Arrogant Boss

“Yes.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Tell me something. Was there truly a space available on the press and marketing team?”

Julian crossed his long legs. “Do you think I’d manufacture a fake absence for you just for the purpose of acquiring Turner Giordano’s prodigious brain?”

The frankness in his gaze made me bold. “You don’t become a billionaire for nothing, Mr. Hunt.” I held up the prospectus I’d been reading on the conglomerate. Exhibit A.

He tsked. “Millionaire, if you would be so kind. There are only five hundred billionaires in the country, give or take, and I’m not quite there yet.”

“Sorry.”

“Common mistake.” He smiled again, flashing that charming tooth. “Have you enjoyed reading my CV?”

I looked back down at the prospectus, titled The History of Hunt Industries and its Holdings, and back up at him. This man truly needed to be knocked down a peg.

“No. It’s honestly not that impressive.”

“No?”

I leaned forward, as if telling him a secret. “Someone told me that the owner, this Hunt fellow? He’s not even a real billionaire.”

Julian’s smile sank deeper somehow, connected with his eyes. He looked at me like we were friends. Like he knew me.

“There was a position free. One of our former press secretaries up and left three weeks ago. We’ve been on the hunt for one ever since.”

“And if you could leverage that into getting what you want…”

“Then that’s what I’ll do.” Julian shrugged. “Seems to have worked out well for all of us, no?”

“So far so good.”

He leaned back with an infuriatingly smug expression. “What do you think of your new place of employment?”

“You mean judging by my four hours of experience?”

“Yes.””The others in the marketing team seem like hard-working, nice people. This company seems… unconventional.”

“How so?”

I raised an eyebrow. “The CEO is sitting in a lowly employee’s office at noon on a Thursday, having an almost entirely unprofessional conversation.”

“Yes, well, I like to be involved.”

“And your employees like to play board games in the break room.”

“Really? Seems I’ve been missing out. Perhaps I should spend more time down here.”

“Perhaps you should. Now, shoo. I need to get back to reading about this company if I’m going to be able to handle its marketing and press needs.”

I didn’t know how I got the confidence to speak so boldly to him. Perhaps it was my nerves, or the infuriating smirk he wore.

He rose out of his chair. Really, men that tall and broad shouldn’t also be able to move gracefully. “Yes ma’am. Your dedication to Hunt is noted and appreciated. Tell me one last thing-did your former employer mind the quick end of your contract?”

I thought of the satisfaction I’d felt when telling my former boss that I was finally quitting. I was so done with being wing-clipped, all my ideas for expansion and growth shut down.

“Yes. They minded,” I said. “But I didn’t.”

His grin turned dark. “I think we’ll get along famously, Emily.”

Emily. I raced through the lobby as fast as I could on my heels. I could not be late. Not when it was still my first week, and especially not when there was a damn team-building exercise scheduled first thing in the morning.

I pressed the button to the elevator several times in rapid succession, shifting from one foot to another. If only I’d heard about the construction work earlier, and maybe I wouldn’t have gotten stuck in traffic.

I hit the elevator button a couple of times again.

“I hate to break it to you, but that’s not really how technology works.”

Of course.

I turned to see Julian, a wide grin on his smugly handsome features. I pressed the button an additional ten times and ignored the irrational shot of adrenaline that coursed through me.

“You’re the expert,” I said, “but I’m innovative.”

The scent of his aftershave hit me like a tidal wave. This close he was tall, nearly a head above me even in my bestest and blackest of pumps-their heels still intact.

The doors opened smoothly before us.

“Would you look at that?” He waved me ahead. “Your method worked.”

I stood as far away from him as the confined space would allow, clutching my bag with both hands. His presence was too big. It was sucking all the air out of the elevator, and all the rational thought out of me. I wasn’t sure which would end me first.

Julian leaned against the opposite wall. I forced myself to meet his gaze with a cool one of my own.

He looked at me with far more familiarity than the situation warranted. Like we weren’t practically strangers.

“Tell me how your first days have been.”

“They’ve been great. This company demands some serious press and marketing strategies.”

He nodded. “It’s a dynamic work environment. I know the press team is also very open to suggestions and input from all. There will be plenty of opportunities to make your mark.”

I looked away, staring intently at the number of floors passing us by. It annoyed me that he had figured me out so completely and so quickly. That he knew I’d felt trapped at Pet and Co.

It made me feel on edge. Particularly considering the fact that he was so… enigmatic. As charming as they come, but in a practiced way.

The elevator slid to a smooth stop.

And it didn’t start back up again.