The Boy Who Has No Redemption (Soulless 8)

“I wish I could tell you it’s just a busy day, but it’s always like this.” Dex walked to the desk next to mine and set down the box he carried. He ripped through the tape with his bare hands and opened the cardboard flaps to grab the laptop inside. He took a seat and opened all the packaging before he powered up the computer and got to work. He sat with a straight back, his knees apart, working on the brand-new computer and setting it up, probably for a client. He turned to me and gave me an encouraging smile that was so perfect, it belonged in a toothpaste campaign. “But it makes the day go by quickly, and before you know it, it’s time to go home. Or out to a bar for a drink, if you’re anything like me.” He chuckled then turned back to the computer, going through the setup to get the computer ready for a client.

“I like staying busy, so that works for me.”

“Me too.” His eyes stayed on his laptop.

I watched him from my chair, watched the way his muscles shifted under the skin every time he moved. He seemed to be a few years older than me, but I couldn’t really tell. “Are you the IT guy?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, you could say that.” He opened Microsoft Office and began the download before he turned in his swivel chair to face me. “I set up a firewall for the building and installed our own servers. That way, the clients know their information can’t be hacked. We’ve got bankers, diplomats, celebrities with nudes, all kinds of people who value their privacy. So, my job is mainly to keep their information secure. I also fix their computers whenever they do something weird. Instead of taking it outside the building where someone can swipe their information, it stays contained within this building. But I also install other tech stuff, like setting up gaming consoles for the kids before they get home, programming their phones. I’m a private tutor as well. But I’m utilized in a lot of other ways, depending on what’s happening with the clients. I deliver groceries, do dry cleaning runs, all kinds of stuff.”

“Wow. So, when I download too much porn, you can get rid of all the viruses on my laptop?”

He turned to stare at me, his eyes narrowed like he couldn’t believe what I’d just said. When he realized I wasn’t serious, that handsome smile moved back into his lips and his eyes turned playful. “You and I are going to get along just fine.”

I chuckled and turned back to my computer. “Everyone is great, so I’m happy to be here.”

“Yeah, Matt is awesome, and the girls are great too. Everyone busts their asses around here because they love their jobs. It makes it a great place to work. It’s nice to do something that’s not life or death, you know? Making other people’s lives more convenient somehow makes you happier.”

“Life or death?” I asked with a laugh. “How many jobs are life and death?”

He shrugged and turned back to his computer.

“How long have you been working here?”

“A year. Where were you before this?”

“I worked in a pediatrician’s office for five years. But the doctor retired, so I had to find something else.”

“You couldn’t work for the next doctor coming in?”

I shook my head. “It’s turning into a pizzeria, apparently.”

“And you didn’t want to work there?” he asked incredulously. “Sounds like an upgrade.”

I loved that he made me laugh so easily. It made me forget all the baggage sitting on my chest. “If I worked in a pizza place, I’d probably get fired for eating on the job too much.”

He smiled then turned back to his laptop. “Let me know if you need anything. I’m happy to help.”

“Thanks.”

Cleo walked in a moment later. “Is that for 22A?”

“Yep,” Dex said. “Almost done.”

She turned to look at me. “Are you doing anything right now? Carrie has a big grocery run and could use some help.”

“Absolutely.” I got to my feet and ignored the pain in my toes. “But I was just wondering…” I glanced at the time on the computer and saw that it was almost three in the afternoon. “Do we take lunch or…?” I’d been hustling all day without breakfast or lunch, and I was starting to get a little light-headed.

“Oh my god.” Cleo covered her face with both hands. “I totally forgot to schedule your lunch.”

Dex chuckled. “She never takes a lunch, so she forgets that normal people need to eat.” He got to his feet and came closer to my desk. “I’ll grab you something at the café. Vegetarian or anything?”

“No. But you don’t have to do that. I can—”

“You haven’t sat for more than a minute.” He raised his hand so I wouldn’t rise out of the chair. “Relax. Cleo is probably going to spend five minutes groveling over her mistake, so…” He gave her a playful look before he walked away.