“In a manner of speaking,” Drake says.
I sense Hayden’s gaze on me. My face is flushed, and I won’t look at Drake or Denim Jacket. She walks around her desk and stands beside me in an almost protective manner.
How is this Drake guy connected to the evil piece of crap next to him? None of this makes sense.
Both Gen and Tyler warned me not to come here. Applying for this job may be the worst decision I’ve made yet. Because now that I’ve run into Denim Jacket, I’m certain I should have stayed home. Or moved out of the country.
But I have nowhere to go. No one to go to…
Stay calm. There’s no point in running. I’ll never get this job. I just need to wait out the interview until it’s over. Denim Jacket won’t do anything to me in a public place, right? Right?
“Mira is applying for the assistant position,” Hayden says.
Don’t tell him that. These men don’t need to know any more about me than they already do.
Her chin rises a notch. “She’s a strong candidate and I’m happy to have her come in today.”
No, no, no! I’m not a strong candidate. What’s she saying? She’s making the situation worse.
“But my interview is over,” I butt in, and grab my bag as I stand. “I was just leaving.” I attempt to scoot around Hayden.
Hayden narrows her eyes on Drake. “You know, Mira”—she drags her focus to me—“I’m beginning to believe you’re the perfect candidate for the position.” My jaw drops. Hayden stares at Drake and says, “You’re as qualified for this position as I was for mine.”
I glance between Drake and Hayden. Something is going on. And I’m sure I want no part of it.
“Planning to hire someone unqualified as your assistant, Hayden?” Drake taunts.
Normally I’d take offense at that statement, true or not. But no way am I stepping in the middle of their conversation.
Hayden crosses her arms. “It’s been done before. And you never can tell a candidate’s merit based on a piece of paper. Some have hidden strengths that can’t be predicted by a degree. Wouldn’t you agree, Drake?”
He doesn’t smile. He glares at her, and I feel the urge to protect her this time.
I’ve never been the protector. Have always looked out for number one, and to hell with everyone else. Well, except for Lewis. Okay, and Zach too…and the Sallees. All right, there are a few people I care about.
“Anyone can obtain a college degree, but people with ethics and a moral code are more important,” Hayden continues.
Drake smirks and brushes invisible lint from the sleeve of his coat. “As you say, Hayden. Come see me when you’re finished.” He walks away.
Denim Jacket doesn’t immediately follow. He smiles, staring at me. “I’ll see you around, Mira.”
Maybe I should reassess the idea of leaving town. It’s sounding better and better.
Hayden walks across the room and shuts the door behind the men, pressing her back to the wood. “Can I be frank with you?”
Frank? What have I gotten myself into? I don’t want her to be frank, I want to get the hell out of here. I’m in some warped world. Everything is turned upside down. This place is supposed to be professional, not a hitman hangout.
Hayden continues before I determine how best to let her down. “I’m new here. Very new,” she says as she makes her way to her desk. “As in, they just hired me to fill in for the last human resources director they fired.” Her words are coming fast, in a rush. “I thought it was strange that I was hired fresh out of business school. This position would normally be filled by a candidate with the degree, plus years of practical experience, but that’s not what they did. They needed someone immediately. And they hired me.” She sits and motions for me to do the same. I reluctantly do as she bids, resuming my seat across from her. “After I took the job, thinking I was the luckiest girl alive, I discovered why the position had opened and why they needed it filled so quickly.”
She leans forward and lowers her voice. “The casino is under investigation for sexual harassment. The last HR director failed to respond to multiple complaints about one of the employees.” Hayden’s gaze moves toward the door, silently saying what she’s apparently not willing to admit out loud but that I already gathered. That Drake was the employee.
“Honestly, I’m like you,” she says conspiratorially. “I have the right attitude and drive. I’m scrappy, but I don’t possess the qualifications for the position. Management didn’t care. They hired me because I’m a woman and they needed to quickly clean up their image. And because they thought I’d be malleable.” She smiles humorlessly. “I represent Blue Casino’s PR effort to save the company.”
“You’re a woman, so they can’t be misogynists if they hire you as one of their directors,” I say, returning her sarcasm.
She sits back. “Exactly.”
All this—it’s not what I bargained for when I came in today. I knew things would be awkward due to my lack of qualifications. I did not predict this outcome. Running into Drake—the Drake. Running into my tormentor from the woods. It’s all too much.
