Chapter 14 #2
I have too much time on my hands, now that Lewis is busy with Gen. I appreciate Cali letting me stay at her place, and I’ve even gotten used to the idea of living with Tyler temporarily. But with him on a manwhoring mission, I’d love any excuse to stay away.
Hayden studies my face, and it takes all my willpower not to fidget.
She glances at a sheet of paper on the desk in front of her.
“It says here you’ve worked at a local casino for the last four years.
You advanced from a hostess position to a dealer.
” She looks up. “I see two other positions in between the dealer and hostess jobs, each with increasing levels of responsibility.”
To keep from getting bored, I looked for new jobs that challenged me. And I needed more and more money over the years to support my mom.
“This is a desk position,” Hayden continues. “Not that there isn’t room for growth, but I want you to understand the parameters of what I’m offering.” She lists the job duties, which, I must admit, sound foreign.
“I understand,” I tell her, nodding as if these are all tasks I can handle.
“We’re short-staffed in human resources, as well as in our hospitality department. The assistant I hire will provide support to both departments until a replacement can be found for hospitality.”
I’ll be filling two jobs I have no background in? Whatever; it’s not like I’m actually going to get the position. My résumé clearly shows that I don’t have the skill set she requires. She must give every applicant the same spiel.
“Now that you know what I’m searching for, why don’t you tell me about yourself, Mira. Why are you looking to move from gaming to management?”
I give her a story about how I’d like something with a higher ceiling for growth, when I really just need more money.
“That all sounds good,” she says. “I’ll keep your application in mind as I wrap up the first round of interviews.”
Hayden has been nice, but this whole interview felt scripted, as if she’s going through the motions. A part of me hoped I’d get lucky with this job, but I never really believed I had a chance. Not after I saw my competition in the lobby.
Time for a new plan, because this lead is a bust.
The sound of knuckles rapping on the door comes from behind. Hayden looks up. “Drake,” she says in greeting, a rigid smile on her face.
I don’t know Hayden, but she isn’t hiding her unease at seeing the man standing in the doorway.
She called him Drake. He can’t be the same Drake that Gen told me about—he’s supposed to be on leave.
“Good morning.” Drake gives Hayden a cursory glance, his gaze settling on me.
He’s a fairly handsome man, wearing a dark suit with a blue checked tie that turns his amber eyes more demonic than I’d like.
The look he gives me is assessing, a full-on check-out.
Worse than the looks from the guy in the waiting room, because there’s a sense of possession behind this man’s gaze.
As if he believes he could have me anytime he wants.
These thoughts run through my mind, but they aren’t what has my stomach lurching, my hands sweating. It’s the man who approaches Drake in front of Hayden’s door who has my full, terrified attention.
I’m ready to leap over the desk and put any large object between me and this other guy.
Because I know him.
Denim jacket guy.
The man who hunted me in the woods, pinned me to the ground with his rough body, then proceeded to beat the crap out of me. That denim jacket guy.
Denim Jacket mumbles something into Drake’s ear while peering at me, and Drake’s gaze turns even more assessing, if that’s possible.
He smiles, but it’s more smirky than kind, as if he, like Tyler, knows all my secrets.
Only I trust Tyler a hell of a lot more than I do this Drake guy, which speaks volumes, because Tyler’s on my shit list.
“Here for an interview, Mira?” Drake says.
He used my name, though we haven’t been introduced. Because he knows of me, or because Denim Jacket said something?
I need to get out. Like now. I glance around, but it’s either cower in the corner behind Hayden, or make a run for it past the two large men blocking the doorway. So, basically, suicide. No way am I escaping the situation without a confrontation of some sort.
Hayden glances between me and Drake. “You two know each other?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Drake says.
I sense Hayden’s gaze on me. My face is flushed, and I won’t look at Drake or Denim Jacket. She walks around her desk and stands beside me in an almost protective manner.
How is this Drake guy connected to the evil piece of crap next to him? None of this makes sense.
Both Gen and Tyler warned me not to come here. Applying for this job may be the worst decision I’ve made yet. Because now that I’ve run into Denim Jacket, I’m certain I should have stayed home. Or moved out of the country.
But I have nowhere to go. No one to go to…
Stay calm. There’s no point in running. I’ll never get this job. I just need to wait out the interview until it’s over. Denim Jacket won’t do anything to me in a public place, right? Right?
“Mira is applying for the assistant position,” Hayden says.
Don’t tell him that. These men don’t need to know any more about me than they already do.
