Page 12 of Unlocking my Boss's Heart

Her smile was radiant, but it quickly faltered. “What about the other candidates in the lobby? Don’t you need to interview them too before making a final decision?”

Interesting. Most people would’ve taken the job without questions.

“You don’t want to work for me?” I asked, a smile tugging at my lips.

She paled and shook her head. “Of course, I do.”

I leaned in slightly, close enough to catch the faint blue in her hazel eyes. “Then, why are you trying to talk me out of it?”

“I’m not,” she quickly denied. “I’m just curious, I guess.”

She shifted in her seat, crossing her legs at the ankle. An old-fashioned gesture that made me think of a Southern debutante. But she didn’t have a pronounced drawl like Reeva, thank God.

The thought of my ex brought bile to my throat, which I quickly swallowed. Unlike the other applicants, I was enjoying our banter, and I didn’t want anything to ruin it.

My eyes drifted from her face to her hair. I couldn’t decide if I preferred it in a tight bun she wore today or loose as it had been the night before. Would it feel as silky as it looked if I ran my fingers through it? I pushed that though away. This wasn’t the time to think about her that way.

I picked up her file again, asking the standard questions as I had with the previous applicants. As she answered, I nodded, impressed. Even though it was a bit late, since I’d already offered her the job, her answers only confirmed my instincts.

As the interview wound down, I noticed how calm and confident she'd been throughout.

“So, do you have any questions for me?” I asked.

She hesitated, biting her bottom lip in thought. She opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it.

“What is it?” I prompted.

She took a deep breath. “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, sir. But since when does a senior partner interview job applicants?”

I relaxed, feeling the bantering atmosphere from last night had returned. I cocked my head, amused by her continuing to question my methods rather than asking about the job.

“I like to hire only the best, Miss Adams. To ensure that, I prefer to meet the candidates myself rather than relying on someone else’s opinion.” I glanced at my watch. The other applicants would have to be dismissed. I needed to wrap this up, as much as I would like to keep chatting with her. “My assistant, Olivia, will email you an employment contract. Please sign and return it before starting work tomorrow morning. Also, did you review the salary package? It's non-negotiable.”

She nodded, her hazel eyes sparkling with excitement. “Yes, very generous, Mr. Waltons.”

I shouldn’t have noticed her eyes. But I did, again.

I stood and extended my hand. She rose and slipped her slender one into mine. I shook it firmly, but carefully, not to crush her delicate fingers.

“Be here by seven for your orientation. You’ll be given a tour of the offices and an overview of your responsibilities.”

I hesitantly released her hand, reluctant to end the conversation. But I comforted myself with the thought that there would be plenty of time to get to know her better in the days to come.

She nodded again. “Thank you so much for the opportunity, Mr. Waltons. You won’t regret it.”

“Alright, Miss Adams, it was a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

“You, too.” She beamed, cheeks flushing a pretty pink. It seemed she remembered how our conversation had ended last night. Rather than being embarrassed, she held her head high.

I found it endearing. People were usually either stiff around me or desperate to impress. Miss Adams was refreshingly different. Maybe, being from Texas, she didn’t know I was linked to the Waltons Corporation, my family’s company. It was nice to be seen just as myself for a change.

I watched her leave. How curious that the captivating woman I’d rescued from falling last night was now my newest junior associate. She’d lingered in my thoughts longer than I’d expected. How fortuitous, indeed.

After the door clicked shut, I considered what I’d just done. Was hiring her an impulsive decision? Was I influenced by my fascination with her last night?

I replayed the interview in my mind, piece by piece. When she’d walked in, I was already drained from interviewing candidates. But she was the best of them all. None of the remaining applicants stood out as much as she did.

I would have to keep a close watch on her.

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