Merrick arched a brow. “Is the interview over?”
I shrugged. “I don’t see any reason to continue. You’ve made it clear that you don’t think my experience is what you’re looking for. And you’ve said time is money, so I’m sure I’ve already wasted what…a grand or two?”
That smirk he’d had earlier came back out to play. His eyes roamed my face before he stood and clasped my hand. “At least twenty thousand. I’m very good at my job.”
I tried to withdraw my hand, but Merrick clasped his fingers tighter. He pulled unexpectedly, leaning me over his desk. Then he leaned in, too. For a second, I thought the guy was going to try to kiss me. But before my heart could start beating again, he veered to the left and his face went to my neck, where he inhaled deeply. After, he simply let go of my hand like nothing had happened.
I blinked a few times as I righted myself to stand. “What…what was that?”
Merrick shrugged. “I figured since you weren’t going to be my employee, it wouldn’t be harassment if I took a quick sniff.”
“A quick sniff?”
He slipped his hands into his trouser pockets. “I’ve been curious since the dressing room.”
My eyes bulged. “Oh my God. I knew it was you! Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”
“Seemed more fun not to. I wanted to see how you’d handle yourself. You looked like you were considering bolting when you first walked in. But you recovered pretty nicely.”
I squinted. “No wonder you need help with your employees’ stress level. Do you often play with people for your own entertainment?”
“Do you often hide in fitting rooms and sniff your pits?”
I frowned, and my squint narrowed further. Merrick seemed amused.
“I’ll have you know, I was cleaning up because I got stuck on the…” I shook my head and growled. “You know what? It doesn’t matter.” I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I was a professional and sometimes it was better to take the high road. I straightened my skirt and stood tall. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Crawford. Hopefully, we won’t cross paths again.”
CHAPTER 2
Evie
“I take it the interviews today didn’t go too well?”
I poured the last drops from the now-empty bottle of wine and held it up to my sister. “Gee, whatever could have given you that idea?”
Greer grabbed another bottle from the wine rack and sat down at the kitchen table across from me with the corkscrew. “Why couldn’t we be born rich, instead of just smart and beautiful?”
I chuckled. “Because we’re not assholes. I swear, every person I’ve ever met who was the full package—money, brains, and beauty—was also a giant asshole.” I sipped my wine. “Like the guy I interviewed with this afternoon—drop-dead gorgeous. His eyes were really light and his lashes so thick and dark that it was hard not to stare. He owns one of the most successful hedge funds on Wall Street—but a total arrogant jerk.”
Greer pulled the cork from the wine with a loud pop, and Buddy, her dog, came running. It was the only sound he got up for. People could ring the doorbell or knock, and he wouldn’t get out of his bed. But open a bottle of wine, and he was suddenly Pavlovian. She held the cork out for him to lick, and he went to town.
I shook my head, watching. “Your dog is strange.”
She scratched the top of his head as he slurped the cork. “He only likes red. Have you noticed the dirty look I get when he comes running only to realize it’s white and he got up for nothing?”
I laughed and poured Greer a full glass of merlot.