Stepbrother With Benefits by Lana J. Swift Read Free Book Online

thereby letting everyone down.
     
    Jack had been so certain that everyone would like whatever idea he came up with – mainly because they always had – that he’d completely missed the obvious, and no one on his team had the courage to tell a grieving widower that he was an idiot.
     
    Oh, but some part of him had known that something was wrong. It had been eating away at Jack’s confidence for weeks, but he’d chalked up the churning butterflies to mere performance anxiety. All because he’d been on the sidelines for too long. It would all get better just as soon as he was back in the saddle.
     
    Still, Jack knew there was nothing he could do except roll with the punches and keep plodding ahead, even if his workload would be insane for the next few days. He had to meet with his team. Get their honest feedback... and together, come up with something catchy. Something edgy.
     
    Or at least, something better. And fast!
     
    “Hey, Jack – hold up there...”
     
    Jack involuntarily cringed at hearing Tom’s voice. If anyone ever had reason to ask if he had any enemies that might wish him harm... Tom’s name would be the only one to come to mind.
     
    “Yeah, Tom?” replied Jack warily, slowing his pace but not turning around. He didn’t need to see that greased-back hair, or that expensive tailored Italian suit that somehow always seemed to fit the man poorly.
     
    “I just want you to know there’s no hard feelings.”
     
    He’d have to be more specific than that. “For...?”
     
    Tom hesitated. “Uh, well... because the boss isn’t going with your campaign, right? It’s a shame you had to come all the way down here and won’t even get to present anything to Matsukisha.”
     
    “That hasn’t actually been decided yet,” replied Jack, clenching his jaw.
     
    Tom snorted. “Oh, but it’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? Even mighty you can’t pull off a one-day miracle, man. This kind of shit takes focus groups and weeks of planning – and you’ve already fucked away an entire month!”
     
    “I’ve done it before. Remember Procter & Gamble?”
     
    “Yeah, but that was before your...” Tom’s sentence faded off, obviously thinking twice about what he was going to next say. “Well, back when you were still Morton’s number one guy. Now... your head’s just not in the game, man. It’s obvious to everyone.”
     
    Of that, he was sadly right. “Things have changed, Tom. I just may surprise you.” If only Jack believed it himself.
     
    “Well, don’t waste too much of your time. Morton told me he’s pretty much dead set on my plan anyways. About time someone other than you got a decent bonus around here. It’s not like you’ve got anyone waiting at home to provide for.”
     
    Jack was so stunned by that offhand comment, that he thought he’d misheard what Tom had said, and took a moment to replay it in his head. But when he realized that he hadn’t, Jack spun around in rank indignation – to an empty hallway. Tom was already gone, leaving behind little more than the pungent scent of cheap cologne.
     
    Shit. Well, nothing like the motivation of wanting to crush someone to prod you into doing your very best! Suddenly, there was a ton of work to get done before the trip home on Thursday morning.
     
    So much for having any kind of fun this week with Ellie and her weird friends!
     

Chapter Six
     
    J ack and his team worked late into the night, suffering through a hurried dinner of mediocre Chinese delivery and more horrid coffee than he cared to think about. But, when the fatigue in his co-workers’ faces became too obvious to ignore, he finally called it quits and sent everyone home.
     
    It was nearly eleven o’clock before Jack stumbled through Ellie’s battered apartment door, stressed out and exhausted. His sister hugged him warmly, knowing he still had hours of work to finish that night.
     
    After grabbing a quick snack and chatting with the others for a few minutes, Jack