Mr. Big Shot: An Enemies To Lovers Romance (Kinda Cocky Book 1), стр. 19
I looked over at her. “No. I haven’t.”
Zane turned to face me. “Didn’t realize you were looking for a job.”
“Oh, yeah,” Roxy nodded, “she’s been applying everywhere. I would’ve figured something would have snagged by now, though… Not even any interviews?”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
Kelly’s voice piped up behind us. “Remind me again what kind of job you’re looking for?”
“Something desk-related. It’s about the only common thing working in Human Resources has with most other jobs,” I explained.
Zane leaned forward, interested. “So, you’re good with answering phones? Filling out paperwork?”
My eyes slowly slid over to him. “Yeah. You could say I’m good at it.”
Roxy giggled. “Oh, do we ever need to talk.”
Kelly hopped up on the side of the table, facing me. “You worked at a plant or something before, right?”
“A manufacturing plant, yes. I was the head of their H.R. department. You know, until they closed down.”
Kelly reached for an olive. “Nice. And there’s nothing like that around here?”
I shook my head. “Not for manufacturing, anyway. I’m searching for anything desk-related that’s full-time. Receptionist work. Secretarial work.”
“Secretarial work?” Zane questioned.
Roxy shushed him this time. “What kind of jobs have you been applying for?”
Kelly swung her legs. “If you need a character reference or something, you know Daddy can give you one.”
“And so can I,” Roxy said, before kissing my cheek.
I smiled. “I know, guys. I know. I just… I’m trying to do this my way.”
Kelly rolled her eyes. “You always try to do it your way, and it always blows up in your face.”
“Thanks for that,” I said with a smirk.
Roxy stood. “I mean, it’s true. You’ve always been stubborn like that. You never want to accept help, or assistance, or anything like that. You’re always quick to help, but quick to push people away when you need help.”
Kelly cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. “Yeah. Why is that?”
I leaned back against my chair. “Well, happy birthday, Kelly!”
She giggled. “You’re not getting out of this that easily.”
“Is that why you moved to Vegas? Because you got laid off?” Zane butted in.
“Way to jab the knife in there, homeslice.” Roxy murmured.
Zane shook his head. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just trying to find out a little bit more. You know, the Vegas job market isn’t like other job markets. There are other things people look for in a resume. Buzz words that stop their eye on your application and really give you consideration. If you want, I can--.”
I snapped at him. “I’ve gotten myself this far in life, and I have a plan if it doesn’t work. If I can’t do it, then it’s not meant to be. But, thanks anyway.”
“Yikes.” Kelly pursed her lips.
Then Roxy whistled through her teeth. “Well, if you decide to be a little less bitchy about the topic, let me know. Yeah? Because needing help isn’t all that bad. Is it, Zane?”
I stared at him, flatly as he turned his head toward me.
“Depends on the help,” he said.
I nodded. “Exactly.”
10
Zane
As much as I wanted to be annoyed by the way Karina was acting, it was honestly kind of cute. She wrinkled her nose every time she looked over at me. But, when she thought I wasn’t watching? She had this look of guilt in her eye. That told me enough. That told me that Karina felt bad about abandoning me at her own place without a second thought. So, the bulk of our interactions were more for my enjoyment than hers.
And oh, how I relished it.
“So, how was your day?”
Karina shrugged. “I really don’t even know how to answer that question.”
“Well, start with your morning, then. How did that go?”
She slowly looked over at me, and I tried my hardest not to laugh. The horror that rushed behind her eyes mixed with the downturn of her lips made me want to chuckle until I couldn't breathe. Karina was much too easy to annoy. And that was never good with someone like me.
I didn’t want to torture the poor girl, though. “You know, my morning went pretty well.”
She blinked. “Enlighten me.”
“I got to have coffee and breakfast out. I woke up in this amazing bed. I really should go back sometime and figure out what kind of mattress I slept on. I’d like one for my own place,” I told her.
“Couldn’t help you there. The house is a partially-furnished rental.”
“All the more reason for me to go back and take a look, then.”
I winked at her, and her entire face lit up with red. Not quite an angry red, though. However, she was perturbed with my picking. Karina looked more embarrassed than anything. And while I wanted to know the actual reason behind her leaving me there alone, it wasn’t as if I hadn’t done it to my fair share of women.
Hey. I kept company with a woman when it suited me. That was my style, okay?
Just not overnight.
“You can be honest with me, though, right?” I asked.
Her eyes locked onto her menu. “Please, Zane. Not here.”
I grinned. “You’re cute when you beg.”
“Is this how it’s going to be all night?” She let out a ragged sigh.
“Hey, you’re the one who sat down beside me.”
“My friends seated me here.”
“And you're not chained to that chair. You’ve got an entire table you can move to.” He nodded around at the empty chairs.
“I’m not going to cause a scene by getting up and going to sit by myself. This isn’t about me. Just like it’s not about you right now.” She shot me a pinning look, and all I wanted to do was kissed those pursed lips of hers.
I liked how she stood up to me. Most women didn’t do that. They simply bowed down and became ‘yes’ girls just to get their grimy hands on my wallet. I liked it.
No, I loved it.
I loved her spunk.
“Well, if you don’t want to tell me about your morning, why don’t you tell me about the rest of your day?”