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“What? Seriously? So you have to commute, which means weather and other issues could get in the way of you making it to work on time.”
“It’s where I live for now. I have some friends who live a few blocks from here, so if I were so lucky as to get a job somewhere nearby then I have a place to crash until I get my own place.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought this through.”
“I’m a planner.”
“In this business you need to be organized but also ready to adapt at a moment’s notice to changes and work well under pressure. We get a lot of big shots that expect respect.”
“I understand.” She replied and wondered what type of big shots he meant. Movie stars? Wealthy businessmen? Drug dealers? Who? She had seen many types working at the honky tonks in Texas. Her tough New York attitude went a long way out there.
As the doors opened he motioned with his hand to let her through first and that was when she noticed the man by the doorway. He gazed over her body, squinted at Lucca.
They exchanged just a nod. He didn’t introduce her, which she thought was kind of rude, or he was some type of security guy or something. Her gut clenched a little. This was New York City. She supposed anyone could come up here to the business offices by taking the elevator, which didn’t have any security or keypad on it.
“Down here and on the right.” He said, his hand on her hip as they came around the corner.
He knocked on the door.
“Come in.” She heard and when the large door opened there stood an older man in a suit along with another man. That guy narrowed his eyes at her, looking a bit annoyed. Lucca kept a hand on her hip as if protecting her. That gut instinct went up another notch.
“Miss Asiago. Such a pleasure to meet you. I’m Griska Mulcheck.”
She reached her hand out to shake his firmly, but he brought it to his lips and kissed the top. His pleasant cologne attacked her senses. An older man in his fifties with black and grey hair, slightly overweight, attractive, and Russian. His accent was bold, and his demeanor likable. When she was a kid, some of the other storefronts around her parent’s store had owners who were Russian. They were hard working, but seemed to always look suspicious and angry. She pushed aside the memory and watched the other man leave the room.
“Von wasn’t kidding about your beauty or your eyes. You’re stunning, and young too. A bit of a concern, maybe Lucca?” he said to Lucca and she swallowed hard but straightened her shoulders.
“I can assure you sir that I am more than capable of handling this position. I’ve worked at some pretty busy places. Dealt with lots o
f things.”
“I understand that you worked for a rather rowdy, large club in Texas near the university you attended.” Griska asked, eyes squinted as if he was still unsure of her capabilities.
“Yes sir. It was four levels of chaos and opened until four in the morning.”
“Well helping to run a place like Gables in the city is a bit different from working in a college bar in Texas.” Lucca added with attitude. Again, looking at her body. Was he one of those chauvinistic jerks who thought women couldn’t handle any kind of verbal or even physical confrontations? He didn’t know her, or the strength of her determination never mind her training. Damn, she was getting annoyed and she needed to remain calm here. She really wanted this job.
She raised her eyebrows up at him.
“You think keeping rowdy college kids under control was easy? Ever meet any cowboys Lucca? They’re a breed of their own. Or maybe dealt with patrons failed attempts at getting in drugs, soliciting prostitution, and hell, just fornicating in the booths without a care of the audience watching.”
His eyes widened this time and he laughed. “Seriously?” Lucca asked.
“I can tell you some stories and you would be surprised. They don’t call them wild honky tonks for nothing.”
“Damn, college was not like that when I attended.” Lucca stated.
Mr. Mulcheck chuckled. “Your professor, Von, Mr. Wind, and I go way back. He spoke very highly of you.” He said and squinted at her. Lucca again looked at her and she wondered if they thought she was romantically involved with Mr. Wind.
“Then you know he knew my aunt Grace, before she passed away several years ago. They went to high school together and then he took a job out in Texas, left New York and eventually became a professor at the university.” She added.
“Yes, of course he explained that to me, and his love of your aunt, and the good woman she was. So what we’re looking for is for someone to work part time to start, which ensures that we see your capabilities and can determine the level of responsibility you could take on here.”
“Understood sir.”
“Oh, and call me Griska.”
“Well please call me Annabella.” She said to him and he smiled.
