Guarding His Heart

“What’s up?” I asked her as she wasn’t speaking.

“I just want to make sure that you really want to work for your dad.” She searched my eyes. “And that it’s not just out of obligation.”

“It’s a bit of both.” I shrugged. “I mean, I’ve never wanted to work for him, but I’m getting older now. I can’t be a bouncer for the rest of my life.”

“Yeah.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “A change will be good for you. And I really do hope you meet someone.”

“I wouldn’t count on it.” I laughed. “I don’t plan on meeting anyone for anything other than a night or two.”

“Oh Leo.” She sighed and smiled at me. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Well, seeing as I can’t say sleep with me,” I grinned at her reddening face. “Your husband would kill me if I said or did that.”

“Leo.” She giggled and hit me on the shoulder. “That’s so inappropriate.”

“I’m joking.” I laughed. “Don’t let Zane know though, or he might just kill me.”

“Leo, I hope you meet someone soon and I hope you fall in love.” She gave me a big smile. “I want our babies to grow up together.”

“Please don’t tell me your friend Leeza is coming back to town.” I faked a shudder. “Please do not try and hook us up together.”

“Leo.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You’re going to meet your match you know. One of these days, you’re going to meet a girl and she’s going to make you forget all your fears and jokes.”

“I wouldn’t count on it.” I shook my head as I stood. “Now excuse me, I need to use the restroom before the food gets here.” I strode out of the room quickly, hoping to stop the conversation about my love life. I loved Lucky, but I was fed up of everyone trying to tell me I needed to fall in love. I didn’t do love. I didn’t want love. And I sure didn’t want to hear about it anymore.

***

It felt odd to be wearing a suit to work. The tie felt claustrophobic around my neck and I wanted to rip it off. I sighed as I got out of my car and made my way into the building. I really, really didn’t want to be working in corporate America again. I’d worked for my dad for six months when I’d graduated from college and it had been the worst experience of my life. I’d felt overwhelmed by the numbers of people that had sucked up to me just because they knew my dad owned the company.

I had left the company with the reluctant support of my dad and overwhelming support from Zane. He’d known what it was to not want to follow in your father’s footsteps. In fact, Zane and I had practically been twins. We’d been best friends for ages. We’d always hung out together and we both liked picking up women. That was until he’d gone and moved to Miami and met Lucky.

I always thought that baby brain was a female thing. They get pregnant, they have the baby, and all of a sudden the baby takes over their life. I had no idea that men could get baby brain as well. Especially Zane. He’s been my best friend for years and the one thing we always had in common was the fact that we didn’t let women take over our lives. No relationship was ever that important. Then he went and found Lucky and everything changed. They got married and now he’s a dad. Sometimes, I don’t even recognize him anymore. It’s all good though. I like Lucky and sometimes I even think that Zane found his perfect match, but there is no way I ever want to go down that road. No way, Jose.

“Good Morning, Mr. Maxwell, your father will meet you in your office on the tenth floor.” The receptionist beamed at me as I walked past the main desk in the foyer of Maxwell Enterprises.

“Morning.” I nodded, without smiling. I was annoyed. I hadn’t been in the building for years, yet she still remembered me. I could see the glances I was receiving as I walked to the elevator. I could almost hear what they were all whispering, what they were likely all sending to each other via text message. “Did you hear? The prodigal son returns.”

I walked into the elevator and was about to press the button when a long leg entered the elevator with me. “Please keep the doors open.” She gasped out as she ran in and joined me.

“You’re safe.” I said dryly before hitting the button to close the door. “What floor are you going to?”

“Ten, please.” She looked up at me with wide, open brown eyes and a head of messy brown hair. “Thanks.”

“No worries.” I shrugged and looked away from her.

“What floor are you on? Are you new?” She asked me and I looked at her in surprise. Hadn’t she heard the news? The CEO’s son had returned to take his rightful place in the company?

“Don’t worry about it.” I shrugged. It was starting already. Girls were pretending they didn’t know who I was, so they could try and trap me.

“I wasn’t worrying about it.” Her voice sounded sarcastic and I looked up at her again and studied her face. She was prettier than I’d initially thought, now that her hair was tied back. In fact, she was a lot prettier than I thought. I turned away from her again. I didn’t have time to worry about pretty faces.

“Good.” I gave her a small smile and tried to ignore the long expanse of leg she had on display. We stood there in silence for the new few seconds until the elevator started moving.