Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Either too stunned to think straight or secretly loving the chance to watch Jack in his element, I walk around the desk and slap my backside into Mr. Potts’s chair. Rafael hides his shock well when he spots me sitting behind Mr. Potts’s monstrosity of a desk. That may have more to do with the fact Jack introduces me as the Head of Recruitment than believing I’ve filled Mr. Potts’s shoes.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me so soon. I understand it was short notice, but I’m sure you are aware that if we’re going to save this sinking ship, we need to move quickly.”
A buzz of electricity darts through me when Jack joins me on the other side of the desk. He pulls over a chair at the side, plonks his backside into it, then balances his elbows on the desk. He is a good two to three inches away from me, but from the way my body reacts, you’d swear I was sitting on his lap.
Our connection is staggering, and it seems to have grown tenfold since we spent the night together.
I expect Jack to jump into questions regarding the excessive marketing budget for a magazine that hasn’t seen a readership close to target range in the past three years, so you can imagine my shock when he commences the interview in a direction I never anticipated. “I’ve heard a number of stories the past few days regarding the annual Christmas party held each year. Would you care to elaborate on them?”
“The Christmas party?” Rafael asks with his pointy nose screwed up in confusion. “Why would you want to know about the Christmas party?”
“I’m just curious, that’s all.” Jack slouches back in his chair. When his arm balances on the chair’s sidearm, it brushes mine. His briefest touch ignites fireworks in the lower half of my stomach, but you’d swear he was clueless to the zap firing between us when he continues talking without the slightest bit of jitter to his words. “That and perhaps the fact half of the marketing budget this year was seconded to event planning.” He makes a teepee with his index finger and thumb. “Considering the only event held the past twelve months was the annual Christmas party, I’m a little lost as to why so much of the marketing budget was filtered to an event that won’t increase readership.”
“Staff morale—”
“Is at an all-time low,” Jack interrupts, his voice stern yet still controlled. “I guess that’s understandable when you see the hobnobs at the top receiving excessive bonuses without doing any of the work entailed for said bonus.”
“If you’re implying—”
“I’m not implying anything. I am merely advising you what has happened.” After tossing a manila folder to his side of the desk, Jack says, “One point five million for an event not even half the attendees bothered to turn up for. I can assure you if I were invited to an event that was billed at $10,000 a plate, you can guarantee I’d be there with bells on.”
I choke on my spit. “Ten thousand dollars a plate?” Although I’m technically asking a question, I continue talking as if I am not. “I organized last year’s event. My budget wasn’t even close to $100 per guest, so whatever you’re referencing can’t be right.”
When I snatch up the document from the desk, my temples pound against my skull. Everything Jack said is true. Tax records show they claimed $10,000 a head for a staff Christmas party each year. And what’s even more concerning is the fact that my signature is on the bottom of the documents.
“This is forged. I never signed this document.” When the guilt marring Rafael’s expression barely overtakes his smugness, I realize I’ve been played for a fool. After shifting my eyes to Jack, gulping when I notice his inconspicuous watch, I ask, “Does my new position come with full perks, such as hiring and firing?” When he nods, I shift my gaze back to Rafael. “You’re fired.”
He scoffs and harps on before he dismisses my words as if they have no substance. “I’ve worked for this company for years.”
“And now you will work somewhere else.” The power exuding from Jack spurs on a wild and frantic desire deep inside me. It has me hungry for skin-on-skin friction, and my desires grow even more potent when he adds, “If Octavia gives you a favorable reference.” When Rafael scoffs again, Jack holds his finger in the air. “Think wisely before you speak. Because from where I’m standing, you have no power whatsoever at the moment. The ball isn’t even in your court, and Octavia is the only person wielding a racket.”
Rafael considers his options for several painstaking seconds before he marches out of the office in defeat, grumbling under his breath on the way. As several eyes lock with mine, I shift mine to Jack. He looks very much the part of a powerful magnate with impeccably styled hair and a designer suit out of most men’s range. He is in his element, and it is in this moment that I realize who he is.