Oliver's Online (2 page)

When Becca let out a gasp, Oliver dared to glance over his shoulder. Seeing her expression he let out a moan. Whenever Becca got an
eureka
look on her face that usually meant trouble. Trouble from Becca was always a bad, bad thing.

“I know the perfect job for you,” she exclaimed.

“If it involves a cowboy hat, me, a room full of men and a pole, you can forget it,” Oliver denounced.

“No, we both know you can’t dance worth a damn. You’d never make it as a stripper. They’d throw quarters on the stage instead of dollar bills.” She made a raspberry noise.

“Then what is this wonderful idea of yours?” He hated to ask but he knew she wouldn’t leave until he did.

“You remember Lane—Vance and Patrick’s friend?”

“Tall guy? Dark hair that looks like it was made to be tugged on while giving a blowjob? Warm, brown eyes that appear like they’re always saying
fuck me, baby
? A body that seems like it was made for the sole purpose of me to climb onto and fuck into oblivion? That Lane? Hmmm…I think I may recall him.”

She arched a brow. “And yet everybody calls me the slut. Any-hoo, he’s finally getting around to opening up his own company, and he may be looking for some help.”

“What kind of company?”

“He’s going into the sex industry, too, but he’s keeping it on a more personal level. Live cam shows, phone-sex lines…”

“They still have those?”

She gave him a harsh look for interrupting her. “As I was saying. He’s getting ready to open up tomorrow, but he still needs staff. You could go down and apply. I’m sure he’d find a spot for you.”

“I don’t know,” Oliver hedged. “It still sounds like charity to me.”

She slammed her palm on the table. “No, it’s nepotism, which is completely different. You don’t owe Lane any money.”

“I don’t think I could do any live cam shows, though. It would feel creepy flashing my wiener out there for anybody to see.”

“Oh! My! God! Did you just call it a wiener? How old are you? Three?”

“You know what I mean. Besides it feels wrong to say cock in front of you.” A blush burned Oliver’s cheeks.

“Why? I say worse in front of you every day.” She stood up and held out her hand. “Come on. We have to get you this job. If for nothing else, to save me from ever having to hear you say that word again. Maybe working in the industry will shock the shy out of you once and for all.”

“Fine, but he probably won’t hire me. The guy never says two words to me when he’s over here.”

It was a constant source of pain for Oliver, too, since Lane had been the first guy Oliver had been interested in since the accident. Oliver gave a slight shake of his head. Maybe he was just meant to always be alone. Just because they said there was always somebody out there for everybody didn’t necessarily make it true.

He took her hand and stood. “Okay, but only if he agrees to give me an office job or one of the phone line ones. I am not getting naked in front of the cameras.”

She wrinkled her nose. “If that’s the case, then I would suggest you don’t use the word wiener in the interview. It may be a deal breaker.”

“I’ll try to refrain from using it,” he drawled.

She gave him a onceover. “Oh, and you may want to change before we leave.”

He glanced down at his sweat pants and
Imagine Dragons Tee
. “I guess you have a point. I don’t look too professional in this. Although, Lane has seen me in worse.”

He ran to his room then changed into a pair of gray dress pants with a purple dress shirt. He thought about a tie then opted out, not wanting to look like he was trying too hard. After all, this wasn’t an everyday normal office job he was applying for.

He went into the bathroom and groaned when he saw the mess his hair was in. His short brown locks were sticking up everywhere. To make matters worse, there were dark rings around his brown eyes. He hadn’t been getting much sleep lately because of all the guilt he’d been feeling, and it showed.

Becca came in and gave him an understanding smile. “Don’t worry, sweetie. It’s nothing we can’t fix.”

She rummaged around his cabinets until she found his hair gel and spray and soon she had his hair styled perfectly. While there wasn’t much that could be done about the bags under his eyes, at least they were less noticeable with his hair looking better.

“There, you’re as handsome as ever,” she said softly.

“I’m not handsome. I’m dull and normal,” he retorted.

She gazed into his eyes, and for once, she had a serious expression on her face. “If only you could see yourself the way I do. You’d be shocked.”

Becca gave a slight shiver, as if being serious was too much for her, before she gave him a slight slap on the butt. “Come on, let’s go bag this job for you.”

