You’re not dating her, Jake.
"He's already on call," I told her.
"All right, I guess, if you insist."
“Any requests?”
“I eat everything. Literally. I tasted a million things in the airport lounge. It’s probably why I got so sick.”
“I’ll tell him to prep something tasty.”
“Thank you.”
She closed the door, and I headed straight to the living room to catch up on the work I’d put off on the plane.
Chapter Six
Jake
Donald, the chef, arrivedthirty minutes later. Since Natalie said she didn't mind what she ate, I told him to do his own thing. He particularly liked it when I gave him free rein in the kitchen.
I sat in the armchair, working on my laptop. I had three new emails, but the most pressing one was from the recruiting company.
I groaned when I opened it.
Jake, I'm sorry I don't have good news. You told me to be honest with you and not waste your time. I don't have any suitable candidates right now. I don't think you’ll find someone who suits your needs for the time being. Of course, you're welcome to also contact other recruiting agencies. You are under no obligation to give the job search exclusively to us.
I stood up, pacing the living room and looking out the window. From down here, I couldn't see the ocean, just the evergreen trees surrounding the property. They calmed me down and grounded me. I stepped outside, taking in a breath of fresh air. There was a reason this place was my sanctuary. I lived a very high-stakes, high-pressure life. This time I had to myself to decompress was crucial so I could keep going at the same pace.
I knew it was no use to hire an additional recruiting company. Even though I gave her shit, Danielle’s company was the best on the market. If they couldn't find a CEO, no one else could. I wasn't going to waste anyone's time, or more of mine.
"Fucking hell."
"Oh, should I take this as an omen that you'll be even more of a grump during dinner?"
Natalie's voice resounded from behind me. I hadn't heard her come up.