Chapter 2 Kinley
I changed my clothes for the millionth time but still wasn’t totally happy with my outfit. I needed to ace this interview. I’d put on a suit first, but suits weren’t my thing, and I always felt uncomfortable in them. Body language mattered, and I wanted to appear confident, not stuffy.
I settled on a dark blue sleeveless dress and a wide white belt around my waist. Wide belts weren’t that fashionable these days, but I’d never given two shits about trends.
I wore what I loved and what fit my body type and looked good on me.
I’d pulled up my blonde hair into a high ponytail.
Dark red glasses framed my green eyes—one of my favorite assets.
I looked perfectly polished and professional.
This is going to work out, Kinley. You’ll see.
It sounded like a dream job, and I was grateful to the recruiting company for wanting to work with me in the first place. I’d been turned down by four others. They told me to my face that I was unemployable. My previous employer’s scandal was still too toxic, damn him.
I took a deep breath, then another one.
Some days, I still couldn’t believe I was in this situation.
I’d spent the last decade climbing the career ladder in one of the biggest tech companies in the country.
I’d been dating the CFO for the entire time.
Honestly, it had felt like a match made in heaven.
We both worked hard and loved each other.
I truly thought I had everything I could ever dream of.
.. until it all turned into a nightmare.
He’d been embezzling from the company and tried to pin it all on me.
This past year had been insanely hard. I’d lost my job and spent more time in courtrooms than out of them.
All the while, I’d been furiously searching for another job.
But no one would give me the time of the day while the investigation was ongoing.
Once it was all over and the jury found me not guilty, I’d assumed I could move on.
But this was the first and only interview I’d gotten since, and I was going to ace it.
I still had savings, but I couldn’t live off that forever.
And I really, really wanted to keep my cozy home.
I owned a three-bedroom house in University Heights.
It was comfortable and modern with a gorgeous yard.
It was my favorite place in the world, and I was never going to let it go if I could help it.
I drove downtown to the interview, which was taking place at the company’s headquarters in the Gaslamp Quarter. I expected to hunt for a parking spot, but there was one right in front of the building. Hell yes! I took it as a sign that things were finally turning around and my luck was returning.
I got out of the car, double-checking that I had the right address before heading inside the building.
I’d read about Wyatt Sterling. He was one of the founders of the hugely successful Sterling Investments.
He also had several companies on the side, and he was now looking for someone who could run the newest additions—a wine and a hotel business.
The building was very tall, and Sterling Investments occupied two of the upper two floors. I checked in at the lobby’s reception, letting them know I was here for an interview, and they directed me to the bay of elevators.
When the first one opened, it was quickly packed, which was to be expected in such a huge building. I stepped off on the eighteenth floor, then headed down the hallway to where a gorgeous redhead sat at a small desk.
“Hello, I’m here to see Wyatt Sterling for an interview,” I told her.
“Of course! You’re Kinley McGuire.” I nodded and she smiled, rising to her feet. “I’m Emma. Nice to meet you. Please follow me.”
We walked by several doors until we reached a cozy seating area with couches, chairs, and a coffee station. I was impressed that this wasn’t an open office environment. I’d never been a fan.
“Please take a seat, and I’ll let Wyatt know you’re here. Feel free to have something to drink. There’s water in the mini fridge too.”
She must have noticed me looking at the coffee machine.
“I will, thanks.”
I was too jittery to sit down and probably shouldn’t have any caffeine, but I needed to do something to keep myself occupied.
God, this has to work out.
While I made my coffee, I heard Emma’s voice a bit farther down the hall. “Wyatt, your interview is here.”
“What interview?” he asked.
“Ms. Kinley McGuire.”
“Right, I’d totally forgotten about it.”
“Her name is super familiar. Is she the one who...?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
My heart constricted. Obviously, he was aware of the scandal. Hopefully he knew the truth, though, which was that I wasn’t involved.
“Right.”
I barely heard the rest of the conversation until Emma said, “I’m surprised you want to interview her.”
My stomach dropped. Clearly she knew all about the scandal too.
Wyatt answered right away in a normal tone, not trying to keep his voice quiet. Maybe he wanted me to hear him. “I won’t hire her, but I can at least hear her out.”
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. Damn. Why had I been so optimistic?
Suddenly, I wasn’t in the mood for coffee anymore. I rolled my shoulders and walked away from the counter, briefly looking out the huge glass window. It overlooked the Gaslamp Quarter, and the view was fabulous. This would have been a nice office to work in.
Why on earth would he make me come here?
Anger coursed through my veins at the thought, but then it ebbed away quickly.
It didn’t matter. I was here and would make the best of it.
He was at least interested in having a conversation with me.
Surely that meant I still stood a chance.
Once he got to know me, he’d change his mind. I was sure of it.
I turned around as I heard footsteps.
“Mr. Sterling is ready for you.”
“Perfect. Thank you, Emma.” I smiled, hoping she couldn’t tell that I’d listened to their conversation.
She led me into a huge office with large windows and a wide desk with two monitors on it.
“Ms. McGuire, welcome,” a man who I assumed was Wyatt Sterling said, walking toward me, flashing me a very charming smile.
“Thank you.”
He was much taller than me, even though I was wearing high heels. He stretched out his hand, and I saw a tattoo peek out from under his sleeve.
Cuff links and a tattoo—that was an unusual combination. I couldn’t see what the design was, but I was intrigued.
“I’m Wyatt Sterling. Please have a seat. I hope you found our office easily.”
“Yes, I did.”
His blue eyes were extremely expressive. I didn’t detect even one ounce of antagonism in them.
I was going to win him over. I was sure of that.