Well, at least someone wanted to see it. I placed the plastic envelope on the desk and pushed it over, yanking my hands back, but he was too fast. His fingertips grazed mine, sending a full body shiver through me.
“I like the suit,” he said, looking up from the printed pages for a second, his eyes sliding over me in a way that was all too familiar.
And utterly inappropriate for this context.
“Looks like you’re more than qualified for the job.” Flick, flick, flick, he took in the rest of my work history and then shoved the document back my way.
“Well, that’s good, because I’m going to need to look for another position.”
“No, you’re not.”
He leaned back in his chair, the leather jacket pulling away to reveal a white button-up underneath it, unbuttoned low enough that I could see some of the tattoos on his chest—tattoos I’d traced with the tip of my tongue at some point that night.
“Oh yes I am,” I replied with a snort. “You’ve obviously got a situation here with Crystal and your brother. Bringing another former conquest into the office to replace her would be one, hypocritical, and two, only add to the migraine Miranda Bitchface is about to be the recipient of.”
“Bitchface, huh… What did she do?”
“Asked me for my weight and then offered me the job the minute I let her know. How the hell do you have someone in HR that asks job applicants a question like that? I could go to industrial relations and you guys could face court,” I snapped.
A sharp rap on the door stopped him from responding. He looked up, eyes slowly bleeding back to hazel, and said, “Come in.”
“I’ve got the contract here,” Miranda said smoothly, walking over to the door. “You’ve looked at Sage’s résumé?”
“I have. She seems like a good fit for the job. Leave the contract here because I’m going to make some amendments to it.”
“Amendments?” Miranda’s face seemed to register somedo not computesequence, the crease between her brows deepening.
“I’ll run them past legal once Ms Davies and I have had a chat,” he said smoothly.
“And your brothers?”
“We have the big trade show coming up. That’s what Tobias is focussed on, so that’s what we’re focussed on. Ms Davies has experience with event planning and will be an asset to the team. I’ll bring the others up to speed.”
“Of course.” Miranda blinked then, seeming to realise she’d overstepped.
“And, Miranda…” I felt my body tighten at the feral sound of his growl. It was an utterly controlled and yet completely animal sound. “If word gets back to me about any further discussions about a candidate’s physical characteristics, in an interview or in the workplace, we will be having a very serious conversation. I shouldn’t have to tell my HR manager that the law prohibits discussions about their person that do not directly relate to their role.”
I had no intention of taking this job when I saw Lucien for the first time, but now there was no way in hell I would. It could be this or selling crack to primary schoolers, and I’d take drug dealing any day of the week. Miranda turned so slowly towards me, it felt like I could hear her vertebrae crack with each moment it took for her to face me.
“I apologise sincerely,” she said in a voice so completely ice cold, it stripped any kind of conciliatory feeling from it. Right now, I had earned myself an arch enemy.
“Thank you. You may go now,” Lucien said with a wave of his hand.
She didn’t want to, anyone could see that. Her steps were as stiff legged as a cat in the middle of a scratch fight, but she turned on her heel and walked out, closing the door with a click.
“Thanks for that,” I said with a huff. “I was never going to take the job, and now Miranda will bad mouth me to anyone who’ll listen.” I snatched up my résumé, shoving it back into the sleeve before getting to my feet.
“Sit.”
Goddamn it, my knees went out again.
“Can you stop bloody doing that?” I snapped. “I’m fairly sure using your alpha bark is a criminal offence, if not a far greater HR sin than asking me how fat I am.”
“I have an offer,” Lucien said. “You’re here, so I assume you’re looking for work.” I swallowed hard, then nodded. “You should’ve told me. I would’ve been happy to put your name around, introduce you to some of my contacts. A personal reference from Lucien Lockwood goes a fair way in some circles.”
My teeth clamped down hard, an ache in my jaw starting as he spoke.
“Of course, that would require staying in contact with me, not blocking my number, and returning my calls when I rang you with my work phone.”