“Ms. Harris,” Max nodded, smiled smugly, and extended his hand in greeting. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck! Keep it together, Angel.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Mikhailov,” I said and shook his hand.
“Please, call me Max.”
I wished he’d wipe the smirk off his face. The situation wasn’t as amusing to me as it obviously was to him.
“Please,” he said to Adam without taking his eyes off me, “carry on. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
How was I supposed to represent myself as anything other than a complete imbecile with Max in the room? What the hell was I supposed to do? Shoot the breeze? I felt more than a little slutty as I sat there, pretending that I hadn’t fucked him senseless a year before. That’s all it had been. Sadly. A shameless tryst. Not even a one-night stand. Just a fuck. I shuddered when I wondered what Max must have thought of me. Sure, we were both consenting adults at the time, but even so. Ugh!
I tried my best not to appear robotic in responses to Adam and Moira’s questions. Max didn’t say a damn thing. He simply sat there and watched me squirm. Bloody sadist. When it was over, and my interviewers seemed satisfied that they’d covered all the bases, they thanked me for coming, then stood up to leave.
Max engaged with them about a work matter, then asked me if I would mind staying behind. Of course, I didn’t want to stay. I’d sooner eat shards of glass than face him, but what could I do? So, I smiled and stayed seated until Adam and Moira left the room.
Max took his seat at the head of the table.
“This is a nice surprise,” he smirked.
“A tad mortifying,” I conceded.
“Don’t be. Yours was the most memorable of birthday gifts,” he grinned. “By the way, it’s my 31st birthday next week. I’m having another party–if you’re interested,” he said and shot me a knowing look.
“I’ll be sure to send you something nice.”
“I don’t see how you could top last year’s gift.”
Max laughed out loud. He was well aware that the conversation was making me uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry,” he laughed, “I couldn’t resist. Please, don’t feel uncomfortable. I don’t think any less of you. In fact, I think a thank you is in order.”
“How so?”
“You have given me endless inspiration on those lonely nights when I was at a loose end.”
“Shut up,” I said, and broke into a smile I tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress.
“Let’s start over. Okay?”
“Agreed. Did you know who I was before you ‘popped by’ this morning?”
“You got me. Having said that, I am truly impressed with your credentials. Beautiful and smart. How could I not?”
“Thank you. Your company’s success speaks volumes about you too.”
“I don’t presume to get involved in HR’s business, but I think Adam and Moira are onto a good candidate,” Max said and smiled at me.
“Nothing left for me to do but wait then.”
“My people will call your people.”
“I’ll wait by the phone,” I smiled.
Max and I observed one another for a few minutes. It was curious, but I no longer felt like I needed to shove my head in a hole.
Maxim Mikhailov possessed a magnetism, unlike anyone I’d ever met before. I’d felt it the night of his party. It was ridiculous how easily he’d seduced me. Worst of all was that I found myself wondering what he thought of me. Why was it important to me? Was it for professional reasons? Of course, I wanted my potential boss to take me seriously as a professional.