“I just hope Lane doesn’t laugh in my face and kick me out of there.”

“Trust me, he won’t laugh.”

As they walked back into the kitchen, they were met by a disgusting smell and an even more disgusting mess on the kitchen table. Poochkie on the other hand looked damn proud of himself. He even let out a few happy barks as if to see
look at the pretty pressie I left you!

“Poochkie! No!” Becca stomped her foot. “That’s a very, very naughty doggie.”

Being the obvious one, Oliver pointed at the animal and said, “Your stupid dog just shit on our table.”

“I know that. I can see perfectly well,” Becca snapped.

“We eat off of that.”

“Well, you better hope you have some disinfecting wipes.”

With those parting words, she swooped up her dog and walked out the door, leaving Oliver with the mess. As Oliver went over and grabbed some paper towels, he wondered, not for the first time, why he was such good friends with her.

Chapter Two

Oliver’s stomach churned, and it wasn’t from cleaning up Poochkie’s dog crap. He’d thoroughly scrubbed the table and made Becca wait while he disinfected it also, as it served her right for not teaching her dog manners.

They took Becca’s car since Oliver still didn’t drive. By the time they arrived at the non-descript office building, his skin felt clammy, and he was desperately swallowing back the bile rising in his throat. Car rides still didn’t agree with him, and they hadn’t since the accident.

Maybe he could find a nice bus line that got him close to work if he got the job. He didn’t feel confident he’d automatically get the spot, not as positive as Becca, that was for sure.

“Oh come on, Ollie, Lane will see you and practically beg you to work there. I’m telling you, he needs people. Any guy would be lucky if he got to whack off to your voice,” Becca insisted.

“Um, thanks.” The blush probably wouldn’t help him get a job. If Lane thought he’d be too embarrassed to talk dirty to a total stranger, his job interview was doomed before it even began.

Poochkie let out a sharp bark. The little dog popped its head out of Becca’s small dog carrier to lick Oliver’s hand.

“Thanks for the support,” Oliver said dryly.

Becca laughed. “Come on, Oliver, you’ve got this down. We’ll have no problem convincing Lane to hire you. After all, he wouldn’t even have the capital if my uncle hadn’t paid him all that money.”

Oliver sighed. “We’re not going to use your uncle to get me this job. I either get it on my own or not at all.”

He didn’t have much but he had his pride.

“I know how badly you want to pay back your friends, Oliver. You don’t have to do everything on your own. Let people help you get back on your feet.” Becca’s expression, unusually serious, made him sigh.

“My friends have been carrying me long enough. It’s time for me to stand on my own. I might not have anything, not even my health, but I have the best friends ever. I’m tired of being a burden to them. I want to be able to help with rent, food, and all the bills I’ve helped create.”

Becca patted his leg. “Let’s go talk to Lane. Maybe he’ll surprise you.”

Oliver shrugged. “Maybe.”

He didn’t have anything to lose. After all, he currently didn’t have a job. If Lane refused to hire him, he wouldn’t be out anything more.

“Chin up, Ollie, be confident you’ve got this!” Becca encouraged.

Oliver didn’t know which was scarier, the job interview or Becca being so supportive.

After a deep breath, Oliver opened the car door. Becca soon joined him on the other side and they approached the building together.

“It’s on the second floor,” Becca told him.

“Horny Boys? That’s its name?" Oliver asked.

Becca shrugged. “What did you expect them to name it?”

Oliver didn’t have an answer for that. He had no idea what he would name a sex phone operator business.

Becca opened the door and Oliver followed her confident stride through the doorway. He came to a screeching halt when he spotted Lane standing by a cubicle. Even under the fluorescent lights, the man looked gorgeous.

“Hey Lane!” Becca called out.

Lane straightened from where he leaned, and his warm brown eyes brightened when he spotted Oliver.

Oliver blushed.

Damn.

“You remember Oliver, don’t you, Lane?” Becca said.

Lane nodded. “Nice to see you out of the apartment, Oliver,” Lane greeted him.

Oliver took the hand offered to him. Attraction sizzled between them when their fingers touched. Oliver held his breath to prevent a moan. If he really wanted Lane to hire him, he needed resist the urge to jump his future boss.