Her chin rises a notch. “She’s a strong candidate and I’m happy to have her come in today.”
No, no, no! I’m not a strong candidate. What’s she saying? She’s making the situation worse.
“But my interview is over,” I butt in, and grab my bag as I stand. “I was just leaving.” I attempt to scoot around Hayden.
Hayden narrows her eyes on Drake. “You know, Mira”—she drags her focus to me—“I’m beginning to believe you’re the perfect candidate for the position.” My jaw drops. Hayden stares at Drake and says, “You’re as qualified for this position as I was for mine.”
I glance between Drake and Hayden. Something is going on. And I’m sure I want no part of it.
“Planning to hire someone unqualified as your assistant, Hayden?” Drake taunts.
Normally I’d take offense at that statement, true or not. But no way am I stepping in the middle of their conversation.
Hayden crosses her arms. “It’s been done before. And you never can tell a candidate’s merit based on a piece of paper. Some have hidden strengths that can’t be predicted by a degree. Wouldn’t you agree, Drake?”
He doesn’t smile. He glares at her, and I feel the urge to protect her this time.
I’ve never been the protector. Have always looked out for number one, and to hell with everyone else. Well, except for Lewis. Okay, and Zach too…and the Sallees. All right, there are a few people I care about.
“Anyone can obtain a college degree, but people with ethics and a moral code are more important,” Hayden continues.
Drake smirks and brushes invisible lint from the sleeve of his coat. “As you say, Hayden. Come see me when you’re finished.” He walks away.
Denim Jacket doesn’t immediately follow. He smiles, staring at me. “I’ll see you around, Mira.”
Maybe I should reassess the idea of leaving town. It’s sounding better and better.
Hayden walks across the room and shuts the door behind the men, pressing her back to the wood. “Can I be frank with you?”
Frank? What have I gotten myself into? I don’t want her to be frank, I want to get the hell out of here. I’m in some warped world. Everything is turned upside down. This place is supposed to be professional, not a hitman hangout.
Hayden continues before I determine how best to let her down.
“I’m new here. Very new,” she says as she makes her way to her desk.
“As in, they just hired me to fill in for the last human resources director they fired.” Her words are coming fast, in a rush.
“I thought it was strange that I was hired fresh out of business school. This position would normally be filled by a candidate with the degree, plus years of practical experience, but that’s not what they did.
They needed someone immediately. And they hired me.
” She sits and motions for me to do the same.
I reluctantly do as she bids, resuming my seat across from her.
“After I took the job, thinking I was the luckiest girl alive, I discovered why the position had opened and why they needed it filled so quickly.”
She leans forward and lowers her voice. “The casino is under investigation for sexual harassment. The last HR director failed to respond to multiple complaints about one of the employees.” Hayden’s gaze moves toward the door, silently saying what she’s apparently not willing to admit out loud but that I already gathered. That Drake was the employee.
“Honestly, I’m like you,” she says conspiratorially.
“I have the right attitude and drive. I’m scrappy, but I don’t possess the qualifications for the position.
Management didn’t care. They hired me because I’m a woman and they needed to quickly clean up their image.
And because they thought I’d be malleable.
” She smiles humorlessly. “I represent Blue Casino’s PR effort to save the company. ”
“You’re a woman, so they can’t be misogynists if they hire you as one of their directors,” I say, returning her sarcasm.
She sits back. “Exactly.”
All this—it’s not what I bargained for when I came in today. I knew things would be awkward due to my lack of qualifications. I did not predict this outcome. Running into Drake—the Drake. Running into my tormentor from the woods. It’s all too much.
“I’m sorry for you, Hayden, I really am.” I’m about to tell her I can’t work here, even if she truly wanted me to and wasn’t simply taunting Drake, but I can’t help adding, “Maybe you should consider resigning. Seems to me like you work with a bunch of assholes.”
Hayden laughs. “Mira, you’re perfect.”
“Excuse me?” I cussed and insulted her employer. Is she nuts?
“I’m looking for more than an assistant.
I’m looking for someone with a good head on her shoulders.
Someone who can assume a leadership position when needed, who possesses good judgment under stress.
These recommendations”—she taps the paper in front of her—“point to the type of person I’m looking for.
Maryanne Boeman is well respected at this casino, and she gave you a strong character reference. ”
How did Gen manage that?
“Your work experience at a top casino is also helpful.”
She can’t be going where I think she’s going…
Hayden folds her hands on her desk. “Mira, I’d like to hire you as my assistant.”