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“Who’s the owner?”
He gripped the back of his neck. “My brother Leo is the owner, but don’t let it affect your decision.”
Was he crazy? “Dominic—”
He deflected, using his dimples for evil instead of for good. “Call me Nic. Everyone does.”
I took a breath. “Nic, your brother called me a hot mess. And although I find comfort in you being my boss, the fact he’s your boss is not at all comforting.”
“But you’re not afraid of him.”
“Of course I’m not.”
“See, that’s why this will work. You’re not intimidated by him, and believe me when I say the administrative and office tasks are completely lost on him. He’s left all of it to me. All he cares about is the security aspect. What I care about, aside from sales, is improving the office and the processes. Finding those little things which make people glad this is the place they work.”
Dammit, he was making it impossible to say no. This was my dream job. To manage an office and institute my ideas.
We both glanced up at an interruption in the form of Leo in black cargo pants and a black T-shirt emblazed with the Delta Security logo, the clothing putting his body on glorious display. Damn, how fast had the man showered? And why did the smell of his body soap cause a flutter deep in my stomach? Meanwhile, a quiet hostility radiated off of him.
Dominic was either oblivious to the tension or didn’t care. “Guess what, Leo? Kelsey knows the doctor who Addy used to work with. Says to hire her.”
His frown made it clear how he felt about the statement.
Watching him pour his big body onto the small metal chair almost made me laugh. Part of me wondered who was under more pressure here. Me or the chair?
“Why did you quit nursing school?”
Dominic frowned, scanning the resume in front of him. “I didn’t see where you put nursing school down.”
Leo raised an infuriating brow. “Did you even go at all?”
Boiling blood rose to my face. “Of course I went, but I didn’t think putting it down for an office position was relevant, nor did I want to talk about why I didn’t finish.”
“Why did you quit?”
Dammit, he was like a dog with a bone. Fine, two could play this stupid game. “I quit because I realized it wasn’t for me.”
“Bullshit. You find that out in the first year, not a semester away from graduating.”
Dominic spoke up, “Leo, this isn’t relevant—”
He crossed his muscled arms. “I’d say it’s very relevant. Integrity is the most important quality in the people I hire, and since she lied about being a nurse the other day on the plane, I want to know what type of person she is.”
“I didn’t lie.” Well, I sort of did. “Or at least I didn’t mean to lie.” Fuck it. It was already clear I wasn’t getting the job. Why not tell the truth? “My father is an oral surgeon, my mom a professor. I went to nursing school in an attempt to please them. But one semester away from finishing, I overheard my mother talking to the neighbor about her deep disappointment I’d only be a nurse. So I thought why bother?”
I lifted my chin, hating the buried memory and the hurt that came from it. I’d enjoyed parts of nursing school, especially the social part with patients, but frankly I’d been paranoid about my clumsiness and hadn’t loved it.
But I’d soldiered on in an effort to make my parents proud—only to find it an impossible feat.
So I’d dropped out, dyed my hair a color I’d been wanting to wear for years, and decided to live life for myself instead of for their approval.
“Did you tell your mom what you’d heard?” The quiet of Leo’s voice surprised me.
“No. I didn’t.” It had hurt too much to bring up.
He stood up suddenly. “Those are all my questions. I’m fine with whatever decision you make, Nic.” Like a tornado he’d come in, wreaked havoc, and now was leaving, all as though none of it was personal.
Nic chuckled. “Did I mention you’d be reporting to me?”