“Enough of that. Lane, Oliver needs a job. I told him you needed people. It’s a perfect match,” Becca announced as if the entire thing was solved now that she’d put them together.

Lane sized Oliver up with his eyes. “You do know what my business is, right?”

Oliver nodded.

“Oliver has a beautiful voice,” Becca insisted.

Lane smiled. “I know he does. If you’re sure you want to do this, I’m happy to give you a job. I’ve only got three employees right now, and I’m hoping to hire ten overall. I’ll give you a trial for a week. You get paid per minute with a bonus if you get repeat customers.”

He mentioned an amount that had Oliver willing to try just about anything to bring that paycheck home. “Thank you, Lane. I’ll try my best not to let you down.”

“I know you will,” Lane’s gentle tone almost made Oliver cry. He knew Lane only offered him the job because he was desperate, but Oliver couldn’t afford to be too proud. His friends had supported him long enough. “Come into my office, and you can fill out the paperwork.”

Oliver nodded.

“I’ve gotta run, Ollie. You can take him home, can’t you, Lane?”

Lane nodded. “Of course.”

Becca gave Oliver a loud smooch on the cheek. “See you later.”

“Thanks, Becca,” Oliver said.

Her dog gave a sharp yip as she spun around and rushed out.

* * * *

Lane smiled down at Oliver. The fragile air about Oliver made Lane want to wrap the smaller man in his arms and take care of him. However, Oliver had a determined spirit Lane admired. Lane couldn’t even imagine living through that sort of pain and the scars, both mental and physical, Oliver’s car accident must’ve left behind. He didn’t know the details, but sometimes the look in Oliver’s eyes held terrible torment.

“Let’s go into my office,” he pointed to the door on the left.

He curled his fingers to resist the urge to grab Oliver and kiss him. Lane needed to keep his hands to himself. Oliver only wanted a job. He didn’t need his new boss to screw him against the desk—or if he did, he’d have to ask for it. Lane didn’t need a sexual harassment lawsuit the first week his business was open.

Oliver followed him silently to the small room he’d converted to his office. It didn’t have any windows and barely enough room for two desks back to back, a bookshelf, and a couple of extra chairs. He figured eventually he’d need at least one more office staff besides the receptionist, and he didn’t need much as long as it was his. He motioned Oliver to one of his visitor chairs.

“I’m thankful for you giving me a chance, Lane,” Oliver said softly.

Lane smiled. “Let’s see if this is something you’d enjoy. It takes a certain type of personality to enjoy this job. If it doesn’t work out, there are other things you can do around the office.”

The idea of Oliver talking dirty to total strangers had Lane’s stomach churning. He stupidly didn’t want Oliver saying seductive things to anyone but him. Lane shook his head as he retrieved the paperwork and slid it across his desk with a pen. He needed to get over his hang-up if he expected to be able to let Oliver work there.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks,” Oliver replied. “I’m really appreciate this, Lane. I desperately need a job to pay back my friends. There aren’t a lot of things out there besides hard labor if you don’t have a degree. I dropped out of school after the accident, and I can’t handle the kind of manual labor anyone would be looking for.” He pointed at his leg with a wry smile.

“You could always go back,” Lane said. The idea of Oliver’s entire world crashing down because of one life-changing event broke his heart.

Oliver bit his lip, and Lane resisted the urge to soothe the worried bit of flesh with his tongue. “I’ve thought about it but that’s extra money I don’t have right now. I don’t want to get a school loan for one more thing I can’t afford. Maybe later, after I’ve paid back my friends.”

“What would you study?” Lane’s curiosity over Oliver hadn’t abated in the least. If anything, it had only become stronger the more exposure he had to Oliver.

“Accounting. I’ve always enjoyed numbers,” Oliver smiled. “I know it’s not very exciting, but I like how tidy they are. You never have a surprise when it comes to math,” Oliver explained. Picking up the pen, he began to fill out the forms.

Lane watched him write in tidy perfect letters. He wondered if Oliver had wanted things that way before the accident, or if it had made him want to control his environment.

After filling out the two sheets with his contact information and references, he handed them back to Lane. Lane didn’t even bother looking at them, as he knew where Oliver lived and who his contacts probably were.