Free Sparks by Talia Carmichael Page A

eight years ago. Jerrod had been dressed casually, but from their first look at him, they knew he was somebody to be reckoned with. He had requested a meeting. Since they were so small and had no real clients, they had seen him right away. He had wanted to know how they handled residential jobs and had given them basics on what he liked. They didn’t usually give ideas without visiting the property, but Jerrod had insisted. Then he’d listened as they gave him general ideas. With his questions interrupting them, they realized he’d known all about their new business. His questions were probing, and he was sharp. Once he had finished interrogating them, he left as suddenly as he had come. They hadn’t known what to expect.
    For months after, they didn’t hear a word. Then one day, Jerrod strolled back into their offices. That time he had dressed impeccably, in a suit they could tell was expensive. He had been accompanied by what seemed like an army of people. Before they knew it, he had hired them to redesign the grounds of his massive estate. While they did the job, they had become friends. Jerrod was hands-on with the design. He had even worked beside them, digging in the dirt. That had impressed them. Since then, they had worked on various projects for Jerrod. Hell, when Jerrod wasn’t traveling to one of his numerous business things, he even had an office there. They still weren’t sure how he had gotten office space at their business. Jerrod’s excuse, of course, was that they had stolen his right-hand man.
    “Sheldon. I should have known he was the one who would reschedule everything for Jerrod. We should fire him,” Tomas growled.
    “Then where would you be without me?” a modulated voice asked.
    The voice matched the man. Sheldon came in, dressed impeccably, as usual, in what he considered casual wear—a soft-looking dark-green shirt with one button open at the neck and black slacks with a crisp crease down each leg. His black loafers shone. His pale-blond hair was precisely styled around an aristocratic face. Sheldon placed a cup on Tomas’s desk. He sat in the chair in front of the desk, holding his ever-present book—the book that kept them where they needed to be, and that he used to meet all their needs.
    “You’re not going to butter me up with cranberry juice,” Tomas said.
    “Would I do that?” Sheldon’s bright blue eyes were innocent.
    “That look won’t work. Jerrod isn’t your boss anymore. We are.”
    “Oh. I thought you were firing me.” Sheldon looked at his trim nails.
    Tomas retorted, “We still can.”
    It was an empty threat. Sheldon had taken over their offices right after they finished their first project with Jerrod. At the time, they had told him they couldn’t afford him. He had said, in his snotty tone, that once they could, they could pay him what he was worth. He wasn’t going to organize their pitiful business for money, but for the challenge. Tomas hadn’t liked the tone or words, and hadn’t wanted to hire him. Malik had convinced him to give Sheldon a chance. Tomas hadn’t regretted it for a moment. He would never admit that to Sheldon, or tell him he appreciated what he did for them. They both preferred to match wits. Or, in Tomas’s case, as Sheldon had said numerous times, he tried to keep up with what was above his intellect.
    “Speak for yourself. I’ll pay him myself before we lose him,” Malik said, sitting in the other chair.
    “See, that’s why I like you best,” Sheldon said, then he looked at Tomas. “Unlike some growly asses.” Sheldon looked down his nose at him.
    “You can’t just rearrange the schedule because of Jerrod.” Tomas sighed.
    “He’s never asked me before. And I wouldn’t have, but he pulled the one thing I couldn’t say no to.” Sheldon’s brow furrowed.
    Tomas waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, Tomas turned his attention to Malik.
    “You know what he’s talking about?” Tomas asked.
    “He asked a