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He reached out and placed a gentle hand on my arm. Curiosity got the best of me, and I sat.

“Let’s clear the air and get a few things straight,” he said. “First of all, the ‘black-haired bimbo’ you saw? That was my younger sister, Justine. She was rather upset with me that day because I hadn’t made much time for her lately.” His face softened, and he looked thoughtful. A small lopsided grin formed on his perfect lips. “The little snot actually scheduled an appointment to see me.”

His sister. Sure, that’s what they all say.

However, deep down, I knew he was most likely telling the truth. That woman was breathtakingly gorgeous, and her long, flowing, ebony hair had matched his color so perfectly. I studied Alexander’s face, trying to see other similarities to the woman, only to find myself stunned once again by his extraordinary beauty. Two people that beautiful had to be related in some way. Maybe I misunderstood the affection I saw pass between them. Even now, as he spoke of her, the expression on his face was one of tenderness, not one of a liar. Airing on the side of caution, I decided to bite my tongue and just listen.

“Secondly,” he continued. “There is a position available at Turning Stone Advertising, the marketing division of Stone Enterprise. I would like to discuss the details of that once we get past this roadblock we seem to be experiencing.”

“Is that what this is, Stone? A roadblock?” I snapped.

He hesitated before answering, as if choosing his words carefully.

“I’ll admit your interview took an unexpected turn. I’m usually very good at reading women, but…you’re different for some reason.” A sardonic smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“Yeah, well, nothing surprises me about you, Stone. I’ve got your type all figured out,” I said.

“I wouldn’t be so assuming, Krystina. I’m probably nothing like you would expect. Isn’t there an expression about not judging a book by its cover? You may find my pages are full of surprises,” he stated, casting me a roguish look.

“I doubt that,” I said with a false air of confidence. There was something about the gleam in his eye that was unsettling, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.

“Then we can continue this cat and mouse game you seem to be so apt at playing,” he said, his lips pursed with annoyance. “However, I would rather we discuss the reasons why I’ve sought you out.”

“Fine. Have it your way, Stone. Talk. I’m all ears,” I said, keeping up my confident façade. I sat back and folded my arms, giving the appearance of total aloofness in an attempt to hide how shaken up I was by his mere presence.

“Finishing your interview would be an unnecessary formality. I already know I want you, Krystina.” He paused, allowing me to digest what he had said. His eyes burned into me, and I struggled not to read too much into his words. “Despite what you think, I really would like to offer you a job. Very few firms are hiring, and your job searches have probably returned minimal results.”

“You’re right. Nobody is hiring,” I admitted bitterly.

“Except me.”

“Okay, I’ll bite. What would this job entail?”

“Originally, the company was established for the sole purpose of providing affordable advertising to the business owners who have lease agreements with me. However, things have changed, and I am looking to push Turning Stone Advertising to the next level. As of right now, the company is small, and my personal knowledge of advertising is limited. If you came to work for me, I would have you manage the employees at Turning Stone and oversee all new incoming ad campaigns from start to finish.”

I was intrigued, and I found myself straightening up a little in my chair. The thought of being in charge of an entire campaign was enticing and more than just a little intimidating. I leaned forward and put my elbows on the table, itching to find out more.

“How many employees do you have at Turning Stone?”

“Currently, only three. They are mediocre on their best day, but they get the job done. For now.”

“Marketing can be very complex. Why would you start an advertising company if you didn’t know how to run it?”

“I know enough of the basics. I can give direction to the few employees I have and turn a small profit. The end goal was to help my tenants, not to make a fortune from it. Advertising in New York is costly. I want the businesses that pay me rent to be successful. A profitable business continues to provide me with a monthly income. Whereas, empty buildings are costly,” he finished, shrugging his shoulders.

“That makes sense,” I said thoughtfully. “But it seems like you have it all worked out. Why do you need me?”

“Surprisingly, the small firm has exceeded my expectations despite the personel issues, and other businesses have inquired about advertising with me. Because of my limited knowledge, I have refused to take on any outside clients. However, I’ve seen the potential money that can be made, and it would be foolish to hold Turning Stone back. That’s why I am looking to recruit you. I want you to build Turning Stone Advertising into a lucrative business venture for me.” He paused and rubbed his finger over his chin contemplatively. “If you can do that successfully, there may be the opportunity for a partnership down the road.”

“Having a partner doesn’t really fit your motif. You don’t strike me as the type of person who likes to answer to people. A partner means you don’t get to call all the shots,” I said skeptically.

He simply nodded his agreement and took my pessimism in stride.

“I’ll admit I’ve never even considered the possibility of a partnership until now. But you have me at a slight disadvantage. Advertising is an unexplored territory for me. I may have the money to back the endeavor, but you have the knowledge I don’t possess. I want your expertise, and in the meantime, I will pay you a substantial salary while you work on growing the business portfolio. You will be, in a sense, an investment for me.”

All of this seems too good to be true.

“I don’t know,” I said, giving voice to my doubts.