Hired, page 1
HIRED: HADLEY
THE FOSTER BROTHERS
BOOK 2
NORA PHOENIX
Hired: Hadley (The Foster Brothers Book Two) by Nora Phoenix
Copyright ©2022 Nora Phoenix
Cover design: Angsty G
Editing and Proofreading: Tanja Ongkiehong
Beta Reading: Abbie, Amanda, Monica, Tania, and Vicki
Sensitivity Reading: Ariana Lee
All rights reserved. No part of this story may be used, reproduced, or transmitted in any form by any means without the written permission of the copyright holder, except in case of brief quotations and embodied within critical reviews and articles.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The use of any real company and/or product names is for literary effect only. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
This book contains sexually explicit material which is suitable only for mature readers.
www.noraphoenix.com
CONTENTS
The Foster Brothers
Nora After Dark
Connect with Nora
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Sneak Peek of Loathed: Lagan
Signed Paperbacks and Swag
Books by Nora Phoenix
More About Nora Phoenix
THE FOSTER BROTHERS
Hired: Hadley is the second book in the new contemporary MM romance series called The Foster Brothers.
The Foster Brothers
Jaren, Hadley, Lagan, and Nordin chose to be brothers after growing up in foster care together, and now nothing can come between them…not even when they find love.
NORA AFTER DARK
More of what you love…more of what you crave…
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HIRED: HADLEY
Sebastian LeClerc is richer than Midas. He’s also a grumpy asshole, a playboy, and the world’s worst boss. At least, according to Hadley, who was crazy enough to take the job as Sebastian’s PA.
Big mistake. Huge.
Sebastian may look like Richard Gere, but he's nowhere near that charming. Everyone cowers and seeks cover when he's in the room. Hadley can't believe Sebastian's really that bad and that there has to be a reason for his bad attitude, but he seems to be the only one.
Except Sebastian does seem to appreciate Hadley, calling him his sunshine. And when something nice comes out of his mouth on occasion, Hadley’s heart is all aflutter.
Oh no.
It can’t be.
Has Hadley fallen for his boss?
Hired: Hadley is the second book in The Foster Brother series, a contemporary MM romance series about four men who chose to be brothers that can be read as stand alone. It has a grumpy billionaire boss, a sunshiny assistant, falling for the boss, hella hot chemistry, and a sweet guy who soaks up praise like a dying plant.
PROLOGUE
Chicago, eighteen years ago
This was it. Hadley could barely contain his happiness. Today was the day he’d been looking forward to ever since DCFS had taken him from his parents and placed him in foster care. Well, parents was a bit of a charitable description for the two drug addicts who’d had the misfortune of creating him. Even at age ten, Hadley was old enough to see that truth.
Parents were supposed to love you. Parents bought you birthday gifts and made sure you had food and clothes and showed up at school events. His parents had done none of those things. Ever. For as long as he could remember, he’d been on his own, scrounging for food, grateful whenever someone would give him something to eat.
One of his mother’s regulars—yes, she let anyone do anything to her as long as it paid enough for her next hit, and Hadley’s father only encouraged it, as it fed his habit too—had taken pity on him. He owned a convenience store and had told Hadley to stop by if he needed food. Five years old, he’d managed to find the store on his own and came back at least twice a week. The man had kept his word. He’d always given him something: Campbell tomato soup heated up in the microwave, mac and cheese, sometimes fruit and milk. Without him, Hadley wasn’t even sure if he would’ve survived.
But now everything was different. Tomorrow, Albert and Lily would pick him up, and he’d move into their home forever. He’d stayed with them the last six weeks, hoping and praying they’d want to keep him, and now his dream was becoming a reality. They’d told him two days ago they were gonna file the papers to formally adopt him. He’d have a home, a family.
All he’d asked for was to spend one last night in the group home so he could say good-bye to Nordin, Jaren, and Lagan. One last night in the room they usually shared with four other kids, though right now, only two other beds were occupied. Lights out had been fifteen minutes ago, and as always, they’d sought comfort with each other.
“We’ll miss you.” Jaren sounded choked up as his voice drifted down from the top bunk where he lay with Nordin. “I’m so happy for you, Hadley, but we’ll really miss you.”
