Page 559 of Manhattan Bossholes

So that was how it was going to be. Right then. Dream job, right out the window. Should have known my luck hadn’t changed after all. For a beat, I considered playing polite, maybe apologizing, trying to convince him to give me a chance.

But no. The cold look in his eyes told me this wasn’t a man who gave second chances. He’d made up his mind about me from the moment we’d met. Apologizing would be a waste of my time—and of the little bit of pride I still had left.

Screw politeness. This interview was blown anyway. I might as well just say what I felt.

“Shockingly, I didn’t have to wrestle any spoiled baby-men to get one today. Lucky me,” I snapped. “And I’ll have you know I was early to my first meeting this morning at nine, with Mr. Cook.” I paused. “He told me that if he had his way, he’d hire me yesterday.”

He laughed at me. “Good thing Roger doesn’t have the final say. I’m the only one who knows the real…” he paused to glance at his laptop, “…Felicity Rhodes.”

He said my name like it tasted foul on his tongue.

“Yes, and I’m happy I already have an understanding of your leadership style, Mr. O’Connor.”

“Please, call me Cameron.” It came out fake, like he was a cat gently toying with a mouse before delivering the killing blow.

“No thank you, Mr. O’Connor,” I sniffed. “Anyway, as I was saying, I have no desire to work for a company that values personal gain over fairness. I’m confident my vision won’t mesh with your direction.”

It was a struggle to say the lie, because up until this very moment I’d never wanted a job quite as badly as I wanted this one. I knew I could help find a way out of the disaster they were facing. Just sitting in the interviews all day presented me with a half dozen possible directions. I respected Veritique despite their current struggles, I adored their products, I’d vibed with every person I’d met so far, I liked the office culture, and the salary? Mouthwatering. That’s why I had to force myself to pretend the job didn’t matter to me. I couldn’t let on just how much walking away was going to hurt.

“And how would you know what my direction is?”

I laughed in his face. “Do you need me to say it out loud, Mr. O’Connor?”

He swept his hand out in front of him. “Please, I’d love to hear your take on Veritique.”

“I’ll let your recent press do it for me.” I cleared my throat. “‘Veritique remains mum on diamond mine working conditions in South Africa despite public outcry,’ The New York Times. ‘Veritique is lone holdout on mine conditions statement, amid calls for reform,’ Washington Post. ‘Top three diamond retailers unite to create a universal mining and conditions code of ethics, Veritique is lone holdout,’ The Atlantic.” I paused to stare at him. “It took you forever to come out with a statement about your workers’ deplorable treatment, and in PR, delaying your response is a response. I thought I could join the team and help change the public’s perception, but now I’m discovering that’s probably not possible.”

“Now hold on,” he fumed, stomping toward me. “Those headlines don’t take into account that it was my father who refused to make a statement or bring about change. Things are different now that I’m in charge.”

I laughed in his face. “Oh, is that a fact? You’re the ethical billionaire? I beg to differ.”

“You seem to think that one stupid incident can sum up the entirety of a person,” he seethed, “but if that’s the case, what do you think it told me about you?”

I steeled my spine. If he thought he could tear me to shreds with his words, he was welcome to try. He wouldn’t be the first.

“I can see you’re dying to tell me, so why don’t you?” I shot back.

“Oh, you want to hear it?”

“Can’t wait.”

My skin prickled under the weight of his gaze. The air in the room was charged with static, and my pulse was racing. He watched me with an intensity I could only write off as pure loathing. I didn’t enjoy fighting with the man, but I also didn’t not enjoy it. Although “enjoy” was the wrong word.

I felt…alive as we bickered. Like I had to think fast on my feet to keep up with him. Nothing was sexier to me than an intelligent man, although I wasn’t about to admit I found him sexy.

Even though I did.

“I don’t see how that would be worth my time. I think we’re done here, Miss Rhodes.”

I nearly stomped my foot like a child because he’d beat me to the punchline. I wanted to be the one to end the interview. And admittedly, I’d been a little curious as to what he really thought of me. But there was no way I was going to let him see my disappointment.

“You took the words right out of my mouth,” I lied.

“So, we agree on something,” he shot back.

“A first for us!” I took a few steps toward the door. “Normally, I’d say thank you for your time, but I know firsthand that manners aren’t important to you.”

His jaw was working overtime. “You are…”