4
Olivia
There’s a shift in Jace Barone’s demeanor. His eyes flicker as he reads the text message on his screen.
“It’s really no bother. I can go,” I say. I probably shouldn’t have admitted that I hadn’t eaten anything all day. It’s not that I didn’t have time or didn’t want to eat.
I didn’t have the money.
My wallet is empty. And I’ve been living out of my car for the past two weeks since I’ve been evicted. Not thatheneeds to know that. I’m not here for a handout.
I’m here for a job and to fix an already bad situation, not make it worse.
I press my hands flat on the floor and intend on standing.
“Sit back down,” he commands.
“So, I guess the job is out of the question?” I laugh nervously and roll my lips together.
He runs a hand through his thick dark hair. His dark green eyes bore into mine. I hate to admit it, but he’s devilishly handsome. Much hotter than my last fling, which put a baby into me. He left the minute I got pregnant and then came running back to marry me once the kid was born and he lost his job.
Talk about real love.
It sucks.
“Job,” he says and stares at me. His eyes tighten, and there’s that strange flicker again. His dark green irises have speckles of amber and gold mixed in. It’s hypnotizing his gaze. “What job do you think you’re here for again?” he asks.
“Now, who hit their head?” I ask.
Is he testing me and making sure that I’m coherent after the fainting spell?
“An assistant position with your organization, Barone Industries,” I say. “My friend, Avery Seymore, told me about the opening.” I recant exactly what Don Caruso told me to say.
Jace can’t know that I’m consorting with the mafia.
No one can know the truth.
“Assistant,” he mulls over the words and strokes his jaw. “I do need an assistant, but I wasn’t aware we were hiring anyone from the outside.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know an Avery, and I have to apologize for what probably felt like an interrogation earlier.”
“A quite inappropriate one, I might add,” I say.
Does he realize the type of questions that he asked could get him in hot water? Anyone else and they’d have been fired over his questions.
There’s a firm knock at the door.
“Come in,” Jace says.
Another striking gentleman in a business suit, perhaps a few years younger than Jace, but not by much, brings in a wrapped deli sandwich, bottle of orange juice, and a bag of potato chips. It looks like he stopped in the cafeteria and grabbed a pre-made sandwich.
It looks delicious.
My mouth waters at the sight of it.
Maybe I can take the sandwich and scram. I don’t want to be under his scrutiny or answer any more of his inappropriate and awkward questions.
“How about you have a seat at my desk?” Jace asks.
The gentleman bringing in the food gives Jace a peculiar look. He looks older than I’d expect from an assistant. Maybe that’s why they’re hiring for the position?