The second thedoor closes behind Isla Forrester’s back, I exhale.Holy fuck.After giving myself a moment to gather my wits, I pick up my phone, and type out a quick message to my assistant. Although, calling Gabe that is really doing the man a disservice. He’s been working for the Thunder for over a decade and knows the team—and the stadium—inside and out. He’s been invaluable at helping me understand all the parts of the organization that were working, as well as the elements that were not.
LUCA: Get me everything you can on Isla Forrester. She’s an excellent candidate and I want to make her an offer she can’t refuse.
I’m playing with fire. Hiring the first person I’ve interviewed is reckless. Even if it is based on her exemplary qualifications and expertise, and not the borderline uncontrollable pull I feel toward her.
You don’t get to be a multimillionaire by the age of forty-two by being reckless.
So what the fuck am I doing?
Fine. Isla is an excellent candidate for the job. She knows her stuff when it comes to branding, and hearing her ideas and passion for baseball was sexy as fuck.
And that’s the problem.
I can’t be finding anythingsexyabout my potential future employee.
“What’s got you glaring at that computer monitor so hard?”
I turn sharply at the sound of Dom’s voice. My closest friend, part investor in the team, and new chief financial officer, is standing in the doorway to the conference room I’ve rented for interviews today, leaning against the frame with a smirk on his face.
“Don’t tell me it’s because of the bombshell that walked out of here wearing a blazer and skirt with a Vancouver Tridents shirt.” He chuckles as he walks into the room and drops down into the chair Isla only recently vacated.
I turn my glare from my laptop to him. “Don’t call our potential new marketing consultant a bombshell. It’s not appropriate.”
Yeah. Neither is lusting over her, dumbass.
Dom raises his eyebrows. “You offered her the job? I thought you had interviews all day.”
“I haven’t made an offer yet, but I plan to. Why waste time when she’s the right person for the position.” I can only hope my succinct response is enough. But I’veknown Dom almost my entire life, so I should know better.
“Luca. What the hell? We need someone experienced and competent who can get the job done in such a short time frame, and she looks like she got her degree last year.”
Before I can fire back the reasons why Isla is the right hire, no matter how young she might be, my phone pings with a response from Gabe.
Her resume and references all check out. Her former employer said she was the best consultant they had, and they felt awful for shutting down the business, which cost her the job.
I ignore Dom’s pointed stare and type out a quick reply.
Draft up an offer that includes a relocation allowance.
Hitting send, I look up at my best friend. “We’re hiring her. She’s passionate about engaging with the town, and she can see the vision I have for making the Thunder an integral part of the community again. She knows baseball, and her references check out. All I need from you is to give me the numbers on what we can offer as a starting salary and a relocation allowance.”
Dom sits up straight, his mouth curving down. “Relocation allowance? We never discussed offering that. We agreed all new hires would be temporary contracts until we know if we can even make thisendeavour profitable. Giving a relocation allowance to everyone is going to eat into any possible profits, Luca.” He sounds exasperated, the way he has every time I’ve wanted to spend money on something he doesn’t agree with.
Tightwad.
I wave him away with my hand. “I’ll pay it myself if I have to. She’s the right person for the contract. We need to lock it down, Dom.”
Folding his arms across his chest, Dom’s brows pull together in a frown. “What were you saying about being appropriate toward our employees, Luca? Seems like you might be the one needing to remember that.”
I meet his gaze head-on. “Trust me. I’m aware. There’s nothing behind my decision except confidence that she’s the right person based on her qualifications.”
Lies.
Dom pushes to stand, still staring down at me. “Fine. I’ll send you those numbers.Minusthe relocation allowance.”
I’ve known Dom most of my life. I can tell when I’m fighting a losing battle with him. “Fine.”
“Excellent. We still on for lunch?”
