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“I thought I was meeting with someone in charge of hiring, not—”
“A delivery boy?” There was just a touch of harshness in his voice. “I am in charge of hiring, Red.”
“You’re in HR?”
He laughed. “I’m Leandro Savas. I own this shipping company.”
Oh God . . .
Suddenly everything pieced together and I felt like a world-class idiot. I didn’t know why Leo was dressed down the day he brought the small box—which I found out later was expensive whiskey—to the governor, but he had really been bringing something to his friend. The same friend Roman was talking to.
Shit!
“When I spoke to Roman and he said your name, I gave Stephen a break and figured I’d screen you myself.”
His eyes roamed the length of me. He may have been sitting in a huge office and wearing a suit, but he still
had that bad-boy gleam in his eye that matched the Leo I had met that day.
I cleared my throat and with all the gumption I had, said, “Haven’t you screened me already?”
He grinned. “I think that right there is the reason this is a bad idea, Miss Levine.”
I lifted my chin and took a deep breath, clutching the small file folder that held my resume. I had come here ready to pitch myself and sell this man on why he should hire me. Never did I think I’d be staring down the guy I’d ditched my panties for in a public bathroom. Then ditched him.
“Bad idea?” I asked, going for my best casual voice. He stood and walked around his desk.
“Yes. Obviously we have a past, no matter how brief it was, that I fear can complicate a workplace environment. But I had already promised Roman I’d interview you, so I figured it would only be right to tell you in person that I’m sorry, but this won’t work.”
Blood rushed to my ears because it sounded like I was losing this job before I even had a chance to go for it.
“Why don’t you tell me a bit about the job?” I offered. “And perhaps I can tell you my strengths.”
He looked me over for a moment. “I need a personal executive assistant. It’s temporary, three months. And I am already aware that one of your strengths is short-term situations.” Ouch, that stung a little. But I did leave him in a bar, so coming across as a temporary woman was the least of my worries at the moment.
“I was told lodging was included?”
He nodded. “A small home on the east side of the property is part of the agreement. The demands I place on my personal assistant, as well as the nature of my work, dealing with associates overseas at all hours, makes living here an easy arrangement. But Miss Levine, I don’t think—”
He sounded like he was going for a negative again, so I cut him off. “I was also told you are in the middle of a hectic work schedule?”
He looked at me for a long moment. Whether it was the fact that I’d had sex with him, or that I was desperate for this job, it made a lot of my modesty disappear. It was time to be bold and go for it. All or nothing.
Finally he answered. “I have ships, ports, and routes from Greece to New York, not to mention a major deal I am trying to close.”
I nodded. Obviously I couldn’t press for details on this deal since I didn’t have the job, but it sounded big. Since Savas Shipping was a global company, the opportunity was limitless.
“I’d need someone bright, able to jump right in, mingle with an intense crowd of various business people with a level of discretion. Someone to be at my beck and call and execute my wishes effortlessly.”
The more he talked, the more I felt ready to tackle this job. The responsibility and opportunity was drugging. Planning and helping to control people’s schedules and lifestyles—it was a way I maintained a sense of control.
“I think I’d be perfect for this position. Based on the job description, I have a lot of skills and assets that would benefit you.”
“I’m aware,” he said with a wicked edge to his voice that made my knees go a little weak and a stupid heat creep to my cheeks. “But sexual harassment is a very real issue and I don’t need that here. I think it’s best we part ways. Feel free to use the door”—he motioned behind me—“instead of the window to make your exit.”
“First of all, I didn’t go out the window, I went out the back exit of the bar.”
He tilted his head and grinned a little as if I amused him, but that only pissed me off further. “Secondly, I have a lot of experience in dealing with various projects at a high level and I work my ass off around the clock.”
