揧ou抮e a VA. Isn抰 it the same kind of work??
She narrows her eyes at me. 揌ow did you know that??
揇estiny looked you up online to help me prepare for the interview. I also had my executive assistant pull your background.?
揥hatever. Well, VAs do that work, but for me, it抯 only temporary and always remote. And part-time. I have a short attention span for screens. If it isn抰 coffee, I抦 easily bored.?She looks away and sighs before meeting my eyes again. 揟o you, I抦 sure that抯 a huge flaw. To me, it抯 normal.?
I lean back in my chair, swiveling away slightly as I catch the tiny hint of worry that creases her face the longer I抦 silent.
揝o it抯 a problem棓 she starts, but I cut her off.
揧ou don抰 need to worry about that here, Miss Angelo. You抣l be getting your hands dirty exclusively in the lab.?
揕ab??she echoes.
揟he research and development department is in the basement of this very building. They have a state-of-the-art laboratory set up, complete with a mock storefront to see how practical roasts are for the retail shops.?
She gasps.
Goddamn. Why does that sound have my fingers grasping the edge of my desk, shocked by how sexual it seems in my ears?
揥ait. You want me to work in an actual lab, trying out new brews all day, and…you抣l pay me for that??Her voice goes low, quiet, suspicious.
I relax, swiveling to face her again.
Now that I抳e got her attention…
揂 hundred and twenty-five thousand to start. Based on your experience, you抎 qualify for a little more than our average senior development technician,?I say.
The amber shimmer in her eyes when they catch the light annoys me, the dreams flaring in those wide, soulful eyes. I can抰 peel my gaze off her, dammit.
She mouths the number to herself again, her eyes going wide.
揤ery funny. Now what抯 the catch??she asks.
揅atch??I repeat.
揟his is too good to be true. There抯 always some awful fine print, isn抰 there??
揑t抯 not that good, and there抯 no hidden risk, I assure you.?I pause, staring at her seriously, enjoying this talk with a human being rather than a walking attitude. 揧ou make damn good coffee, Eliza Angelo. My company needs damn good coffee. Putting you in a cubicle would be a disservice to us both. If you can refine what was in that mason jar for commercial use, you抣l have ample leeway to experiment to your heart抯 content. This company will even consider acquiring distinct brews from you at an additional licensing fee to compensate you for your talent.?
She leans back in her chair with a loud breath. Her shoulders relax for the first time since she walked in.
揥ow. I抣l admit that it sounds like a dream come true. Maybe I should quit calling you a spoiled prince??There抯 that damnably sarcastic grin of hers again.
揟hat would be wise,?I whisper.
揃ut you were Prince Jerkwad to Wayne.?
揟he not-boyfriend you keep mentioning every other sentence??I tease, then instantly regret it.
揑f only you weren抰 coffee shop Satan.?A second later, she stuffs her hand over her mouth. 揝orry, I didn抰 mean to say that. Not out loud.?
I snort.
揥ith everything else you抳e said, that抯 the last thing you should apologize for. I抣l let it slide this time梚f you tell me what the hell it is you want.?
She looks down with a rolling shrug.
揥ell. You抮e offering me something I抳e never even dreamed of. I didn抰 think such a job梑asically doing my hobby, for pay梕ven existed. The other shoe has to drop sometime.?
揧ou抮e right,?I snap off, loving the startled flicker in her eyes. 揌ere抯 that shoe coming down on you like a bug梱ou抣l be reporting directly to me. I抣l expect weekly updates.?
For a second, she抯 frozen in abject horror.
I wonder if I抳e pushed my luck too far when she slumps back. It抯 like part of her soul left her body in that sigh.
揑 can抰 do it,?she whispers, standing up abruptly and heading for the door.
揧ou can!?I growl after her.
Her hand is on the door handle when she turns to look at me.
揥hy? Why should I sell myself out for you??she hisses.
揃ecause I dare you, Miss Angelo.?I step forward, rounding my desk. I don抰 stop moving until we抮e barely an inch apart and I抦 leering down at her. 揑 dare you to step outside your comfort zone, for once. You抮e not a risk taker. You抮e a creature of habit, and it抯 a goddamned shame that you let that hold you back from your full worth.?
The anger on her face fades as she swallows loudly.
For the briefest second, my senses roam her. I devour her shape, her scent, and that soft mahogany glow in her eyes that抯 so magnetic I have to work to keep my gaze there. If she were any closer, my teeth would be buried in that soft pink bottom lip she juts out, severe and conflicted.