Mr. Big Shot: An Enemies To Lovers Romance (Kinda Cocky Book 1), стр. 24

Her face darkened. “Why is that relevant to the interview, Mr. Hearthstone?”

Finally, someone interesting. “Just curious, is all. You don’t have to answer if you don’t feel comfortable doing it.”

“I appreciate that. Thank you. I had a feeling you wouldn't be so cold-hearted.”

An odd statement, but I glossed over it. “It also says you enjoy volunteering at the local animal shelters.”

“I do, yes.”

I gave a polite smile. “Do you have any pets? Or any service animals?”

Her eyes narrowed. “He’s called you, hasn’t he?”

I blinked. “What?”

She stood from the chair. “He’s called you. He knows. Be honest with me. Did you hear from him?”

My eyes blinked rapidly. “From--from who?”

“I have to go.”

I cocked my head. “Ma’am’. Miss--.”

“I have to go!”

She rushed out of my office in a tizzy, clutching her purse. When Brenden peeked his head around the corner, he shot me a look.

“Seriously?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Can you make sure she gets to her car okay? And if she needs any help, call the police.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Seriously?”

“Just do it, if you’re going to be so damn nosy all day. Least you can do is help.”

He sighed, but he did as I asked. One by one, the interviews rolled in. And none of the candidates were up to snuff. They did all have one thing in common, though.

They were very nice to look at.

One woman simply wanted to meet me, while another wanted to know if I could offer her a part-time job working fifteen hours a week. I almost laughed at her, had Brenden not been glaring at me from the doorway behind the poor soul. I wasted my entire morning with women Brenden would’ve hired. Some were easy on the eyes but didn’t know a lick about the business side of things. It pissed me off more than anything. But, I knew that if I entertained him long enough, he’d step aside and let me do it correctly.

Until finally, we came to the last interview of the day.

Brenden rubbed his hands together. “All right. Last one. You ready for it?”

“Which one are you hiring?”

He paused. “What?”

“You’ve been standing at my office door all morning listening to the interviews. I can only assume it’s because you’re listening to their interviews, so you know how to hire for your own secretary. Right?”

He shrugged. “I mean, two birds one stone?”

“I hate you.”

Brenden smirked. “You love me.”

“I’m going to leave you one day for my own business.”

He chuckled. “Finally. This place might be able to run the way it needs to, then.”

I rolled my eyes as Brenden laughed. I didn’t need his bullshit. What I needed was for the hellish day to be over. My mood had tanked four interviews before. I no longer had the patience to tolerate another faked-titted, dyed-haired, unqualified candidate with a nice ass.

I just wanted someone capable.

Was that so much to ask?

“Come on, have a bit of fun with this,” Brenden said.

I shook my head. “That’s your problem, man. You’re always having fun. You’re never business-oriented.”

“Why be business-oriented when I have a workaholic partner? I mean, I can always count on you to pick up the slack.”

And there it was -- the true divide that separated Brenden and myself. While I loved my brother, and he was the best friend I’d ever known, I also had learned from him that I’d never get into business with anyone ever again. If I couldn't run it on my own, it wasn’t worth trying.

A knock at my door pulled me from my trance.

“Come in,” I said.

Brenden patted my shoulder. “Good luck. Can’t wait to see who you pick.”

“I’d say the same about you, but I really don’t care.”

“Sure, you don’t. Come on in!”

My office door opened, and I stood to my feet. I buttoned my suit coat and drew in a deep breath, preparing myself for this last interview. If I was lucky at all, it’d be over quickly. In and out, so I could lock my damn office door and let no one in for the rest of the week.

“Before you say anything, Mr. Hearthstone, I’m so sorry I’m late. I know the interview was scheduled for eight this morning, but I had a personal emergency. They don’t ever happen, and I swear it won’t happen again. Thank you so much for still taking my interview.”

Her voice stopped me in my tracks. Even Brenden stood there, immobile, as she slipped beyond my office door. With her beautiful locks of hair spiraling in soft curls down beyond her shoulders, she looked positively radiant. A bright red color donned her lips, bringing out the color of her eyes. Her clothes were professional. Sensible. Yet, somehow, they made her even more beautiful than the number she wore at the club that night.

“Karina,” I said.

Her eyes whipped over to me. “Zane?”

Brenden snickered. “Holy. Shit.”

“You’re Mr. Hearthstone.” Karina whispered.

I nodded. “Zane Hearthstone, yes.”

Her eyes moved to Brenden, then back to me. Over and over, until it finally sunk in. And when she sighed, it almost sounded defeated.

“Brenden, I need to conduct my last interview,” I said.

“I bet you do.” Brenden smirked.

I glared at him. “Out. Now.”

He held up his hands. “Sorry, sorry. Okay. I’m going.”

And as my brother made his way out of my office, I stood there. Dumbfounded. Staring at the one girl, I never thought I’d see again after the awkward weekend we spent running into one another.

“Your apology is accepted,” I told her, smiling.

But all she did was stare at me.

She stood there, straight-faced with her resume clutched in her hand.