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“Oh? And what would your priorities be?”
“You. This job. First and foremost.”
He took in my entire face and body in one hard look, leaving hot tremors raking over my skin. “That’s a pretty selfless notion, Miss Levine.”
I shook my head. “Not selfless. Logical. I gain as much as you would by having me. I don’t do anything halfway. I also don’t make poor investments into my future. This job is what I want. What I need, and in turn, I’m what you need. Because I’ll work beyond hard.”
“All or nothing kind of woman, huh?”
“Yes.”
His gaze lingered on my mouth for a moment and I couldn’t help but steal a glance at his.
“I like that,” he rasped.
I swallowed hard. I had him on the hook, and now it was time to get the power back. “Good, because now I want to tell you what I require.”
“Oh, please do,” he chuckled.
“After the three months are up—”
“Assuming I hire you.”
“I want a letter of recommendation. Personally signed by you.”
The home, job, and money would be the nest egg. What got me on my feet. But a letter of recommendation from the head of this type of company, along with work experience being an exec assis
tant to the CEO? That was my golden ticket. I’d be hirable again, even if it wasn’t in politics.
“My reputation and name on a document, much less vouching for someone, is a big deal, Red,” he said, as if I didn’t understand that already. “I’d only give you a personal letter of recommendation if you earned it. And I can tell you right now, my standards are high.”
I wanted to remind him that only a week ago, he was in ripped jeans and looked the part of delivery boy.
“I’m aware and am prepared to earn what I’m asking for.”
Just when I thought he was going to agree, he shook his head. “There’s something missing.”
“What?”
“You,” he said with a harsh tint to his voice. “You’re selling me, and doing a hell of a job”—he skated those eyes over me again—“but I can’t get past the front.”
“I’m not putting up a front.”
His mouth twitched a little. “Yes you are. I can sense it.”
“Then I don’t know what else you want from me.”
“I’ll settle for a piece of the real you.”
Now my mind was buzzing with confusion and terror. I was going to lose this opportunity. All because Leo thought I might be disingenuous? Because he wanted something real?
“I’m being real,” I whispered, but the expression on his face said he didn’t believe me.
“Well then, I’ll be in touch.” He extended his hand, showing me the door, and my pulse ratcheted up.
“No,” I said. “I can’t leave. Not without this job.”
He frowned. “Why?”
