Ella shrugged. “I didn’t tell him to find another matchmaker.”
The words sank in. “Why not?”
“His boss is Blaise Mortenson.” She sounded impressed. “I know you don’t like to bend the rules—”
“I don’t bend rules. Ever.” If Hadley hadn’t become a matchmaker, her father said she would have been the perfect five-star army general.
“The assistant’s name is Trevor. He’s a new hire, who hasn’t had the job for a month. He doesn’t want to be fired.”
“Even if he is, it’s not your fault.”
Ella stared at her monitor and nodded.
“Blaise Mortenson.” Hadley rolled the name through her mind. A little familiar, but no details sprang to mind. That told her he probably wasn’t marriage material, no matter his net worth. “Remind me who he is.”
“He’s the founder and CEO of Blai$e. It’s spelled with a dollar sign for the S. Financial sector. Multibillion-dollar investment funds. Hi-tech algorithms. His last known net worth…” Ella leaned closer to her monitor. “One point two billion dollars. But that’s an old figure.”
Blai$e.
Hadley knew exactly who he was.
Unfortunately.
His attitude—well, that of his assistant, Trevor—didn’t surprise her.
She’d never met Blaise, but she’d researched him as a possible match for a client over a year ago.
Blaise Mortenson was gorgeous and self-made, which was usually a good thing, except he had an ego the size of Oregon, where he lived. He also had a reputation of being a difficult boss. He’d been in the news recently because of an exodus of high-level employees, including programmers. That had led to a heated run-in between Blaise and a reporter.
Hadley didn’t know if the guy’s anger issues, arrogance, or stress had caused the argument, but Blaise’s actions didn’t impress her. If anything, they reaffirmed her initial research. Forget his request to travel to him—not that she did that for anyone. He wasn’t the kind of client she wanted. But even so, she needed to be polite if he called.
Or made an appointment with her.
She stood. “If Trevor calls again…”
As if on cue, the phone rang.
“Transfer the call to me if it’s him.” Hadley needed to turn Ella’s frown into a smile. “And don’t worry. I know this isn’t the assistant’s fault. I’ll be pleasant.”
And Hadley would. The guy couldn’t help it if he worked for an egotistical jerk. She gave him points for trying to follow orders.
Even if he had no chance of doing what his boss asked.
CHAPTER THREE
Blaise entered his office and left the door ajar. No one would make it past his new assistant. Trevor was twenty-five, energetic, and eager to please, but he had much to learn about being an executive assistant. Not surprising though, since he’d been in the position for only three weeks. That, however, was two weeks longer than his predecessor, so Blaise was hopeful the guy would work out.
He loosened his tie.
What was the name of the other one?
Sheila.
No, Siobhan.
She’d spent more time crying in the bathroom than sitting at her desk. Blaise didn’t care about her being “highly sensitive.” This was a high-pressure environment, not preschool. Sometimes people, including him, raised their voices and yelled. It wasn’t personal. Simply business. Siobhan must have realized she wasn’t cut out for the job because she quit before he could fire her.
So far Trevor hadn’t cried. He’d come close last Thursday. On Friday, too. But Monday was a new day.
