“Hey, do you have a minute to talk?”
She sighed. “You’re putting me in an awkward position, little brother. If anyone found out I interviewed someone without a degree, it could hurt the firm’s reputation.”
“I understand that. But how many favors have I ever asked you for? Aside from this morning’s and you have to admit, seeing Patricia lose her composure was worth the trip.”
Jenny laughed but when she spoke, her tone was serious. “I only hire real graphic artists, someone that has both talent and skill.”
“Cammie has both of those,” Leo said, exasperated because she wasn’t truly listening. “Do you really think I’d ask you for help if I didn’t believe she would hold up when you looked at herportfolio? I know your time is valuable.” He’d roll his eyes but as a workaholic himself, he knew his words to be true.
“I don’t know…”
He groaned. “I wouldn’t do anything to sabotage your business, Jen.”
“I know that. But in this case, I’m not sure your judgment is sound. Your feelings for this woman could be influencing your point of view.”
Dammit.He needed to convince her. Not just because he’d promised Cammie but because he believed in her and wanted her to have a shot at her dream job. The only way he could accomplish that was to lie to his sister.
“I don’t have feelings for her. We just made a deal, and I want to hold up my end.” His stomach churned at his words but he’d say whatever he had to to get Jenny to give Cammie an interview. “Listen,” he continued before she answered him. “Cammie gave me access to her online portfolio in case you wanted to see her work before meeting with her. I’m going to send it over as soon as we hang up.”
“I never agreed to meet with her—”
“I know you didn’t,” he snapped, even more frustrated with his sister. “Iknowyou don’t want to interview her. But I’m just asking for a brief sit down. It will make her feel like she’s got a chance. I’m obligated to make this happen, somehow.”
“Fine. I’ll look at it. But I’m late for a meeting so we’ll talk soon, okay?”
He grunted a yeah in reply before he disconnected the call. Then he turned around to find Cammie standing behind him, hair wet and a look of betrayal on her face.
Chapter Ten
Cammie stood inthe living room wearing a robe she’d found hanging in Leo’s bathroom, staring at him while the things she’d just heard replayed in her head.
I don’t have feelings for her.
I know you don’t want to interview her.
He had to be talking to Jenny. How humiliating that he was trying to force his sister to meet with her when the woman had no interest in giving Cammie a shot.
It will make her feel like she’s got a chance.
I’m obligated to make this happen, somehow.
Obligated. That was the word he used, like she was a burden.
“Somehow?” she said, latching onto that last part of the conversation. “You’re obligated to make this happensomehow?When I agreed to go with you to your business Christmas party, you made it seem like me getting an interview was guaranteed. Arealinterview. Not just a pity meeting with your sister, who has no interest in even looking at my work, let alone hiring me.”
“No,” he said, stepping toward her. “It’s not like that.”
“It’s exactly like that, Leo.” Turning away, she rushed back to his bathroom and locked the door behind her. Then, she hurried through getting dressed, all the while her mind racing and her heart aching.
Leo had lied to her. He told her what she wanted to hear, gave her the hope she’d been desperate for, knowing he couldn’t deliver. Once again, she was left feeling humiliated and foolish thanks to this man. She’d fallen for his charm so easily and she knew now it was because she’d wanted to believe him.
She’d been attracted to him from the beginning, and when he’d approached her at the coffee shop, she’d stupidly thought he would ask her on a date. Instead, he wanted her to pretend to be his girlfriend. When she said no, he’d thrown out something that meant so much more to her than he could imagine.
He’d offered her hope. Hope for the future she’d lost when her mom got sick. Of course, she’d agreed, and found herself falling hard for the man. Now this.
A knock sounded on the bathroom door. “Cammie, can we talk?”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” she said, then whipped the door open and strode past him. She grabbed her purse from where she’d tossed it on the bed before her shower, intending to leave.
