“It was good seeing you again, Angelica,” he finally said, and his words put me out of my misery.
“Good to see you too, Max.”
“Let’s keep in touch.”
“I’m sure we will.”
He walked me to the elevator. My legs grew jelly-like as soon as the doors slid closed, and his face disappeared from sight.
What the fuck. Girl, you need a drink.
4
MAX
Ididn’t dare tell Angelica that I knew full well who she was and the date and time of her interview with my HR team. In fact, I’d known a whole week before the event and I couldn’t wait to see her again.
I’d thought of her often after my birthday party. Angelica was something else. I couldn’t believe it when I saw her face staring back at me from the file lying open on Moira’s desk the week before.
The stunning blonde with the irresistible ass was by far the best candidate for the position. For some reason I wanted her to sweat a bit, so I kept the gushing to a minimum. I did, however, make it clear to Adam and Moira, even before the interview, that I was leaning in Angelica’s direction.
Vlad, of course, was all over me the moment he tweaked who she was. He was waiting for me in my office after I’d walked the stunning blonde to the elevator. My cousin had his feet on my desk and his hands interlocked behind his head when I entered. I specifically hadn’t mentioned the mind-blowing sex she and I had engaged in that night. Some things were worth keeping to oneself, I thought.
“Isn’t she the sexy waitress Dmitri was pawing at your party last year?” he smirked.
“The very same. Except, it turns out she’s more than a waitress.”
“Oh?”
“Angelica Harris is a Lawyer with a master's degree in Business Law. A smart cookie who graduated top of her class, no less.”
“Ouch, I’d better warn Dmitri. Just in case he mistakes her for an office plaything,” Vlad laughed. “I’m sure you’re in no mood for a sexual harassment case.”
“Uh-huh. I wouldn’t put it past the horny Dmitri to trip over his dick and drag us down with him. So, what can I do for you?” I asked and swiped his feet off the desk. “Why are you loitering in my office? I must not have given you enough work to do around here.”
“You’ve given me plenty, thanks.”
“What’s up?”
“The fucking union has its panties in a bunch again. The guys down at the shipment yard are getting too big for their boots.”
“Let me guess. They feel it’s time for a raise?”
“Bingo. I swear,” he snorted, “this shit wouldn’t fly in Mother Russia.”
“Agreed. But you forget we’re in the land of the free, Vlad,” I smiled.
“Free my ass. We’re paying an arm and a leg for it.”
Vlad was the company’s operations manager, and as tough as nails when it came to business. His father and mine were brothers. Cousin Vlad and I were born in Russia. I brought him with me when I moved to America. I trusted him implicitly.
“I’m confident that you’ll sort it out, Vlad,” I said and slapped him on the back. “That’s why I pay you the big bucks.”
“Speaking of big bucks, when are the chaps back home popping over for a visit?”
“They want me to go to Moscow instead.”
“Okay. When?”