Lagan tightened his arm around Hadley. “Who am I gonna sleep with when you’re gone?”
“You’ll find a new friend,” Hadley said, though he damn well knew it wasn’t that easy.
“I don’t want a new friend. I want you.” Lagan burst into tears, and Hadley’s throat clenched tight.
“Hey, now, don’t make him feel guilty.” Nordin was always the peacemaker. He could talk anyone into anything, and they’d all benefited from it. “We should be happy for Hadley that he’s found his forever family. It’s what we all want.”
“I know,” Lagan sobbed. “And I am happy for him, but what am I gonna do without him? What if all of you get adopted and I’m here by myself?”
Hadley held him close, not knowing what to say. He wasn’t good with words like Nordin, and he wasn’t brave like Jaren, who would take a stand, even if he knew he’d lose.
The bunk bed moved, and then Nordin and Jaren came down to sit with them. They automatically made room. Four boys in a single bed was tight, but that didn’t matter. Just like it didn’t matter that the others talked about them, made fun of how close they were. Faggots, they called them, and every time they said it, Hadley’s heart grew a little colder.
“I won’t ever get adopted.” Nordin’s voice was soft but firm. “And we all know why. I haven’t even had one foster placement.”
“It’s so fucking unfair!” Jaren burst out. “They’re doing it on purpose.”
“Of course they are. I’m a troublemaker, and this is how they can punish me. It’s okay, guys. I’ve accepted this is how it’s gonna be. Six more years and I’m eighteen, which means I’ll be gone. But I need you guys to be out of here before then so I don’t have to worry about you. Hadley, I’m so happy for you. You’ll have an amazing life, and that’s all we want for you.”
“I promise I’ll stay in touch. Maybe I can write you guys or come visit.”
Nordin put his hand on Hadley’s leg. “It’s okay to let us go. You’ll have a new life, a better life, and we don’t fit in there. Focus on the future.”
“No.” Hadley shook his head. “That’s not how it works. I’ll never forget you.”
“It’s your choice. Th
“What’s their house like again?” Jaren asked, his voice dreamy.
“It’s so clean.” That had been the first thing Hadley had noticed about it, how clean and tidy it was. It had been such a sharp contrast with the rat-infested dump he’d grown up in. “Everything is painted soft yellow, and they have these pretty curtains with blue butterflies on them. The yard is really small, but they have a grill, and Albert is really good at grilling burgers. Lily makes the best pasta sauce. She said she learned from her grandmother, who was from Italy.”
The food in the group home was edible, but that was all that could be said about it. Bland, overcooked, and with limited variation, it fed them, but it wasn’t anything to rave about.
“What about your room?” Jaren asked, calmed down again.
“My room has a desk so I can do my homework and a window where I can see the garden. And it has a full-size bed! Can you imagine all that space to yourself? I couldn’t even sleep the first few nights I was there, not used to sleeping on my own.”
No wonder. Lagan had been sleeping in his bed since Hadley had arrived at the group home. He’d been so sad Lagan and the others had immediately taken him under their wing.
“And the linens are so soft, and they have a lavender scent. It’s the fabric softener, and Lily puts little sachets of dried lavender between them. I’ve never smelled anything like it. And she cleans with this lemon-scented cleaner, so the whole house smells fresh.”
“You’ll have a wonderful life,” Nordin repeated without even a trace of jealousy or anger, which Hadley would’ve easily forgiven him for. Nordin turned to Lagan and Jaren. “And I know it’ll only be a matter of time before you two find a forever home as well. Once you guys are gone, I won’t have to worry about leaving you here by yourselves. Maybe I’ll even split before then. I’d be fine on my own.”
He would be, Hadley had no doubt. Like a cat, Nordin always landed on his feet.
“So let’s be happy for Hadley, okay? Let’s wish him the best life. This is his ticket out, and we want that for him.”
Hadley fell asleep with Lagan snuggled up against him, and he dreamed of green yards and playing soccer with his family.
