LITMIR.BIZ

      The smell of paint and industrial cleaner flooded Milton’s nostrils as he stepped off the elevator into the vestibule of the downtown high-rise office building. The office of Gibson-Walker Recruiting, the most prestigious recruitment firm in the city, was on the thirty-second floor.

      Before Milton’s company could break ground and build their newest commercial retail center, a few things had to be put into place. Namely finding a reliable office manager to handle the day–to-day administrative duties. Unfortunately, his original candidate wasn’t too keen on relocating from Vancouver to Toronto, which meant scheduling a meeting with the president of Gibson-Walker to find a prime candidate. Milton always worked with the best. In this case, the best was his old friend, Aleks Turko.

      Milton walked through the double glass doors into a bright, open concept space. Windows lined the entire back wall. In the middle, behind the reception desk, was a grouping of low cubicles flanked on either side by offices.

      “Can I help you?” The receptionist, blond and perky, greeted him quickly.

      “Hello.” He approached the high desk and laid both palms on the wood. “I have a meeting with Aleks Turko.”

      “Are you Mr. Campbell?”

      He nodded. She turned and called to a woman at one of the cubicles. A brunette emerged, tall and thin, but with enough curve to draw your eye. Easily a nine. If Milton was the type to rate women.

      “Mr. Campbell.” She smiled wide, showing off a set of straight teeth. “Right this way.” She motioned for him to follow.

      They walked past the cubicles to the corner of the room. Of course, Aleks would have a corner office.

      The brunette motioned toward the door but didn’t enter. Milton poked his head inside and saw his friend hunched over his desk, pen in hand, reviewing documents. He hadn’t aged a day in the eight years since they’d last seen each other.

      “What kind of idiot would put Aleks Turko in charge of a company?”

      He looked up from the desk, a warm welcome spread across his face. “The same kind of idiot who’d put you in charge of a multi-million dollar development firm.”

      “Touché.”

      Aleks vaulted out of his chair and walked around the mahogany desk. They wore the same color suit–dark gray–but Aleks wore his with a casual confidence. Milton had always envied Aleks’s laid-back demeanor.

      Aleks held out his hand and Milton grasped it firmly. After two seconds of contact, Aleks tugged him forward and enveloped him in a man hug, chests touching, pelvises pushed back.

      “You could have visited,” Aleks said as he tapped Milton on the back.

      Milton pulled away and stared at his friend. “Are you going to bust my balls or are we going to do business?”

      “Business first. Ball busting later.” He slapped him on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you.”

      “It’s good to see you too.”

      After twenty minutes of business talk, Milton picked three candidates out of a dozen to interview for the office manager spot. Since Aleks was the best at recruiting, Milton knew he wouldn’t be disappointed with any of the selections, but fair was fair, an interview process was necessary.

      “How’s Rob doing these days?”

      Aleks sat back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head. “Living with the woman of his dreams and a few weeks away from being a dad.”

      “Seriously? He was so picky. I thought he would have been the last one to settle down. And you, I can’t believe somebody put a leash around you, let alone little Carrie.”

      “That sexy woman is all mine.” Aleks grinned. “And…she’s not so little anymore.”

      “Apparently. Speaking of sexy…does Carrie know how hot your secretary is?”

      Aleks chuckled. “Yes, and she has nothing to worry about.”

      “Hired her after you got together?”

      “Of course.” Another laugh.

      Milton shook his head. He knew Aleks all too well. “How does that girl manage to keep you on a leash?”

      “With lots and lots of lingerie modeling.” A wicked spark flashed in Aleks’s eyes.

      “Sounds like she spends all her time shopping to keep you happy.”

      “More like she spends her time designing to keep me happy. Carrie owns a lingerie store, and she has her own line.”

      “Wow. I’m impressed.” Milton remembered Carrie used to design for fun. “Where’s the store?”

      “In Yorkville.”

      It couldn’t be the same store. “Is it on Cumberland? A tiny store on the other side of that alley that leads to–”

      “Yes. That’s it.” Aleks gave him a funny look. “How do you know the store?”

      “My hotel is right up the street. I took a walk the other night and noticed the window. That’s all.” That wasn’t all, but it wasn’t something

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