Anyone But Nick (Anyone But... #3) - Penelope Bloom Page 0,11
chose to ignore that. “One more question. Why Bark Bites? I’ve seen the list of companies Sion has acquired. This is way lower profile than anything you guys have ever set your sights on before.”
“My brothers and I have our reasons, but those don’t concern you.”
As perfect as everyone tried to make me out to be, I didn’t always manage my temper as well as I should have. I was also the kind of person whose idea of a perfect day was one where everything went according to plan and stayed on schedule. The past few weeks had been a shitstorm, and today was threatening to push me over the edge. “Part of being the vice president of a company involves helping to make decisions that impact the overall direction of the company. In order to do that, I’d need to know what direction that is. And to do that, I’d need my boss to be open with me.”
Once I stopped talking, I realized I’d been raising my voice slightly. I sat back in my chair and hoped it wasn’t obvious that my heart was pounding. Nick was just staring at me. Why was he just staring like that?
He finally leaned forward, steepling his fingers. “Then I’m not obligated to be open with you until I become your boss, am I?”
I worked my lips to the side, biting back annoyance. “I didn’t come to this interview with Dan—or you, for that matter—to beg for a job. I came to explain why I’m the best fit for it and why you’d be lucky to have me work for you. So if you want the privilege of having me work here, you’ll be open with me. Starting now.” I knew my face looked calm and collected, but my heart was pounding like crazy, and I could feel sweat beading across the bridge of my nose.
“You know? I have to admit,” Nick said, “I was conflicted about this interview. I thought our past would make it hard to be objective in deciding whether to hire you. But I admire your backbone. Maybe you really do have what it takes for this job.”
“I don’t want to be rude, but you still haven’t answered my question.”
Nick’s full lips flickered outward at the corners, just for a moment. His face barely showed it, but there was a lightness in his eyes now where there had been only hard, piercing evaluation a moment before. “I have some personal reasons for buying Bark Bites that won’t impact you, but from a practical sense, I think there is a huge potential to grow the business model and restructure the company. That’s where you can help me, assuming you still want the job, that is.”
I felt like I was sweating more than a vegetarian at a barbecue, and I’d only had to endure a handful of minutes alone with Nick. My mouth was running on autopilot. I was in interview mode—kick ass and take no prisoners—but I hadn’t even stopped to ask myself if I could really work for Nick King, of all people.
“Would you like some water?” Nick asked. “You look a little . . .”
“I’m fine,” I said, except I thought I might be going through the five stages of grief at record speeds. None of this was real, I decided. It was all too far fetched, too absurd. I pinched my thigh and waited to be zapped from this nightmare to my bed. I closed my eyes in anticipation, but when I opened them again, he was still there. And he was smiling. I wanted to pull my shoe off and throw it at his smug, obnoxiously gorgeous face—even if it was going to take more than a black eye to ruin that kind of perfection.
“You really think hiring me would be wise?” I asked.
Nick mulled that over. “A few moments ago, you looked like you were going to punch me in the mouth for implying you might not get the job. Now you’re trying to make sure I want to give it to you?”
I closed my eyes for a second and attempted to gather my thoughts. He was right, annoyingly. “I just mean, when you think about how—when you think about our . . . you know.”
“Past?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Ahh, wow. I’m sorry. I feel like such an ass for not even thinking about that. You mean your feelings for me would make it uncomfortable for you to work under me?”