Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
I look inside Tessa’s oyster. Sure enough, nestled against the oyster meat is a tiny black pearl.
“I can’t accept this.” She hands the oyster back to Charlie. “You found it. This should be yours. Or your wife’s or girlfriend’s or whatever.”
He smiles with a shrug. “Don’t have a wife or girlfriend, and my mother is no longer with us. I don’t have any sisters. I was shucking it for you, young lady, so it’s yours.”
“Do you know how many times I’ve come to this place?” Ben says. “Never once has a shucker found a pearl.”
Charlie nods. “It’s rare.”
“How?” Tessa asks. “Pearls come from oysters, don’t they?”
“They’re mostly cultured now,” Charlie says. “It’s uncommon to find them in oysters raised for consumption.”
“Must be a good-luck charm,” I say.
“I don’t know about that.” Tessa fishes the pearl out of the shell and wipes it off on her napkin. “It’s such a unique shape. Kind of like a teardrop.” She wrinkles her forehead. “Not round like cultured pearls.”
Charlie laughs. “That’s how you know it’s real.”
“I guess I can assume it’s real, since I watched it come out of an oyster.”
“Absolutely, young lady.” Charlie shucks another oyster and hands it to me.
“Definitely a good-luck charm,” I say to Tessa again. “And I’ve got another piece of good luck for you.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“I talked to Braden. He got rave reviews from your previous employer, and you can start work tomorrow in our accounting department.”
She frowns. “I told you I didn’t want a pity job.”
“I told you earlier and I’ll tell you again, this isn’t a pity job. Braden texted me after he talked to your old boss. She hated to let you go. We’ve got so many new deals in the works that we always need more number crunchers. We can hire you or we can hire someone else. It’s up to you.”
“Honestly, I was looking forward to some time off.”
“You’re going to get some time off this weekend. A four-day weekend in Jamaica, starting Thursday and ending Sunday.”
“I know that.”
“But before then, come into HR tomorrow morning at ten and they’ll get you set up.”
She laughs, but the tone is disbelief rather than humor. “I didn’t say I was taking the job.”
“I suppose you didn’t. It’s your choice. Show up or don’t show up. But if we don’t hire you, we’ll just hire someone else.” I slip another oyster into my mouth, enjoying the brackish saltiness.
Then I watch Tessa eat another.
For a moment, I wish I were that oyster touching her lips. She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.
And I’ve met my share of beautiful women.
Stop thinking of her that way.
She’s likely not ready for sex, if just being around a man makes her anxious. Or a relationship, for that matter. I’m not sure I am, either, despite the fact that I’m leaving my old ways behind, hoping for something more. I love what I see between Braden and Skye, and I want it, but—
“Well…” Tessa says, interrupting my thoughts. “What kind of pay are you offering?”
Good, she’s thinking about it. “HR can tell you all the details, but I’m sure we’ll be able to meet or exceed what you were making. We make it a point to keep our salaries competitive.”
“All right. I’ll go tomorrow. And…”
“And what?”
She looks at the pearl, rolling it around in the palm of her hand. “Thank you. Again. Thank you for everything, Ben.”
Chapter Nine
Tessa
I shower and shave my legs the next day—that alone has me feeling better—and then I dress in simple black slacks, patent leather pumps, and a white blouse. I tuck the black pearl from last night in my pocket for good luck.
“May I help you?” the receptionist asks when I get to the front desk of the well-secured Black Inc. building. I’ve been here before to meet Skye, and I’m always mesmerized by the ornate marble lobby and the clack of my heels on the tiles. This is the first time I’ll see another part of the building.
“Yes, I’m Tessa Logan. I’m supposed to report to HR this morning at ten for an accountant position.”
A sharp nod. “I’ll let them know you’re here.” She pauses. “Hi, Leona,” she says into her headset, “it’s Margaret at reception. I have a Tessa Logan here.” Another pause. “Very good.” She looks back to me. “I just need to see your ID. I’ll make you a temporary ID badge to get you up to HR. Once you finish your paperwork, we’ll get a permanent one for you.”
I give her my driver’s license. She scans it and then hands me a sticker.
I remove the backing and place it on my blouse, and then I take the elevator up to the designated floor. Again, I have to check in with reception.
“You must be Ms. Logan,” a young brunette says with a smile. “I’m Leona, the receptionist here in human resources.”