“How dare her,” he said in mock horror.
Nora laughed. A genuine one. “I think it was to prove what I listed as my strengths would help with your weaknesses. Pretty presentation and data collection being at the top of the list.”
He shuddered. “Thank God. Do you have questions for me?”
Her upper lip disappeared into her mouth. The mouth that he remembered so vividly on his body.
“If you’re seriously considering this, do you think it’s possible it can work? I know you said the words, but do you feel as if you can really forget it?”
“No, I can’t forget it. I’m not going to lie, but it will work because I can be respectful of your wishes.”
She blinked her eyes a few times, her smile lifting. He wondered if anyone had ever said those words to her before.
“That’s good enough for me. If I’m under consideration for the position. And if not, no hard feelings either. It’s kind of a hard?—”
“Stop talking, Nora.”
“Okay,” she said, grimacing.
He got up and walked to his desk, then returned with a piece of paper. “Your offer letter. You and I can negotiate if it’s not acceptable.”
He knew it would be. He wasn’t stupid and came in high. Not as high as Blair, but higher than he was positive she’d made at any other job. Higher than he was offering before it was her.
“Oh my God,” she said, her eyes wide. “Is this right? Everything?”
Her salary, time off, and all benefits were listed. More than other positions would get. Even bonuses.
“Yes. Does that mean you’ll take it?”
“I’d be crazy not to.”
7
WHERE IT GOT TRICKY
“Mom, I think I’m nuts. I have to be. I mean certifiably crazy.”
She didnotjust get a job with the man she had a one-night stand with.
Who offered her more than double the salary of her last job.
Yes, she knew she’d make more being in a bigger city, even with the responsibility of the position. But over double?! Then with quarterly bonuses tacked on.
Shehadto be dreaming.
“Take a deep breath and tell me what is going on,” her mother said.
“You know I had an interview scheduled yesterday,” she said. “Well, after it was done, I went to see Dad.”
“Did he give you a hard time about it?”
“We’ll get to that in a minute. But I got to his office, he’s in a meeting and I gave him ten minutes. Right when I was standing to leave, he came out and brought several people with him to introduce me.”
“Wow. He’s never done that before. That’s nice, in his way.”
Just her mother reminding her that her father never thought she was good enough to introduce to any of his friends or coworkers, let alone bosses.
She’d never been smart enough, pretty enough, friendly enough.
