The fact that she knew him and didn’t say a word about it irked him. Or impressed him at how smooth she was.
He didn’t like anyone getting the upper hand on him and just had to wait out her reasoning.
Nor did he appreciate she’d vanished before he could find out more about her.
But here she was, sitting in his assistant’s office, giving him the opportunity to not only fill one hole in his life, but maybe another.
Stupid to think that?
Yes, it was. And not something he’d ever consider doing in the past.
But those few hours talking to her, then feeling her, yeah, there was something there he’d never felt and wanted more of.
At least to explore.
Would he use her father’s influence to get what he wanted? He might just play dirty enough for it.
He looked up when there was a knock at his door, not surprised to see Norris standing there. He’d let Nora and Blair talk privately while he got back to work.
“Come in,” he said.
“Did Nora leave?”
“She’s in with Blair interviewing,” he said.
“Perfect,” Norris said. “Not to boast about my daughter.”
“Oh, please do,” he said, smiling. This might give him some more insight. It wasn’t as if Norris talked about his daughter much. Not that he could remember.
He’d heard the name a few times, thought she was older than him. Nora had to be younger, at least a few years.
Norris shut the door and took a seat. There were years that Norris didn’t like reporting to Ethan, but he fell in line enough.
With his father still at the helm, it wasn’t as if Ethan bossed those senior staff around much. They came to him when his father wasn’t around, or when he was leading a project.
Ethan knew his place and had plenty under him. Including staff who dealt with his personal investments not tied to Bond Enterprises.
It was a complex position, the assistant he needed, and the right person was proving more than difficult to find.
“I’ll be honest,” Norris said. “You’d know if I were lying. I can’t say much about her work ethic. Nor can I about the positions she’s held. There have been many, but her reasons for leaving have had more to do with learning rather than changing positions.”
Guess Norris was serious when he saidnotto boast.
Then he reminded himself the guy never said a good word about anyone. Not horrible or critical all the time, just not much along the lines of showing much appreciation.
Might not have been the best father of the year either, but it wasn’t for him to judge any of those things.
“But she’s here now?” he asked. “Without having a job?”
“She came because I asked. Her mother moved out of the country with her new husband, leaving Nora alone in Vermont. We haven’t had the... closest of relationships. I worried about her being there alone and suggested this move. She’s always been a loner and on the shy side. I thought she’d struggle. I might have thought she’d have a job lined up, but she says it’s been harder than she thought. Personally, I think it’s the degree she has.”
Of course Norris would think that. Because he also thought Nora was on the shy side and Ethan hadn’t witnessed that.
“Seems like she’s well rounded to me. Had to have made an impression on Blair to get this far.”
Blair would have had no problem shutting the interview down if she didn’t like what she saw on paper. His assistant was an expert judge of character and didn’t hold grudges. Nor would she play along and continue something just because Nora knew someone.
“She’s friendly. Much quieter than me. Kind of antisocial. What you will get from her is trust and honor. She won’t be someone out there gossiping with others. She keeps to herself and always has. I wish she were more outgoing, but nothing I’ve said has helped.”
