Title: Strictly Professional by Iyana Jenna
Part of the Just Desserts Anthology
Publisher: Secret Hungers Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Romance
Word Count: 8,000
Summary:
As the only senior graphic designer at Downey Handbags, Zane Kotsky expected to become the head of the creative art department when the company planned to expand its business. His hope crashed when it turned out that the company wanted someone from outside to be the manager. Knowing that, Zane planned to leave the place at once, but that was before he met the man who would become his boss, Joachim Wessling.
Add to Goodreads.
Purchase Link: Amazon
Excerpt
“I don’t know, but…” He sighed and began telling her everything that was said in the meeting, including his own thoughts and self-promise not to go. He also asked her not to tell anyone.
“Of course I won’t. But I agree with you. You can’t leave. You have to show them how good you are and how wrong they are not to pick you.”
“Thank you, love.” He sniffed and sank his fork into his warm, moist muffin. It looked tasty enough that it helped him forget about the meeting though only for a second.
“Still, there’s a chance you might like this new guy.”
Huh? Zane’s head whirled up so fast he got dizzy. “I thought you were on my side.”
“I’m not taking sides. I’m just thinking of what’s best for everyone. For you, for the company.”
“Then you must think I’m not good enough to be the art department manager.”
“I never said that.”
“No, seriously.” He set his muffin aside and folded his arms on the table, facing her straight on. “What do you think I need to improve? Like I told you earlier, the management people thought I wasn’t mature enough.”
“I don’t think there’s something wrong with you. I said something about the new person because I think finally you’ll get someone equal to you. Someone you can argue with about a design and who can argue back. You realize that no junior designers dare say anything against you, right?”
“I, err…” Zane didn’t know what to say. He always thought he treated them fairly. He wasn’t a tyrant.
“You can be childish sometimes.”
“See? You think there’s something wrong with me.”
Mira sighed. “Come on. It’s for your own good. If you behave properly, management will see that you’re serious. That newcomer is an outsider anyway. He won’t know shit about our company.”
“Whoa.” He had never heard dirty words out of her mouth before. Then he shrugged and took a sip of his caramel macchiato.
“You promised yourself you’d show Downey they couldn’t get rid of you easily.”
Zane still said nothing. She nudged at him, almost tipping over the contents of the cup he was holding.
“Hey.”
“Promise me.”
“Okay, okay.”
Author Bio
Iyana writes M/M short stories and novellas. Her works have been published by Evernight Publishing, JMS Books, Books to Go Now, Torquere Press, Bitten Press, Leap of Faith Publishing, Breathless Press, and Alfie Dog Fiction.
Iyana lives in Jakarta, a city famous for its traffic jams, a lot of cars and motorcycles, and people selling stuff on the roads. You can spend two hours on the road going to a place you can reach in half an hour in a normal situation. Thanks to the traffic jams, though, Iyana can come up with a lot of stories, mostly shorties, as she prefers to spend the time during her trips writing into her cell phone rather than sleeping.
Author Links: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Facebook Fan Page * Pinterest * Tumblr * LinkedIn
Giveaway
Follow the rest of the tour:
Parker Williams, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, BFD Book Blog, MM Good Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, Up All Night, Read All Day, Havan Fellows, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Mikky’s World of Books, Multitasking Mommas, Inked Rainbow Reads, Cate Ashwood, Bike Book Reviews, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, My Fiction Nook, The Hat Party, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Bayou Book Junkie, Andrew Q. Gordon, The Novel Approach, Divine Magazine, Kimi-Chan, Foxylutely Book Reviews
Hello Iyana!
Thank you for the excerpt. The bit I read sounds like a real work situation – the person who perceives him- or herself differently than those around him do. I like some real life in my romance, so this is a good thing.
Oh, I love your comment on it, Katherine. Thank you!
Hi Iyana! Thank you for the excerpt and giveaway chance!
Thank you, Jen!
Great blurb and excerpt.
Thank you so much!
*waves* hi Iyana!
Hi Timitra. 😀
Hello Iyana, loved the excerpt!
Hello! Thank you, Judy!
Thank you for having me!
My pleasure!
Hi, Iyana!
The book sounds interesting, thanks.
Thanks for the excerpt! Story sounds good.
Hi, Iyana. I loved the excerpt. I want this book so much.