say “no” to me. Surely I heard her wrong. “Excuse me?”
She should look ridiculous with the thin efficiency vacuum gripped in one hand. Instead, she looks formidable. My palm itches even more.
“I enjoy my job in housekeeping,” she says, but I sense the lie.
I cock a skeptical eyebrow, taking a step closer. “Really? You enjoy cleaning toilets and breaking your back every day for nine dollars an hour?”
She blinks, mouth falling open in surprise. I can tell she never expected me to know how much I pay housekeepers, but I know every dollar that goes in and out of my hotel.
“Well, no, I don’t enjoy the work, but I’m satisfied—”
“The assistant’s position starts at forty thousand a year, with health insurance and a 401K. Because of your quick thinking to help save this event, I’ll even give you a five-thousand-dollar signing bonus.”
Her eyes widen. I know I’ve hooked her with the money. I expected no different because who turns their nose up at such an opportunity?
But she doesn’t jump at it. Instead, her brow furrows, appearing thoughtful. Sucking her lower lip between her teeth, she seems to be doing mental calculations.
I have a billion-dollar enterprise to run. Impatience rolls over me. I don’t have time for this, so I try to help with the math. “It’s not rocket science… um… What was your name again?”
“Bailey Robbins,” she replies vaguely, now holding up her fingers to count something out.
“I can assure you, forty thousand a year is way more than nine bucks an hour,” I say dryly. “Take the damn offer, Bailey.”
Her eyes narrowing, she snaps, “I’m sorry… but I have more than one job. I’m trying to figure out if I can manage it all, but you won’t stop distracting me with your scowl. And, for the love of God, can you put on some clothes?”
Yeah… my palm itches so badly I have to resist the urge to scratch it. When I feel a stirring beneath my towel, I realize she most definitely won’t take the job if I get an erection in front of her.
Stiffly, I nod, because I rarely do anything people demand. And if she were anyone else, not jumping to take this offer while talking to me with such impertinence, I would have shown them the door long ago. But, for some reason, I want to work with this woman. I want to discover just how much fire and sass she truly has. Need to know if I can break her sweetly or if it will take a mighty effort.
Because not only do I want her in my employment to help with the basic tasks of my daily job, but I would also love to get that luscious body beneath mine.
“You have five minutes to decide,” I bark before turning on my heel to head for my bedroom.
It takes me less time to put on my work attire. Today, it’s a custom-tailored Italian suit in charcoal gray with subtle silver pinstripes. I have business meetings outside of the hotel, so I must dress accordingly. But I give her the allotted five minutes, fiddling with my hair in the bathroom mirror to pass the time. It’s wavy and slightly too long, but it only takes a few rakes of my fingers to settle it into the natural style women seem to like. It gets yanked a lot, which is proof enough.
By the time I return to the living room, I expect her to immediately accept my offer. Instead, she has her head bent over her phone, tapping away on the screen. As I approach, I see she has a calculator app open.
Lifting her gaze to meets mine, she calmly says, “I need fifty thousand.”
Now this, I wasn’t expecting. My palm doesn’t itch, but my business savvy rumbles with respectful appreciation at her attempt to negotiate.
I’m up for the challenge. “The offer isn’t open to negotiation.”
“Then I guess it’s back to housekeeping for me,” she replies with a shrug. I’m astounded when she grabs the vacuum, starting to unwind the cord from the back.
Okay, there is far more to this woman than I thought to give her credit for. She’s not only piqued my interest, but she’s also made me downright curious as to what drives such an attitude. Am I so out of touch I don’t even know how ordinary people operate if they don’t have a need I can fulfill?
“I’ll make it fifty-five thousand, but you’ll be at my beck and call, morning and night,” I