cockblocker.” Holden rolled his eyes.
“Wha—” Mark’s eyes widened.
“Never mind. Just do your work. You’re very talented, but you’re also a huge pain in the ass and never more so than today. None of my other artists caused so much trouble, and I wouldn’t put up with it if they tried. You’re lucky I have a soft spot for you, you little spaz.”
Mark took another sip and then grinned. “I’m special.”
Holden sighed. “That’s what you took for what I said?”
Mark nodded before turning toward his work. Holden shook his head. The desire to knock him off his stool was palpable, but smacking the overly sensitive, neurotic, and oddly promiscuous whiner would only cause more hold-ups, and ever since Holden moved back to the States, the little guy was also the closest thing he had to a best friend. The transition had been tough for Holden and Mark had been the only one to reach out to him during the worst of it.
Mark didn’t look up from his work as he asked, “How’s your brother?”
“Half-brother and I’m guessing he still hates me.”
“I’m sure it’s not to that extent. He’s just jealous.”
Holden scoffed. “What does that spoiled asshole have to be envious of? Dad raised him, gave him everything, including his last name, and made him his heir.”
“Your father brought you over to train and join the company. That has to mean something.”
Holden laughed bitterly. “Are you stupid? He needed a spare, and to light a fire under Ian’s ass. My mere presence made the spoiled brat to stop slacking off start taking his position seriously, which in turn allowed their father to dump more responsibility on Ian. Slowly their father moved toward an early retirement filled with golf, wine, and high cholesterol foods the old man shouldn’t be eating.”
Mark giggled while adding some shading to his drawing. “That sucks. I thought Mr. Lord brought you over because the business was in trouble.”
“That’s what he said, but it was bull shit.” Holden dropped his ass on a stool next to Mark and slurped his java. “Lord Publishing was in the black from all the erotic romance eBooks alone.”
Mark fanned himself with the neckline of his shirt. “Yaaasss! I live for that shit. We have some talent in the House of Lord.”
The corners of Holden’s lips turned upward. “Why am I not surprised?”
“You were so salty when you were transferred to work with us.”
“Wouldn’t you be if someone was jerking you around and stuck you somewhere just because they wanted you to be lost?”
“You showed that prick! Sales are way up.” Holden could feel Mark’s smirk without even looking.
“Did you tell you dad how you feel?”
“Pfft…Alexander Lord is the same manipulative, selfish bastard he has always been. He didn’t mind disrupting my whole life on a farce so why would he care?”
“Didn’t he come clean about you to his wife years ago so he could include you in the family?”
“Like I’d leave my mom all alone—fuck that, but I confronted Ian about the transfer. He handed me a bunch of bullocks about rotating him through all of the departments.”
“But you think it’s retaliation for being born?”
“It was. Whatever. Don’t care anymore. He ended up unwittingly doing me a huge favor. Do your damn work and mind your own business.”
“Oh, I’m so touched.”
“The fuck?”
“The favor—meeting me.”
Holden rolled his eyes and drank some more coffee as hie recalled his first taste of the graphic novel department. He’d had no idea what to expect and felt like quitting, but he didn’t want to let Ian win so he resolved to succeed come hell or high water. He dug in and learned everything he could about the genre and found himself enjoying it.
“Even when my contributions bolstered sales, Ian used my accomplishments against me by praising me to our father just so he could look like a doting brother while getting me stuck in graphic novels for much longer than originally planned.
Mark shrugged. “Lucky you, getting to stay with me longer.”
Holden at him, wondering if Mark was serious since his delusional thought processes never ceased to surprise him. “Um, no…but I did meet the pretty redhead who just left to pick up takeout.” His mind buzzed back to the amazing experience the two had shared earlier in the day. His heart pounded as he recalled their first kiss. After wanting her for so long, the memory seemed surreal. Now if I can just get this nutter squared away, I can finish what we started.
Mark nodded. “She’s hot. “Do you think she hates me?”
Holden shook his head. He doubted Mary Allison felt strongly enough about Mark for such a harsh emotion. At best she found him tolerable; at worst, she was indifferent. “No, I’m sure she doesn’t hate you. If anything, she’ll be mad at me for exposing her to such a big ball of insanity, but she can’t say I hadn’t warned her.
“Ugh? How mean.” Mark feign hurt and mocked crying before starting to laugh. “She’s kinda sexy with that booty, huh?”
Holden raised an eyebrow at the other man and replied slowly, “Yeah.”
“You think she will request not to ever have to work with me again?” He asked while drawing.
Holden chuckled. “I think you’re missing something here. Mary Allison isn’t one of our part-timers. She’s here to help you as a favor to me.”
Mark’s eyes widened and his lips parted as he looked over to the side. “What? She’s good. She can’t be some amateur.” He scratched his head with the dull end of his pencil.
Holden lightly smacked his friend on the back of the head. “Don’t be daft.
