Page 2 of The German's Guilty Pleasure
I tipped my head to the side. “And you know this how?”
He leaned forward onto his desk and eyed me. “Who told you about the interview, Miss Matthews?”
“Serenity, please,” I responded with slight irritation in my tone, but not at him. I was irritated with the person who had sent me on this wild goose chase. “My professor told me about the interview. He indicated he didn’t know anything about your company, though.”
He smiled, his perfectly straight white teeth glinting back at me for a moment. I suspected it was a smile many beautiful women had seen right before he deflowered them. “I spoke with Professor Watkins at length about the position. I am honestly quite surprised you are here. He did not think you would be interested. He indicated that we had not spoken?”
I shook my head to clear it. I wasn’t used to his formal way of speaking English. It was his second language, so it wasn’t unusual that he didn’t use contractions, but it did take some getting used to. I replayed the conversation with Maynard through my head again. I frowned, and immediately his eyes danced with victory. “Actually, he said he didn’t need to check you out since you were using a big-name headhunting site.”
He tossed his head back and laughed in a manner that told me he was truly tickled. His long neck stretched toward me, and his Adam’s apple bobbed just enough to remind me of his virility. He was all man, and I was struggling to follow our conversation in the face of it. “He may have had it backward. I was headhunting you, once I knew you existed, that is. I noticed you earlier this month at the Campus Clubs event for the incoming freshman. You are exactly the woman I need for this position.”
I cleared my throat and folded my hands in my lap. I prayed my nervousness wasn’t as apparent as it felt. “Maybe you shouldn’t tell your applicant that. It might give them the wrong idea about negotiations for the position. Maynard indicated you were looking for someone with little to no experience. I’d like to know why that is. It would make more sense to employ someone with extensive knowledge of marketing when you’re trying to get a company off the ground.”
The left side of his lips tipped up in a motion that made me want to drop my panties instantly and let him have his way with me. I bet he was an animal in bed. His eyes told me he knew it, too. “Any other CEO might agree with you, but my business is different than most. The person I hire as a marketing director must be open, flexible, and not tied down to what may have worked for them in the past. My vision for Kontakt will require a fresh new eye and a strong desire to learn new techniques.”
“And your business is different how?” I glanced around the office space, but clues were not forthcoming.
“Kontakt involves sensual issues.”
“Sensual issues?”
“Mm, that is what I said, Serenity. Now you understand the need for the video camera.”
I ran my tongue across my teeth while my eyes darted to the camera and back to him. “You want me to market sensual issues?”
He chuckled, and this time, it was light and airy. “No, I want you to market sensual products. Personal care items. Sensual aids.”
“Sensual aids?”
He tipped his head and raised a brow in agreement. “Kontakt designs, manufactures, and sells sensual products for the modern man and woman.”
I tapped my chin and forced the embarrassment from my cheeks before they could stain pink. “Let’s decipher that statement. Kontakt designs, manufactures, and sells sex toys for any man or woman with enough money to buy one off the internet.”
His grin lit up his face, and I sucked in a breath at the idea that he was interviewing me for a position to market vibrators. “We prefer not to use that specific term, but,” he paused and waved his hand, “essentially, you are correct.”
“Is there something wrong with the termsex toy?”
He leaned forward again on his desk, and I instinctively leaned back. “It is outdated, my littleblauer vogel.Kontakt uses German engineering to design and manufacture products women all over the world are using to awaken their sexual beings. When a woman has a Kontakt aid, she does not need a man to satisfy her. She can do it alone. While that is true, so it is true that many of our products are designed to be used by couples when together.”
I refused to drop eye contact with him. What was with him calling me a blue bird all the time? It was wholly inappropriate during a job interview. “Sounds like you’re designing, manufacturing, and selling your way out of existence, Lars.”
A smile tipped his lips, and it was the evil twin of the one he wore earlier. "If that camera was not on, I would educate you on how untrue that is. Since it is recording, let us discuss the job requirements."
I dug out my notepad and crossed my legs, waiting patiently.
"The building, as you can see, is empty. I am in the process of sorting through the Miami applicants for the positions of marketing director, an assistant to the CEO, a receptionist for the building, and several other clerical positions. The rest of my team will be arriving from Germany in short order."
"Team?" I asked, glancing up from the notebook.
His smile was patient, but there was an underlying impatience I suspected he tamped down often. "Engineers, designers, and excellent visionaries in the field."
Did he own this whole building?
"Kontakt owns the entire building." This time his smile was self-assured. "Each floor will house a different part of the process. All of our aids are handmade and tested thoroughly before they leave our hands. For that reason, I need my engineers to be here to train the new team. This floor holds my private office along with the offices of my inner circle. The tenth floor is my penthouse."
I whistled. "I was wrong. You have made it to the top."
"Never doubt me. It would be wise to remember that, Serenity.”
