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Laughing again, his eyes held amusement. “While you do indeed have quite an impressive resume, I assure you that I received two dozen resumes from even more highly qualified individuals with ties to the industry. You have none.”
“Then why didn’t you offer the job to one of them?”
“Because they didn’t have any spark. Trust me, I interviewed eight others and none of them were right for the job. I knew the second you started the interview that you were the one.”
“The one for what?” I knew my tone was far too demanding, but if the man expected me to work with an asshole, then I deserved to know all the facts.
“Taming the wild beast.”
His answer was so unexpected that I couldn’t figure out what to say. “I’m sorry? What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m serious. Montgomery is a brilliant man. He has more integrity than anyone I’ve ever known. His marketing expertise in this industry is widely known. While the work started with his father at the helm, through Montgomery’s business expertise, he’d helped to turn what was considered the smallest and most unprofitable winery in Napa Valley to one receiving top honors in all categories, the wealth and influence of the company skyrocketing. Or I should say he did.”
“Because of his explosive rage.”
He cocked his head. “Partially.”
“Is he broke?”
The man offered another sigh. “No, he’s worth millions, but he won’t be for long if he can’t jumpstart the winery like he did before.”
“I did some homework before I came out here. The company plummeted into a slump that you can’t get yourselves out of. My guess is all because Mr. Wolfe refuses to realize that the marketing techniques need to change and that as the face of the winery, he needs to get his ass back out there on the front line. But his arrogance prevents him from accepting his failures. My guess is that there is a series of reasons why, which is really why I’m here. To turn things around.”
“I knew I hired the right person.”
I rolled my eyes. “That doesn’t mean I can work for someone who is so blatantly… rude. I’m not a freaking therapist.”
“Understandable. I will have a discussion with him. I agree with you that he can’t continue treating the employees badly. We’ve already lost several during the last few months.” Robert grumbled under his breath and I could see exhaustion written all over him.
I weighed the options of returning home. They didn’t seem plausible to me. There was no way I could get my job back, unless I groveled. No. That wasn’t appealing at all.
“What is the horrible story behind Star’s injuries and Montgomery’s attitude problem?”
“That I can’t tell you. Or I should say it’s not my story to tell. Just know that Montgomery is in a dark place. Returning to the man he once was will take some time. He’s not a bad man.”
Uh-huh. While I understood difficulties, I wasn’t certain I had the chutzpa to take such atrocious behavior. “I don’t know if this is the right fit for me. I’m not the kind of woman he can push over.”
“No, you’re not, which is another reason you were hired. Just stay for two weeks, Ms. Porter. If you can’t manage to find a way to work with him, then I will completely understand if you leave. I will talk to him. Do we have a deal?”
I walked toward the window, noticing Montgomery getting out of a gorgeous, sleek, and very expensive sports car of some kind. Red in color.
Of course it would be red.
When he removed his sunglasses, tossing them into the car before shutting the door, I bit my lower lip. The second he lifted his head toward the window, I had difficulty breathing. Why did the man have to be so insanely gorgeous? I waited until he walked inside the building before making my decision. “Fine, Mr. Blakely. Two weeks.”
“Excellent. I assure you that things will get better. Just heed my advice and stay away from Star. That’s the only real hot button Montgomery has.”
I doubted that. “Fine. I’ll keep that in mind.” I moved toward the door, still quivering inside from a combination of fury and…
Desire.
Jesus. I was one pathetic idiot. So what if I hadn’t had a date in so long I couldn’t remember the guy’s name? I didn’t need to get along with Montgomery Wolfe. I just had to rock his world. That I could concentrate on.
When I closed the door to Mr. Blakely’s office, I noticed Montgomery heading into an office. But not before turning his attention in my direction. He gave me the same kind of gaze he had before. Stern. As if the man owned me. Oh, no. The bastard wasn’t going to treat me like some eye candy and nothing more. I would do the talking and he was going to listen.
While I knew I was skating on thin ice by barging into his office, I figured at this point I had nothing to lose. Why not see exactly what the man was made of? I took long strides in the direction, bypassing a woman sitting outside the man’s office.
“Wait! You can’t do that, miss.”