But the next morning, when he reported to Director Berringer to be picked up by his new parents, Albert and Lily looked like they’d been crying. His stomach sank. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Have a seat, Hadley,” Director Berringer said. “Mr. and Mrs. Emmons have some difficult news to share with you.”
He knew then what was about to happen, but still, he sat down.
“For years and years, we tried to have a baby,” Albert said. “But after ten years, we gave up and decided to foster. We loved having you stay with us, and we’d imagined a future with you, but…”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m pregnant, Hadley. We found out yesterday. A baby, just when we’d given up all hope.”
Hadley’s insides turned cold. “Congratulations,” he managed.
“But we can’t do it both. We can’t go through this high-risk pregnancy while adding you to our family. You’re so sweet, Hadley, and we really grew to love you. This is not about you, but we can’t adopt you.”
But it was about him, wasn’t it? They had decided that their own child was worth more than him, and that was just the way it was. He’d never be the most important person for anyone. “I understand.”
And the thing was, he did. He did understand, even as his heart shattered into a thousand pieces. He’d always understood. What people labeled love wasn’t what it was made out to be. That love had to be earned, and it was as unreliable and fleeting as life itself.
No, Nordin, Lagan, and Jaren, they truly loved him. They were his brothers, the only ones he could trust, who he could rely on. Never again would he let anyone else in. All it would cause was pain because sooner or later, he’d be disappointed all over again. He’d never find a home, a place to belong, other than with his brothers.
“We’re sure you’ll find your forever family, sweetheart,” Lily said. “Just not with us.”
He raised his chin. “I hope everything will go well with the baby. Thank you for having me. I had a wonderful time with you.”
Then he rose from his chair, grabbed his duffel bag, and walked out. He ducked into the bathroom, where he checked to make sure it was empty. Then he broke down. For ten minutes straight, he cried, and then he cleaned himself, washed his face, and took a deep breath. He was done. He never shed a tear over it again, not even when his brothers asked him what had happened, shocked and furious when he told them. In fact, that had been the last time he ever cried because he’d bawled enough over the years, and it hadn’t made a lick of difference. People just weren’t worth his tears.
1
“I have a problem.”
Not the way Hadley wanted to start his way-too-early Monday morning. With Caitlyn sounding so congested and hoarse, Hadley had a hunch in which direction this conversation would go. “You mean you sound like a crossover between Bonnie Tyler and a Smurf?”
“Who?”
“Good god, girl, you gotta know your classics. Bonnie Tyler? Total Eclipse of the Heart?”
“Can we save the pop culture lesson for another time and focus on me and my problem?”
She had a point. “You’re sick, I’m assuming?”
“Yes. In itself annoying but not that big of a deal, but I started a new job Thursday, and I can’t call in sick today.”
Hadley and Caitlyn worked for the same agency as temps, both as personal assistants. “Why not? All Joyce has to do is listen to you, and she’ll know you tell the truth.”
Joyce, the manager of Flextechs, the company they worked for, was a hard-ass, but Hadley didn’t find her unreasonable.
“You don’t understand. When I took this new job, I signed a contract that I couldn’t call in sick or be absent for the first four weeks. Joyce said she could lose the contract otherwise.”
Hadley frowned. “That makes no sense. Why would they lose the contract over someone being sick?”
“I don’t know, but I signed for it, and Joyce said I’d get the mother of all bonuses if I made it four weeks.”
“If you made it four weeks? That’s rather ominous.”
She cleared her throat, then burst into a coughing fit that sounded like she was racking up a lung. Hadley held his phone farther from his ear. No need to get all close and personal with that sound. Ew.
“He’s not an easy guy to work for.”
“He being your new boss, I assume?”
“Yeah. He’s a bit of a grumpy asshole, but nothing I can’t handle. Or you.”
Or him? What the hell was she suggesting? “Why would I have to handle him?”
“Because I’m begging you to go in my place today and probably tomorrow.”
“Hell, no.”
He wasn’t even dressed yet, still enjoying his The Tea Spot English Breakfast tea he’d bought over the weekend. A bit of an extravagance at that price, but it was sublime, the aftertaste full and rich.
“Hadley, please. If Joyce loses the contract, she’ll fire me. You know how she railed at me after the Jones-Davison debacle.”
