Page 8 of Untroubled Heart

Beth leans her shoulder against Steven’s. “He… crowned his jewels.”

I lean my elbow on the desk, slapping a palm to my face with a wounded sigh.

Steven gasps. “You frosted the tip? Or are we talking the whole enchilada?”

Beth holds up a hand. “I draw the line at specifics. Honestly, I’m grossed out to even know this much, but I am a nosy bitch at my core, and sometimes that life comes with certain burdens.”

“You could try minding your own business,” I mutter, leaning back in my chair.

“Ahh, have you met me? Anyway, what were you guys talking about?”

“Hang on!” Steven argues. “If you bedazzled the goods, why are you celibate? I’d be testing that out.” He turns his head to Beth. “I’ve never been with someone pierced, but it has always intrigued me.”

“Oh my god—”

“Don’t finish that sentence.” I point at my sister. I agree with her earlier sentiment and draw the line at specifics when it comes to family.

“Fine.” Steven huffs, then throws a leg over his knee, bouncing it as his pout turns to a smile. “Then tell me about this girl.”

“Steven’s resigning!” I shout, knowing I could count on my sister’s reaction to completely halt any further questions about my mystery woman from the weekend.

She rears back, clutching the arms of the chair. “What?!”

Steven pulls his phone out of his pocket and types against the screen. “Barrett and I won the lotto, and we decided to put an offer in on a ski resort in Port Yarra. We move in two weeks to start a full-scale renovation.” He hands Beth his phone, no doubt showing her the same listing he just showed me.

“That’s so exciting.” Beth beams and leans over to pull him into a hug. “Congratulations.”

The two of them gush over ideas, and whilst I’m happy for Steven, I’m not happy with this sudden disruption to my otherwise untroubled world.

Lately, it feels like everything’s so muddled, and I have no clue how to make it right.

***

Steven makes notes on his laptop as he tries and fails to muffle his laugh.

I spin on my chair, glaring at him. “This is your fault.”

“They haven’t been that bad,” he says.

We just finished the thirteenth interview for the week, something I absolutely don’t have time for.

I throw my head back with a groan and run my hands down my face. “I thought I said I wanted someone older. And why are they all women?”

Steven gasps. “Don’t think you can replace me with another gay man, Mason Heart.”

“It would serve you right,” I mumble, my foot bouncing as defeat sets in. “You know, I have other gay friends.”

“Now you’re just trying to be hurtful,” Steven teases. This is exactly what I’m going to miss.

Over the years, Steven and I have built a relationship that’s perfectly balanced between professional respect and light-hearted humour. You can’t simply replace that with a click of your fingers or a handful of interviews.

“I don’t know what to tell you.” Steven starts shuffling through the paperwork of all the applicants we’ve seen so far. “All I listed were the desired professional qualifications. Surely one of the women we’ve seen fits the bill. Wasn’t this one okay? Mallory Dodd. She worked for a year with KingTech.”

I take the resume he hands over to me, immediately setting it face down on the table. “More like Mallory Dud. She was trying to play footsies with me the whole time.” I have no problem with a wandering foot, but I’m not interested in that shit at work. I will under no circumstances have a reputation for sleeping with an employee, especially not an assistant.

For starters, it’s a walking cliché, and I pride myself on being anything but predictable or unoriginal. And secondly, that sounds like a scandal that would not only embarrass my parents, but my Grams. I’m her pride and joy. Her favourite. It’s never been confirmed, but it’s also never been denied. I could never bring my Grams shame. She’s worked her whole life to build the reputation and legacy of the Heart name. People can call me the playboy or the fun and unserious one, but I’d never do something that would make my Grams disappointed in me.

“Maybe someone we already have on staff in the admin team wants a promotion?”