Page 11 of Unlocking my Boss's Heart

After interviewing more than half of the applicants, I started to lose hope of finding a suitable lawyer. I went on leafing through the files with the remaining applicants again, intent to find a good one.

A soft knock at my office door interrupted me, I looked up, as it opened, and my heart gave a hard thump.

It washer.

The woman from the bookstore.

I watched her as she closed the door behind her.

I hadn’t expected to see her again. It was only later that I regretted not sticking around to learn more about her, maybe even get her number. Now, she was in my office. I’d always heard the world was a small place, but this was the first time I experienced something serendipitous.

As she walked toward my desk, her hazel eyes met mine, widening in surprise. Last night, she’d looked beautiful in jeans and a graphic T-shirt, and now even more striking in sleek business attire. She recovered from her surprise and walked confidently to the desk.

She smiled softly and extended her hand. “Hi, good afternoon, Mr. Waltons.”

I accepted her handshake, noting her soft skin and firm grip. “Good afternoon,” I replied, intrigued.

The weight of the day seemed to lift slightly as I watched her take her seat across from me. My thoughts shifted from my earlier frustrations to the unexpected pleasure of this meeting.

I watched as she sat across from me. She wore a simple skirt and a white chiffon top, her blond hair pulled back into a neat bun at the nape. It was a stark contrast to her casual appearance yesterday but one I found just as appealing.

I couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity about her.

She smoothed her hair back, likely a nervous gesture because it was already in pristine condition.

We sat in silence as I leafed through her file.

Celia Adams.

“Law school at Baylor. Impressive,” I began. She said nothing as I continued flipping through the rest of the documents. She had worked at a small firm near Dallas, Texas, until recently. “Why did you quit your previous job?”

She met my gaze without hesitation in her eyes. “I moved here. I've always wanted to live in New York and finally got the opportunity. I arrived in town yesterday.”

I leaned on my desk. “And you went to a bookstore as soon as you did?”

I could think of several other attractions that would have been more up a young woman’s alley in this city. She was in her mid-twenties, by my estimation. This was no longer just another interview. Something about her made the day feel a little less burdensome, and I couldn't ignore the unexpected but welcome distraction.

She lowered her head, trying to hide the redness of her cheeks, no doubt. Just when I thought she wouldn’t reply, she looked up again. “I left all my books back in Texas. I was feeling their loss.”

“And you decided to get Aiko Osaka’s latest novel?”

Her lips thinned. “Is our discussion about the copyright lawsuit going to affect my application? Maybe I shouldn’t have voiced my thoughts to you….”

Rather than looking nervous, her eyes held an accusation. She was a spitfire.

I shook my head, closing her file and setting it down. “I think you’re perfect.” At her stunned expression, I quickly added, “...for the job, I mean.”

Her credentials were impressive, one of the top candidates, with a resume that spoke of potential rather than years. Some might hesitate to hire someone with only two years of experience and no high-profile cases, but I saw something more in her. She was young, ambitious, and hungry for success. I could see it in her eyes. Sometimes, that fire was better than experience.

Still, I wondered why I’d blurted out my thoughts like that. Hopefully, she didn’t misunderstand my intentions.

Her face lit up in surprise again. “Oh, um, I—”

I steered the interview back to business. “This is a law firm. We deal with all kinds of clients. I need someone who can argue either side of a case.” I patted her file, as if to say she was exactly the kind of lawyer I was looking for. At least, Ihopedshe was.

“Of course.” She fell silent, glancing sideways at me. “Are you saying I’m hired, sir?”

Her hopeful expression was hard to miss, and I nodded. "Yes."

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