sense of humor and tended to laugh at awkward shit. And a cat penis suddenly appearing at an already awkward job negotiation totally warranted a chuckle.
I cleared my throat to cover it. “Uh, you can give me whatever title you like,” I told him. “If it makes you feel better.” I wiggled my toes, trying to dislodge Freddy, but he was relaxed deadweight.
Cary’s eyes lifted to mine. Yeah, he was definitely irritated. Uncomfortable. And annoyed with his cat for dicking around in the middle of this seriousness. “What title do you want?” he said irritably, like I’d demanded he address me as Your Royal Assistantness.
“Well, I usually go by executive assistant. I’ve worked for a lot of executives. But producer’s assistant or whatever works, too. As long as it’s not errand bitch or slave girl, we’re good.”
He responded to that about as warmly as he did Freddy’s dick; he didn’t even pretend to find it mildly funny or charming or even offensive. He just stared at me.
“I’m not an executive,” he deadpanned.
“Right. You’re a musician and a music producer who owns a recording studio, and you’re pretty much a self-made multimillionaire, as far as I can tell, so I’m going to assume it’s probably not that different from what I’m used to.”
I supposed I’d just revealed that I’d done my research on him. Or maybe he assumed Courteney had told me those things.
“Self-made…” he said. “I’m pretty sure the record companies I’ve worked with over the years would have a difference of opinion on that.”
“Maybe they give themselves too much credit.”
“They run the business.”
“But they’re not the talent. You’re the talent and the business.”
He studied me, and I wondered if I was convincing him of anything or if he was merely collecting reasons not to hire me so he could list them for Courteney later. It felt like he was interviewing me, right here on his threshold. While his cat napped on my feet. It was getting awkward. He was way taller than me up there. And my toes were getting hot.
“Any chance I could partake of the air conditioning while you finish grilling me?” I asked him. “My toes are sweating.”
He glanced down at his cat again. “Freddy,” he said sharply. “Fuck off.”
Freddy’s ear twitched, but he didn’t move. He didn’t even open his eyes. If anything, he went more limp.
Ours eyes met again, and I shrugged. “He likes me.”
“He likes everyone. Don’t let it go to your head.”
Nice. “I’ll try.”
“Come in.” He pushed the door open and I felt the cool draft of the AC.
“Thank you.”
I gently extracted my feet from beneath his cat and followed him into the house. Once again, he led me over to the couch. He pointed at it.
“Sit.”
I sat. What was it about this man giving me orders that made me want to do exactly as he said, like immediately?
Not good.
He sat down in the armchair next to the couch, like last time. And the way his eyes remained glued to my face with the same disapproving look he’d given his spread-eagle cat, I really had no idea what he was about to say to me.
Then he said: “Okay.”
“Okay…” I repeated. “Like, I’m hired?”
“Yes. But not by my sister. I make the rules in my own house, and I’ll be your boss, so. I’m hiring you. And I’m paying you.”
Well. He definitely had a way with words. When he actually chose to speak. Everything he said was true enough, but it was the way he said it that gave me pause.
I make the rules.
I’ll be your boss.
“Okay…” I said.
“Okay.”
I waited for him to say something else, but he didn’t. He seemed to be waiting for me to say something. But now that he’d agreed to hire me, I was a little stumped. I’d been prepared for opposition. I thought he’d be more hesitant about the whole thing, or downright disagreeable. I was expecting more of a discussion, a negotiation. I was half-expecting to walk out of here with no job at all.
“So, you’re okay with this?” I asked him. “Really?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Well, as I understand it… you don’t normally have an assistant.”
“No, I don’t. But I haven’t always done everything right. So maybe that’s one of the things I’ve been getting wrong.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of that. Maybe he really was open to a change? Or maybe he was doing this for his sister. Courteney clearly cared a lot about him, and maybe the feeling was mutual.