Brushing my thick hair back seemed like the most reasonable and sensible thing to do. I went with red lipstick to match my shirt and shoes. Maybe that was a little too much.
The way she’s eyeballing me, I feel like I’m lacking something. I slyly wipe at my nose to make sure nothing is hanging. From the stare she’s giving me, I feel like something is.
She hangs up the phone and looks up at me with a fake smile. I shake myself from my self-deprecating thoughts. I try not to let my frustration show through and give a fake smile of my own.
“How can I help you?” she asks with another underwhelmed once-over.
“My name is Eva Kennedy, I am here for an interview with Mr. Reynolds,” I reply as pleasantly as I can. I don’t want to piss anyone off before I even get the internship.
Her eyes narrow as she looks me over again. Okay, now she’s just pissing me off. Internship or not I am about to let her have it… is she really glaring at me? What the…
“Eva?” a man questions nervously from behind me.
I turn to find a medium height guy who seems to be in his late thirties or early forties standing behind me. “Yes,” I reply as I look at him questioningly. I’m starting to get a bit uneasy with these two. “I’m Eva.”
“Great, great,” he says giving me a broad grin. “I’m Mr. Reynolds, Troy Reynolds. You have to forgive me. I’m a little thrown off my game. The big boss has never asked to sit in on an intern’s interview. I just called Beth here to let her know I would come to greet you personally.”
I wrinkle my brows, trying to understand what all he’s babbling about. I know King set this all up. Maybe the brother he arranged this through wants to oversee things. King is quite particular when it comes to me.
I lick my suddenly dry lips, feeling the pressure mounting. King may want to see me happy, but I know him. I am sure he has told them not to just give me this internship. Knowing I now have to answer to the higher powers that be has my stomach twisted in knots.
“Okay, I hope I’m not late. I’d hate to have held your boss up,” I say softly.
Reynolds throws his head back and laughs. “No, no, you are just fine. Actually, I was instructed to wait with you in his office. He’s on the way up. You and I can get to know each other while we wait,” he replies, but I’m not too sure I like the way he looks at me when he says it.
I shift on my heels, then on second thought, I straighten my shoulders and lift my head. I will not cower and make a fool out of myself or King. I was raised by a bunch of bikers. This guy is not going to intimidate me.
I vowed last night I wouldn’t find myself in one more crazy situation. Enough is enough already. I nod my head at my thoughts, but Reynolds takes it as my reply to him.
“Come on, Eva,” he says, holding out a hand to show the way. “Let’s head over to the boss’s office. Can Beth get you something to drink… coffee, water perhaps?”
“No, thank you,” I murmur.
“Excuse me for saying this, but we don’t usually get interns as pretty as you around here. Not just pretty, but impressive. I have seen some of your work, you are very talented. I have been looking forward to this interview. We haven’t taken on new interns in a while,” Reynolds rambles on.
“Thank you, I think,” I utter the last part under my breath.
“You’re welcome. So, like I said, I usually don’t have the big boss sitting in on these things, but with your talent, I don’t blame him. I believe you will actually be working as his assistant if you are offered the internship. Which is a great opportunity, by the way. You will get on-site and in-office experience.” Reynolds continues to talk as we enter a large office with windows that open to the city.
He waves for me to take a seat next to him in front of the large mahogany desk. I take in the magnificent office space. The office is large but designed on a curve.
The desk we sit in front of is in the center of the curve, placed in front of an amazing view. The office branches into two sides that anchor the desk. On the right side, is where a drafting table sits with blueprints open on it. It too has a gorgeous view. I would give anything to have an office view like this.
On the other side, not too far from the desk is a comfortable-looking sofa. It’s flanked by two accent chairs and in front of it is a coffee table. Instead of a view, there are pictures on the shelves, but there are a few.
I sit, listening to Troy’s rambling, praying for his boss to arrive. When the double doors we came through finally open, I sigh in relief. Only to suck the air back in as I stare at the man that has just walked in.
Chapter 7
Who I Am
Brick
I smirk at the shocked look on her gorgeous little face. Initially, I had planned to stay far away from Eva and her internship. I was going to let her work with April, one of our designers on a lower level in the building.
That all changed this morning. When I called Troy, I let him know I want Eva as my assistant and I would be a part of her interview process. I know he was thrown off, but what I say goes around here.
Besides, I know Troy and I wouldn’t put it past him to hit on my woman. That shit isn’t
