Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,7

do more than just sign for stock. I manage the place when my folks are on vacation.” I take a sip of my drink, the icy concoction cooling me down, which I need for this conversation. “I can take care of a grown man. Essentially that’s what a PA is. A little bit like a babysitter for an adult. I’ll fetch things for him and make his coffee.”

“There’s a whole lot more to it than that. I’m hoping it’s a lower-level executive position.” She lifts her brows at me in question.

“Why do you say that?”

“Oh, no!” She sucks in a breath. “You didn’t apply for a top-level PA position, did you?”

I shrug.

“No!” she groans, then shakes her head. “It’s fine.” She takes another sip of her drink. “They’ll never call you for an interview.”

I widen my eyes. “What kind of a friend are you? Yes, it’s a top-level position. I’d be PA to the CEO, and I’ll have you know it pays a small fortune. I’d double my salary, which means I can save for some high-end equipment for the bakery. We’d be able to produce bigger batches quicker, thus lowering our price per unit.”

She shakes her head, looking at me like I’m crazy. “There’s a reason they’re offering so much. Have you even thought of that?”

“I can be a PA,” I say, only half believing it myself.

“You’re a pastry chef, not a personal assistant. I doubt you’ll get an interview.” She waves a dismissive hand, which should irritate me but doesn’t.

“You suck as a friend,” I push out, laughing.

“A good friend will always be honest, and I’m nothing but honest.”

“That’s for sure,” I snort.

“You won’t get a call from them, so forget about the PA position and concentrate on getting a job you can actually do.” A few seconds go by. She cocks her head and looks at me strangely, her eyes narrowing on me. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing.” I take a sip of my drink.

“Tell me!” she demands.

“I might have embellished on some of my current duties.”

“What?” Her eyes go wide again. “No! Don’t say that. Promise me that if they call you, you’ll decline the interview.”

“I will not! It’s double my salary.”

“For good reason.” She rolls her eyes. “Not that you aren’t worth a ton of money, but come on…you should pursue being a personal chef. I’ve heard they make fantastic money.”

“It takes time to build a name, and I don’t have that luxury. If they call I’m going.”

“Don’t!” She shakes her head so hard her hair flies about her face.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.”

“Because you’ll make a fool of yourself.”

I gasp. “You have such little faith in me.”

“Hon’,” she reaches over and takes my hand, “this has nothing to do with faith. You’re not qualified. You shouldn’t do this. You’ll regret it. You should never have embellished on your resume.”

I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach, like maybe Candice is right. Then I shove the feeling aside. It’s worth a shot. I’m not someone who quits before they’ve even tried. I can do this.

3

Bolt

I’ve heard it said that love is the best thing that can happen to a person. That it’s sad that many will never get to experience what true love is. That it’s magical. Something to be thankful for.

They lied.

It’s a curse.

Love is only magical when it’s reciprocated. When two souls meet somewhere in the middle and fireworks ensue. Otherwise, it’s pure torture.

“Fire them!” I interrupt the HR Director; my voice is deadpan.

“E-excuse me, Mr. Bolt?”

“You heard me. Let everyone on that list go. They’re dead weight. Either they go, or the company is in the toilet. I didn’t just waste millions on an organization that’s destined to fail.”

He clears his throat. “Some of these staff members have been with B&H Enterprises for over twenty years,” he says, sounding shocked.

I push out a breath and run my hand over my face. “Twenty-nine people need to lose their jobs today so that seven hundred and fifty-four staff members can remain employed. I know it seems ruthless, Ted, but it’s the only way.”

I hear him swallow thickly. “It doesn’t seem right.”

“Fire them today! Otherwise, you can pack up your desk, and I’ll promote your second-in-command. I guarantee he will do as I say. Call me when it’s done.” I put down the phone, pressing my fingers into my temples, trying to stave off a throbbing headache. It always amazes me how companies think they can stay afloat when they